An hour with Aja: dishing on drag fights, racism and YOU

Mic sat down with ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ legend Aja to get the real and definitive tea on racism, colorism and classism within the drag community - and beyond. But that's not all - she also dishes on Aquaria, Vixen and her legendary relationship with the one and only Valentina.
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[@playmateoftheyearduh]

Aja is woke af tho

[@rasianbray3977]

Black Monroe I love her so much

[@gonzalodcs]

I'm so happy to stan Aja since like the beggining, and I love the new fans that she earned during AS3. We are all finally seeing the fierce, good, loveable, woke, funny and beautiful drag queen that she is!

[@lewendigogo2602]

G0Dis BlackNTrans I'm only so familiar with Aja still, but I love how real she is. She's not a mean girl, but she ain't afraid to call bullshit either. Also it's great to see her handle other people's bull so eloquently. Love her vivid creativity so so much.

[@d.w.1805]

YES!!! As someone who was defending her during the Disastah era, I'm so glad people are no longer sleeping on her.

[@ozmi42]

Can Aja please give a ted talk? She is so smart and her commentary is so obviously well thought out and sincere. (Also that was the best description and imitation of Aquaria's demeanor I have ever seen lol)

[@veshk3241]

'thats a word right? Just making sure. See, i'm educated' LOVE HER

[@Nick-yx5xd]

A whole ass HOUR with Aja? Oh sis I’m READY

[@playmateoftheyearduh]

I love ajas honesty n how beautiful she is..her growth shows from season 9 to as3 to here .

[@TheConfettiDress]

Love Aja, I agree with everything she said. **Just wanna add my two cents as a white Latina, feel free to disregard** Though queens like Trixie, Violet, and Fame have Latinx or Native American backgrounds, that doesn’t mean they experience racism in the same ways that Aja or other Queens of Color will, if at all. From what I’ve noticed, these queens being white-passing makes them exempt from the racism from the drag fandom. White-passing privilege, from my personal experience, might as well be the same thing as just being white™️. People don’t care about genetics as much as how non-white you look. I’m so glad Aja brought up colorism as well as racism. TLDR; Aja’s EP is gonna be fucking firrreeee🔥🔥🔥

[@montyb969]

heffa I myself have 2 black parents but my great grandparents are white and black so I'm light skinned or "yella" and I do recognize I have privilege but that doesn't take away the fact I'm a person of color and sometimes I have noticed hate comes from inside the community. I believe if we recognize the colorism in our community we wouldn't have so much hate in our community.

[@electraheart7745]

Babe Tumblr you just disregarded everything she said it’s the point Aja failed to mention (unfortunately because she had some great points) but the white passing queens will *never be treated like the black or brown queens* who are not white passing. I can’t think of an instance where Trixie Violet or another white passing queen got any hate other than people thinking Violet was a bitch but it never resulted in people questioning her ethnicity or directing anything racially insensitive towards her. Whereas queens like Kennedy and Jasmine Masters were gettin death threats and called every racial slur in the book just because one didn’t like Trixie drag and the other sent Katya home in a lip sync.

[@InstrumentManiac]

Wow such a polished interview! Aja has really dug deep and had some introspective time with a lot of this. Very interesting to listen to. Thanks for making Excel spreadsheets a little more bearable :)

[@danielforde2158]

Polished and introspective? Really? She definitely gave the Valentina situation some thought. I just will love to see her growth from this point onward. She got some good points but she is definitely not a philosopher.

[@richard6088]

Yes.... bear. 🐻

[@idaicoon4962]

Daniel Forde No one said she was a philosopher lol

[@moonlightbae6143]

Not really.... the way she handled the Valentina question was a little weird. She was almost angry at the fact the fans asked about hers and Valentina relationship. Not to sound like a bitch but given Aja said their relationship goes beyond a 30 minute episode! Why is she so bothered then! She knows it’s just a TV show which her fans love, they love her and Valentina and they’re drama on season 9 so why be bitchy about it. It’s just a TV show and it’s the reason your famous so just give your fans what they want

[@moonlightbae6143]

For example if I had a little tick with someone on Drag Race and if was nothing more post the show but it got me lots of fans and attention and people was still talking about it, asking me. Then just give the fans what they want

[@a.victoria3317]

I want a Aja show i could watch her anytime

[@yosoiiaylu]

Dreama iskma same I need

[@brenda4449]

*I'm not spicy* I'm sweet, I'm wearing pink.

