The X Change Rate: Dashaun Wesley, Leiomy Maldonado & Ongina

In "The X Change Rate," award-winning drag queen, entertainer and TV personality Monét X Change brings her signature wit, heart and style to BUILD Series. Dashaun Weesley and Leiomy Maldonado of HBO Max's "Legendary," as well as drag queen Ongina, sat down to chat with the lovely host.

Video Transcript

[THEME MUSIC]

MONET X CHANGE: Hey, y'all. It's your girl, Monet, and you're watching "The X Change Rate," a talk show that's sure to make the hairs on Jackie Cox's chin stand up. Today is gonna be legendary, because we're chatting with two of the stars from their hit show, Dashaun and Leiomy.

Then later, the "RuPaul's Drag Race" veteran Ongina is stopping by to dish about the scolding reviews she said about some of her castmates. Miss thing, [CHUCKLES]. But first, let's get into the gig. Hit it!

Now, listen, now as the cities have began to reopen, like, I feel like the world is, like, finally, like, getting back to some sense of normalcy. Like, I'm seeing pictures of people on beaches, people going out to brunch. I will say the other day I was biking in Harlem-- not gonna stay where-- but I was biking by a restaurant-- and keep in mind, New York is still on phase one. We are not like Florida that never left phase four, OK? We are still on phase one.

And I was driving down a very popular avenue, and in a restaurant, people were, like, sitting in the restaurant drinking cocktails. Like, that is against the rules, against the law. But at the same time, we were all just 50,000 people marching in the street together. So it's like, what is wrong-- well, that was for a good thing. Y'all are just in the bar kiki-ing, kaka-ing for fun.

And now ain't about fun. Now is about social distancing. And if we keep it up, we're gonna end up like Florida. Florida, since they opened their beaches-- they have 2,000 new cases, girl. Like, we cannot be this crazy, people. We cannot go back to the old way of life.

We have to keep on pressing forward. And I'm pressing forward by staying at home. And I told y'all I'm-- I'm like reorganizing my apartment. I am Marie Kondo-ing. I am feng shuing. I attempted to put-- to mount my TV to my wall. If you see my Instagram, I'm always videotaping that big TV in my living room. Well, I tried to put it on the wall.

I got me a little wall mount. And I-- bitch, I got literally-- I held up one screw of the box. I was like, oh, hell no. So I called a task rabbit. He came by.

He was very hot. He was very funny. He hung it up. And then-- here's where it gets juicy. So I was kind of like flirting the whole time. I'd be like, oh yeah, I can help you lift that. I can help you with that screwdriver, sir.

And then he left. Yada, yada, yada, he didn't take the bait, or so I thought. Then I get a text. I'm gonna read the text-- the text message to y'all. Hey, it's me. By any chance did I forget my small white box? Question mark.

And I said, yeah, there's a small white box here. You want to come get it? And he says, yes, I really need it, but I'm not around. Will give you a call before. I said, OK. Then he never responded.

And then two days later, I was like, hey, I still have that white box. You need it today? And he never responded. That's so sad, girl. I thought that was gonna be my thing. I was so, so, so excited. I'm like, here we are. So mister TV man, if you're out there, you know who it is.

And-- yeah, and we also have the first black bachelor on the eve of-- this is the eve of Juneteenth. We finally have a black bachelor. So life is going great. Everything is good in the hood in Wakanda. And speaking of Wakanda, Beyonce is about to be part of Wakanda, because she is about to be your new Storm, or so we think.

So the rumor is-- not the rumor is Beyonce has signed a deal with Disney, a $100 million deal, for three things with Disney. So now everyone is speculating that it's "Black Panther 2," but I cannot imagine a reality of Beyonce playing Storm. Like, no shade.

We-- y'all know I love Beyonce. That's my girl. I love her. Beyonce is not a Storm. Beyonce would not do that role justice. Like, Halle Berry's a way better actress than Beyonce. I mean, she's Oscar winning. And Halle Berry was a bad Storm, but then it's like, was that the script? Was it Halle Berry? I don't know.

I just know that I don't want to-- there's not a reality that I want Beyonce to play Storm. She did Nala. That was not great. I did like her in "Obsessed." Did y'all like "Obsessed" when she played the wife of-- of Idris Elba and that crazy white lady was trying to kill them?

So she was good in that. And I liked her in "Cadillac Records." That's another controversial opinion, but I thought Beyonce was great in "Cadillac Records." She played Ella Fitzgerald. It was so good, but I don't want her to play Storm. Like, no, that is not what the culture needs.

They're saying that, as part of the deal, they are also trying to get her team to agree to have Beyonce voicing some of the new documentaries coming to Disney+. Now, they're doing this because Meghan Markle just voiced for the elephant documentary they did. And I could hear Beyonce do that.

I listened to her give that commencement address to the class of 2020. And it just like-- the whole thing is just like this, and it just 10 minutes of Beyonce like, and you can do it. And I know that you have the power. Like, girl, say my name, or just-- or just-- and-- and that was kind of like Nala, too. And Nala was just kind of sitting there like, yeah, Simba, we shouldn't go there. Uh-oh, uh-- I just-- it just didn't work for me.

So I don't think-- I don't see Beyonce as that. The only thing-- other thing I could see Disney probably using her as-- y'all know the Hercules-- the live action is coming. She might be one of the muses. I wouldn't be mad as Beyonce as the head muse. It's not my number one choice, but I would not be mad at it. So maybe that's what she's doing. So it obviously has to do with "Hercules." Like I-- one would assume.

But you know, Beyonce's worth for $400 million. Just to put it into perspective, she earned $81 million dollars in 2019, and she was number 41 on the list of richest women. I mean, number 51. Who are these other-- how much are these people making? That makes me think, like, girl, people are fucking rich in this country. That means 49 million people-- 49 people more-- more than Beyonce made way much more money. That is cray cray.

Her and Jay-Z together are worth $1.3 billion, though, compared to Kim and Kanye's $510 million. So [LAUGHS] I kind of feel good about that. Yes! Black money matters.

But you know what don't matter? The fucking police budgets. And we're about to shut them down as-- if you-- unless you've been living under a rock, defund the police has been trending for weeks now. And it's causing a lot of people to ask a lot of questions, including Meghan McCain.

So on "The View"-- Kamala Harris was a guest on "The View," and Meghan McCain kept on pressing her about what defund the police means. Like, she is like-- she's like-- she was-- Meghan said, this is something that is new to me, but I assume it's removing the police.

That is literally not what defunding the police means. Like, and I'm-- Meghan McCain has the entire staff of "The View" at her beck and call. OK, not the entire staff, but y'all know what I mean-- the producers and stuff to, like, help explain these things to her. So I'm like, girl, you can figure out what defunding the police actually means.

So-- so-- so Kamala Harris responded, and she said, there is a need to reimagine how we do public safety in America. And she brought up some really good points of what defunding the police actually means. Like, it's like, in most cities, over one third of a city's budget is-- goes towards the police. Y'all know what that means?

