Drag Superstar Eureka O’Hara has the Spirit of Pride

Growing up as a poverty-stricken country child being raised by a single mother in the heart of East Tennessee, Eureka O’Hara knows what it takes to survive. That passion and worth ethic is now what makes this drag superstar thrive.

Standing at 6’4’’, O’Hara is a representative of big people of all genders who feel like they are alone. Their goal is to give these kinds of people around the world the confidence to go out and live their dreams. Since catapulting to stardom after competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race, O’Hara has continued to make their way onto the national scene with television, music, and modeling, and they have no intention of slowing down.

OFM caught up with the self-proclaimed “Elephant Queen” to talk more about living authentically, Pride, the upcoming season of We’re Here, and more.

Let me begin by asking, how excited were you to participate in Invisible Narrative‘s Pride Eve celebration, and now its ongoing #RaiseYourFlag campaign?

I’m very excited about it! I think it’s been really fun so far, and I love the message behind it. The visibility, acceptance, and all people coming together from different walks in life, aka social media platforms, which has such a huge reach when it comes to you. So, I’m excited.

Do you foresee this turning into an annual and beneficial event?

Yeah, I think so. I think it could be adopted just in general by queer people. I love this idea of Pride Eve. It’s like a New Year’s Eve celebration for queer people.

People describe Pride as so many things. What does it personally mean to you?

For me, Pride just means existing without having to fight every day. I hate to say it like that, but that’s just how I feel. There are so many countries where being LGBTQ is still illegal. Like, you could be given the death sentence for being queer, and the reason that we hold Prides, the reason why we do it for a month and wave our flags, it’s to represent that person that’s not allowed to authentically be themselves somewhere else. That’s why we do Pride. So, that’s what it means to me.

Do you remember the first Pride event you ever attended?

You know, I’ve been interviewed about this before, and I’ve said two different answers (laughs). I can’t even remember which one’s the first. I’m the worst. The first time I really attended a Pride and was involved was in Charlotte, North Carolina. I had this rainbow ball gown on, and then I feel like the first time I ever performed for Pride was in Roanoke, Virginia.

Both of them were two different feelings. Performing at one was so special because I got to be the person that represents our culture for the people out there. They’re coming here to feel safe, so I’m like a protector. Then with the first Pride that I attended, I felt warm and safe in a different way. This is my time to be among like-minded people.

Where I’m from, we didn’t have a Pride until like two years ago in Tri Cities, Tennessee. So, it was really amazing when I attended my first. It’s like, “Wow, now I get it.” I’ve heard about Prides, but until you attend one, you don’t understand why it’s so fun, what it means to you, and how it feels to be around all those like-minded people.

For those who are not aware, how did you initially fall into the crazy world of drag?

When I first came of age and started going to the local gay bar, and I saw drag queens, it was just like, “Oh my God, this explains every urge and feeling that I’ve been having since I was a little kid.” Growing up in a Southern Baptist home, I remember praying at night to wake up a girl. I was raised with three women, so I was always supposed to be the man of the house, and I couldn’t play with Barbies, dress up, or do makeup, but I wanted to probably more than my sisters did.

When I found drag, I was like, “Oh shit. This encompasses everything feminine that I’ve had to hide for all these years or avoid.” It was literally a matter of time before they convinced me to do a talent show because I was helping all the girls at first. I just never turned back after that, but the first time I did it, I was so nervous. I carried my purse on stage and stood in one spot during the entire number.

How would you say drag has evolved since you started?

Drag has obviously evolved publicly. When I first started doing drag, I think it was a couple years later when Drag Race came out, and I remember us all huddling around the computer to watch it. Now, drag is everywhere. It’s globally known and celebrated. So, it has changed drastically.

Obviously, you catapulted to stardom after competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race. I’m curious, were you at all nervous going back in for All Stars?