[@LJCedano]

Brenda what part?

[@emimonsterlicious]

She was literally sent home on all stars because the judges just saw her as "spicy" because of her heritage. If she were a thin white girl they would have been fine with her pink sweet branding.

[@richard6088]

I'm spicy and sweet. I'm basically orange chicken.

[@jrod1782]

I stan an eloquent queen. Bravo Aja!

[@yumilin3241]

She's so pretty i can't

[@MennoMmM]

'Trixie is whiter than West Virginia and mayonaise' ~ Aja, 2018

[@ellabernardini]

This was probably the best, down the earth and influential conversation I’ve seen in a long time. She touched on so many important topics and I hope so many people are able to see and listen to this. 💞

[@Wangriceman]

Aja doesn't get as much credit as she deserves! She's actually really articulated and clever

[@annc4134]

Aja talking about getting a late of hate in person, I almost cried. I thought Aja’s “Valenteeeennnnaaaa” read on the judges in season 9 was amazing. Yes, I saw the whole season.

[@lewendigogo2602]

So many great points on racism and importance of recognizing heritage. Also it's great to see how Aja has dealt with the hassles from others and matured. The part at the end calling out this sense of masculine dominance in the gay community was a great point as well. Not that all gay men are this way, but as a trans male who is still effeminate I know that many people would not accept me as a man especially since passing masculine trans males have a hard enough time. Even cis males get hassle from within the community because their sense of expression is too "girly". I'm glad that there are people who are trying to uplift and change these ideologies, but it is still a problem.

[@margaretannrice4772]

How important is this interview tho?! Aja is not only stunning she is one articulate Queen! Every drag race fan should watch this. In fact this should be shared constantly in all social media platforms. Bravo Aja 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@thegoogs]

I love Aja so much. I stan a queen who actually knows what’s up, not just here to post a black square and call racism solved

[@BizDelfin]

Evan tried it with that ‘Ayo sis’ lmaoooo I’m weak

[@jaayeeline2427]

This interview was THE GAG I needed but don’t deserve. As if I needed another reason to love her. MAY I SAY, this interviewer is EVERYTHING!!! Thank you sooooo much for these amazing questions and I absolutely loveeeeeee how he had the receipts ready 😂 BEST INTERVIEW IVE SEEN BY FARRRR. He’s obviously a fan because of all the references he understood. So cute! 💕

[@Enzempiro]

Aja spoke heat in this interview. She really took this chance and used it to it’s maximum effect... but... This is what scares me the most... When it comes to WHITE PEOPLE and their ethnic backgrounds... they benefit from their White ass Skin no matter their ethnicity. Point blank. Whereas a Queen of Color who is mixed with some kind of Caucasian background, they are COLORED no matter what. If a White Queen can win a Drag Race related contest over and over... it’s an issue. I can’t relate to Trixie, Alaska, or Chad... in drag or out of Drag. They don’t speak for me as a Gay Male Person of Color. Trixie can go on and do a honkie tonk album and then call Latrice King Kong... and maintain her All Star Status... but Tyra Sanchez can’t do shit but breathe in silence. Alone. I can relate to Bob, Kim Chi, and Naomi. I can relate to The Vixen. These White (passing) Queens... I can’t. But Aja said what she said in a way that’s respectable. I congratulate her for doing this and I think it’s great that @mic gave her the opportunity. ... let more Queens of color speak on these issues! ❤️

[@pamelaporter2837]

I know Aja doesn't like the term sassy but in Merriam Webster the definition is distinctively smart and stylish; impudent. And she is bold, smart and stylish. But I will concede to her wishes and not use that word in relation to her. I ADORE her honest, frank and lively heart. Thank you Aja, you really bring my heart joy.

[@KillDjay]

Pamela Porter its more about the intent. When straight keep it real they are tough and genuine and strong, when gay people keep it real they are sassy. Its the idea of finding an emasculating and feminine description for a gay persons personality rather than looking at each person, gay or straight, as an individual. I dont hate the word, but I do hate the way it is often used and a blanket description for gay people and people of color.