In most-- in some cities, that means $250 million. Like in the LAPD, $250 million will be directed to black communities. And the Minneapolis-- they have-- they have started the process of disbanding the police department. And again, that means-- a lot of it means taking the funds that you are giving to police, and using it in-- using it in-- in-- in other ways and other communities in other ways to best help you and me instead of buying them riot gear and buying shit that they don't fucking need.

There's no reason why police should be walking around a community in full on war gear. Like, there is literally no need. You know what I mean? So that's-- those are the things that-- that-- that-- that are thought of when you say defunding the police.

So Sunny Hostin chimed in, and she said it means taking some of the funds that are typically one third of the budget of a city, and giving some of those funds to service things like education and mental health resources. Like the San Francisco PD-- they will no longer use police to respond to non-criminal calls, i.e. mental health, homelessness, school discipline, neighbor disputes. Like, how many videos have you seen online of police being called to a school for kids fighting or whatever, and you see these, like, grown-ass police officers body slamming, choke slamming, holding guns to 13 and 14-year-olds.

Like, there is literally no need for that. So things like that are what people mean when they say defunding the police-- taking the police and police money out of-- out of certain situations so that they don't escalate and make them bad, you know? One of my things I think they should do is that, if you are a police officer who is convicted of homicide, or murder, or whatever, or-- or some egregious crime, they-- that money that is going to service the family or whatever comes directly from your pension fund. I bet you-- I bet you you won't see them doing that shit no more.

If we are taking the money directly from their pension, from their retirement, oh, we would see police crimes decrease substantially. I will-- I will bet you this iPhone XS Max that that would happen. But yeah, so those are some of the things that I think can be done by defunding the police.

And someone who is about to defund Conde Nast-- well, he-- he's on a personal mission to do that, but he's making some-- he is speaking out. Girl, I'm gonna tell you, this Black Lives Matter movement-- people are speaking up. Andre Leon Talley-- if you don't who Andre Leon Talley-- this is him right here.

He's known for always being-- being in these, like, elaborate dusters or pashminas, or coats with like the gray little Afro, or like the glasses, or having that, like, Louis Vuitton box thingy. Like, that is Andre Leon Talley. He is like a permanent fixture in fashion when you think of fashion.

So he is calling out Anna Wintour for her statements addressing this-- the discriminatory culture at "Vogue," and he did so during the Sirius XM "Sandyland" show with Sandra Bernhard. Oh, Sandra Bernhard is that (SINGING) you're so vague you probably think this song is about you. Well, her show.

By the way, who still listens to Sirius? Like, who-- maybe it's because we're in New York City, and we don't, like, typically drive cars, but I guess if you, like, have a car, you probably have a subscription. And I know we just had somebody from Sirius, but I mean, who listens to Sirius?

Anyway, so he addressed it all on her show. And he compared it to the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's apology, which he never mentioned Colin Kaepernick and saying that they were wrong, but, like, not really. And he's like-- Andre is saying that you need-- Anna needs to name what your mistakes were and own up to it.

And he-- this-- this is what he fully said. I want to say one thing. Dame Anna Wintour is a colonial broad, which is an Andre Leon Talley way of calling her a bitch. She's a colonial dame. She's part of an environment of colonialism. She is entitled, and I do not think she will ever let anything get in the way of her white privilege.

Damn, girl. That is pretty heavy. He is-- he is-- he is taken the Black Lives Matter motto "get off our necks" to take your Manolo stiletto off my neck. This is pretty scathing.

The backstory is that Anna-- why do I keep on calling her Anna, like Elsa and Anna? Very "Let it Go." "Frozen." Get it, "Frozen." Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley fell out because he was dismissed from his job of hosting-- like, he used to host the Met Gala. Like, that was his thing, but they hired some like 20-something year old YouTube influencer.

And of course Andre took great offense to it. I'm sure he hosted the Met Gala for years. It was probably the-- obviously it's one of the biggest fashion moments of the year in the world. So, like, taking her out of it-- I mean, taking him out of it-- like, it was probably really shady. And to go with some, like, 20-something something year old influencer who probably has no I-- who does not, like, have the vast knowledge of fashion that Andre has-- of course that's offensive. And it's shady, shady, shady, shady.

He said, I had suddenly become too old, too overweight, too uncool, I imagined, for Anna. And his-- he has a memoir out, and he talks about all of the micro and macro aggressions from Anna Wintour. He said that he was bullied by her into a weight loss program-- by her and Oscar de la Renta, who is-- Oscar de la Renta did that really-- the one in the "Sex and the City" movie when Carrie Bradshaw had the red flower in her hair. That was-- that was an Oscar de la Renta dress.

He also said at one event he was forced to hold her purse, and later she accused him of stealing her phone. Why would Andre Leon Talley want to steal your phone? Like, in what weird-- like, it just doesn't make any sense.

Again, these are all alleged. That-- he's saying these things happened. Anna Wintour has not commented on them, so we don't know if, from her side, that she's saying it's true, but these are what Andre is talking about.

The last thing I want to talk about is how the LGBTQ+ community is screaming right now because SpongeBob has just come out as part of our community, even though we've all been suspecting it for years. The show debuted in '99, and it's-- it's all so tongue in cheek. Like, Mr. Crabs is the general manager-- is the owner of the restaurant in Bikini Bottom. Like, people always thought that SpongeBob and Patrick were together.

They thought that SpongeBob and Squidward were ex lovers. People think that Sandy is a big old lesbian. But yeah, but SpongeBob is queer. And they posted this picture on Twitter, and I just want to congratulate my little sponge prince.

It is-- and I think it's a good look. It's such a beloved cartoon, and it just shows people that, you know, that LGBTQ+ inclusivity can be taught to kids at no detriment, or no-- or it is not this scary thing for children. Like, kids don't think twice about if SpongeBob is gay. They're just enjoying his character. They're enjoying TV, and they're consuming it in a very healthy way.

Another thing I love was on the show when Patrick and SpongeBob had to parent the little scallop together. Like, it was so cute, like a little same sex moment. So I've always loved the show, and they also tweeted me. When I won "Drag Race," like, SpongeBob tweeted me and my little boo. So congratulations, baby, and Happy Pride to all of you guys there at Nickelodeon.

Also Korra from "Legend of Korra" and also Henry Danger, played by Michael Cohen, who is a transgendered actor. So congratulations and Happy Pride to all of our Nickelodeon fays. Now listen, before we get into all these interviews, I think some X-Pose-ing is in order. Let's take a look.

Mama, they really be trying it on Postmates. Hi, hi, hi, y'all. Welcome back. This is X-Pose episode number deux. [FRENCH]. Listen, you know why you're here. You know what's popping. You know what's good, so let's not waste any time with the formalities of me telling y'all about what you're watching, because if you don't know at this point, now you know.

Oh my god, did y'all know that I have a boomerang? So in the fallout for the previous episode, Ongina is saying that she's ready to kick ass. She ain't taking no names. She's taking no prisoners. "Drag Race" 101-- that is the kiss of death.

We've already been done knowing what's gonna happen when you start the episode with that mess. No, girl. And Jujubee reveals that she voted for Mayhem to go home, and Mayhem is tight, yo. Mayhem is pissed the fuck off.

