The final decision is hers and hers alone, as we have all learned throughout the entertaining eight Seasons of Rupaul’s Drag Race. Rupaul Charles, the matriarch of Queens, reserves all the glory for crowning the winners in her very capable hands. This Season Rupaul took responsibility for selecting Bob The Drag Queen to reign supreme over her bevy of beauties, all hand-selected by Rupaul herself, and all destined to contribute to the now, often phrased, drag herstory. Bringing her own brand of charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, Bob (Christopher Caldwell) hails from New York City and, at the age of 30, has been tossed into the whirlwind of performing dates, interviews and press junkets that has become customary for all Drag Race winners.
With the ever-apparent noise of an airport holding area, Bob took some time to speak with me as he waited for his flight home from San Jose to New York City. "I have never had to schedule phone calls before," he giggles as I ask how his life has changed since his win. "My life is more organized," he says. "There is more structure and a strict schedule, and I enjoy that".
Bob’s purse first schtick has led him to conquer the talents of Kim Chi (San-Young Shin from Chicago) and Naomi Smalls (Davis Heppenstall from Redlands, California). Bob’s original drag name was so often forgotten he thought he would simplify it and, at the same time, be original.
"I am genuinely warm and kind," he reminds me. His victory, he believes, is grounded in these personality traits. "Winning Rupaul’s Drag Race is more than I had ever envisioned. I want to accomplish big things, and this win will certainly support that pursuit."
The 30-year-old drag performer has already illustrated he will do just that. In May of this year his new single "Purse First" debuted on YouTube. An homage to his catch phrase, coined during Season 8, the music video is representative of his personal style and his lifelong obsession. As a youth, Bob made purses and wallets out of newspaper and gave them to friends and family, but the Purse First mantra did not begin there. "It began entirely on the show because I had extra time after making my dress; I made the purse. And the rest is history. I liked the purse and carried it around everywhere. It then became this whole thing," he laughs.
"RuPaul has done more for the GLBT community than any other show in the history of television," Bob says. "It has displayed Drag Queens as people, but not in a Maury Povich kind of way. Moms are bringing their children to tapings of the show," he laughs.
Times are changing indeed. As a college drop out in Theatre Education, Bob is proof that a little hard work and determination can lead to success.
When asked about the stereotype that all gay men are cross dressers or drag queens he retorts, "There is nothing wrong with the stereotype: feminity is a powerful force and yet femininity is not powerful in a man." He appears confused by the contradiction and, from his tone, expects that his point has been made.
Bob is motivated by the crazy he finds in the profession. "Grow always, grow all ways," he says. "I have learned a great deal through drag, especially about people and the society we live in. The first time I got on a train in drag everyone stopped and stared and I had not a clue what to say. Drag draws attention to our cause, and can even have influence on political candidates," he reminds.
"It doesn’t take a great deal to help out someone or a particular cause. Sharing a story or anecdote on Facebook, or standing up for a colleague, is all that it takes to change the world slightly. Ten dollars can go a great deal further when used towards a cause rather than used by me."
Known for wit and colloquialisms, served up with a voice more matter-of-fact than Rupaul herself, he goes on to say, "Everything works out in the end, and if it’s not working out, then it’s not the end."
Bob’s appearances span the globe with club dates in early July that include Atlanta, Minneapolis and Buffalo, to month-end appearances taking him to Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester (and yes, those are UK extravaganzas).
A relative newbie to the drag scene, Bob touts only seven years under his belt. "I have learned a lot through drag," he shares. "My first time on stage was a train wreck. When riding the subway in full drag, commuters pointed, stared and giggled. I loved drawing attention to myself." It was the beginning of a career that found him competing in the Kentucky Derby of Drag competitions.
"There is no one more at the top of her craft than Rupaul," he says. "She looks far better than most supermodels."
Having been to Canada twice, he shares that he looks forward to his return to our fair land. The consummate businessman vows to turn around his college drop out reputation and take this scene by storm!