[@Sandy-mi2il]

I love Aja and I love hearing her talk about issues in the community (!!) but that isn't what colourism is. Colourism disadvantages darker skinned people and describes how darker skinned people are more likely to be criminalised, dehumanised, and perceived as angry, ratchet, less than, etc. (E.g. the paper bag test, the skin bleaching industry, etc.). This is often directly related to class and poverty. What she was describing is a problem in the community and is a problem with how we think about race and what it means to be white, but it isn't colourism.

[@princesssofiyagm]

It goes the other way to. Colorism is discrimination based on how black your skin is. Say Beyonce isn’t black enough is just as colorist as Shangela getting more opportunities then Latrice

[@munchedmuffin]

Sofiya Gm what? No.

[@polydipsiac]

So true. Being mixed and not totally fitting in with either cultures being shunned is a story that has been repeated over and over again. We shouldn't ignore their narratives just because sometimes colorism benefits them.

[@Sandy-mi2il]

Her experiences are 100% valid. I know many people who face the same thing and their blackness is called into question and it sucks - this also happens to people of all skin tones. We have narrow cultural ideas of what it means to be black, latinx, asian, etc. Maybe my understanding and experience of colourism comes from being dark skinned and from the UK.

[@Kelema86]

Thank you! Came here to say the exact same thing. I didn’t see your comment until now. Well put.

[@susannahstanton5378]

Dude... this was deep. Completely engrossed listening to her. I've always liked Aja (on TV) and it feels every time I see something else, it just makes me love her more. But this felt less like enjoying a TV personality, more really learning about the individual and understanding what makes her tick. Absolutely amazing. Love you Aja!!!!!!!!

[@mikeofcetacea]

I love Aja. I love Drag Race. I highly dislike Drag Race fans for souring what was supposed to be a fun community and show.

[@YourMom-mc2hu]

Dang Aja on the ball with these big words

[@lulukachoo118x3]

We love an educated woman!!!!

[@missvanjieee2009]

"Wait what was the question again? sorry im a rambler" OMG MOOD WE LOVE YOU AJA 😂

[@thatboiii9918]

Wow what a goddess

[@representingweirdos]

I love Aja so much! She's such an intelligent, amazing person and beautiful inside and outside. The interviewer does such a great job here too! Thanks to everyone who was involved in the making of this

[@riv3rss]

Let’s be real, 🌸 AJA SHOULD HAVE HER OWN TV TALK SHOW, she would kill it! I mean I LOVE her so much she’s so real and smart 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💜💙

[@jessicaforgione6794]

i love how serious she can get when she's talking about important issues but always bringing something funny to the conversation, she's really smart and funny

[@ES-sh5qm]

Aja has such a beautiful soul, I am really happy to see she has been able to express herself how she truly is and embody all of her talents

[@tj4751]

so glad aja did not give up. she went from being under the radar but hilarious to one of my absolute favorite queens. love you aja, keep telling that truth and keep slaying

[@jennyobiliseen4301]

It’s really beautiful how people who are blind don’t see color, they see the person. They see the heart and who the person is. That’s how everyone should see someone.

[@MILENKOLEVtv]

*Aja is just amazing and love seeing her on all of these media ... its good for my eyes and ears! I wish her so much more! :)

[@lee-ne3nx]

this is why i love aja. her personality lights up a room and she's herself.

[@netajones2098]

Aja has had my heart since Season 9, and I just fall more in love every time I see her. Such an amazing person inside and out, and I'm glad people are seeing just how intelligent, strong and amazing Aja is.

[@aslima17]

Honestly Aja has shown so much growth and so much potential in a short amount of time. She has real talent and i wish her the best ♡

[@giannabty]

You know what? I did not get Aja, but now I do. I love seeing this side of her and having these conversations. More please!