And then Juju apologizes. I'm like, girl, why are you apologizing? Like, what-- what-- and I know what you're gonna say. Oh, but you was mad when Manila chose your lipstick. And yeah, I was. And yeah, you're right. [LAUGHS]

Oh my god, OK, so when they showed me up in the "Drag Race" hall of fame, it was kind of gaggy. It was very surreal. I was like, look at her! I'm in the "Drag Race" hall of fame with Trixie, but, you know.

- Oh, honey.

MONET X CHANGE: So the next morning, Cracker calls out Ongina. Now, we all know that's my sis. That's my New York City sister, but, girl, it is the next day. You have already had some sleep. You had your coffee. You had the lovely craft services breakfast.

The ulti that-- the sausage, egg, and cheese burrito that they have at "Drag Race" for breakfast-- that shit is everything with a little Cholula hot sauce on it, and they give me the little fresh parsley that you can put in your burrito. That shit is so good. Back to the story. It felt very out of left field and very extra.

- I was up all night.

MONET X CHANGE: I was not too quite sure why she did it. Can we have this close up of Shea's skin, though-- this freeze shot. Shea's skin-- like, OK, miss Kool-Aid, can you please drop the skin care routine.

I love the fact that team Blair-- that they're doing weird celebrities. I think that saying people like Mr. Rogers and Hannibal Lecter-- like, that stuff is gonna make Ru laugh. And we all know the key to fucking winning "Drag Race" and doing well is making RuPaul laugh.

So doing, like, obscure celebrities, as opposed to, like, the usual Henry Cavill and stuff like that-- like, no, girl. Do funny stuff. Not unless you can make Henry Cavill funny, which I'm sure there is a way. But choosing Hannibal Lecter or Mr. Rogers, that's smart. That's how you play the game.

And in the teams-- when the team is getting ready and they're discussing stuff, Ongina is still talking about Miz Cracker. I'd be like, all right, miss thing, (SINGING) let it go, let it go! Oh my god.

Can we discuss why "Drag Race" makes-- tries to make every queen a recording artist? Three out of the nine of them can sing. Who are the singers? Blair, Shea, and Jujubee. Like, no one else are singers, and now you're putting them in a makeshift recording studio and making them record their vocals on international YouTube, Netflix television. Like, that is some embarrassing stuff.

Also, the really heavy choreography challenges-- I'm like, some people just literally do not possess the ability to move with rhythm. Blair starts a little crunchy, girl. I'm like, miss thing, you've got albums. You've got, like, hit singles.

But then-- but then she gets it back together, and it all comes together. At the beginning, I was like, oh! And Mayhem is being really triggered by Cracker, which, looking back, retrospectively I don't think she has a right to be so bothered by Cracker showboating in season 10. Like, you just did not do a good job on your own.

For me, I just did not do a good job in my challenge. Kameron Michaels didn't make me look bad. I made me look bad, because I wasn't being extra and being a good actor. You know what I mean? Like, you can't blame Cracker for working hard to make Dr. Dill be poppin' so that she isn't in the bottom. It's just not making sense. I-- I don't get it.

- Well, who doesn't love John Stamos?

- Right, America loves John Stamos.

- The world.

MONET X CHANGE: I don't love John Stamos. He too wholesome. He too nice. He too sweet. John Stamos the type-- like, if y'all fucking, like, he come over, and he, like, wants to only do it missionary. And like, he wants to, like, cuddle afterwards. Like, you're all hot and sticky. Like, no. Like, get off me.

Shea-- Shea literally walked up to the mic. She's like-- [GIBBERISH] peace. Like, effortlessly just embarrassing everyone else on the cast. It was like, oh, y'all hoes think that you stand a chance in this challenge? That's cute. Let me tell you why you don't.

Ladies and gentlemen, our first two guests are two of the stars, a judge and the MC of the new hit show "Legendary." Help me welcome Dashaun and Leiome. Leiome.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: What's going on?

DASHAUN WESLEY: Doing well, doing great. Happy to be here.

MONET X CHANGE: I'm happy to have you guys here. Now, with all this, it must suck to have a hit show on TV, and you cannot be soaking up all of the things of that.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Oh, the goodness.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: That's very true.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Look, if the outside was open, you know I'd be running the streets right about now.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah, Leiome, what about you?

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Honestly, to me, what sucks the most is like all the-- for me it's like all the craziness that's going on in the world with, like, the Black Lives Matter, Black Trans Lives Matter-- I feel like that's what, to me, is affecting me the most. It's hard. It's hard to celebrate anything when our lives are being taken.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah. And what-- and especially, you know, your-- your lived experience as a trans woman of color. You have a very particular point of view about, and I'm sure a lot of people look up to you in that-- in that situation. But-- but seeing your story on TV being told, and people knowing everything about the legendary Leiome, you're giving people a lot of-- of-- of hope. And you also--

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Yeah, I'm trying. I-- and I hope that, you know, people-- they take that, and that they-- they understand that, you know, there is a place for us to be loved. There is a place for us to be respected and to be accepted, and although it's taken us a lot, as long as we stay together, and we stay true to ourselves, like, it's gonna happen.

MONET X CHANGE: So now let's throw it back a little bit. So Leiomy, we know you from "America's Best Dance Crew," and Dashaun, you were in Vogue Evolution, as well, correct?

DASHAUN WESLEY: Yes, I was.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah, and y'all have lots of viral moments from "America's Best Dance Crew." Did you think that, from "America's Best Dance Crew," that you guys would arrive here at this moment?

DASHAUN WESLEY: Go for it, sis.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: No. Honestly, no. My personal experience on "America's Best Dance Crew" was very tough. You know, I was disrespected in front of all these millions of people.

MONET X CHANGE: Yes, fucking Lil Mama and her little shady self.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: You know, I was-- I was-- yes, I was-- you know, I was made out to be this, like, angry person. And made people kind of misunderstand who I am as a person. And that was kind of tough. So honestly it's been a blessing for me to have the-- you know, a successful career that I've had so far, and for us to be, like-- for me to be on a judge's panel now helping people, and not bashing someone and actually finding ways to critique, and to give people hope, and to help them become a better artist. Like, I feel like I could not have asked for a better moment.

MONET X CHANGE: What about you, Dashaun?

DASHAUN WESLEY: I mean, you know, it's-- it's-- it's a full circle, you know?

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

DASHAUN WESLEY: It-- we-- you know, me and Leiomy have our moments where we'll be like we cannot believe this is happening. We're like, yo, this is happening right now. We-- we are humbled. We're-- we're taking what we know we have, and what we went through, and also passing it on to others. So like Leiomy said, I'm-- I'm excited to help build other artists and those within our scene to-- to be bigger, and better, and greater. And I think then with "America's Best Dance Crew" you see where we have to fight in order to get to where we are today, so--

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

DASHAUN WESLEY: --I think it's a full circle.

MONET X CHANGE: So now-- so now you guys both started voguing very young-- Dashaun, you at 14. Leiomy, you at 15. Were y'all part of the same house? Like, how did-- how did y'all get to "America's Best Dance Crew?" I'm sure back then it was those crazy auditions. You probably went to a casting call. But were you out voguing together before you guys made it to the show?

DASHAUN WESLEY: We-- me and Leiomy known each other since we were teenagers. We used to go to the same-- this is a drop in center that was LGBTQ friendly definitely during that time. And we used to go there and practice our craft, and-- and sit amongst others who act and look just like us, and be around. So we were around for a long time with each other, you know? And we sort of grew up in it. We were never in the same house, which is, like, you know, so extreme. So we were no part of the same tribe.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Yeah, we were never in the same house, and we never really vogued together.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Yeah.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: But me and Dashaun have battled against each other.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh!

DASHAUN WESLEY: Mhm.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: We've battled against each other on the floor.

DASHAUN WESLEY: We've had battles.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: As far as Vogue Evolution, we kind of got tired of seeing voguing everywhere and not given the-- the proper credit. And we got together, and we were like, let's go on "America's Best Dance Crew." Let's try to get out there and show the world this is where voguing comes from. And for us, it was never like, oh, we want to be famous, or we want to be like-- like famous dancers. We don't-- we want the money.

Like, for us, it was more so we want to show with the world where voguing came from, and honestly you can ask Dashaun. We were surprised to make it to top five. Honestly, we thought we was gonna get sent home the first week.

DASHAUN WESLEY: First week.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: And when we didn't, we gagged, but that made us work harder, because we felt like we had way more to prove than everybody else on the show.

DASHAUN WESLEY: And then even on the audition process, like, you know, you can tell then people didn't know, but then it's sort of like, you know, it was a fishing game. Like, you guys ready for it? You guys want to be-- you guys ready? But we had a point to kind of prove, to let people know. Like, you know, again, we've seen prior seasons before of people doing a whole bunch of voguing stuff on "America's Best Dance Crew," and that kind of shed the light to be like, OK, we need to do something about this. And, you know, we created our team and made sure that we went up there for the best representation of our culture, so.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah, and, I mean, you guys come from great legends like-- like-- like the Ninjas, who have taken vogue and the art form so globally. And you guys have done your own thing, too. Leiomy, you and that Nike campaign-- I cannot tell you-- I-- I remember the day I saw it.

I was walking down 7th Avenue, 234th Street to go to the H&M to get a sweater and a pair of jeans. And I saw that voguing video right there at Penn Station on 34th Street. How did that come to be? And how was that moment for you?

LEIOMY MALDONADO: For me, when I got approached by Nike, I-- when I first saw the email, and I'm like, Nike? I'm like, what do they want with me? Like, I-- I-- coming from the ballroom scene, being a voguer, I never-- I never saw myself as an athlete, although my-- my work is of an athlete, honestly. And if it wasn't for Nike, I-- I wouldn't have appreciated my talent in a different way. And honestly, through Nike, I learned to love my body type more, being a woman of trans experience, and being able to say, oh, OK, I am beautiful. And I am athletic, and I am strong, and it's OK.

When they first came to me, it was just so surprising to me. And when I found out what they wanted to do, I was gagging. Like, wait, first of all, they did their research. They knew who I was. They knew my journey.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: They knew things that I-- I went through within my ballroom career. And they put together this beautiful campaign.

MONET X CHANGE: So good.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: And when I shot it-- we shot it for like two days. We did two days, about 26 hours.

MONET X CHANGE: Damn.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: And we have so many crazy moments on-- while shooting. Like, the beginning of it, when you see me cat walking down the-- down the street with a jacket on, and I have on the thigh highs. And literally 10-- 10 seconds-- because literally you see that for 3 seconds, but 10 seconds in, the whole street was full of people.

MONET X CHANGE: Wow.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: It was-- we were next to the projects. So you could only imagine everybody outside.

MONET X CHANGE: [LAUGHS] Oh my god!

[LAUGHTER]

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Like, and I was gagging, but I still had to go. And, you know, like, moments like that, like, I would have never thought that I would be acknowledged by such a huge company. And for them to do it based on me-- it wasn't based on, like, a money-- you know, it wasn't a money thing. It wasn't like a--

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah, yeah.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: --let's do it because she's trans. It was based on who I am, what I stand for, my brand, everything that is Leiomy.

MONET X CHANGE: Leiomy!

DASHAUN WESLEY: That was stern. I like that.

MONET X CHANGE: Right? So good. Now, Dashaun you taking-- taking your talents to Life Ball, the-- not probably-- the biggest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in the world. That's such a huge platform, such a huge stage. Was it everything that you thought it would be?

DASHAUN WESLEY: Oh my god, that Life Ball was-- oh my god, like a-- just a complete change in the way I see things, and the way I do things.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

DASHAUN WESLEY: And I-- it was kind of a tough challenge, as well, too, because I was going through an experience with some individuals while we're going out there. And, you know, because of, you know, again, my talent, because of what I've done for my community, you know, at the beginning, I wasn't actually invited to go to the Life Ball.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh? OK.

DASHAUN WESLEY: And because of my--

MONET X CHANGE: OK, Dashaun, spill the tea. What-- what-- what--

DASHAUN WESLEY: Yes, I'm-- you know, spilling a little bit of tea, right? Me and-- me and-- me and my sis, Danielle Polanco-- we were--

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, yeah.

DASHAUN WESLEY: You know, we heard about the job and everything like that, but, you know, they had chose other people to go along for the-- for the job before. You know, before the flight and everything, but once they heard that, you know, talent like myself weren't invited for such a-- for our community to be, you know, respected.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: And me.

DASHAUN WESLEY: And they give us the platform to do--

LEIOMY MALDONADO: And me.

DASHAUN WESLEY: And Leiomy-- oh, yes. Yes, I forgot that we had this problem. Oh my gosh, it's such a big scandal. Long story short, like, we made our way because our talents are so friggin' amazing that they put us on the job, because it's like, how can you bring ballroom people over to Austria and-- and show love the support, and not bring in the people who are really doing the work outside the community to make sure it gets seen.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

DASHAUN WESLEY: But when we got out there, baby, did I show out. Like, it was a huge magenta carpet. The castle was just so beautiful where the event took place, and then we also had the opportunity to have a ball on the inside of the castle.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, word.

DASHAUN WESLEY: So there was a separate section of separation, which is good conversation we're having right now, because during the whole bar I had such-- I was having this roller coaster experience because of one of the individuals that I was experiencing this with. And I think I had one of those moments, you know, it's OK to cry. And I went to the side, and I cried, let it all out, rather than doing something foolish. I made a different choice, and that choice, you know, had me to step forward and move-- move up, and do what I had to do for a job. And lo and behold, for the ball, I actually won it.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: And got you booked.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Yeah, it got me-- right. [LAUGHS]

LEIOMY MALDONADO: It got you booked.

DASHAUN WESLEY: It got me my own ball. And I-- it got me booked, and I went on tour in Austria, where there so many people inside there. It was, you know-- it was just such an amazing experience. I wish we had the time to talk about it, but maybe we can chat over some tea one day.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, well, here's the thing. Let's just say I have so much I want to talk to y'all about. When we're all said and done, y'all are coming to the studio so we can kiki, kaka, have a cocktail, and do the whole thing.

