Direct from the City of Brotherly Love, Mandy Mango delivered Philadelphia flair and a very distinct perspective during her run on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18.
Arguably the first queen to ever Lip Sync for Her Life with an entire place setting around her neck (she won by the way), Mango is embracing the love and moving into a space where she is going to be able to merge her passion for the stage with her dedication to her community as she continues to be a passionate advocate for sexual health and education through her nursing career. I sat down with Mango to chat about those buzzed about Drag Race moments, bringing that Philadelphia perspective to the Drag Race main stage, and the unique way she is merging her passions together for a very important cause.
Congratulations on being such a fantastic representation of Philadelphia this season on RuPaul’s Drag Race. What was it like getting to represent the City of Brotherly Love on the global platform of Drag Race?
It is such an honor, I really feel like Philadelphia is such an underrated city on the drag scene. We hear a lot of big names coming from Chicago, big cities in Texas, New York, and so we kind of get overshadowed. I think Sapphira Cristál opened a lot of doors and I was happy to follow in her high heels to be able to also represent the characteristic grit and campiness and passion that Philly drag has.
We saw a lot of that signature grit and passion from you on the show. What does it feel like for you right now?
It is a roller coaster! I will say though, I love roller coasters! It has ups and downs but for all that it is, it is so much fun and it's such a dream come true. It’s so funny to see yourself on TV and to see you drag from that perspective and to get so much love for everything that you are. No matter how bad your eyelash might be hanging off your eye, there are so many people to show you so much love and to see the positive aspects of you. I think that is just part of what the Drag Race experience is. I am really grateful for all of the growth and the adventure that it is.
Every season of Drag Race has some amazing and gagworthy “firsts” and this season, you are probably the first queen to ever have walked the runway with an entire table setting around your neck! Your aesthetic as a whole truly shows you're willing to go “there”, is that fair to say?
That is what I feel like drag is, you know? Like RuPaul says, “coloring with every color in the crayon box”, that is really what I want to do with my drag. I think of Mandy Mango as the highest form of femininity in any kind of universe that you put her in. Even if it’s a different planet and there are different creatures, she is still giving puss puss womana. If she’s on the red carpet for the Emmy’s or a premiere, she is still giving gorgeous, glamour, poise. It’s funny that I got to show a lot of the kooky and campy side of me, but I really look forward to getting to show the poised and elegant side of myself as well because Mandy Mango gives it all!
One thing that was very intentional of you during your Drag Race run was to mention your background in the healthcare field as a nurse specializing in HIV/AIDS. It is so important to have a backup plan, but aside from that, where does this passion stem from?
The way I see it is that I take care of all of my patients all the way around. It is such a joy to see them at the club and have them tip me my dollars, but to get to see the other side of life as well. As a queer person I know some of the struggles of navigating relationships and navigating certain sexual journeys and understanding yourself. I think that is such a key aspect to queer identity and figuring yourself out. When I see myself now, being a confident drag queen, 21-year-old me would not have dreamed that I would be here right now. The 21-year-old me that was also sitting in a nurse’s office to get tested for HIV and getting weird looks and weird statements from the nurse, to now be able to be that person in the office where the patient knows I “get” it…It is about making sure they feel comfortable to be honest so that they can get the care that they need. I think it is a privilege to be someone that represents my patients community as well.
It must be so surreal for you as a performer and a professional when those two parts of your life intersect also. Do professional colleagues and patients know that Mandy Mango is in their midst?
Some do, but also because I told them in the office who I am. Some of my patients have come to my shows, and then sometimes my patients don’t recognize me and I like that too; let's keep that boundary there. Overall, I think what I am learning is that drag is such an engaging art and forces the audience to engage with the audience and lock in. Another passion of mine is sexual education, specifically sexually inclusive sexual education, especially for young queer people. I have been piloting what I am calling “drag edutainment” that uses drag art to help teach these sex ed points through a narrative. Using drag skits, numbers, and humor to make those points digestible.
You are serving such an in need demographic; many of us didn’t get the sexual education on what we needed to know as LGBTQ people when we were growing up.
Right! I had to learn from dating apps, sometimes not the right people, from porn, and that is not what is always correct. I really feel like I am living a pipe dream and I am just so blessed.
What are your rose and thorn of your Drag Race journey?
I’d say my low would be is frankly, being eliminated the time that I was and not being able to show the full breadth of my package. Not being able to spend more time with the girls, I truly love them and I think that we share a cool perspective of drag, and I really wish we got to spend more time together in the Werk Room. The rose would be all of the worldwide global love that I am getting every step of the way, no matter if Cardi B is saying she hates my skirt, my eyelash is falling off my eye or if trinkets are falling off of my table. I still feel so much love and I feel so seen for who I am. At the end of the day, I approached my package saying “If this is going to follow me for the rest of my life, I want to stand by it. Here’s my thought behind it and here’s why it's true to me”. I really feel like that has been seen; I’ve found my fans and my fans have found me, that has been the high.
You now have the global platform that Drag Race provides, so what do you think you want to do next?
Long term, I love living out this pipe dream of being a drag queen nurse. I think it’s really cool that there are different services like Mistr and Q-Care that are involving RuGirls in their marketing and advertising. Now let's take it a step further and not just be spokespeople. I am happy to be an educator and teach other professionals how to be LGBTQ+ competent providers in healthcare. There is a professional aspect to both drag and nursing. I just want to show that there are people from the community that still have a voice during a time that sometimes it feels like we don’t. I am hoping that this platform allows me to be the counter voice to a lot of the misinformation and darkness that people are feeling right now.
Last important question; What is the best place to see or do drag in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia?
That’s easy, Frankie Bradley’s! If I’m not traveling, I’m probably there on the weekend. There are three different dance floors, one playing 2000’s pop, another playing queer house vibes and another playing funk/disco/hip hop; you can always find your flavor there. Whether you’re gay, straight or queer, there’s always a spot and a dance floor for everyone. And the drinks are always good!
Follow Mandy Mango on Instagram @mandyy.mango
