Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He's also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida.
Andrew J. Stillman is a freelance writer and yoga instructor exploring the world. Check him out at andrewjstillman.com or follow him @andrewjstillman on all the things.
Some seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race have several guys who are considered “trades of the season,” while others never really land on any particular guy to fit this role.
For old-school enthusiasts of ballroom culture and drag, the trade of the season meaning is a masculine-passing LGBTQ+ guy who has a certain edge, danger, or risk to how he looks. Over the years, though, this term has been reimagined to simply mean that a queer guy looks sexy and attractive. There is some debate between people who want to cling to the original meaning of the term, while others use it more liberally.
In the Drag Race franchise, the “trade of the season” label is typically assigned to the guy in the cast who looks the best according to the other queens in the room, or the fans, or a combination of both.
Scroll through to see sexy pictures from the most memorable “trades of the season” within the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise!
Vivian Wilson in conversation with Sasha Colby for Teen Vogue
@TeenVogue/YouTube
Sorry conservatives, Vivian Wilson has zero fucks left to give.
The model and social media personality recently sat down for a 20 minute chat with Sasha Colby, courtesy of Teen Vogue. They discussed everything from their love of drag to role models to online friendships, but one thing in particular that Colby wanted to ask about was that sense of fearlessness Wilson has been emitting ever since she slid onto the scene.
"I've been like up for fodder for the right wing and it gets a little scary," Colby said. "You're like just so resilient with it. Like, you just go for it, you welcome it. What is that drive? Where is that from?"
"Well, drive of not giving a fuck," she replied. "First of all, if conservatives are talking about me, they're making money off of my name. So they are thanking me behind the screen. You're welcome. Second of all, if they're talking about me, then they are free to talk about me, but I don't have to listen."
It's a great outlook, and one Colby was quick to praise, joking that Wilson just saved her ten years of therapy.
As for how she reached that point of no fucks given? Well, for that, she largely credits drag, admitting that she was "basically this like, anxious fem boy" in high school. But watching drag and, eventually, participating in drag helped her find the confidence she needed.
It's a common story among drag performers, but one that never grows old. And the same way Wilson says she found inspiration from Colby and other performers who came before her, her own story of finding confidence in drag is likely to inspire others — no matter how much the haters try to bring her down.
"Not giving a fucking is not that hard after you've kind of been dragged across the coals," she noted. "After you get dragged across like burning coals, being dragged across normal coals, it's a massage."
Paris Hilton needs no introduction as the entrepreneur, reality star, DJ, and literal mother continues to slay as her empire grows by the year.
Despite her very packed schedule, the sliving superstar always makes time to entertain and give back to the LGBTQ+ community.
After performing an electric set at the OUTLOUD Festival to kick off Pride Month, Hilton is now gearing up for a once-in-a-lifetime set at the WorldPride Music Festival in Washington, D.C.
"This means so much to me! It's such an honor to be in D.C. for WorldPride with people celebrating from all around the world. I think it's so important for everyone to live their truth and celebrate love. The energy is another level," Hilton tells PRIDE.
Hilton is not only serving looks and bringing pop star realness to Pride festivals this June.
The performer is also teaming up with Rainbow Railroad to help LGBTQ+ people facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.
Hilton and her nonprofit, 11:11 Media Impact, are donating $11 for every video created on TikTok and Instagram using her Infinite Icon remixes (up to $111,111) during Pride Month.
"It really is a dream come true! I feel like the luckiest girl in the world every day. I've done so many iconic things in my life, but the thing I am most proud of is passing my bill in federal legislation to protect children from abuse. That is what I hope I'm remembered for... for using my voice to help others and to change and save people's lives."
Although many people in the queer community may be a bit fearful to show their Pride this year, Hilton encourages everyone to stay strong despite adversity.
"I love you all! I'm so proud to stand with you and to celebrate you this whole Pride Month and every month of the year. You should be there to celebrate with people who love you. I can't wait to be there with you all."
It's safe to say Hilton may be more booked and busy than ever. However, the star is still manifesting a guest judge appearance on a future season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
"My team has been in contact with them! We're just trying to figure out a date that works. I love the show, I love the queens. I can't wait to do it!"
Fans can keep up with Paris Hilton by following her on Instagram here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.
Onya Nurve is the latest queen to join the winner's circle from the hit reality competition show, but she has a feeling her time in the werkroom isn't over.
Before her performance at the OUTLOUD Music Festival at WeHo Pride, Nurve spilled on her early manifestations to slay Drag Race again in the near future.
"I would love to win an All Stars All Winners! I think I'm manifesting that now. I just want to compete against Jinkx, Bob, Sasha Velour, Symone... could y'all imagine that season? It would be insane. Violet Chachki and me in the same building? We're going to fight," Nurve tells PRIDE.