[@dustinchaney321]

That nose contour!! I'm DEAD

[@TheLeftistLife]

Yes we all love Aja! She is an amazing person ❤️

[@tiffanesanchez5126]

ON A BIGGER SCALE ...................I Commend AJA For Carrying Out This Interview The Way She Did! The Fact We Are Even Discussing This Issue Is Commendable....& Cute!...No She DId Not Answer Every Question The Way You Or I Would Have Preferred Or Liked But She Gave Her Experience & Perspective & I Honor & Respect That As Valid & True! IM LOVING THE COMMENTS AND HATING THEM AT THE SAME TIME! I LIKE THE FACT THAT MAJORITY OF EVERYONE IS UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECTING EVERYONES POINT OF VIEW BUT SOME OF YOU ARE BEING IGNORANT TO THE FACTS OF LIFE FOR POC AND ESPECIALLY AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO HAVE GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT GRANDPARENTS THAT ARE PRODUCTS OF THE JIM CROW ERA AND WHO HAVE EXPERIENCES RACISM AND COLORISM FIRST HAND!

[@mirandaballantyne9200]

Aja has quickly become one of my favourite queens. She is so strong, so inspiring and so real. Aja is an all star, this video touches my heart.

[@runningmotif2249]

Evan Ross Katz, thank you for yet another great interview. I love your interview style, your well researched preparedness and the in depth questions you ask the RPDR Queens. Aja is amazing. So real, thoughtful, down to earth, insightful and smart as hell. I could listen to Aja speak all day about the topics you raised in the interview. Well done to the both of you.

[@IeshaWaysJones]

Great interview questions! Love getting to know more about Aja!

[@alec4prez]

I see this guy everywhere interviewing drag queens and I find him very enjoyable. he's always so insightful and respectful, and really adds a lot to a conversation.

[@x0xmadix0x]

I could listen to Aja talk for hours. Evan, you did a fantastic job with this interview.

[@djslarge]

Yes!!! Aja finally put the words that I’ve felt about some of the race issues. Saying someone isn’t Latino because they look white, yet grew up in Latin culture, but a Latin-looking person is Latin, yet grew up in the suburbs.

[@juliereads]

I saw her that night at nightgowns and she was STUNNING. The best act of the night. God what a queen.

[@arandachristine]

okay, but the wide shot is focused on the background....

[@user-qe9ub9ir8e]

Aja saying like so much is me trying to get the word count

[@Majid12022]

I loved this interview so much! I hope you interview more queens in the future. Maybe Valentina? Or Violet.

[@acidlay]

Ugh beautiful

[@UkkyUke]

We Stan a smart, woke, beautiful queen

[@Tracydot3]

Best interview with a Queen ever. Aja is really smart and carries herself well. The interviewer also did a great job asking good questions. It's really sad to hear that there is racism in the drag community. I hope this changes soon.

[@TheVerucAssault]

Love Drag Race, love the queens, hate the fans. Not all of them as a general sweeping claim, but 9 of 10 come off as violent egomaniacs who feel safe and empowered behind a keyboard. I feel sorry for the queens knowing it’s their livelihood but have to lose fans or handle them with kid-gloves. Shaming queens rather than supporting the ones they are rooting for, ugh. Get a life.

[@snoopyluvscena]

I’m all the way here for these interview questions. They are very compelling.

[@NaomiDisaster]

I actually like her , thank you for giving her the time to elaborate who she is

[@antlux7812]

I’ve loved Aja since the beginning but she’s really become one of my top 5 faves.

[@mjormy]

She's a beautiful queen and she's grown so much. So honest and touching. I love her!

[@yesitsyiyi]

I respect how outspoken she is about issues that need to be talked about.

[@fueledbybrenda]

I mean, Aja is not wrong at all but I think something that should be mentioned is that people who don't look from certain ethnicity and may look white tend to not go through the same struggles as someone who does have brown skin. In society that's what they look at first, not necessarily your ancestry DNA results. You don't get a pass for being in 10% Native American in the real world. I think that's something light skin folks should understand. Look up Amara la Negra if you're still on the defense about it.

[@electraheart7745]

rubi exactly. I love that she brought this up but I think she forgets that lighter queens and white passing queens don’t deal with the same type of discrimination someone thinks you’re not Latina enough isn’t racist it’s ignorant especially if you really do just look white. Compared to a queen of color who gets called ratchet and trash because they’re too loud or ghetto completely different and not at all in the same category.

