Afrodite Amour is the first eliminated from season 3 of “Drag Race France” launched Friday on France Télévisions but her appearance in this single episode was enough for her to win the hearts of the public. Favorite of viewers, the 27-year-old queen from Lyon, whose “heart, family and roots” are in Guadeloupe, returns for 20 minutes on his journey on the show and his projects.
Releasing the premiere of “Drag Race France”, is that a scenario that you had envisaged?
I had considered all the possible scenarios, this one was obviously not the one I wanted to see happen… When filming “Drag Race”, everything happens very quickly. As a result, we never really have the time to sit down and say to ourselves “Maybe I’ll leave”. We do things. When I say “I think Edeha Noire and I will lip sync » [c’est-à-dire participer à l’épreuve finale de synchronisation labiale sur laquelle se joue l’élimination], this is where I start to realize that there is a one in two chance that I will leave. I am very happy that Edeha, whom I adore, was able to stay. As much as it was important for me to win this lip-syncas much as it was important to me that Edeha could shine and talk about her story.
You and Edeha Noire represent the Lyon drag scene. What do you think is special about it?
The Lyon drag scene is very committed, very politicized, and, as a result, is much more diverse than other scenes. We have a lot of kings, creatures, queer. You can see everything in Lyon and that is the city’s strength.
Your departure was widely deplored on social networks. Is it comforting to be the darling of so many people?
Yes, a lot. What hurt me the most about being the first to leave was telling myself that the public wouldn’t have time to get attached to me, to discover the person that I am. . There, with this first episode, I have the impression that people were able to see part of my personality and become attached a little bit. I was very touched by the number of people from DROM-COM or expatriates who wrote to me to tell me that they understood my feeling of winter anxiety and seasonal depression. I realized that I was not alone in this situation and it makes me happy to have talked about it on television.
Was representing Guadeloupe important to you?
Absolutely, that’s why it was important for me to make my entrance with madras on my outfit. I also wanted to emphasize that, even if I have been based in Lyon for ten years, my heart, my family and my roots are in Guadeloupe and that I wanted to represent the Guadeloupeans. I got a lot of feedback from them, particularly because I wore madras – they are very proud of it –, because I have an accent when I speak, because, in the show, I don’t I’m not hidden. This pleased many West Indians and what particularly moved me was that these messages did not only come from LGBTQ people. Everyone is really proud of me and that makes me very happy.
You started doing drag just over a year ago. Joining the show is already an achievement in itself, right?
I’m extremely happy to have been chosen to participate in “Drag Race”, just that. It’s a bit misleading to say that the important thing is to participate, but participating in this show is already a victory. There are hundreds and hundreds of us sending our applications, so when we get called back to tell us that we are one of the ten selected, it’s huge. Today, there are 31 drag queens of us who can say that we are in the “Drag Race France” family, it’s quite impressive.
What would you have liked to show more of yourself?
I would have liked to show more of what I can do on stage because my performance in the cabaret challenge doesn’t represent me very much. The performances I usually do are more oriented towards 1980s references, with slower and “diva” songs. I would also have liked to participate in an event that allows me to show my humor and my writing skills.
Do you still work in banking?
No, I had to stop right before filming because drag is taking up a bigger portion of my life now. My colleagues were very happy for me but, as a result, I am no longer with them now.
Have other aspects of your life changed since you announced your participation?
I no longer have time to go to the gym (laughs) and I spend a lot less time in Lyon now. I travel a lot by train. I have a lot of bookings, fortunately, I’m very happy with them. I’m going to spend the whole summer seeing the audience of “Drag Race France”. I will go to Nantes, Montpellier, Toulouse… I will cross a good part of France to meet people who I will then see again at the start of the show’s tour.
What’s your news in the coming days?
This Wednesday, I’m hosting a bingo in Lille with the House of Jambon Beurre [à 18 heures au Bistrot de St So]. Friday, I will attend the “viewing party” of the second episode of “Drag Race France” in Nantes [à la Little Atlantique Brewery, 23 boulevard de Chantenay. Le 8 juin, je participerai à un événement avec les Maxiqueers à Lyon [L’After Pride, à La Cité des Halles, dans le 7e]then I will perform at the Candy Bitchstill in Lyon.