This All Winners cast sounds like a dream come true, but until that season comes to fruition, Nurve is soaking up this moment as fans continue to support her on the road since snatching the crown.
"I've always been the type of person I am. I haven't changed since winning the crown, so it is very nice to see people truly fall in love with me. They're falling in love with me in drag and out of drag. It's nice to know I'm loved thoroughly. I'm blessed, I'm humbled, and I wouldn't change it for the world."
We are witnessing drag herstory. Just when we feared perhaps All Stars was losing its luster, along came season 10 with its fresh new format and a cast of queens who are not only giving us drag excellence on the mainstage, but giving us that old-school untucked oh-ahh-ahh sensation.
From Ilene the Alien and Aja cutting up in the Werk Room, to Nicole Paige Brooks existing, the entertainment value is through the roof. But perhaps no queen is more responsible for providing gag-worthy moments, so far, than Mistress Isabelle Brooks who is always up to some kind of shenanigans.
Whether it's mixing it up with Tina Burner over an infamous rainbow wig post, snatching points right from her other drag sisters in the most nervy and chaotic way, or simply keeping the girls on their toes with a bevy of effortless reads and reactions, she is reminding us exactly why she is one to watch and why she is the heavyweight champ of making stellar television. While it remains to be seen who will be crowned the Drag Race All Stars Winner this season, the true winners this time around are in reality the audience who are watching and getting their absolute lives.
PRIDE caught up with Mistress to talk about her many moments, so far, including her sparring match with Tina (which Ms. Burner has sense posted some receipts for), the points heist with Jorgeous, and why she was “pink pussy pissed” in the first episode. We also dig a little deeper about why she isn't afraid to stir the pot, and where that comes from, and we ask what's the tea with that spicy moment she shared with Alexis Michelle at the premiere party.
PRIDE: How are you feeling about your time on the show? Do you feel like it's giving what you thought it was going to give?
Mistress Isabelle Brooks: I go into everything with no expectations, I think that's what always makes my run on Drag Race enjoyable for me. I’m a little bit shocked at how real I am. On the first episode when I saw how mad I was I didn't get to lip sync. I could tell I'm hot pussy pissed. I love it. I always tell people if I was not Mistress, I would be Mistress's number one fan, that bitch is fucking crazy.
I want to talk about one of the nerviest moments I have seen in a very long time. The points heist. I assume you were maybe the architect behind this move, but is it hard to get Jorgeous on board?
That is a move that only the HBIC could make — so I am the creator. However, I think people are giving me too much credit and thinking that I strategize. My strategy with anything competition-based is to have no strategy because I'm a very impulsive, in-the-moment person. I think that's what makes these things work, to the best of my abilities.
People misread how I got there because people were thinking that I was only mad that I didn't get to lip sync the first week. That was true to some extent, but I wasn't only upset about that. I was thinking about moving on and moving forward, because the thing is, especially after my fight with Tina [Burner], I think the girls were already seeing the energy in the room shift, and they were thinking, Oh, we cannot fuck with this bitch like that. So I knew if I was gonna get these points, I had to snatch them myself. If you want it, you gotta go out and get it.
From the very get-go, I’ve been very close with Jorgeous, We basically grew up together. Jorgeous knew whatever I said she was going to do because she knew I would not mislead her. She knows I will not lead her down the wrong path.
So in the moment, I right away was like, 'Girl, give me the point.' I was shocked. She listened. If Jorgeous was smart, she would have also taken my point. She wouldn't have given me the point, because I would have put her over the edge. She could have given her point to someone else. If I was her, that's what I would have done. I would have done an even bigger switcheroo, but that's my little sister that I love. I told her I would make sure we made it.
There was a moment — when Nicole Paige Brooks clocked — where you two kind of exchanged a look. What was the communication happening at that moment?
Jorgeous' vocabulary is, [imitates Jorgeous's voice] 'Oh, my god, Mary.' So all you got to do is give that bitch a look because we are communicating telepathically. I gave her that look, of 'bitch, trust me', and trust me, she did.
When I'm actually close with people, I can communicate just by looking at them. That's how you know I'm really friends with a bitch. If I can look at you and you know exactly what I'm thinking, then that's how I know we're locked in.
Well, I will say Nicole looked like she was mad, mad at that moment. Was it tense?
Honestly, I was so mad about not winning the first week that I did not give a fuck who I pissed off because we all know what we're here to do. I think the advantage I had in my group was everyone was trying so hard to be sweet and be friends. And I was like, 'Y'all not realizing we're here to play the game.’ I think I set the tone for the bracket... I shifted the energy.
I don't regret anything I've done. I don't regret what I did. I was sad that I had to, like, remove Nicole and Kerri [Colby] from it. But honestly, I know some people might not believe it, my goal was not to fuck over Kerri. I really did mean the Texas Girl Alliance. I really enjoyed Kerri. I love Kerri as a competitor and as a friend, and if given the opportunity, I was going to give her a point later on down the line.
