Michelle Visage: Mitches Bitches, Kath & Kim, and The Democracy of Drag

In a lively and wide-ranging interview with the Star Observer, Michelle Visage opened up about her role as host on Drag Race Down Under, her roots in radio, her relationship with music and her life outside the show.

Known for her sharp wit, unapologetic opinions, and general fabulousness, Visage reflects on her journey towards Drag Race and the career she has built.

You’re live on air with Michelle Visage

Few may realise it, but before becoming an integral part of Drag Race, Michelle Visage spent nearly two decades behind the microphone in radio.

She reveals, 鈥淚 spent 17 years doing breakfast radio鈥�17 years! I鈥檓 still doing radio now, just no longer breakfast. I鈥檓 on the BBC on Radio 2, hosting a fabulous Friday night show, which is probably the gayest show on the BBC.鈥�

Despite her busy career across continents, Michelle shares how deeply her passion for live radio runs, calling it something that鈥檚鈥渋n my blood”.

“You鈥檙e either a radio person or you鈥檙e not,鈥� she explains. 鈥淎fter 20 years, I think that makes me a radio person.鈥�

Michelle is committed to the craft, even broadcasting her show in the UK live whenever she鈥檚 there for half the year, a commitment she proudly calls 鈥渢he most exciting thing.鈥�

Reflecting Michelle says, 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing like the thrill of live radio.鈥� That rush of spontaneity and connection is something that continues to drive her, even as her career has evolved far beyond the radio booth.

How do you balance an entertainment career and family?

Juggling a transatlantic career comes with challenges, particularly with Michelle splitting her time between the UK and the United States while staying connected to her family.

鈥淚 kind of live half the year in the UK, and my husband comes out to see me when he can,鈥� she shares. 鈥淗e came with me to New Zealand last year, and he鈥檒l come in bits and bobs. The kids, they鈥檙e in uni, so FaceTime and WhatsApp are our best friends. We stay together with our family group chat鈥攊t鈥檚 messages constantly.鈥�

With two grown daughters, Michelle鈥檚 role as a mother has evolved along with her family鈥檚 needs. 鈥淢y kids are grown鈥攖hey鈥檙e 22 and 24 now, which makes it a lot easier. But it was tough when they were younger.鈥� Michelle鈥檚 gratitude shines through as she speaks of her husband, whom she calls 鈥渢he best dad there is.鈥� 鈥淗e was a stay-at-home dad, there for them every step of the way. I鈥檓 lucky,鈥� she reflects.

When asked if her daughters, now adults, have any plans to follow her path, Michelle laughs and says, 鈥淎bsolutely not. My youngest, Lola, has started with modelling, and she鈥檚 a psychology major. My eldest, Lily, is a botanist鈥攃ompletely different paths from my own, but they鈥檙e doing what they love, and I鈥檓 proud of them.鈥�

Will there ever be a return of girl group Seduction?

Though best known today for her work on Drag Race, Michelle鈥檚 love for music hasn鈥檛 waned. It’s well known the star was part lf the 1990s girl group Seduction and has continued to dip her toes back into music, including a recent collaboration with Steps.

When asked if she鈥檒l ever fully return to the music scene, Michelle says, 鈥淵ou know what? Every time I think that people don鈥檛 need to hear a 56-year-old pop star, I look around and see people like Kylie, Madonna, Janet Jackson鈥攁ll from my generation and still killing it.鈥�

鈥淚t surprises me every time I do a record, and it does so well. So, I鈥檒l never say never鈥攁bsolutely, never say never.鈥�

Drag Race: From judge to calling the shots

Since joining Drag Race in Season 3, Michelle鈥檚 role has grown not just in visibility but in responsibility. Recalling her initial offer to join the show, Michelle shares a story of the person that first stood in her way.

鈥淩uPaul asked me to join in Season 1, but I was in year one of a five-year radio deal. I was the breadwinner for my family鈥攎y husband was at home with the kids, so if I didn鈥檛 work, we didn鈥檛 eat.鈥�

She approached her boss at the time, hoping for a chance to appear on Drag Race, but was shot down. 鈥淚 asked him why, and he said, 鈥業t鈥檚 not the right look for our radio station.鈥� In that moment, I knew, I just looked at him and said, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e a homophobe.鈥� He denied it, but I knew, and that experience sat with me.鈥�

Her determination paid off in Season 3 when she went above her boss鈥檚 head and appealed to his superior, recounting her experience and challenging the homophobia she encountered.

鈥淟uckily, that superior said yes, and I finally got my chance,鈥� Michelle reflects. Ironically, her previous boss ended up getting fired, and though she clarifies she wasn鈥檛 directly responsible, she jokes, 鈥淚鈥檇 like to think I had something to do with it.”

Over the years, her role has only deepened. During season eight, Michelle transitioned from judge to producer, allowing her to shape the show from behind the scenes.

鈥淏ecoming a producer meant being taken seriously in ways I hadn鈥檛 before,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 became more involved in meetings, conversations, and ideas. I love that I鈥檓 able to play a part not just in front of the camera but behind it too, helping to shine a light on these incredible Queens.鈥�

While Michelle does not directly cast the show, she often sends recommendations to the casting team.

