For Jewels Sparkles, being part of the cast of Murray & Peter’s “A Drag Queen Christmas” tour is not just a full circle moment, but an opportunity to pay tribute to the little boy who used to go see this tour in Florida auditoriums and is now performing alongside some of the biggest stars in the world of drag.
As Sparkles prepares to hit the road for a nationwide tour with “Murray & Peter Present: A Drag Queen Christmas,” I sat down to chat with Sparkles about returning to the Sunshine State for three big shows, what she may have planned for fans on this holiday extravaganza, and she also gave me a peek at some of her own favorite holiday traditions.
You are coming to Florida for the “Drag Queen Christmas Tour” from December 21 through the 23 with with some familiar faces that you know, and some others that are brand-new performers for you to work with. What does it feel like to be taking part in this amazing tour right after your season
Shea Couleé, Shea Couleé, Shea Couleé! The fact that I'm going to be on a tour bus, the fact that I'm going to be performing in the same show as her for two months is so surreal. She is one of the best, one of my favorites. What an icon and what a superstar; I just can't believe it, it’s so surreal, she was actually on the tour that I saw when I was in high school.
I used to live in Miami growing up and my mom used to drive me to the theater in Fort Lauderdale where the Christmas tour would go. She would wait in that parking lot while I went to go watch Shea and all the other queens. I still have pictures from the meet and greet that I would save up for months! The fact that I’m now headlining it and I'm gonna be with Shea and she was one of people who I saw. it’s just so surreal and full circle. I just can’t believe it.
The old adage is “Don’t meet your heroes.” Since your star-making turn on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 17, has everyone you met lived up to your expectations?
All the queens that I have met fortunately, all the queens that I have looked up to have been incredible. Of course, I've been a fan of “Drag Race” for so many years and it's been my everything growing up. It was my everything, it was my escape. It was the reason I'm here now obviously. Getting to meet all off the queens that I've been such a big fan of and them being nice, if not nicer than what I expected, it has just been so amazing!
You are going to also be touring with Nina West, who is hosting A Drag Queen Christmas. It really does not get better than that!
Nina West, yes! It absolutely does not get better than that, you’re right!
What can the fans expect from Jewels Sparkles on the Drag Queen Christmas tour?
You know what, I have signed a sickening NDA when it comes to my number. It's gonna be very impressive, very sickening but I can't talk too much about it cause I don't wanna give anything away. However, the show will be fierce and the girls are gonna put on a number for a lifetime! I have to do it for the little boy who was in high school watching the show while his mom was in the parking lot. I have to do his favorite number, It is going to be the number that he would have wanted to see in the show, I am going to do it to the best of my ability, I am doing it for him.
What does Jewels Sparkles family do for the holidays and what do the holidays mean to you?
Listen, my dad is a chef so he does not play when it comes to this holiday. He is always preparing food three days in advance and creating the most incredible selection for Christmas and Thanksgiving. My dad has always had restaurants growing up and he's always hiring people who come from different countries who might be here by themselves. He's always hiring people who need help and on Thanksgiving every year or Christmas is a dishwasher or a food runner who doesn't have family who lives in the country that just ended up at my house; he's always inviting people. I'm always meeting people on Thanksgiving!
It really feels like Season 17 was several years ago now, so much has changed in the world of drag since then!
Doesn’t it? I am scared for what next year’s gonna feel like! It feels like it’s been so long. Touring and getting to travel makes it feel even longer, it really does.
They always say your first year after “Drag Race” is where you make a real impact, so it stands to reason that it is also where you make some of your best memories. What has been a fantastic memory from the last whirlwind year?
The one that I will never forget honestly, I got to do a gig in Hawaii and it was like such a dream for me. I had a show on a Friday and actually went in on a Monday and I got to really live that dream and it was incredible. The people, the food, everything was times ten to what I could have dreamed of.
So did you watch the recent season of “All Stars?” What did you think watching your Season 17 sister Lydia B. Kollins battle it out with “Drag Race” legends?
Of course I was rooting for Lydia. It was such a great season. I love this new format. It's so fun. It's so entertaining.
There was some discourse following “All Stars 10” about Hispanic or Latina queens never winning the crown and your name of course, ended up as part of the conversation. What did you think about that?
Listen, I am so grateful for the reception I got on the show. It was like nothing I could've ever imagined. I felt really celebrated and you know, this fandom is full of a lot of people. This is their everything; it was my everything I told you this earlier, Drag Race was my everything as a kid. It's all I had and for a lot of people, this is all they have so of course, we were very passionate. It is also one of the only shows on television that you properly represents our community, queer people, feminine men, feminine people, you know? Queer representation doesn't exist on any other TV show so when this is all you have, of course people are gonna be super passionate about it and of course, everyone wants to see themselves represented.
I think it's a good thing that people are so passionate about the show. People are talking about it and so much discussion is happening and it's important not to take it too seriously either because at the end of the day it is just a TV show. If your favorite doesn’t win, there’s always next season that your favorite could win. I think its a good thing that people are talking about the show and passionate about it and I think that just shows how important it is to people and the impact that this show has had on society.
What is your favorite kind of holiday gift to receive from someone?
My mom is the best gift giver, she always gives me something that I didn't know I needed. It's always something when she's like “I know you're always like forgetting to do XYZ so here’s this.” One year, she got me a camera because she knew I was doing social media with my phone and now I use it every day!
Follow Jewels Sparkles on Instagram @thejewelssparkles
A Drag Queen Christmas tickets are available at dragfans.com
