“RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 18 winner Myki Meeks wants negative fans to back off queens: ‘Bitch, lighten up’ (exclusive)

Key Points

• Myki Meeks exclusively speaks to Entertainment Weekly moments after being crowned America’s Drag Superstar.

• The RuPaul’s Drag Race season 18 winner emotionally breaks down her ascent to the throne.

• She also reacts to the biggest moments of the season, from her Rate-A-Queen drama to meeting her Snatch Game celebrity Drew Barrymore.

Myki Meeks has officially traveled from the bottom of the barrel as a savagely wronged Rate-A-Queen victim to the top of the pack as the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 18.

The Orlando-based drag entertainer is the latest inductee into the RuPaul’s Drag Race winner’s circle, after rising through the season 18 ranks to win the last three main challenges in a row before taking the crown — and a $200,000 check.

Now, after courting fan affection with her ace impression of Drew Barrymore on Snatch Game to stunning on the runway in the Drag Family Resemblance challenge, Myki exclusively speaks with Entertainment Weekly moments after her coronation, dishing on the charisma, uniqueness, nerve, talent, and — as her self-made lip-sync number at the top of the finale professed — versatility that won her the crown.

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Read on for Myki’s exclusive winner interview with EW.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: After overcoming the Rate-A-Queen disaster, you’re now the first “BOWLICIOUS,” first “Miranda-Cosgrove-Type-of-White,” and first Disney Adult to win RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Hang on now. I think Ginger [Minj] got that title!

How does it feel to break down those barriers for representation?

We need representation for everybody, so if I have to be that type of, “Are you Asian?” type of representation, I’ll take it.

What would Drew Barrymore say about this victory?

[Does Drew Barrymore impression] Myki, this is just so incredible. I knew it was going to happen. I knew it, I knew it.

Do you have any unrevealed tea or backstage moments with Drew or experiences with her when you went on her show earlier this year?

I did tell her, you need to be a guest judge. She was like, “I know, I can’t believe I’ve never done it.” I would love to see her on the show. Maybe season 19, we’ll see.

Do you think you convinced her?

I think so! I think she’s now part of the Drag Race lexicon.

What’s the craziest DM you’ve received from a fellow Drag Race queen during your time on season 18? Anything particularly wild or shocking?

Plane Jane has messaged me some incendiary things just to say hello. I’m like, you can just say hello! Bob the Drag Queen did message me in the middle of the season, “Are you Asian?” Unfortunately, no. Me and Miranda Cosgrove and Björk!

Is there anything you’d like to say now to any review show queens or show alums? Did you have any issues with anyone’s commentary through the season?

Yeah, I just think that everyone’s been through this. I feel like the alumni, no shade, is voicing their opinion to a fanbase that validates the negativity. I’m now going to be on the other side, so maybe I’ll see that it’s more fun to do that, I just thought we could’ve had a little bit more grace, especially in a time when everything is rage bait.

Discord Addams had some choice words for Law Roach this season. Now that you don’t have to kiss the judges’ butts, what did you think of how the judging played out this season? 

It worked in my favor. It wasn’t always shown, but Michelle did always have a critique for me. She didn’t have critiques for Jane! You could tell she wants the most out of you, I could tell where it was coming from. As for Law Roach, I think he’s really good at what he does, he knows how to get people talking and he knows how to make a moment out of his time being there. If he was to say something as rude as he did to Discord? Discord is the one who can brush it off. But, I think they both did what they were asked to do.

Miley Cyrus was on this episode. Did you have any backstage moments with Miley or any moments of connection while filming the finale?

We did not know Miley was there until we walked out for that final lip-sync. They were like, Miley Cyrus is here! She was our No. 1 cheerleader, she was screaming with us. I remember she looked at my outfit as she walked out like, oh, yes. Fun fact, me and Miley Cyrus go way back. I saw Miley Cyrus perform at Typhoon Lagoon the week of the Hannah Montana before. I love you Miley, I’ve known you for a long time. Then I went into the wave pool and knocked a tooth because I was so tiny and the wave hit me. [I lost a tooth] for Miley Cyrus, yeah. Can I say something kind of serendipitous? My best friend Galvin, he’s the DJ at my local show, he closes every DJ set out with “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. And who was there to close out season 18? Miley Cyrus.

Who do you think was the most undeserved elimination/or robbed queen of the season?

I do think Jane [Don’t] deserved to be in the top. I believe that Athena [Dion] had more to show as well. And DD Fuego!

We’re seeing drag queens and trans people come under attack from the current presidential administration, people like Libs of TikTok and Rep. Nancy Mace are targeting your sisters like Kenya Pleaser who are performing on college campuses. As the reigning crowned queen, how do you think your constituents and fans should respond to attacks like this? How can we combat this?

I think it needs to go beyond just social media protests. We need to be really making the impact with our politicians and making sure we’re showing up to these town halls and letting them know how we feel. Republicans, a lot of politicians are playing into the hands of people who fund them, and they’re not good people. They’re targeting a very tiny population in this whole country who aren’t doing anything wrong. What are you dealing with inside to think you can incite people to hate on a very small minority? I think it’s human nature to do so, but as a queer community, we’ve been through everything, so we’ve got to continue fighting. For the young people out there, the community is out there, we’ll welcome you with open arms. The more we can use our voice to fight against the hate, the better our country will be…. I’m from Florida, I’ve seen it all. Lost a tooth in Florida, it’s in that wave pool somewhere!

Whose winner trajectory would you most like to emulate?

I would love to emulate Sasha Velour’s. I think she’s someone who already knew what she wanted out of the show and was able to produce and direct her own future with the platform that Drag Race gave her. She’s a big inspiration.

Anything else you want to say now that you’re America’s Drag Superstar?

I hope to continue to make everybody proud and show you that I do this, and I love doing it. I want to continue to inspire and gain the respect of those before me, and create a platform for others to join in on, because drag is fun. For those who spread continuous whatever online? Bitch, lighten up, it’s a drag show. Have a good time. Put a wig on, change your life.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly