Trixie Mattel on Her New Sugarpill Cosmetics Makeup Line Oh Honey!, DragCon, and the Future of Drag
Trixie Mattel is an all star, but fans knew that even before she took home the crown on season three of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. It’s unfit to call Trixie a double, triple, or even quadruple-threat, because we’ve lost count of the number of industries she’s dominated. After her original run on season seven of RuPaul’s Drag Race she began a web show with fellow fan favorite, Katya, called Unnhhh that was eventually spun-off into its own cable show on Viceland, appropriately titled The Trixie and Katya Show. She’s been on countless tours showing off both her comedy and singing chops, and even released two EPs — the cleverly paired titles Two Birds and One Stone — that expanded the Trixie Mattel brand into country-folk music with singles such as “Mama Don’t Make Me Put On That Dress Again.” Now Trixie has partnered with Sugarpill Cosmetics to create a makeup collection called “Oh Honey!” (after one of her Unnhhh catch phrases) that she claims is for both “a drag queen, or someone who works as a librarian”.
To celebrate the launch of her new makeup line, and in preparation for DragCon NYC 2018, Teen Vogue chatted with the drag phenom to discuss her year since winning, tips on attending DragCon, and the future of drag.
Teen Vogue: Hi Trixie! How’s it going?
Trixie Mattel: You know, I was up at 5:30 AM getting in drag, and since then I’ve done everything. I’ve been running around talking about the exciting upcoming DragCon NYC, and also the launch of my new makeup line Oh Honey! With Sugarpill.
TV: Do you have any tips for fans going to DragCon?
TM: If you’ve never been and you’re unsure, think about this: you are currently unsure about coming to the most stimulating, loving, and enjoyable experience you will ever have. I have been to every DragCon, and every day at DragCon, and it’s like you get all of these queer superheroes in one room, with the most incredible, built-in shopping of your whole life. I mean there’s makeup, wigs, hair, fragrances, bath bombs, nail polishes, costumes, shoes, whatever you want. I mean you could walk in bald naked and leave in stunning drag. You probably shouldn’t try to come naked, although I’m sure some of the other drag queens will try.
TV: Do you have any advice for anyone that will have their first experience meeting a drag queen?
TM: Honestly, drag queens are in a lot of pain, and they are very fragile. What they are wearing and doing is very fragile, so just consider that. Maybe instead of a hug, try a high five or a thumbs up. Maybe blow a kiss. It’s just easier to communicate with your eyes and your voice by saying ‘thank you’ or ‘I love you’. But some people love hugs! For me, I’d rather fist bump or dab, you know.
TV: Have you noticed any difference between the DragCon LA and NYC experiences?
TM: No, actually. I think the two just bring in more local artists. In New York you get more fashion designers, jewelry artists, and vendors. But I think that’s one of the great things about having two different experiences. Let’s say you’re based in New York and you go to DragCon NYC, you’re probably going to run into handmade beauty products, independent jewelry companies, and local queens you might not know about. I know it’s cheesy, but it’s really cool to be able to pick up a ring and shake the hand of the person that made it while you buy it.
TV: So we’re getting into this stage of pop culture where drag queens can become well known outside of RuPaul’s Drag Race. There’s The Trixie and Katya Show on Viceland, an entirely separate drag queen competition show Dragula, and now even Alyssa Edwards is getting her own Netflix series. What do you think of where the “future of drag” is heading?
TM: Well to be honest, I think a lot of people are like, “Oh I didn’t get into drag until Drag Race,” but if anything Drag Race enlightens people about how they’ve always been into drag. They just didn’t even know they were seeing drag. I always say, “Do you love Madea? Do you love Mrs. Doubtfire? Do you love White Chicks? Do you love Sylvester, David Bowie, Lady Gaga?” There’s drag all around you, you just never called it “drag.”
So I think that Drag Race has been putting the word in people’s mouths. It’s like the rest of the world just arrived to this party that gay people have been having for 100 years already. And that’s cool! I think that’s why drag is growing so quickly. People are going “Ohhh, it is for me, and it is something I actually enjoy and understand.” I always say that loving drag doesn’t make you gay, so even people’s husbands get into Drag Race because they’re just enjoying something from another culture. It just means you’re open-minded. Just like listening to Selena doesn’t make you hispanic.
TV: Drag is definitely something that anyone should be able to enjoy. I mean, I think of RuPaul’s Drag Race as the best competition show on television period.
TM: Completely! I mean, think about what we have to do. Think of what I had to do to win Drag Race.
TV: Everything!
TM: Now think of what people have to do on a normal competition show. On Project Runway you just have to make an outfit. We have to make an outfit, wear it, and perform in it. We stacked the Jenga blocks so high as artists that nobody can touch us. That’s why celebrities and superstars watch Drag Race now, because we even inspire them. In the words of [season 6 contestant] Vivacious, “Drag has always been ahead and then culture will grab something from us. They’re doing something we did five years ago.”
TV: So you have this new makeup line Oh Honey! with Sugarpill, was this always something that was inevitable for Trixie Mattel?
TM: While I was in college getting my performing arts degree, I was working night and day jobs in cosmetics doing freelance makeup artistry, working at a MAC counter, Sephora, and Ulta. So I was working in the makeup industry for almost five years sharpening and developing a makeup persona. At the risk of sounding like a douchebag, it’s become somewhat iconic. People know what my face looks like, and that took a long time.
I’m such a nerd about makeup. Like for a lot of drag queens, makeup to them is utilitarian. They say, “Just give me what works the best and goes on the easiest.” But I’m that person that walks into Sephora and goes, “Is it silicone based? Is it paraben-free?” I know I give a sh*t, and so I wanted to develop a makeup palette of un-intimidating colors that could be used in an intimidating way if you wanted. Like if you look at the palette it’s nudes, it’s peaches, and it’s browns. But it could be painted on in a way that can be very commanding. I wanted to make a product that would work for a drag queen, or someone who works as a librarian. If you’re a drag queen librarian, then this is the product for you. But I really created this product for real boys and girls who wanted something fun to wear. I recently saw a pink lip on a brunette and I thought “stunning, stunning, stunning.”
TV: So you have this new makeup line, you’ve been touring for your music, but I know that you’re into gaming, too. How do you find the time?
TM: I actually travel with my PS4 and my Nintendo Switch in my suitcase. I’m obsessed with Dead by Daylight, and right now I’m playing We Happy Few. I’ll sit and play for hours. I love horror, so I’ve been playing Friday the 13th and Resident Evil 7. It’s my way to unplug from Trixie, comedy, and playing guitar. I love video games, but also for me it’s mindless. I like that it takes me out of work.
TV: Would you want to share your gamertag with readers?
TM: I might as well not have one, because it’s all on private. Otherwise I’d have teen girls messaging me on the Playstation Network like “f*ck me with a rake, mom!”
TV: We’ll keep that private then. The last thing I wanted to ask you is what is your favorite Tammie Brown quote or story?
TM: Are you kidding me, how much time do you have? Although probably, “Did I ever tell you about the time I found a dead body?” That’s a classic.
I think people think I’m being ironic when I say that she’s amazing, but I’m not being funny when I say she is truly one of a kind. I like my drag queens kind of left-of-sanity, you know? Her and Katya are my two faves. I like one arm in the straitjacket.
TM: Thank you so much, Trixie!
TV: Thank you Teen Vogue. I love teens, and I love to vogue!
DragCon NYC will be from September 28-30, with tickets available at Rupaulsdragcon.com.
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