DASHAUN WESLEY: OK.

MONET X CHANGE: I want to "Legendary."

LEIOMY MALDONADO: I do.

MONET X CHANGE: So I've been catching up on legendary, and the show-- listen, y'all. This-- they're not paying me to say this. I'm not whatever. The show is so good. It's so, so, so good. It tells the stories of so many black queer people, which I love.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Thank you.

MONET X CHANGE: And-- but also the drama is so good. In the three-- in the first three episodes, somebody leaves the group to go away and fucking what's the name-- Dominique from "Pose" is a literal monster of the show. Tell me-- tell us about "Legendary"--

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Love her.

MONET X CHANGE: --and what people can-- can experience watching the show.

DASHAUN WESLEY: You want me to go first?

LEIOMY MALDONADO: You can experience-- the most-- the most things that you're going to experience by watching the show is you're going to see real true passion. You're going to see authentic people putting their hard work and their sweat on the floor. You're not only going to see people that are a part of the LGBT community, but you're going to see people who also love the community, because you have the House of Ninja, who is full if cisgender women. And, you know, that is so important to see now, especially with what we are going through in the world. And another thing that they should definitely expect to see is a lot of shade, honey.

MONET X CHANGE: Uh-huh!

LEIOMY MALDONADO: A lot of beauty, a lot of costumes, honey.

MONET X CHANGE: Shady!

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Productions. Shade, shade, shade, shade. And lot's of productions, honey.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Mhm. Mm.

MONET X CHANGE: Dashaun, you as the MC, you have kind of like a different-- you're kind of keeping everybody together.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Yeah, but I mean, that number one job as the MC--

LEIOMY MALDONADO: [IMITATES WHIP CRACK]

DASHAUN WESLEY: And it's-- it's not just-- it's not just talking on the microphone. You've got to crack the whip to make sure the judges are good, the performers are competing, the audience is entertained, the cameras are shooting in the right direction. Like, it's a full detailed job, but at the same time, I think because, you know, I've done this basically all my life--

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

DASHAUN WESLEY: --before getting on this big platform stage. So, you know, when you have to speak to the judges and get it-- and be like, hey, hey, hey. All right, do-- do the job. Let's go. Let's get back-- all right, let's get back on track. I mean, throughout the show, you'll see at certain moments I let the judges go, but when it's time to go, it's like, let's go. You did it.

MONET X CHANGE: Now, I-- this-- I am not trying to be shady. I'm being-- keeping it 100.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Go for it.

MONET X CHANGE: I definitely don't-- obviously Leiomy, legendary, you-- I just don't quite understand what Megan Thee Stallion and-- no shade-- Jameela Jamil have to do with this. So I-- watching it sometimes, I'm like, what-- girl, what are you talking about? Like, was that a conscious decision to have those two cisgendered women part of the conversation and as judges on the show?

DASHAUN WESLEY: Want me-- want me to do it, sis?

LEIOMY MALDONADO: As far as--

DASHAUN WESLEY: Work.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Yeah, go for it. Go for it.

DASHAUN WESLEY: I mean-- I mean, I can honestly say this. One thing that, you know-- you know, we've been educating everyone outside of our culture for so long about what we do and how we do things. And I think people-- you know, yes, they got the message that, you know, where the ballroom culture came from. Yes, black and Latino-- Latinx and everyone, how our culture-- we came together and did them things.

But this show is having the conversations that we don't speak about mostly. For example, we have the all cisgender group on the show, and people are, like, furious about it. But these are things that we have in our culture that we don't discuss and we don't talk about.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

DASHAUN WESLEY: We also do have celebrities that comes to balls and judge balls sometimes, as well, too.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, I didn't know that.

DASHAUN WESLEY: And we've had-- we see-- and, you know, this is a conversation everybody don't know, so, you know, yes, it is-- it's creating, because you want to see what's going on or want to make sure the culture is being represented right. And this is why we have amazing people like Leiomy on the panel, an icon.

MONET X CHANGE: Right.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Someone who-- who is open enough to have the discussion and dialogue with-- with people who don't know, and this is our major thing. We want to have the discussion and dialogue to make sure people know who may not know. So you may have people who are supporters and allies, and those on the outside who may want to give-- you know, wants to give their support and whatsoever. And then you-- and one thing we must not forget that-- that, you know, if we don't keep reminding people about inclusiveness-- like, we're inclusive to everyone. There's no one who's not-- who cannot be involved.

As long as you are under the guidelines of what ballroom does, there's inclusion for everyone. Now, if you try to go outside the box and turn it, we're gonna turn you. So be very careful about that, but at the same time, this was inclusion for everyone. So, yes, people may not agree. People may not understand where they come from, but you have to understand, like, how we are-- are trying to build our community as a whole. And ways to do that-- we invite others in.

This is like-- you know, we had a ballroom judge, Tyra-- Dominique-- excuse me, Dominique, come in, and just, you know, show ballroom what it really is. So it-- we just-- just let people know about the inclusiveness. And it is. It's just not about us. It's about all of us.

MONET X CHANGE: Work. Anything you want to add, Leiomy?

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Mhm. I wanted-- also wanted to add, like, we've had mock balls here in New York City before.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Yeah.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Like, in the past five-- five years, they've had mock balls here in New York City, where they only have panels of celebrities.

MONET X CHANGE: Hm, OK.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: And then you have ballroom time coming in and performing for them. And honestly, when those are first happening, I felt some type of way about it, because I'm like, how can you showcase ballroom in front of all these people and have them judge? But it kind of gives them a sense of you can learn, too.

I feel like, as far as the show, when it comes to Megan and when it comes to Jameela, I feel like every judge on the chair brings-- they build-- they bring a bridge between our-- the ballroom community and the community that they stand for, and the community that they bring in, and the viewers that they bring. And I feel like that's so important. Someone like Megan Thee Stallion-- she comes from hip hop community. Hip hop community is one of the largest homophobic and transphobic communities out there.

MONET X CHANGE: Down.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: So to have someone like Megan on there cheering along with us and being an ally--

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: It gives people a sense of, OK, let me get into this, too. And the show is educating in itself. So having people come and watch the show, they're gonna fall in love with something out of it. And I feel like with Jameela she brings her own content in, as well.

And I love the fact that it kind of looks tough when it comes from, like, the ballroom people and the people who are-- have been dying for this to be on TV. And it's like, why not have ballroom people up there?

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah, yeah.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: But honestly, I would have been bored having a whole bunch of ballroom judges. It would have been way too much shade. It would have been way too much drama. We would've never got through them shows, honey.

DASHAUN WESLEY: No, Sade.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: We would've never got through them shows. Darling.

DASHAUN WESLEY: [LAUGHS]

LEIOMY MALDONADO: But everything happens for a reason. I feel like, when season two comes-- because I feel like season two is coming.

MONET X CHANGE: It is coming. 100.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: When season two comes, it's really going to be so much, so much better.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: You know? The first-- the first trial is always the first trial.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Mhm.

