All Stars’ Jujubee on Addiction: ‘It’s OK to Not Be OK’

The finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars was a reunion and a coronation all-in-one. The eliminated contestants, in a surprise appearance, joined the Top 3 — Shea Couleé, Jujubee, and Miz Cracker — for well-wishing and so nothing was “left unsaid,” as RuPaul termed it.
This conversation consisted mostly of India Ferrah, Alexis Mateo, and Mayhem Miller addressing a possible conspiracy to eliminate Shea. While India never admitted to deliberately causing drama, she did apologize to Alexis for publicly attacking her character, which seemed to calm the waters in the Werk Room.
Afterward, all of the contestants took to the runway for a collective display of all-star eleganza. And the Top 3 slayed a dance routine to RuPaul’s song, “Clap Back!” before performing one last lipsynch to Janelle Monáe.
Ultimately, it was Couleé who took home the crown. Below, in an interview just before the finale’s airing, Jujubee discussed her journey with sobriety, the inspiration for her heavenly runway look, and her love of cats.
The Advocate: What would it mean to you personally to win All Stars?For me to win All Stars, would mean that I have personally solidified myself as one of the best Drag Race drag queens.
In the finale, RuPaul talked about how meaningful it was to be able to give you a platform. If you were given the platform of the All Stars winner, how would you use it?I’m happy that I get to show people that there is a new way of life and that we do recover. I want to use my platform to show people just that. It’s OK not to be OK. And it’s also OK to look for a new path. 
In the future, how do you hope to give a platform to others?First, is just to really listen to people and hear them. With the moment that’s going on right now, I want to be available to speak about Black Lives Matter and have an open conversation about trans lives because if they become voiceless, what’s going to happen to us?
What would you do with the prize money?I would buy my cats a whole lot of treats. 
It was so meaningful to see you share your journey with sobriety on All Stars. What advice would you give to others who are struggling with addiction?Take it one day at a time. For me, it was important that I found a higher power that was greater than myself. Get in touch with your soul. It’s OK to ask for help. 
You also got RuPaul to open about his own struggles, which is no easy task. How did it feel to commune in that moment?To hear RuPaul share some of his deepest thoughts with me felt really humbling and felt real. I needed that moment, and I think he needed it too. I was grateful that side of him was shown. 
In the last episode, who were you most excited to see emerge from behind the glory hole, and why?I knew that Derrick Barry would be behind it because he is a glory hole. Who doesn’t love Derrick Barry. I think he needs to come back for every season. 
Your final runway was just heavenly. (Eat that, Santino Rice.) Can you share more about how it was designed?I wanted to depict the highest form of a spiritually centered being and that was exactly what I got to do. I worked with Diego Montoya. It has always been my dream to depict this person and we got it. 
Outside of the drag world, who do you consider an all-star, and why?Michelle Obama is someone who is full of queenliness and poise. She is so intelligent and radiates love. I’ve always seen her as a magical queen, and I think a lot of people will agree. 
Why do you love cats so much?I love cats because I am in constant search of love and when you do that with a cat they are so honest. They give you some love then run away. It’s all about the chase.
Watch The Advocate’s pre-season chat with Jujubee on Black Lives Matter and finding her political voice below.

Original Article on The Advocate
Author: Daniel Reynolds