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Here's To Latrice

Jason A. Michael

She is large and in charge, chunky yet funky. Yes, the one and only Latrice "Mother Fucking" Royale is coming to town. The drag diva – and "RuPaul's Drag Race" favorite – will be starring in a one-woman show called "Here's To Life" at the Baldwin Theatre in Royal Oak on March 10. The show chronicles Royale's early years, the period she refers to as her "unfortunate incarceration," and her heady days on "Drag Race" and beyond. Royale sings live in the show and will be signing CDs afterward.
That's right – Royale has branched out. Since becoming a break-out star on "Drag Race" – she appeared on the show's fourth season, as well as "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" and the spin off series "RuPaul's Drag U" – Royale has bloomed. In February alone she crisscrossed the country to perform shows in San Francisco, Atlanta, Mexico City and a few points in between. She's also performed internationally, appeared in a documentary ("South Beach on Heels"), released a few dance tracks (including the smash hit "Weight" in 2014) and even become an ordained minister and begun officiating at wedding ceremonies.
Yes, chile, Ms. Royale does it all. But she's never too busy for her fans and graciously took time out to speak to Between The Lines from Hollywood, Florida, her home base, between rehearsals for her new show.
Royale was born in California and grew up on the mean streets of Compton. "It was very tough," Royale recalled. "It was very hard, and I endured a lot of things that no kid should have to endure. But I got through it the best way I knew how and I kept moving."
After being unexpectedly outed to her family by her brother, Royale moved east. She stopped first in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where she studied dance and color guard, before moving on to Florida. Drag was a natural extension of Royale's love of performing. Her career as a female impersonator, however, got off to a rocky start. Royale entered her first drag contest, which took place at the Copa in Ft. Lauderdale, as a dare. Needless to say, she wasn't among the winners at the end of the night.
"They gave me a fashion citation and a drink ticket," said Royale with a laugh. "It was horrible. Horrible."
But it ignited a spark in Royale, and she didn't let her early disappointment discourage her from pressing on and perfecting her craft. Fast forward 15 years and Royale had become so successful she landed herself a spot on a television show.
"Going on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' was a whim," Royale said. "I just sent them an email talking shit and I got a response. I wrote them on a Tuesday and got a call on Thursday and they wanted my video in by Monday. So I did it. I made it happen and I got picked the first go 'round."
Royale had been a fan the show. But soon enough she found out how different being on the show was from simply viewing it.
"Watching it, you don't get the whole story," Royale explained. "You get a slice-and-dice version of what we actually go through and endure. So it looks very effortless on television when you're sitting at home. But in reality, oh my god, it was the most stressful, mentally challenging and exhausting experience that I've ever gone through.
"No one can prepare you for what you're going to go through," Royale continued. "There's a lot of soul-searching that goes on because you have nobody there but you to rely on. So if you go in there scared, it's going to chew you up and spit you out. And it's going to show up on camera. Everybody's going to see it. But if you're confident and you know who you are and you're strong, that's also going to show. So it's up to you how it's going to play out."
Despite the challenges and stress of the show, including those vicious critiques by the judges, Royale began to hit her stride.
"I understood what the purpose was, and what my purpose was, and I was able to share my story and everything that I had gone through in my life basically all made sense," said Royale. "I had that 'aha' moment when you realize you're in the right place at the right time and this is what your purpose is, to inspire and to let people know what you've gone through and to hopefully help somebody. So once I got my head around that I was really ready to go. I was ready to fly."
After her run on the show – Royale made the top four – an opportunity arose for the entertainer to cash in on her newly found fame. And Royale wasted no time in seizing it.
"I've always been a business woman first and foremost," she said. "I've always been business-minded when it came to my career. I just knew that I needed a platform because I already had a plan … and 'RuPauls's Drag Race' was that platform."
Still, not all the contestants who appear on the show manage to morph their exposure into a successful career. "It really is all on you to find out what you're going to do," said Royale. "Some girls flourish and others fall by the wayside. You have to have a big picture in mind in order to be successful. If you don't have a bigger picture and goals, then you're just going to fly by the seat of your pants. You always have to be ahead of yourself because that's the only way you're going to stay relevant."
And you best believe, Royale plans to stay relevant. Her motto? "Diversity is the key to capturing an audience."
"If you don't have something different and fresh, you can take something old and give it a new spin," Royale said. "But you've got to change up the gig to fit into any situation given. I can go from the White House to the whore house, baby, but either which way you're going to be fully entertained and you're going to get a professional. So that really is the key: to change it up and keep people interested in what you're going to do next."
Luckily for Royale, she has help in keeping her show fresh in the form of her personal assistant and romantic partner, Christopher Hamblin. "My love life is amazing with a capital 'A'-mazing," said Royale. "I am with the love of my life. He's absolutely wonderful and supportive. I'm very grateful. I've finally found my partner, someone that I can grow with. And that has been my lifelong dream. So I'm kind of living my dream right now, and it's really amazing. It's kind of like putting all the dots together and making it a full circle."

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