MONET X CHANGE: So that's-- [LAUGHS] I'm so sorry. So that brings me to my next point, because in the House of Ninja this season we see it's all cisgender women, and some from-- the majority from Asia. And the house mother is from Italy. So how-- but I was saying, going to the Latex Ball a few years ago, I realized that vogue has now incorporated so many different people. Like, a lot of people from, like, Romania and stuff were at the Latex Ball.

But when I used to go when I was, like, 12, 13, 14, going to kiki functions, it did not look like that. So how do y'all reconcile that?

LEIOMY MALDONADO: I feel like with traveling across the world--

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: --and traveling, and teaching, and sharing the culture-- I feel like that's how a lot of that started.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Before me and Dashaun have traveled. And then Willy was already traveling. There were other people that were traveling here and there that were a part of ballroom. But I feel like it wasn't until Dashaun and I started teaching that it really, really became, like a really, really big thing, because we actually are authentic to ballroom. Like, we-- we've been in ballroom for years.

You know, we've battled. We've learned. We've-- we've achieved so much things. We've become-- we became legendary. We became iconic. Like, so for us, we-- we've helped, you know, show the world how inclusive ballroom is.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: The only issue that comes with that sometimes is-- especially now with what we're going through in this world-- is seeing how many people who love the culture and love voguing are kind of quiet about certain things that are going around the world and are not out there, you know, being allies and showing that they're here with us. And that's something that kind of triggers me and has kind of, you know, bothered me. That's why I had to bring that up. But as far as internationally, it's been something that-- it needed to happen. There's-- there's LGBT communities all around the world.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: So why not? Why not-- you know, why not extend what we have here?

DASHAUN WESLEY: And they-- they've been-- you know, it's so interesting. I always bring this conversation up as far as like years ago, you know, us thinking-- you know, social media played a big part with ballroom. I'll say that. And, you know, it was able to reach places like Romania, like Russia, like all the way to Japan, and China, and Taiwan.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

DASHAUN WESLEY: You know, in-- in the beginning, we didn't know what was going on, and we didn't know it was happening, and we didn't know that people were actually watching us, but, you know, I think it was-- it was important for, you know, people like myself and Leiomy to start traveling to educate, as well, because at the same time as we were going to these countries having classes, and going to balls, and starting the ball scenes in these countries-- like, we went to these countries and helped them build their-- the culture definitely out there, you know?

So it's-- it's-- it's, again, a 0 back into where it comes from, you know, going out there to teach, and everyone knowing where the core of ballroom is. And so everyone right now-- the Latex Ball is one of the biggest balls ever in the world. So it kind of brings and draws people in, and the majority of the time people from out of the country, you know, book their tickets to come to the Latex Ball to participate. So again, our education in how we spread the culture out to where it was, and how it comes back, you know, tenfold.

MONET X CHANGE: And I will say that Latex Ball-- that is one of the longest nights I have ever-- girl, I got there at like 8:00 PM, and it wasn't done until like 4:00 AM. I was like, this is crazy. No, ma'am.

DASHAUN WESLEY: And the balls go later. They go later. Like, that was-- that was an amateur function compared to what we go through sometimes. The balls don't-- I've been to a ball where it didn't end till about, like, 11:00 AM the next day, 12:00 PM the next day.

MONET X CHANGE: No, it did not, Dashaun.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Sure does. It sure does.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh my god.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Let's just be happy "Legendary" doesn't end up that way.

MONET X CHANGE: And also-- and I think that also that what you guys are-- by spreading the gospel of vogue, how would you say the line of appreciation versus-- versus appropriation. Like, how-- do-- since you guys are teaching it, that would be appreciation?

DASHAUN WESLEY: Mhm.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Mhm.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah, OK.

DASHAUN WESLEY: I think we have to-- that-- that goes within the work of ourselves, as well, too, as far as what we do so people can learn how to appreciate more rather than appropriate it. And, you know, I think this is where we have to start, again, educating when someone who-- who-- for example, Leiomy and myself, you know, there's somebody people who like to use the-- the grand door about the ballroom culture.

They'll put up there that, oh my god, I love voguing. Go over to the next thing. And they'll go out there and try to teach it, but have no education behind it, you know? And rather than sitting and coming to the main source, and having the conversation, and talking, and getting well educated, and knowing-- knowing the place to where you can share the knowledge, people just tend to go.

So what me and Leiomy do-- and this is something that we've done-- and not even had the conversation to talk to say that we know what's happened. We just do it.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

DASHAUN WESLEY: We go, and we approach. And we talk, and we have these conversations. And if something is not right to our culture, we go, and we-- to that person, we go and talk to them. We bring them to-- to the place where we feel they need to be as far as like sharing the culture whatsoever. But if they're in the wrong place, we definitely tell them, you cannot do this.

MONET X CHANGE: Shut it down.

DASHAUN WESLEY: You know-- yeah, shut it down, definitely. We've had plenty of moments and occasions where we had to shut people down, but-- and we try-- I try. Not to do it in a catty way, speaking for myself. And not saying that that's what we do, but, like, you know, I try to meet people where they are, and educate them, and bring them to where they need to be, rather than going. And it's like, miss thing, stop doing that. Don't do it.

But rather doing it like-- do you want to be involved? Then come here. If you want education, come here, you know?

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

DASHAUN WESLEY: So it's-- we're, again, finding the thin line between appropriation and appreciation. We have to know the difference between both, and it's up to us to educate those so they don't appropriate.

MONET X CHANGE: Yes, Dashaun. I also love in one of the episodes one them tried Naomi's 360-- Leiomy was like, if you're-- if you're gonna try to land my 360, you better do it right. And I was like, shut it down. I love, love, love--

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Definitely known for that.

MONET X CHANGE: Well, then one of them tried to go in the back to be like, well, Leiomy's not known for it, and I definitely landed it. I want to see the tape. I was like, this is the shadiness and the cuntiness I live for.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Yeah, it was the same person. I'm like-- I'm like, you know what? People should do their history before they get into certain kind of situations, because anybody knows I'm the creator.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah. Well, listen, thank y'all so much. I-- and I stand by what I said. We need to have this conversation with some liquor and in person so we that we get real down and dirty. When season two comes around, we will be together talking about all the things. Thank y'all so much, Dashaun. Thank you, Leiomy.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Thank you.

MONET X CHANGE: Y'all are legends, and I appreciate y'all spending the time with me.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Thank you, my love.

LEIOMY MALDONADO: Thank you so much. Mwah! I can't wait to meet you in person.

MONET X CHANGE: And make sure all of y'all are watching "Legendary" on HBO Max. So good. Worth-- oh, yes, the fan. There we go.

DASHAUN WESLEY: Putting it to work.

MONET X CHANGE: It is worth the $11.99 of HBO Max. Thank you so much. Thank you guys. Y'all, this season of "All Stars" is definitely off to an explosive start. And in spite of a few shortcomings, our next guest went out with her head held high. Let's welcome Ongina.

ONGINA: Hi!

MONET X CHANGE: Hello, Ms. Ongina. You look so cute.

ONGINA: Thank you so much. Thank you for allowing me to not be in drag.

MONET X CHANGE: Listen, listen, listen, after the drama these girls have put you through, I think that you need a break from the drag for a second.

