Last night, the local press got to say "HIEEEE!" to the very iconic queen of Rupaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 2, as Alaska 5000 (Thunderf*ck) returns to Manila for a one-night-only show 'An Evening with Alaska' happening on August 29 at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura Premier.
Alaska spent the evening at the press conference to meet the Philippine media and held an entertaining Q&A session that dealt with topics like makeovers, her podcast, ghosting, and more.
Alaska 5000 is the stage name of Justin Honard, best known for competing in the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where she was a runner-up (she had previously
auditioned every season for the show).
Alaska later on returned to reality television for the second season of RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race, where she was crowned the winner. She has also pursued a music career, and has toured and performed consistenly, serving her looks all around the world.
Here are some highlights from the interview session held during the press conference:
What was it like to win All Stars Season 2, and how has joining Ru Paul's Drag Race changed your life?
"Well, I mean, as far as winning. I don't know. It was fine. [laughs] I don't know, I was going through so much in my life at that time, that it was like, okay, here's the biggest prize you could win as a drag performer. Here it is. And so, I don't know, I guess I thought it would cure all my problems or make me happy instantly, so I don't know. I'm much happier in my life now than I was back when that happened. And honestly, winning isn't that much different than losing. It really isn't. As far as Drag Race changing my life? Girl, it's a blessing and I'm just grateful everyday that I get to be part of that family. I love it. It changes all of our lives. So I'm grateful for that."
Have you ever ghosted someone, or became the ghostee? How do you deal with the person you ghosted or if you've been the ghostee, how do you move on?
"Listen, I've been ghosted plenty of times, but I've also ghosted plenty of times. Trust. The key to ghosting is just don't do it. Just don't respond to anything. And also that means, don't block them, because then that's too obvious that you noticed their existence. So you just don't do anything. Don't press any buttons regarding the person you ghosted. That's the key. Yeah, people ghost me all the time. My brother ghosts me sometimes… [laughs] "
What's your etiquette on sliding into someone's DMs? What do you do?
"I don't know! I don't do all that! Like, if I don't have somebody's phone number, like a drag queen, that I wanna work with them for a show or something, then I'll used DMs, and I hope that they don't ghost me, I hope they'll get back to me."
Which queen needs a makeover the most? If you'd have to do a makeover with one queen, who would it be?
"Oh gosh, that's so shady. Well, um, I would just love — okay. I think it's important and it's great to have really iconic makeup, so I love Bianca [del Rio] and Trixie [Mattel], they have these really cool makeup looks. But I'm just waiting for the photoshoot to come out where someone like, underpaints them and makes them just so [gasps] feminine, like no makeup? I'm waiting for that. But like, they can't do it because once they've done it, it's over! So they have to save it like for the cover of like, I don't know, Time magazine. It has to be a big deal. But I'm waiting for that."
Catch Alaska in her show 'An Evening with Alaska,' presented by LA Comedy Live, happening on August 29, 2019 at Samsung Hall, SM Aura Premier.
