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Canada's Drag Race Season 5 Sashay Q&Eh: Perla

Canada’s Drag Race Season 5 Sashay Q&Eh: Perla

The Toronto queen talks to IN Magazine about the challenge that gagged her, the collection she’s dying to wear a look from, and the surprising peace that comes with being authentic…

Perla entered the werk room of the fifth season of Canada’s Drag Race as the petite fashion queen who knew how to whip her hair in a lip sync. Through the season she proved she was a fierce competitor who was also super funny, full of personality, and heart. Perla was eliminated from the competition during the season’s penultimate episode (you can read IN’s recap of episode 8 “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!” here) Following her elimination, Perla talks to IN Magazine about which horror looks she’d like to incorporate into her drag, the importance of good wig maintenance, her favourite look she wore, and what surprised her the most about herself during the race. 

As a fashion queen, you wore a lot of stunning and memorable looks on the runway. I want to know which one was your favorite and why?
I’m going to say it’s a tie between Alien Superstar and Time and Place. Alien Superstar because it’s such a love letter between me and my partner, and I love that he made the outfit. I got to do the hair for it. And that was three and a half weeks of hand beading that entire dress. Like, that was a labor of love. I would say my second favorite or my tie spot would be Time and Place.  Because that look was made out of Value Village and Shein. And it cost me maybe 120 bucks and it was so cool. Literally, a blazer, it was two blazers chopped up at Value Village and stitched together with yarn. The coat, the blouse, the shoes, and all the tights, Shein.

And as a lover of fashion, I have to know, what would be your dream look or a dream collection to wear a piece from?
Oh, you just opened Pandora’s box. Oh my god, if I were to wear anything, I think something that would just fill my heart and really solidify myself as like a fashion icon would be to wear anything from the eighty percent incomplete collection from Alexander McQueen after he had taken his life. If I could have worn anything from that collection or just held it against my body, you could take me out, throw me in traffic that day, and I would be okay with it. 

You were there for the majority of the competition. What was the one challenge that surprised you the most?
I would say sewing for Brooke Lynn was a huge gag, huge surprise. But also, the challenge that surprised me the most because of how I did was Girl Groups. I was like, “Girl Groups? This is, this is my send off. I’ve had a great time, I miss you all so much, I’ll see you next time.” And they said, “No bitch, you’re in the top.” And I went, “Really?”

Was there a challenge you were looking forward to that you were surprised didn’t happen this season?
You know what? Everyone says they wanted a makeover, and I’m like, “No. I’m okay without it.  I’m okay.” I don’t know how great I would have done on someone else’s face if I couldn’t blush my own (laughs). I guess I wouldn’t have done it great on someone else.

If you could go back in time and tell the pre-Canada’s Drag Race Perla a piece of advice before stepping into the werk room, what would it be?
Change your statue look.

Can I just say it was reading bust to me. I got that it was a bust.
Headline of the article, “I Could Tell It Was A Bust”. The heavens just opened up and they said, “Absolutely.” (laughs)  

In this last episode, you really opened up in the werk room before the runway and not to rehash anything that you said, but I just want to know what inspired you to get so candid with the other queens ahead of the runway in that episode?
You know, I really do find that I really am an open book. I feel I would have been dishonest and did a disservice to myself if I didn’t be honest and share my struggles and share my experiences in life. I never want to be in a situation where I’m not saying something that could potentially help someone.

There could be someone who’s watching this season and has been following this season that gets to this episode and hears my story about my relationship with my father, even my relationship with alcohol, who is in these struggling positions and sees someone who’s made it through that. And all I can hope for is that it gives them the inspiration and the drive to see where you can go from these struggles and how you can continue to propel yourself forward. And if it could help change someone’s life or inspire someone to keep going, I will absolutely keep saying it.

Canada's Drag Race Season 5 Sashay Q&Eh: Perla

Your entrance quote was, “Well, I’m just happy to be here,” and during your elimination, you seemed very at peace, proud that you’ve made it to the top five, and proud of yourself for making it that far in the competition. What surprised you the most about yourself throughout the process?
That I’m funny! That was the fucking gag of the century up in there! I didn’t realize that I said so much funny stuff. And I’m really happy watching the whole season back and understanding how authentic I was. I love watching confessionals, watching things in the werk room. In all of those moments, I see myself. I don’t see someone who’s putting something on for television. I see exactly who I look at in the mirror every morning. And it’s so great to see me be so comfortable with being myself. And that’s been really amazing.

And also, just how many people resonated with me. That still has blown my mind. I don’t know how to process it. I’m still trying to process it, but I’m also so thankful for it. It’s like I’ve done this a lot to the brain explosions.

I think that comes with just you being so authentically yourself like you said. You’re able to connect with so many people that you didn’t imagine that you would have. And yes, you were very funny right from the jump. I think it was like the second episode where you said you just wanted to chain smoke and listen to Eternal Sunshine that I think about constantly.

There’s something about chain smoking and listening to Ariana Grande that makes you just go, “yuh”.  I also fully, I wish you could see it, but I have yeah tattooed on my finger. 

Speaking about Ariana Grande, and the fabulous ponytail you’re wearing today, you are known for your masterful work with wigs and of course your hairography during your performances. In your opinion, what is the thing that takes a wig from good to perfection?
Bundles (laughs). No, I think the number one thing that takes a wig to that next level is also being able to take care of it. I get so annoyed when I’ve done a wig for someone and then five minutes later, I see it and I’m like, “Why did it fall apart?  Why did you throw that in a bag? I spent 28 hours making that wig and you threw it in a bag.”

I’m a big fan of upkeep.  Like this wig alone is like a synthetic base, and then I use human bundles to do the actual pony. But like, I still wash this. I still maintain this. Like you still have to treat your wigs, especially if you’re using human hair, you have to treat that better than actual hair on your head. And that drives me up the wall when Queens are like, “Oh my God, I got my like beautiful unit and I’ve worn it twice and it’s dry as fuck!”  And I’m like, “Buy the products.” Like, you’re spending upwards of five to six plus hundred dollars up to like twelve hundred dollars on a human hair wig and you’re going to ruin it?  

How did you get started with wigs? Was there a realization that you had a knack for it?
Honestly, I just kept learning stuff on YouTube. When I moved to Toronto, Priyanka used to live in my building and she just brought over a bin and she said, “Have fun!” and I literally just started teaching myself random things. I’d watch hair tutorial videos and I would just try to figure out things for myself and pray that it worked out in the end. And somehow it led to me doing hair often, which I’m baffled by still to this day. But like, this one turned out cute.

You’re also a fan of horror. What is a movie or aesthetic you’re dying to incorporate into your drag?
Okay, I’m a huge fan of the new Robert Eggers Nosferatu movie. I would love to do something inspired by that. Other horror things that I also love. Um, I’m a huge Dario Argento fan, so I would love to do something like Suspiria inspired. Like that Technicolor world. Or I would love to just do something fucking weird, like, Resident Evil style I’ve done it a few times, but I feel like I need to actually execute it perfectly as a really high fashion Pennywise. Clearly, I’m great at the paleness of Pennywise, so it’s time I just really hop in on it.

What’s next for Perla? Where do you hope to see her in a year?
I’m ready to just fashion it up. I want to show That Canada can produce a Miss Fame, Canada can produce a Violet Chachki. Canada can take these insane moments and follow this fashion path and I want to be that girl that’s sitting front row at fashion shows. I want to turn looks; I want to do editorial. I want to tour; I want to just do everything I possibly can and then be as iconic as Daphne Guinness or Iris Apfel one day and just sit in my plastic surgery face and live my life!

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