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Rupaul's Drag Race UK's Dakota Schiffer was surprised she landed in the bottom two of the most recent episode and even more shocked when she was sent home.
The 22-year-old made history as the first trans woman to compete on the UK version of the drag reality competition and impressed fans with her flawless fashion.
But she became the seventh queen sent home during Drag Race UK's fourth season, in a decision that is proving to be controversial among fans.
"I really didn't expect to be lip syncing or being the bottom two for that episode," she told Newsweek in an exclusive chat.
"Given my critiques as well, the ones they aired and the ones they didn't. It wasn't negative at all, really?"
Dakota agreed with the judges that some of her looks had become repetitive and promised them that more versatile ones were coming. However, she didn't get the chance to show off her range after losing the lip sync to Pixie Polite, 30.
"So I really truly thought I was safe that week and then to have to go from there and an hour later you're writing your lipstick messages [on the Werk Room mirror] is a crazy thing," Dakota said.
The heartwarming episode introduced a familiar challenge, but with a surprising twist.
The remaining drag queens were tasked with doing a "family resemblance" makeover of the Queen Team—the group of women who help the competitors behind the scenes with everything from tying their corsets to moral support.
Until this episode, most viewers were unaware of the Queen Team's existence.
Schiffer said: "Truly, they are the people that make it work, and they are our rocks. So for them to get flowers this episode and be able to celebrate them for the first time in Drag Race history was an immense privilege."
Schiffer was tasked with helping Lucy live out their drag fantasy and delivered a peachy sartorial look inspired by a 1960s Balenciaga runway.
The drag queen admitted feeling "sad" when she first got back to her hotel room after her elimination, but those feelings were soon replaced with pride, especially because Lucy was happy with their makeover.
"Knowing that Lucy felt beautiful... and I was able to help them to feel powerful and they could walk on the runway with confidence... is really affirming," Schiffer said.
Ultimately, Schiffer felt happy to go home during such a profound episode and that she wasn't eliminated unceremoniously, "like, [at least] I didn't bomb a roast," the drag queen said.
Regardless of what happened during the episode, Schiffer managed to achieve the one big goal she had set for herself when auditioning for Drag Race, ensuring the trans community had representation on a mainstream show.
"We've seen amazing representation in the U.S. [Drag Race] but I think, in the U.K. specifically, the commentary on trans people right now is really horrible and in a really bad place," Schiffer said, referring to the "increased backlash" against trans rights, including from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.
"Positive representations of trans people are few and far between, so to be able to go on that show and represent my community in a positive way was the main driving force to apply in the first place."
Schiffer had an affirming message for any young trans people watching her. "I'd say that there's no right way to be trans," she began.
"This community is so marginalized, and it can sometimes feel so dark and gloomy. But I think if you put less pressure on yourself about your social presentation, about your medical transition—if you pursue one—and your identity is not something that's up to debate for anyone else other than yourself."
Schiffer added: "You deserve that respect as a human being, and my human rights are not for debate from anyone."
The drag queen admitted the current discourse around trans people "is unfortunately, full of a lack of empathy."
"It's hard, and it all seems impossible at times... but it can be a bit less soul-crushing when you don't put the weight of the world on your shoulders," Schiffer said.
"There will always be a community that's there for you with similar experiences. People who have shared experiences that can relate to you and comfort you."
Schiffer added: "As soon as you can find that, as a queer person, any queer family that's when your life starts improve, but if that's not in your reach, there's plenty of other tools, [such as] your ability to find euphoria in the darkest places."
RuPaul's Drag Race UK airs every Thursday at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET in the U.S. and in select territories exclusively on WOW Presents Plus, on the same day as its local airing on BBC3 in the U.K.
About the writer
Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more