Honestly, I feel like I had a hiccup on Season Nine, then I was so pressured to do well on Season 10 because I was returning. But for All Stars, it was just my time to have a good time and be me more than ever. So, I don’t think I was as nervous because I was like, “You know what? I get to do me.” I had faith in my abilities because I had glown up a bit since Season 10, so I was ready to show the world who I’ve become.

What are your thoughts on the current season of All Stars? Who do you see being crowned as the “Queen of All Queens?”

I love, love the new season of All Stars. I think it’s so much, and I love the way it’s set up. It’s nice to see these girls that we love to also get another chance at the new audience that we have. People go back and watch it, but this is also giving them new platforms. I’m really rooting for Jaida, but I would also love to see someone like Raja, who is so iconic.

Earlier this year, you checked yourself into rehab for addiction therapy and mental healthcare. May I ask, how have you been doing?

I’ve been doing great. Honestly, I didn’t realize how much our community is so torn down for most of our lives. We come into our communities as an LGBTQ person, and we find that support, but it’s so easy to fall into the trap of alcohol use and things like that because of untreated trauma that we grew up with. Sadly, I was one of those people, and I just knew I needed help. So, I feel really, really great.

You are currently in the process of filming the third season of HBO’s We’re Here. Is there anything you can tell us about that?

Just that it’s going to be badass. We are putting so much energy into the true stories like we’ve always done, but we want to make it bigger and better every season. We’re putting even more creativity into the looks and show performances, but also the very diverse storylines of people telling their authentic stories that we haven’t had on the show before.

Are you at all surprised how much of an impact that show has made?

Maybe a little because I knew it was just a different kind of drag show than Drag Race. It definitely has funny, glamorous, and fierce moments, but there’s a lot of heart and emotional energy in the show. People normally relate drag to having those moments in the mirror where we see the girls get a little vulnerable, but then it goes to a cracked joke or some type of behavior to make us laugh and feel free about it.

This show goes really deep within a personal psyche of how queer living is in these smaller towns and how much support we can find because we are everywhere. We’re here, we’re there, we’re everywhere. So, I guess a little shocked, but very pleased. I’m proud of it.

Have you kept in touch with anyone you helped on series or had any updates on how they’re doing?

Oh, yeah. I feel like most of us kind of stay in touch. With social media and things, it’s really easy to stay linked up together, and I talk to most of my daughters through social media and text. I have a few of them that will reach out when they’re going through hard times, and I give them the advice they need or just someone to really be a sounding board for them. I’ve developed a lot of good relationships from this.

What’s next for your music? Do you have any projects we should be on the lookout for?

Yeah! I’m working on a new song with Katie Kadan, who was a first runner up of The Voice, and her partner, Sarah Potenza. So, I’m excited about a new project coming up. It’s just about the Big Mama spirit that lives in everyone. That caretaker, but also that fierce being we all can be. Besides that, I’m always working on something.

What more do you hope to accomplish with your drag career and platform?

Honestly, anything I can do to push equality for body positivity, gender-nonconformity, women’s rights, and the Black Lives Matter movement. I want these causes to be at the forefront of everyone’s eyesight. Drag is a very powerful sport for the queer community, and we can really make some things come together in terms of advocating for a lot of those things we need to work on. Then for me personally, I want to act more and be in more entertainment because that’s where I find solace, comfort, and happiness in myself. So, working in the industry and doing more fierce things.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you’d like to mention or plug?

I just hope everyone raises their flag for Pride, and I would love to continue pushing GLAAD’s work, The Trevor Project, any organization that is putting forth positivity. Also, get out there and vote! Voting is so important right now and pay attention to the legislation in your certain area. Hopefully, we can get more anti-gun violence, get pro-choice sustained, and watch out for those trans right being played with in states like Florida. That’s my biggest thing.

Stay up-to-date and connect with O’Hara by following them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @eurekaohara, or visit their official website, eurekaohara.com.

Photos courtesy of Eureka O’Hara