Latrice Royale and Sasha Velour on why HBO's 'We're Here' matters (2024)

There are a lot of conversations—and a few pieces of legislation—attempting to limit access to drag performers. But the HBO Max reality series We're Here aims to facilitate those conversations. "It feels like the mainstream keeps trying to deny [drag artists]," says Sasha Velour, one of the show's co-hosts alongside Latrice Royale, Jaida Essence Hall and Priyanka, all former contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race. On the series, they travel to small towns, inspire a community and put on a show. Latrice hopes that when they leave, "they will have the hard conversations and know that there's no pride in backing down." While not everyone they met was welcoming, it didn't deter them. Sasha said some people "wanted nothing to do with any conversation with us. But we're gonna keep trying because that's what a conversation takes: reason and heart." In the end, it's all about finding your tribe. "You can make a home anywhere, all you need is just a couple [of] people like you, and you got a community," Sasha said. "If you got a community, you can do all kinds of things."

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Editor's Note: This conversation has been edited and condensed for publication.

Why do you think We're Here is so important right now?

Latrice Royale: It is definitely putting a spotlight on and a mirror on our country right now. It is shining light on a demographic that a lot of us in different areas of the country that are maybe from L.A. or, they can't identify with these rural areas, [We're Here] lets them know that this is where it starts. This is where the wildfire starts and the trauma and drama starts. And meeting the opposition head on and going straight to the source is so important. This is where we get to dig deep and get to the root of it and dispel the myths and misinformation and the lies and the deceit. And so that's why We're Here is so important. Because my sister right here [Sasha Velour], is gonna hit you with the heart, the facts and let you know. When she says, "Actually...," you already know.

Sasha Velour: I've been blaming Latrice for this statement all day, but when she said you don't want to pick a fight with a drag queen, because we do not back down in the face of injustice and misinformation, that was the truth. I guess I discovered a spicier side of myself when faced with lies, of quicker thinking than I thought I was capable of. And I tried to appeal to people's reason, Latrice speaks to their heart, some of these people didn't have a bit of either. They really wanted nothing to do with any conversation with us. But we're gonna keep trying because that's what a conversation takes: reason and heart.

What sort of conversations do you hope people will have about drag after y'all leave town?

Latrice Royale: Hopefully, they will have the hard conversations and the tough conversations, and know that there's no pride in backing down. I hope that leaving them [the people made over in the show] with that drive and motivation and courage that they know they can do it without and that is going to continue without us.

Sasha Velour: I think for some of them it was it was a surprise to discover how much support there was in the community. If you organize and you really are kind of a little intense about spreading the word and telling people they have to show up to support drag, they will rally. I think even following what happened in Tennessee after we left, the continued attempts to have more drag at Pride, to have a drag show. Getting to see that showed me maybe one night of a really good drag show can give people a bit of optimism and a bit of hope that keeps things moving, keeps the foot on the pedal.

Were you ever intimidated to go into some of these communities where people have been very vocally anti-drag?

Latrice Royale: When we finished at the biker bar, that was the only time I was like, "Oh, Lord." That was quickly laid to rest when they were so welcoming and so cool. So I learned a lesson then—don't judge a book by its cover.

Sasha Velour: I just like feel like we've all gotten to a place where we refuse to feel that. So much of our lives were that, and I guess they could still be because we don't look like we fit in a lot at the time. But I've learned you can make a home anywhere, all you need is just a couple people like you—and those exist everywhere in the world—and you got a community. And if you got a community, you can do all kinds of things. I think we live that every day in surprising places. And so no, I'm not gonna give in to that fear. That's what other people want.

Considering this is the first time you've been involved in We're Here, what do you think you in particular bring to the show?

Latrice Royale: Because of the unique perspective that we each possess, it blends and means that it works well together. We play off each other really well. With our approach to situations, Priyanka is very inquisitive and she had a lot of great questions. And then when we get really horrible answers, we have Sasha, who is very liberal and gets them with the hardcore facts. And then there's me trying to make sense of it all. I'm the heart. So, it's a good blend, and I feel like that's why the show feels fresh. We're just trying to breathe new life, so to speak, and help this grow. Because this show is so important.

Sasha Velour: I would also add, Latrice is the greatest lip-sync artist I have ever witnessed and truly has taught so many of us what a powerhouse performance in drag looks like. And I think having that knowledge, but also with the openness that each person's drag should be their own. It really is exciting because I think there's a level of drag performance this season that feels fresh to me to watch. I have my own style, and Priyanka is like a pop superstar, and Jaida [Essence Hall] is such a high-energy talent, but with so much heart and so genuine with her connections. We all do drag a little differently than the previous group, and it's all valid. But we love variety. Make sure you put that in here. [laughs]

Sasha, considering your drag is very Brooklyn, more art focused, how do you find that relatability with your drag in some of these smaller cities?

Sasha Velour: See, I'm a very old school drag queen, I'm just hideous and this is all I can pull off. I have a reverence for all the things that drag is. I just believe each person needs to bring their own unique preferences. Like none of us should be embodying a cliche of what drag is all about. That's the opposite of what this whole art and our community stands for. It's all about being true to yourself and fulfilling your own fantasies. I guess mine tend to be whatever they are, a little Nosferatu, a little tribute to my mom and all of her discoveries of what being a woman meant to her. I just tried to meet each of my drag kids where they were and make sure that the drag that they did and that I got to do alongside them felt right to them. And if it did, then it was a success. I can do anything, you can do anything.

What's a moment from this season that stands out to you as pure fun?

Latrice Royale: I mean, Sasha in this drag king look with this whole muscle man [look], so over-the-top ridiculous. We look like Biggie Smalls going duck hunting. I was so out of my element. Priyanka, I don't know what she was trying to go for.

Sasha Velour: Like Joe Dirt but as gay as possible.

Latrice Royale: That for me was the most fun because we were ridiculous, but we knew we were. But that's the extreme that you sometimes have to go to to show the humor and that it's not so serious all the time. It's not that deep.

Sasha Velour: I do have to agree with that. The way everyone was just clinging to Latrice. They were obsessed. They couldn't stop touching you. You could have picked up every woman and maybe some of the men in that biker bar. Meanwhile, my body squelching with every move I made, it was so hot and I'm just in full silicone.

One of the things that RuPaul often says is that drag will never be mainstream. I'd love to get your thoughts on that.

Latrice Royale: Have you seen the Housewives of anything? These girls are in full drag beat. Baby, no woman is walking around like that for real. Drag has influenced pop culture in a way that no other thing has. Just the fact that us girls from RuPaul's Drag Race can tour the world just from a reality TV show. It's the only reality TV show in the world that the contestants are touring. Not even [American] Idol. Not The X Factor. None of 'em.

Sasha Velour: Not even Selling Sunset. [laughs] I kind of think drag has been mainstream many times before as well. Arguably, drag was once like all there was to theater, arguably the essence of spirituality and religion. So I don't know what the mainstream is, it feels like the mainstream keeps trying to deny us. Maybe we belong there making culture alongside everyone else.

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