ONGINA: Thank you so much, but you look gorgeous, so thank you doing it for us.

MONET X CHANGE: Thank you. Well, you know, I have not worn a kitty cat wig in so long. I was like I'm going back to my roots. This is how I feel comfortable, honey.

ONGINA: Bitch, I would wear that out with a baseball cap as a boy and just gag everyone.

MONET X CHANGE: I have to say, on "All Stars," you did, like-- you were-- you were bald, because obviously that's how we all met you in season one. You were the bald queen. And I like that you didn't feel-- because I kind of caved from the pressure. Now I do all these elaborate wigs, and I'm like, people keep on making fun of me for kitty cats, but you stick to your brand and, like, what people know Ongina to be.

ONGINA: I wanted my first impression on "All Stars" to be genuinely me, and I think it was important for me to be bald for the first episode for the variety show.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: And-- and then giving them a little bit of a different dimension for the girl group, where I wore a very heavy ponytail.

MONET X CHANGE: The girl groups are really good. OK, I have-- I was really-- because, OK, Ongina, well, let's go back to the reading challenge. Ongina, I know you to be so funny, so when I saw you kind of crack under the-- I was like, Ongina is-- like, you're always cracking jokes. You're so quick. I was so gagged to see that you weren't that girl.

ONGINA: Girl, let me just quote you. Ongina, no. No. Ongina, no. No. No. Ongina, no.

MONET X CHANGE: But Ongina, I-- because, like, you are so funny. I was-- I was like, what happened?

ONGINA: So the-- the funny thing is it's like I wrote some jokes, and I thought, bitch, I was the comedy queen of the world.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: I was cackling. I was laughing. I know, but the thing is is like I really thought that I was like-- I thought that I had something.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: And it's funny, because a comedian writer-- a comedy writer reached out to me, and I ignored it. And said, if you're ever "All Stars," please reach out to me. I'm a comedy writer. I'm like-- I ignored it, right? Whatever. The day after that episode, that writer forwarded me that email and said, ha, ha, ha. And I was like-- I was like, I--

MONET X CHANGE: That is so shady.

ONGINA: Which is like a read in itself. And I applaud-- I applaud that person. It was hilarious.

MONET X CHANGE: Who was it? Tell us. Tell us. And we should send them hate mail.

ONGINA: I don't-- I don't know. I sent it to spam I was so mad.

MONET X CHANGE: OK, god. [LAUGHS] Now, going back to episode one in the-- again, another thing, Ongina. You are known for giving really great performances and being so energetic, but I just feel like a lot of the stuff on "All Stars" is-- it wasn't the Ongina that we've seen a DragCon, that we've gotten to know since season one.

ONGINA: You're absolutely right. My performance on the first episode for the variety show was definitely something that I, myself, was disappointed with, and I had challenged myself for a bigger production, something that really resonated the homage to "Drag Race" 10 years later doing a drag race type of performance with the car.

MONET X CHANGE: Right, which was-- I lived for the camp. When you came out in them power wheels, I said, first of all, I could-- I was probably two years old the last time I could fit in a fucking power wheels. When you came out in that car, I was like here-- here she is, girl.

ONGINA: It's so funny, because I had-- I was shopping for that in another store, and I-- and I tried one on that actually fit me like I was a five-year-old in one-- like, really comfortable. But I had to order it to ship it to-- to set, because it was part of my luggage.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, yeah.

ONGINA: And I bought the one for toddlers.

MONET X CHANGE: Work. And you still fit into it?

ONGINA: I still fit into it!

MONET X CHANGE: Gag, Ongina. Gag, gag, gag.

ONGINA: Yeah, so what I'm saying is unfortunately I got so nervous. I got in my head.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: And then after watching Alexis and India dance routines, I was like, well, fuck, I might as well fucking just pack up now, because my idea was a full choreographed dance with a theme of camp that paid homage to "Drag Race" and doing drag racing.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: And--

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, I love the concept.

ONGINA: And unfortunately because I was so in my head and down on myself--

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: --I think that the power I put in my performances that you normally see on stage kind of dimmed because of how hard I was on myself.

MONET X CHANGE: With-- so when you were watching the talent show, and after you saw Derrick, did you think, OK, I was not the worst? Or you still were like, I'm going home?

ONGINA: Yes. No, I honestly-- I honestly, in my heart of heart, just not because I'm the one who did it-- I really thought that my performance was very-- what-- I thought that my performance was better than Derrick's because I at least still entertained the audience that was there.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: And their reaction wasn't produced, nor was it fake, and they weren't like awkwardly just standing there trying to figure out when or where to react, because I still, at the end of the day, performed.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: Even though it was just like a bad drag number, people were really into it because the energy was still there.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah. Now, the energy that you are giving the intimate-- I just want to read. So, OK-- so Miz Cracker-- the next morning Cracker comes at you from-- it feels-- to the-- to the viewer watching, it felt so random. Was it random? And how did you react to it, like, in the moment that we maybe have not seen?

ONGINA: So you actually saw exactly how I reacted to it.

MONET X CHANGE: OK, OK.

ONGINA: I needed to process it first, because I was trying to understand where he was coming from, and I was like, is she playing mind games with me? Or is this really, truly, genuinely who she is? And it took me by surprise, because, one, I may be on the lower tier that episode, but I wasn't on the bottom two.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: And I said what I said. She's not BenDeLaCreme.

MONET X CHANGE: I know.

ONGINA: So--

MONET X CHANGE: The white out.

ONGINA: The white out. So it honestly-- here's-- honestly, it took me by surprise. I didn't know what angle she was playing at, and that's when I start to have a cautionary tape around me and Cracker, because I didn't know how genuine our relationship was. And to me, I felt very hurt by that, because I genuinely just wanted to have an authentic relationship with every single person on set, regardless of $100,000 in the line-- like, on the line.

And I was-- when she said that, I was, like, surprised. And I was, whoa, OK, now I see that you're playing at it differently. Are you being genuine, or are you just playing mind games? And I couldn't read it, and throughout the day, we had kind of like a distance, but we-- we spoke about it in April. And, you know, she apologized. And I-- I still had cautionary tape, because I was like I still don't know what happens in this episode behind closed doors, because I don't know what you said about me.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: And reliving not this weekend, I was reminded of the hurt, and I just wanted to write an open letter to her that, the next time she is surrounded by queens, hopefully she would uplift them instead of beating them down when they're already on the ground.

MONET X CHANGE: OK, let me read-- for-- for-- for the viewers who-- who may have Cricket wireless and your Wi-Fi is acting up, let me read-- Ongina put this long post on Instagram. And it ended with this last paragraph. I hope next time you are surrounded by Queens, whether it's a local stage or a world stage like "All Stars," if a queen is feeling nervous, unsure of themselves, or losing confidence, that you choose to uplift them instead of kicking them while they're already on the ground. We can make the choice to be genuine and sisterly even in a competition with $100,000 on the line.

And then Cracker responded. She tweeted, Ongina, you were an all star, and you showed your fire tonight. Shut me up. We all say things we-- we come to regret, and I hope you know how incredibly-- how incredible you are. And she tagged you.

Do you-- do you believe her? Are you guys friends, sisters? Not so much?

