At the time of our interview, in late December, Michelle Visage was a woman with many secrets that she could not tell. Not yet announced for Celebrity Big Brother in the UK, and sworn to secrecy about the taping last year of Season 7, she still had lots to say when we caught up over the phone. Visage comes to Calgary February 13^th and Edmonton February 14^th, and returns as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race March 2nd on OutTV.

"I am a Virgo and Italian – for me loyalty is everything. Our word is bond, so it is not hard to be quiet about things at all. It is always a joke with girls on the tour, because they will bring up names of people who I know are going to be on the show, and I go who? and they start cracking up. No matter who they say – whether they are on the show or not, or they know that I know them – I just say who? I am not ruining the magic. Sharon Needles doesn’t want to hear about it or know about it; she likes to be surprised and so do I."

Since the interview there have been several announcements about Season 7. Santino is off the regular judging panel, Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley join Ru and Michelle.

"Honestly I can’t say much because I am under contract and [of] my loyalty to the show. I can tell you from going through it, every season is different and I say every year it’s really different; it’s not like any other season. I feel like a dumbass because of course it is different – it is different girls. Every season has a different energy. Season 6 was so different for me, and Season 7 is even more so. It is amped up and they have made a lot of changes. I guess they felt it was time to switch things up a little bit. I think a lot of people are going to be happy and surprised; it is an eyegasm for sure. It is so beautiful to look at."

The guest judges were also a mystery. Season 7 will feature stars like Jessica Alba, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and John Waters, among others. There remain several stars that have yet to appear that fans and Michelle hope to see.

"There are always the standbys we would love to see, like Dolly Parton, Cher and Lady Gaga, who always tweets all the time when are you going to have me on? She is always the first one asked along with Madonna and the rest of the gay crew. When you tour 24/7, 365 days, it is almost impossible to be a guest judge. Every time we shoot Gaga is on tour. I would love more than anything to have these people guest judge. It is always a matter of scheduling, which is never easy with superstars."

As has been stated by several queens in our series of interviews leading up to BOTS, most of the queens in Season 7 are unknowns, even to Visage.

"I think that RuPaul looked at every single audition tape and she chooses these queens. She knows who is ready and right, and what RuPaul is looking for. There is always a method behind the madness for Ru. I leave that up to Ru and his judgment, because he knows what the fuck he’s doing. I knew of two or three of them before the show but I didn’t know them. So for me that was exciting. In seasons past I’ve known some girls. It doesn’t effect my judging when I know them; it’s my job on the show. For example, All-Stars. I am really good friends with Manilla and Raven and Ju Ju, but judging is judging. It was refreshing for me to say I’ve never seen 98 per cent of these girls. That is exciting to me. I don’t even know if they have connections to anybody, because I am not privy to their storylines. I see it at the same time you do and I like it that way."

What Visage does not like is when the queens do not come prepared. One such example is Trinity, who consistently complained about challenges in Season 6.

"I roll my eyes, which says it all – doesn’t it? Eye roll, eyebrow, get your shit together or girl, bye. We  know it may not be your thing. If I was on the show and had a sewing challenge I would bomb. But I would be damned if I was going to let anyone see me sweat, whine, bitch, complain or fail. I would do everything I could do with that hot glue gun and a fucking stapler. I would stick glue that shit together if I had to. You fought so hard to get there – you know there is snatch game – that you will have to act, you might have to sing and have to sew. You don’t go on Project Runway and go Oh my god I didn’t know I was going to have to do that challenge. You know what it is you are going to have to do! When a queen says it’s not their strong suite, we get it. But we don’t want to hear it. In the end, Trinity is a fierce queen and she pulled it out. It is about breaking it down and building it back up. It happens with everybody. Watch the cycle of them trying hard, failing, beating themselves up, and then rising from the ashes like a phoenix. It is amazing to watch, and so rewarding. She came out a victor."

When the Battle of the Seasons’ tour comes to Alberta, fans will see some of the top queens from the show perform. But for every superstar, there are others that have quickly faded to obscurity. It frustrates Visage to see people not take every advantage of the opportunity.

