'RuPaul's Drag Race': Derrick Barry

Scott Holland READ TIME: 2 MIN.

Week 8 starts out with only five queens left in the workroom. The mini-challenge had the girls using puppets to make fun of another contestant. Why? Because everybody loves puppets.

The winner was Chi Chi DeVayne, who pulled the Bob the Drag Queen puppet. The maxi-challenge was a "Book Ball," where the contestants had to come up with three looks that represented their journey. The three categories were "Baby Drag Realness," "That's My Momma Realness," and "Autobiographical Eleganza Extravaganza," a couture creation made entirely of books.

Kim Chi KILLED the three looks and was the clear winner, followed closely by Naomi Smalls and Chi Chi DeVayne, which left Bob the Drag Queen and Derrick Barry in the bottom two. In the end it was Derrick who sashayed away.

At what age did drag become an interest and how did you pick your name?

I started doing drag at 20 on Halloween, because of my love for Britney Spears. My drag name is my real name. Chad Michaels was the first drag queen I met and she used her real name. I just really felt comfortable keeping my real name.

How did you become a Britney impersonator?

I got such a crazy reaction that Halloween on Santa Monica Boulevard, and two weeks later Britney was on "The Tonight Show" and I dressed up as her and got attention. At that point I knew that this is what I wanted to do. I met Chad that night and got a job at the club he worked at. This was in 2003.

How many times did you apply to be on RPDR and how did it feel when you found out you were chosen?

I auditioned for seasons 7 and 8, but I was late putting my video in for season 7, and for season 8 I heard back within an hour of sending my video in.

It felt like my work paid off and I was so excited. The skill set season after season is so high that if you don't put the work in, you don't get chosen.

Is there any additional pressure now that "RuPaul" is in its eighth season and has aired 100 shows?

Completely! In season one, there was nothing to compare to. All you had to do was bring the best drag you can bring. By season 8 there has been so much drag, it is completely intimidating. I was so happy to be part of this talented season.


by Scott Holland

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