Michelle Visage Still Has Impostor Syndrome

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While other guest judges on RuPaul’s Drag Race are often very enthusiastic, Michelle Visage often plays the role of the critical, even stern, judge. She jokingly compares herself to a Disney villain, explaining she’s always been drawn to that archetype. However, her tough critiques aren’t meant to be malicious – she genuinely wants to help the drag queens improve. This has made her a beloved and memorable host, especially on Drag Race Down Under, where she took over hosting duties from her longtime friend RuPaul. Their connection goes way back to Visage’s teenage years in New York City’s club scene, where she met RuPaul through a mutual friend, Suzanne Bartsch. Before becoming a fixture on Drag Race, Visage had a diverse career, singing in R&B groups in the 90s and performing on London’s West End in the 2020s. She and RuPaul actually started working together in 1996, co-hosting a radio show and collaborating on RuPaul’s VH1 talk show. RuPaul tried for years to make Visage a permanent judge on Drag Race, and finally succeeded in 2011. She’s been an integral part of the show, with her role growing ever since.

You know, people always ask me when I felt like I’d ‘made it’ in the film world. Honestly, I still struggle with feeling like I deserve any success – I’m actually working through that in therapy. So, the truth is, I don’t feel like I’ve ‘made it’ yet. There’s always so much more I want to achieve and so much more to learn. It’s a constant journey, and I’m still on it!

Is there anything powerful enough to truly overcome impostor syndrome? I wish there were a simple fix. It seems like it often stems from difficult experiences in childhood. I don’t think there’s one single solution, though. It’s more about confronting the underlying issues, which is what I’m working on now. I’m also considering ketamine therapy as a potential option.

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I remember getting my first substantial paycheck after one of my songs was featured on the Bodyguard soundtrack. The very first thing I did was buy a house for my parents.

Just sharing – I heard that song while putting on my makeup today. Thanks for asking! It wasn’t a large house, actually a townhouse in central New Jersey. The owners were facing bankruptcy, and I was happy I could help them out.

When I think about a defining moment in my career, the line “Stop relying on that body” really stands out. It became a popular meme, and honestly, there are a lot of memes featuring me because I’m just naturally a bit silly and over-the-top.

Yes, there have been times I felt viewers didn’t understand my intentions. A particularly memorable instance was during All Stars 3 with Adore Delano. I care about Adore a lot, and we have a close bond, which is probably why that moment seemed so difficult. But it came from a place of genuine care, because I recognize how incredibly talented she is. I would never intentionally do anything to upset her, and I’m happy that we’ve been able to resolve things and maintain a loving relationship now.

If I could trade lives with someone on reality TV right now, it would be RuPaul. I want to win a lot of awards – like, thirty Emmys!

Do you ever feel like someone on a reality TV show is your rival? I don’t have anyone like that. Even though this industry feels competitive, we’re all connected. So when other people I work with succeed, I genuinely celebrate their wins just as much as I’d celebrate my own or the show’s success.

It’s interesting to think about which reality stars are authentic on TV and which ones are playing a role. I personally know a few of the ‘Housewives’ and really appreciate Garcelle and Rinna. Rinna can be a bit controversial, but she’s consistently been a genuine friend to me – what you see on screen is truly who she is. And she won’t hesitate to stand up for herself or others. Not all women are quiet or submissive; some, like me, are very direct. If anyone threatens my children or family, they’ll definitely face my strong reaction.

Many drag queens create a distinct stage persona separate from their everyday selves. The queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race spend a lot of time developing those personas, and I think we should respect the artistry they present. Of course, people change after the show – everyone grows and evolves throughout their lives. I’ve changed a lot since I first appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race in season three. I’ve learned so much about myself, drag, and queer culture, and I believe everyone deserves the freedom to grow and change.

It’s a common question whether every successful reality show needs a ‘bad guy.’ While I don’t particularly enjoy conflict, I think some level of drama is expected on television, and a villain often provides that. However, there’s a difference between being a villain and being genuinely unkind. I believe you can create compelling drama with a villainous character without resorting to meanness. We’ve moved past the need for that kind of negativity, especially given everything else happening in the world. A show can have a villain without that person being truly awful.

On competition shows, it’s effective when the ‘villain’ is simply a strong player. Think of a movie like Top Gun – everyone’s ultimately on the same team. I’ve told many contestants, especially on shows like Versus where they vote each other out, that it’s natural to feel bad when someone leaves. But if I were in their position, I’d prioritize winning and eliminate my strongest competition. A lot of players say they want to defeat the best, but honestly, I just want to win, period. So I’ll remove anyone who stands in my way.

It’s hard to pick the best villain from RuPaul’s Drag Race – there have been so many! Kandy Muse and Plane Jane are both particularly entertaining, and you can now see them competing on the show House of Villains.

If I could choose any two reality TV stars to join me on The Traitors, who would I pick? That’s a fun question! I’d love to be a Traitor, and I think it would be hilarious to have RuPaul on the show with me – but we’d probably both be eliminated quickly, since we’ve seen how that dynamic plays out. I’d also love to have Tiffany Pollard – she’s fantastic, and I think we’d be a really funny team. Actually, can I just stick with Tiffany? I think me and her would be a great pairing.

If you’re hoping to become a reality TV star, here’s my advice – and as a mom, I might have some insight since my child may be on a show soon! First, never say anything you wouldn’t want the whole world to know. Second, I’ve seen firsthand how alcohol can cause problems on these shows, so it’s best to avoid it.

Asking me to pick a favorite finale performance on Drag Race is incredibly difficult! It’s like being asked an impossible question – all the queens are like my own children, and I love them all. It’s the same reason I always say RuPaul Andre Charles is my favorite queen – you simply can’t choose just one when there are so many talented and amazing performers.

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2026-05-06 16:00