As part of “RuPaul's Drag Race” Season 17, Los Angeles-based queen Joella quickly became what can only be described as an "absolute sensation."

While her run on “RuPaul's Drag Race” has concluded, her scorching charisma and strong self-confidence has etched Joella a place in “Drag Race” herstory. I sat down to catch up with Joella post-elimination and we chatted about her ”Drag Race” experience, how Katy Perry has impacted her career and life, and she gave me some inside tea on that final and now iconic “Quilted” runway.

I am honored to be talking to the icon and the legend of Los Angeles! You have become an absolute sensation and your self-appointed legendary status in Los Angeles has made you exactly that! What was going through your mind when you uttered those now famous words?

I don’t even remember what was going through my mind; I was having a genuine mental breakdown. In local drag in LA, I mean I was talking about local drag, I’m not talking about drag as a whole because even that is a whole community with such big names. Girl, I am definitely not comparing myself to Kim Chi (laughs)! I am talking about local drag, I am definitely well known in local drag and I was very booked. I guess I was talked about within local drag, but I would just like to reiterate that. It was about local drag, not about LA as a whole or even drag as a whole!

Well, you have now talked it into existence because it seems you have talked your legendary status into existence. On Sibling Rivalry, for example, Bob The Drag Queen and Monét X Change are officially Joella stans!

Are they?! (Laughs). Oh, my God!

How do you look back on the entire “RuPaul's Drag Race” experience?

I look back on it and a couple of months ago it didn’t feel real, but I will say, it feels so fucking real right now. I just feel like for a long time, I was worried with the placing that I got, I got in a few fights, especially with people that were fan favorites; I thought I definitely would not do well. I’ve seen the light though and I have run towards the light and I am on the other side and I am just so grateful.

There is something about you that is absolutely lovable and a large part of it his that you are truly one of your own biggest fans. I mean, no one in "Drag Race" herstory has walked onto the runway in a full quilted mattress/pop tart hybrid with a hole cut out and had the fans think that they would actually still eat the lip sync!

Yes! (Laughs)! Exactly!

Speaking of this now herstoric costume for the “Quilted” runway, give me a little background on your thoughts about bringing that specific runway to “RuPaul’s Drag Race?"

Actually that runway was turned into me very, very late and I had commissioned it weeks before I left. It ended up coming to me literally the day of at eleven am! I was actually really upset because the back of it was not supposed to be just a pure airbrushed picture of RuPaul, it was supposed to be different pieces of fabric looking like a quilt airbrushed solid pieces of fabric quilted to look like Ru’s face. Also the hardware of the outfit was supposed to be completely different also; it was just a mess. I don’t even know what to say about it.

I don’t think that there is anything for you to say. You are now part of “Drag Race” and by proxy, pop culture herstory. With that in mind, what are your rose and thorn of your “Drag Race” experience?

I would say that my rose is definitely my entrance look and my Paula Abdul lip sync. I will say that the thorn would probably be my talent show and also my “Quilted” runway that ultimately got me sent the fuck home!

I would not agree that your talent show was a negative. I thought it really showcased who you were as a performer.

I would only say that because of the reaction that I got from the fans. It really put a sour feel on the experience for me. I don't like watching my talent show back anymore…the fans reaction really…I mean, I know people say to ignore and don’t read the comments and that’s what I tell myself, that it should not matter to me. But seeing all of those comments…it really does something to you, girl.

As a certified Katy Cat, what was it like having Katy Perry in the Werk Room and judging the very first runway for this season?

It was insane because I met her so many times. When I met her for the first time, it was a dream come true. I had been a fan for so many years and it had been a dream to meet her. I kept meeting her and it kept coming true, then she kept remembering my name, then she kept calling me by my name. I even got to perform with her on stage twice, and it was an insane amount for a fan to handle. I was living though, I was like, “Yes, my dreams have come true!”

When “Drag Race” happened, that was a dream that I had been chasing for five years and when that came true, it was insane, I could not wrap my mind around it, I was feeling just so blessed. When I found out that Katy Perry was going to be there? My mind just couldn’t take it. I was on overload, I was so gagged, it was like, “Wait, these two things that are such a big part of my life are coming together. I am about to see RuPaul and Katy Perry together. What?!”

I think that the moment you become emotionally overcome in the Werk Room really showed a human side of you thought.

Oh yeah. I was so gagged.

Now that you have had all of these dreams come true, what could be the next dream you want to accomplish?

The two things that I am looking forward to and want to do the most, I want to release music. And I want to do another reality show or go back on this show. I just want to do more, I want more! I would love to do a show like Slaycation, I would love to do an “All Stars” too. I would love to go back and compete in drag again, but I would also like a show where I could just get dressed up and just talk shit. I feel like a lot of girls are good at the drag part, but where I really shine is that personality and reality TV. Put me on one of those shows, I promise you that is going to be the show to watch (laughs)!

Follow Joella on Instagram @thejoelladynasty