FOF #937 RuPaul's Drag Race Legends: A Taste of Ongina

Published: Feb. 12, 2009, 6:25 a.m.

In the latest episode of RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race, the reality TV show created to produce the next drag superstar, one of the contestants, Ongina, tearfully revealed she was HIV positive.

Today we\u2019re talking to Ongina, also known as Ryan Palao, about what it was like to boldly share this intimate detail with millions of viewers and how it\u2019s affected his life.

Ongina also clarifies some common misconceptions people have about drag queens, gay men and Filipinos and brings some sass and class into our discussion on how costumes help us be the people we want to be.

Ongina shares with us her behind-the-scenes insight into whether Rebbecca Glasscock was trying to manipulate the outcome of the challenge in her favor by having an emotional breakdown which forced the judges to keep her on the show and get rid of Chicago\u2019s gal, Jade.

How could the show kick someone off after they cried about having a friend with AIDS without appearing to be heartless jerks?

One thing\u2019s for sure, after winning half of the challenges on the show so far, Ongina is the girl to lick!

Ongina Ongina Ongina Ongina

I\u2019ve asked several drag queens why they didn\u2019t try to be on the Drag Race, since obviously it would have been great publicity and opened a lot of doors. They said they feared that drag queens would be negatively represented on the show and decided to steer clear of it.

It doesn\u2019t make any sense to me. If RuPaul told me to jump on an airplane, fly to Los Angeles and walk the runway in drag, I\u2019d do it in second. And so should you.

What makes these types of TV shows so fascinating to watch is how they illustrate the obstacles we all place in front of ourselves because we fear being rejected. We put those roadblocks in our way because we\u2019re afraid to look at where we\u2019ve failed. We feel that we aren\u2019t good enough.

What\u2019s probably the most uncomfortable for the contestants is how the program asks them to take the wig and makeup off, and look in a mirror. The show asks us to embrace our strength and our flaws. In that sense, RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race and the contestants are all winners.

Listen as we also talk about Ioana Cioanac, the 71 year old Romanian woman who\u2019s knitted an entire wardrobe out of her own hair.

Irish police struggle after they confused the Polish words for Drivers License for 50 different driver\u2019s names- Pradow Jazdy.

Dustin Lance Black at the Oscars.

Talk about giving mixed signals! The City of New York is now offering classes on how to be a better hooker in order to rehabilitate people who\u2019ve been arrested for cruising for sex in a dirty book store.

A big thanks to Iris for hooking us up with Ongina.