鈥淚鈥檝e put quite a few forward over the years, but I鈥檒l keep quiet about who they are!鈥� she laughs.

“A聽lot of times they don’t even know that I’ve put them forward. I don’t tell Ru that I put them forward because I just think that they’re ready to go.”

“I’ll go to drag bars and say, oh, this person’s good and I’ll e-mail casting and say check this person out.”

While Michelle puts her recommendations forward, there is still one person who still makes the final call.

鈥淯ltimately, casting is RuPaul鈥檚 call. RuPaul sees every single one of those auditions. Every single one he goes through and picks.聽It鈥檚 impressive.鈥�

**Michelle Visage is Kath & Kim‘s #1 fan**

Reflecting on her connection with Australian culture, Michelle explains, 鈥淚鈥檝e always loved Aussie TV shows. Obviously, there鈥檚 Priscilla, but Kath and Kim鈥攐h, I found that all on my own, and it was like gold!鈥� She laughs, 鈥淚 remember talking to Ru about it, and he looked at me like I had two heads, because of course he knew Kath and Kim. But I loved it so much, I went down a rabbit hole and watched the show about 20 times over.鈥�

More recently too she reveals she’s discovered Colin From Accounts, a show she deeply loves too.

Michelle鈥檚 admiration also extends to filmmakers like Baz Luhrmann.

鈥淚f there鈥檚 ever a movie about my life, I want him to direct,鈥� she says passionately. 鈥淚鈥檝e always loved British and Australian humour. It鈥檚 very self-deprecating and very funny, but Aussies are much raunchier, which is right up my alley.鈥�

Taking over as host on Drag Race Down Under

As the host of the latest season of Drag Race Down Under, Michelle Visage carries a new level of responsibility.

鈥淲hen Ru called and asked me, I was like, 鈥楽eriously?鈥� But he said, 鈥業 want you to be you. Don鈥檛 try to be me; just bring yourself to the role.鈥� So, I鈥檓 still that judge people love to love or love to hate, but now I get to be more maternal, to go into the workroom and connect with the Queens on a different level.鈥�

“I want people to know that if they’re tuning in thinking they’re gonna get Michelle Visage trying to be RuPaul, that is not the case.”

“All the sayings and all the things that you know and love that are part of the tapestry of our show, that will remain, but as far as me, me hosting, I’m bringing myself to it because that’s what Ru wanted me to do.”

“So I’m still that judge that you love to hate or love, to love depending. But I’m now hosting as well as judging.”

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But it’s not just all about Michelle this season, she has seen a lot of queens during her time as a judge, but this batch, she’s pretty excited about.

鈥淭hese Queens are ‘Mitches Bitches’, they have their own name” she laughs.

“These Queens are so strong” Visage gushes. “I have to tell you this is the strongest season out the box of Queens that we’ve had yet.”

“They’re all funny and wonderful and sharp and witty and catty and beautiful and it’s just a really strong series and I’m so so proud of that. They were wonderful and loving and welcoming to me. So it made me feel wonderful.”

“And the show still remains true to the identity of the show.”

The ‘Visage Drag Democracy’

The experience for Michelle was also bolstered by both new and returning judges on the panel, something she found very special for this season.

“Having Rhys [Nicholson]聽by my side, who is just the most incredible human being and having them there made made everything happy for me.”

“And then having our Queens in that rotating Michelle Visage seat was really wonderful.”

“Having our Queens return and judge, they’ve been through the machine. They’ve won, they’ve been in the machine and then they’ve gone out there and they’ve toured. They’ve done their own shows. They’re back in the bars, they’ve got their own businesses, having them have that experience and then be able to sit there and judge. It’s wonderful. It was the right thing to do.”

Whilst most aspects have stayed the same eagle eyed viewers will have spotted one interesting difference in Michelle’s delivery this season.

When calling the queens back to the stage, she states quite simply, “We’ve made our decision” when quizzed about this line she reveals the decision who goes home is not just hers to make.

鈥淚 wanted everyone鈥檚 opinion to matter, so we came to decisions collectively. RuPaul鈥檚 Drag Race is RuPaul鈥檚, but Drag Race Down Under is about the Queens and their voices. I didn鈥檛 want a dictatorship鈥擨 wanted it to be collaborative.鈥�

“The way I see it is it should be collective because everybody’s got their opinion and I think everybody’s opinion matters. So in in my house it’s a collective decision.”

The iconic Michelle Visage silver streak

No interview with Michelle would be complete without addressing her signature silver streak.

When asked if it was a style choice or a natural evolution, she explains, 鈥淚t started during lockdown. All my hair is actually this silver, but I wasn鈥檛 ready to go full silver fox just yet. So I did a poll, and everyone said, 鈥楪o for the streak!鈥� It started as a small streak, then turned into a chunk. Now it鈥檚 become such a part of my identity that if I get rid of it, people get upset!鈥