ONGINA: Yeah, I think it-- like I said, it took for me-- it took a little bit for me to open my lane for it to be a two way street, because I didn't know where we were as far as our relationship and it was really genuine or not. But after speaking to her this weekend, I realize now that she is really sorry for how she treated me and what she said. And I understand everybody is telling me it was a competition. She's playing the game, and again, I understand that, but there is something in a competition that still can be, like, how-- like, you-- like, there's still humility, or-- or being-- or being authentic. Like, just because you want to win $100,000 doesn't mean that you have to beat that girl down when she's already on the ground.

And that's really what I felt. Like, that's how I felt with her on that first and second episode. And so I just wanted to let her know that. And now that we've spoken, we are moving forward in our relationship, and she-- she read-- she read my message. She understood my open letter, and I have accepted her apology. And we're moving forward. It's just at the time, and reliving it, and rewatching it, it really did hurt me.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah, I feel that. I feel that. And then also to go home at such an early spot. And you-- and when we did the-- the "All Stars" kiki we did, you made-- did you really have two options for every runway look?

ONGINA: OK, so yes.

MONET X CHANGE: That is-- how did you-- how did you fit all of it? How did you bring all of it?

ONGINA: Well, the thing is is I'm so little that one small outfit is this small. I did plan for two different types of outfits in some of the runways.

MONET X CHANGE: OK.

ONGINA: Not every single one, but yes, I did have three options for my finale, and I ended up wearing one as my entrance outfit.

MONET X CHANGE: Work. Which was so good, by the way.

ONGINA: Thank you.

MONET X CHANGE: That-- but girl, that alone was 80 pounds.

ONGINA: 25.

MONET X CHANGE: 25 pounds. That is crazy.

ONGINA: Yeah. I was in that outfit for like nine hours, and it fucking hurt.

MONET X CHANGE: I'm sure-- all the bells, all the whistles. Now, and also throughout the season of "All Stars" you made it a point to pay homage to your heritage. Have you-- have you been-- have you been receiving that? Has the community been receiving that from you?

ONGINA: Yeah, it's been so much love and support from my country. One of the things that I said, if ever I go back on "All Stars" is to really represent my country and my culture. I had a reconnection with my family two years ago when I visited the Philippines. And-- and I'm just happy that I had got that experience and that I was able to bring some of that artistry on the world stage like All Stars. And I'm so glad that my [NON-ENGLISH], which is my people in the Philippines, are accepting it.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh! So say that again. Say that again. Let me hear it.

ONGINA: My [NON-ENGLISH].

MONET X CHANGE: Can I say-- if I say that, is it offensive?

ONGINA: No, not at all. [NON-ENGLISH] is like your friends, or your, like, family, or, like, your neighbors. So like [NON-ENGLISH].

MONET X CHANGE: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

ONGINA: Thank you. You said it right.

MONET X CHANGE: [NON-ENGLISH]. Also, we did a little research. Your-- the-- your drag name before Ongina was Pek Pek-- Pek Pek Galore, which "pek pek" means vagina. Vagina Galore. Honestly, girl, saying this thing--

ONGINA: It's-- it's-- it's Pek Pek Galore.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, Pek Pek Galore.

ONGINA: Yeah, so it was very much inspired by Pussy Galore, obviously.

MONET X CHANGE: Right.

ONGINA: But I wanted, like, that hard tongue Tagalog, which is my language, like, accent added to it, and make it really, like, me. But then I was like, I don't want three names. I just want one thing.

MONET X CHANGE: That is a lot. Yeah.

ONGINA: And so I came up with Ongina, which is still an homage to the female ina, which I wish I had.

MONET X CHANGE: And, of course, we got to know about your beautiful partner through-- through "Drag Race" and stuff. Are you guys still happily married and lovely?

ONGINA: We are. We're happily-- and like I said earlier-- monogamously married. And I mean-- and, I mean, it's been 10 years this year.

MONET X CHANGE: 10 years. Girl, I couldn't get 10 minutes.

ONGINA: It's like-- it's 100 in gay, OK? So he-- the best way to describe it is he balances my crazy, and he loves all of my imperfections, and that includes my really bad temper. So if he hasn't left seeing me at my worst, then I think he's gonna stay for my best. And I-- it's-- it's forever. I'm very happy with Brian.

MONET X CHANGE: What can we expect next from Ongina? Even-- even though you were an early out, again, you're a queen. You have so many talents. What's coming next for you?

ONGINA: Well, before Miss Rona was being a bitch, I actually had a really big plan to do a YouTube series and marry my two favorite things, as you know-- maybe you don't. I was a visual merchandising manager.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, yes!

ONGINA: Yeah, so I was gonna do a make over interior design show on a budget with some of my drag queen friends. And the premise was I have $600. I'm gonna come over.

MONET X CHANGE: Come here. Come here.

ONGINA: I'm gonna come over.

MONET X CHANGE: Come here.

ONGINA: I will do it. So basically, it was like I have $600. Can you make over my living room? And it's about being creative, partnerships, like, going to the thrift store and re-upholstering a sofa. Like, you can do so much on a budget. And what I started doing was I had started doing it on my home first. And the Instagram is OnginaHome.

And so I'm hoping that marrying my talents from what I used to do as a career to what I do now as a career will hopefully come into fruition once I'm able to get a team together to do it. And the other thing is I'm starting to kind of get my hands dirty. I'm producing shows.

MONET X CHANGE: OK.

ONGINA: So I had one scheduled for this year. Unfortunately, it got moved to next year.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: But it was-- it's-- it's-- it's-- I want to do-- I want to do a tour in different countries, and hopefully be able to have "Drag Race" girls that's not normally on rotation for these tours, because there is so much talent in the "Drag Race" world that I want them to have the same exposure that all the other queens do. And I want to be able to help in that, because the talent is tremendous.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah, so many girls, so many girls. Ongina, well, thank you so much for chatting with me. Again, even though your time was short lived on "All Stars," bitch, this HGTV show that's about to get picked up, hello, I can't wait to watch it on all my little cable TV.

ONGINA: Can you be my season finale? Let's just say you're gonna be my season finale.

MONET X CHANGE: [LAUGHS] And I'll wear that yellow dress that everybody will rag me for for going to season 11.

ONGINA: But I'm gonna come in there in a leotard with a broom just like you and start sweeping, bitch.

MONET X CHANGE: Ongina, thank you so much. Tell Brian I said, hey, girl. And I can't wait to see you on HGTV. We're speaking it into existence.

ONGINA: Bitch, yes, and you have to tell the universe. Then it will happen.

MONET X CHANGE: Hello. That's how I got this show.

ONGINA: I'm-- I'm OK with it starting on YouTube.

MONET X CHANGE: Amen. Thank you, Ongina. Bye, my dear.

ONGINA: I love you. Mwah!

MONET X CHANGE: I love you. Finito, that is it. The show is over. Listen, if you want to get some "X Change Rate" merch, you can go on my website. We have the pink exchange rate pins, so go and order those. And you can be an official X-Changer. Thank y'all so much for watching, and remember to always keep your currency in check. Mwah!