Betsey Johnson didn’t hesitate to sissy that walk to the judges’ table on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
During the Friday, February 28, episode of the MTV reality show, the fashion designer served as a guest judge after contestants were asked to create an original outfit inspired by her.
“Well, I can’t say I dropped dead, but how much more of a blessing and a thank you can I get?” Johnson, 82, exclusively told Us Weekly of the moment she first learned about the task. “I said, ‘Are you sure?’ All through the show, I’m like, ‘Could you stop saying my name?’ This is so amazingly, unexpectedly, bizarrely great. I’m so lucky.”
Johnson has been a longtime supporter of RuPaul’s iconic reality show, which features a group of talented drag queens hoping to win the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar.
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Before guest judging on season 17, Johnson appeared in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars and supported RuPaul’s DragCon.
“I love drag queens. I should have been one myself, really. I think I am one,” Johnson joked to Us. “It’s always such a happy time, very nice people across the board. The show I love. I never taped a happier show all day with Michelle [Visage] and RuPaul. I’m so glad they like me and I love them. It’s a really good mix.”
Sadly, Johnson and the judges had to send a contestant home in Friday’s episode. According to the designer, it’s the “worst part” of the job.
“I’m terrible with that. I hate to disappoint anyone,” she said. “You know you have to pick someone to say ‘bye-bye’ to and it does become clear. It does get easier, because you want to be fair to everybody else, and you have to edit. But there’s definitely someone who doesn’t live up to the gig. That’s all we’re going to say.”
Johnson has been a longtime supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition to having transgender models on her runway beginning in the ’70s, she has consistently partnered with charities to raise funds and awareness for LGBTQIA+ causes.
Having RuPaul’s Drag Race continue to air on television is something Johnson firmly believes in.
“I think it’s very important that we accept everybody on the planet,” she said. “Go full speed ahead and keep on prancing.”
While Johnson isn’t ready to spill the tea on who wins big on the current season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, she’s happy to share what she thinks makes a great contestant.
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For starters, one must have positive energy and talent.
“They basically have to be really f—ing good,” she joked. “It boils down to, usually, hopefully, the person that wins is technically, logically, visually, obviously, the most talented, and I always think the show is very fair in terms of the winner. It’s pure. If you got the vibe, if you got the talent, if you got it, you get it. There’s no politics. It’s the nicest, sweetest, friendliest time.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race airs on MTV Fridays at 8 p.m. ET.