"When I get in a bad way or upset – and it takes a lot to ruffle my feathers – what ruffles my feathers the most is when I see a queen from our show not being humble or grateful. Our time in the world is so short lived. The fact of the matter is this: before the show, you were working in a bar for maybe $50 to $150 a night, plus tips, which is great. People are lucky to have a house bar. It ruffles my feathers when the girls blow their fans off, or have a fucking attitude, or are pissy or drunk... whatever the situation is. I try to remind them that the moment is now. It really is right now. If you don’t live in this moment it’s going to be gone tomorrow. I see our show going on another ten years. Does Logo? Does the world? That has yet to be seen. I think we have plenty of queens and lots of places we can take it. But what if the show ended tomorrow? Where would these girls be? What are they doing to further their lives and their careers? That is what I mean by living in the moment. There is a little bit of planning and practicality, but you are setting up your future by the way you act today. It has affected them all in different ways. Some of them take it and can’t handle it, and it goes up their nose, down their throat or to their head. Then there are the ones that realize they will never get this opportunity again. They save every penny, work their ass off, and never complain. It is really up to the girl on how she takes it, and I am usually there to be the annoying black crow on their shoulder saying you’re fucking up – don’t do this. I can only say my piece when I am with them, and hopefully they get the point to do the right thing, but they are all adults in the end. It has affected them in every way possible and is the single best thing that is going to happen to them in their career as a drag queen. Then it is up to them to see how they can prolong it and take it to the next step, like a RuPaul or a Dame Edna."

As host of the show, Visage has many roles to play.

"I am the glue. That is the best way to put it. Somebody has got to hold them together and be able to tell it like it is. These kids are talented, but they are also artists, and sometimes they get into their own head and can’t pull themselves out of it. They had a good performance and are on a high, or a performance they weren’t too happy about and they come down too hard on themselves. I am a mom to them on the road, but also the ringleader, and glue that holds it all together. I do it because of my passion and love for the art of drag. This is my best friend’s show and I am representing it. I am out there on the campaign trail. I want people to get the right message, and going out the right way that they are understanding the message we are bringing. It is important to me to see the reactions of the fans and how this show, and the art form of drag, changes lives. I have been involved in the community since I was 17 years old. Drag queens were the pariahs. They were the jokes and outcasts of the community. To see my best friend do a complete 180 on how the world looks at drag has been so rewarding for me to be a part of it. Why wouldn’t I do it? I love what I do and what these kids do. They are so incredibly gifted and talented; being able to be around that energy and magic keeps me going. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Yeah, there are movies and TV and Broadway and all of that, but doing this on a day to day basis is a blessing."

She is excited to meet fans.

"One thing I see, especially in Europe, is they try to push them through quickly. I tell owners, before I do my Meet and Greets, that I don’t do the one second picture and throw them out. I like to talk to people, ask their name, hug them; look them in the eyes when I talk to them. You always get that when you meet me. The cocktail party is so wonderful because we almost come in waves. I am usually the first one there and the last one to get out because I can be. The queens have to change their looks after the party, but they spend time and we are hanging out. It is lovely, and a very different atmosphere than your standard meet and greet."

A few tickets remain in both cities... the countdown is on! Visage promises a night you won’t forget.

"This is unlike anything you have ever seen. You have some of the best performers ever to grace the RuPaul’s Drag Race screen – all on one stage doing multiple numbers. It is a night you will never forget. It is worth every penny; you get eight girls in one show! You are going to be so happy and remember it forever. This is taking the bar show to another level: to a theatre production. It is a two-hour plus show at the theatre, video elements, live performances – most of these kids sing live and you get to see their true talent and that’s what I love about it. It isn’t just getting up there and lip-synching and collecting dollars. It is showing their craft. It is like going to see Lady Gaga or Madonna. Not at that level, I am not that asinine, the bravado is not that large. I can tell you I am really proud of them and what they do every day. I am constantly blown away. If I had tear ducts, I would have tears in my eyes."