[@Gayonetta5000]

Sephra Rae it’s still racism, so it’s worth talking about. She said all POC queens deal with shit, so that’s what we should be talking about. Not how lighter skin POC don’t deal with the same issues. It’s dismissive of the things they go through. Sure, it “may not be as bad” but it’s still bad

[@davidmorris8319]

"An hour with Aja" *video is barely 44 minutes*

[@Dufflebags202]

I learned so much about Aja and drag from this! THANK YOU SO MUCH! We stan a well rounded, conscious Queen!

[@ProfessionalAtBlank]

Can we come some appreciation for the guy doing the interview like he’s good at his job 👏🏻

[@ageofaquaria3033]

She looks so beautiful ❤️

[@ChrisLam]

Appreciate Raja's POV so much!

[@DanahV]

i love the new aja!!! Fell in love with her in AS3. 😘

[@SiddySidSid]

sis is woke, sis is smart, sis is eloquent. so fucking proud of this binch♥️♥️♥️ i’m gooped

[@henryriley4958]

Also Aja made very good points during the interview. I watched the whole thing and this just makes me love and obsess over her even more than I did before 👑💖🙌🏻

[@LongLiveChris17]

They promised me an hour with Aja, where’s my hour tho??

[@ItsMrSmurf]

okay but how is she so wise and worldly.

[@gillianstuver8525]

I love Aja so much

[@FancyAlly]

Yass Aja stating pure facts the drag race fandom needs to hear

[@heidilinsen3393]

I've always enjoyed her esthetics, but gurl, this made me fall in love. Keep on preaching and teaching!

[@miat7822]

I already loved Aja before this, but now this has made me love her even more. I love how incredible woke she is and all of these topics mentioned definitely need to be addressed in the community more. I am so happy to be able to say that I stan this incredible queen!

[@LyricsAkane]

I'm sooo proud that I'm stanning her, like she tells soooo much truth, and she thinks exactly like me regarding all the things she said ❤️

[@dezzyikezz2248]

I already loved Aja but after this interview I love her even more.

[@katanashadow12]

The amount of snaps I was doing throughout this interview tho. Aja has really used her platform in creating conversations about the experiences and narratives of POC drag queens. You heard it hear folks; stop being a bigot! I love you, Aja.

[@TRoderick]

Mad respect for Aja, she slayed this.

[@botoxicate]

i love her she’s so down to earth 💗💗

[@dreamiskylight4928]

Aja is such a well spoken queen but yet so vibrant and crazy

[@lvmisshillsvl]

Aja is literally speaking the truth. This interview made me just wanna hug Aja.

[@hardiksolanki8093]

I'm so happy that this interview happened. Every fan especially hater need to see this.

[@BHM_Productions]

Great video! Loved what Aja had to say. The interviewer is sooo cute!

[@ApolloGreatKnees]

My Oh My! Bravo Aja, I'm very proud of your stance.....And the interviewer did an amazing job as usual

[@syguzman5739]

I've met Aja and her boyfriend. They are very sincere and show respect to everyone. I ❤ Aja

[@CupcakeMafia]

She's beautifullllllllll😍😍

[@ras2700]

I love aja's personality and mindset.

[@vfarias89]

" I didn't grow up in a fu*king corn field" LMAO i love that

[@alimiyazid]

when aja talks about the struggles i probably cried a bit, we stan a woke and inspiring queen ❤️

[@PrecociousFriand]

Aja looks gawjuss here

[@sandcastlecollapsing]

She’s so bright and has such interesting insights.

[@gustavogonzalezmolina636]

Excelente entrevista, Aja me agrada aún más, persona sensible y compasiva. Éxitos para Aja.

[@gracemccarthy7491]

Loved Aja since episode 1 of drag race, so happy to watch this 40 minute video!

[@tishsmiddy71]

Aja !!! Is the cutest and oldest soul I've ever watched !!! Good luck in your journey !💘

[@Irgoe]

I can't believe people tried to attack her in person. It's a reality TV show. People are crazy!

[@drinny26]

Her reaction when Sasha Velour took her wig off and rose petals fell was hilarious.