The best things about another RPDR All Stars is the return of some of our most cherished queens. Case in point: Naomi Smalls. And Miss Naomi ain’t even waiting till her exit to drop something – no, she’s releasing her new single ‘Pose’ later today!!
What is the history of Naomi Smalls?
When I turned 18 I went to a drag show and thought, ‘Ooh I think I can do this…and I think I can do it a little bit better than
these queens onstage!’ So I kept practicing doing makeup in my room until I had the guts to go onstage, and I still looked like a hot mess…
What were you doing before this?
I was a hair stylist. Not loving my job – just showing up and had to get a job after high school, cos I definitely wasn’t going to college, I’m not that smart! But I thought I could probably do the hair.
You have a very close relationship with your family – especially with your mum. How was it coming out? And then coming out as a drag queen?
I never had to come out – I was always gay as fuck, right from birth. I was brushing my ‘My Little Pony’s’ hair right when I was like three years old. I never had to say the words “I’m gay” to my mum, my mum just knew – and then with drag, I never really had to come out as a drag queen either. I would just practice at home, my Mum would see me and she be like, “You should do this!’ and ‘You should try that!’ and tell me what to cut back on. My mum is super awesome. I got really lucky. I somehow got a Christian white family that are really supportive.
Have you seen any fan created work online about you that you liked?
There are loads of different pockets of the drag race fan base – like there is one with little taxidermied mice in our outfits, re-enacting what we did. It’s really fucking weird, like stop-motion!
Speaking of rodents, you described your drag style as ‘high fashion hood rat.’
Well, I take a lot of inspiration from current fashion runways but also like to go back to 90’s hip-hop and look at the silhouettes, the cut outs and what they are showing off. I think it’s a lot of fun – and when you put it all together it’s still fun and flirty. I mean, everyone always loves skin. Skin is always a good…“Touch all of this skin honey, you just can’t take it!”
So the theme of our shoot is a celebration of Janet Jackson’s album Control and its artwork. Are you a big Janet fan?
I am a Janet fan! Janet has never stopped being incredible. And I am a huge Mariah fan! I hear she has all her meet and greet photos retouched before they get sent out – I wish I could do that! Facetune everything!
Tell us about one of your highlights so far.
My highlight was having Naomi Campbell know I exist. She IS the best. I have been looking up to her since I was a kid.
I hear you like Pokemon. If you had to be a Pokemon, what one would you be?
I would have to be Jinx – she has the wig, the huge lips, the eyes. I mean, she is always in drag.
Follow Naomi Smalls on Instagram and RuPaul’s All Star Drag Race Season 4 – out now.
Images by Darren Black.
Post production by Sammy Harkin.
Interview by John Brock.
