Asia O'Hara on Werq the World: 'It's a spectacle. It's colourful. It's fabulous. It's art'

Arusa Qureshi
18 April 2019

credit: Voss Events

Michelle Visage hosts Drag Race favourites on this intergalactic adventure

In the brand new Werq the World show, Aquaria, Asia O'Hara, Kameron Michaels, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Naomi Smalls and Violet Chachki are sent to the sun, with mission leader Michelle Visage guiding the audience through the universe and its many wondrous forces. The queens of RuPaul's Drag Race may be tasked with saving the universe via this intergalactic mission but their real-world influence and the wider power of drag should never be underestimated.

'I am forever evolving,' Texas queen Asia O'Hara explains. 'I believe every queen on this tour is. We're artists and our looks reflect what is going on in our worlds at that exact moment.'

O'Hara's background in pageants prepared her well for the competitive nature of the show, but her optimism and kindness towards her fellow drag sisters made her a clear fan favourite from the start of her season. 'I loved every second of my time on Drag Race!' she says. 'Well, okay, the finale with the butterflies wasn't my finest moment. But overall, the experience was more than I could have imagined it would be. It's led to so much … a music single, countless photo shoots, and shows around the world.'

The butterfly stunt in the finale may have knocked her out of the running for the season 10 crown, but multiple memes and social media jokes around the incident later, O'Hara remains a firm pillar of the drag community with her big-hearted personality continuing to shine through.

'Queens are born; they're not made,' she notes when asked about her influence in the drag world. 'It's not necessary to be a queen unless you truly believe God intended you to be one. The people that come to the shows are true fans of the art of drag. They really embrace all the queens and the love is mutual.'

So what can audiences expect from this new show?

'The 2019 show is bigger than anything we've ever done before,' O'Hara says. 'The production is over the top, the looks are fierce and the costumes are flawless. Every queen is out to prove why she reigns supreme and the audience is left gagging.

'Our hope is that you appreciate and respect the art of drag for what it is and if you're willing to come and experience our show, we hope you enjoy it. Drag continues to grow and thrive. I believe the best is yet to come for drag. If you want to see a preview of what queens will be werking in 2019 and beyond, get your butt over to Werq the World when the tour plays in a theatre near you.'

Drag Race has certainly catapulted the world of drag into the forefront of popular culture, and each of the queens on the tour have their unique elements which they work into the show to create something special.

As O'Hara summarises, 'It's a spectacle. It's colourful. It's fabulous. It's art.'

RuPaul's Drag Race: Werq The World Tour, Edinburgh Playhouse, Mon 6 May; SEC Glasgow, Fri 17 May.