Okay, that makes sense. I will say I feel like you get away with a lot. What is it about you that makes you able to slide through that way?
I think a lot of people get mad at me because I do have nerve. But everything I do is correct. You never have to guess. You never have to guess how I feel. I'm going to tell you exactly how I feel, and everything I do is never with ill intent. I think I get away with it, because at the end of the day, I'm your favorite villain, but I'm also a good person, and I think I live my life, you know, I live my life as a good person. I'm nice to everyone. I do my thing. And you know, if someone gets hurt along the way, it's just, it's just a part of the game. We know what we're here to do.
Do you feel like this part of your personality emerged with your drag? Or have you always kind of been someone to stir it up?
I have always been a pot stirrer. People cannot take me seriously when I say this, but I like drama. I don't like being in drama. I like to be the person off to the side. I'm going to add my ingredients to the pot and I'll stir it up, but I'm never the one actually starting off the recipe. And I think that's why I get away with so much. Because there's a fine line to walk.
You have gotten the nickname of “the instigator.” Do you wear that badge with pride? Or do you or do you decline?
I'll wear the badge as long as it has some rhinestones on it. I definitely am the instigator. But it's because a big part of me being the instigator is so many bitches are so fake. Just say how you feel if you don't like someone, say how you feel. If you feel like they did you dirty, say how you feel. I never will fault someone for showing their feelings or saying how they feel, because I'm'a always do that. Just like the first week, baby y'all saw I was hot pussy pissed on that runway. I walked right out. I was over it. And [they asked] were you mad? Hell yeah, I was mad! When you are upfront about how you feel and what you're thinking, people have no choice but to respect you.
I want to talk about your dynamic with Tina Burner as well, which was hilarious. Every moment with the two of you in the workroom is just like instantly iconic. I'm curious what you think about her dropping the receipts this week about DM gate.
Tina thought she did her mic drop, but why all my fans were reading her?
Girl, Tina is so silly, and I think that I also have to keep in mind Tina's more in Nicole Paige Brooks' age bracket. So I think we just have a little bit of a gap between us. I think Tina Burner is so funny and Tina actually was one of the ones who surprised me the most. I think Tina Burner is a really solid drag queen.
With our fight, to me, it was a kiki and it was a joke, but to her, she was taking it very serious, which is why, when I posted the picture and I saw that she was upset before we were even on Drag Race together, I did DM her, and I was like, Hey, girl, hope, like we're fine like it was just a joke. She left me on read and she was in her feelings. But, you know, take it off Getty Images, baby. I can't help how you look.
I am a person of taste and sophistication, so I watch "Mistress Mondays." So I did watch the premiere episode, and you and Alexis Michelle had a little bit of a moment at the premiere party. I'm curious when we can expect the hard launch?
Oh my God! She is so funny because I am just getting to meet everyone in the Drag Race stratosphere because there's so many of us. When I met her, I felt the energy shift. I was like, this woman wants to have me like she is trying to fuck! The thing is, I'm scared. I've already dated one drag queen. I can't do another one. I can't open my body to that. My body's a temple. So, I'm gonna keep my distance, but I'm sending her my love. Maybe she'll be the one I slide in the DMS.
Mistress Isabelle Brooks/YouTube
I felt like there was chemistry there. I don't know. I'm kind of manifesting and rooting for you crazy kids to find love.
Sapphira Cristál served one of the best runs ever seen on season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race as she secured four main challenge wins and dominated nearly every aspect of the competition.
Although she barely missed snatching the crowd after an epic lip sync battle against Nymphia Wind during the finale, Cristál says she'd be open to entering the werkroom again in the near future.
"Of course I want to compete on an All Stars one day! I was this close to getting that crown. All Stars crown... I would love to have it. I'm going to work my ass [off] for it. I would love another chance at the crown and to be on y'all's screens again," Cristál tells PRIDE.
Cristál may have just fallen short of victory last year, but her career has been nothing but a slew of wins since her time on the show.
The talented queen is the latest star to join the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race LIVE! in Las Vegas and her newest album, The Cristál Ball, is officially out today on all platforms.
"It's always been a dream of mine to be on the Vegas Strip! This is just the beginning of that dream. It's a wonderful show to be in! I love music, so there's something for everyone on this album. The Cristál Ball is mostly about self-love and really enjoying one's own space."
Besides her wide array of talents, Cristál is also considered a beloved Drag Race alum for her motherly energy and wisdom that's inspired her fellow queens and fans around the world.
"No matter what people tell you, never forget to truly love and accept yourself. If you don't have anybody else, you've gotta be your number one cheerleader. You have to remind yourself that you're worthy of love and no one can love you the way you can."
The Cristál Ball is available everywhere now. To see the full interview with Sapphira Cristál, check out the video at the top of the page.
