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Astrid Mercury On Her Shady Castmates & Why She Has No Regrets
The Drag Race Philippines star is ready for her next era!
In episode two of Drag Race Philippines’ two-part premiere, we met the rest of this season’s fierce new queens. Again, they were challenged to face their fears with a photoshoot — this time with a boa constrictor wrapped around their eleganza — and forming a girl group to write, choreograph, and perform their version of (the total brain worm bop) “BOOGSH!”
While Astrid Mercury — a former cheerleader and stunt queen — walked into the werkroom with plenty of confidence and killed the photoshoot challenge, the critiques and pressure of the competition ultimately left the queen in tears on the main stage. After facing off with Hana Beshie in the lipsync, Astrid sashayed away, becoming the second queen to leave the competition after Nicole Pardaux.
Now Astrid is opening up to PRIDE about her regrets, what she would do differently next time around, and what shocked her most about her fellow queens when she saw the episode.
PRIDE: Unlike some of the other girls, you were so calm when you posed with the snake. How were you able to keep your cool so well?
Astrid Mercury: Maybe because the snake is a little bit smaller than the usual ones I’ve seen in the zoo. And also, one of my fantasies is to have a photo with a snake.
Watching you break down on the runway was so heartbreaking. Can you tell me a little bit about what was going through your head at that moment?
Nothing was going through my head at that moment. I just wanted to burst into tears. I was pretty shocked because it was my comeback to drag then I f**ked up on Drag Race Philippines! It was kinda disappointing for myself, my family, and my friends that were rooting for me.
If you could do it all over again, would you still pick yourself when asked "who shoud go home"? If not, who would you pick?
Of course not; I would throw someone under the bus if it’s needed and if they f**ked up just to save myself. And I’d be stronger and wouldn’t let myself down.
The rest of the girls did not pick you, how did that feel? Were you surprised?
I’m a bit surprised because I didn’t expect that they wouldn’t choose me to go home even though I f**ked up on the challenge and on the runway. By that time I was satisfied because I think the girls didn’t see me as a failure at that moment.
What surprised you most when you watched the episode back?
I am surprised by the girls because they are pretty shady. The claws are out during that episode and it’s just the second episode of Drag Race.
What are you most proud of from your time on Drag Race Philippines?
Being on Drag Race is really a proud moment because I know a lot of girls dream of being cast on this competition. I think I showed Astrid Mercury to the world even though I had a short time on Drag Race.
Is there anything you would change about your time on Drag Race?
No, I wouldn’t change anything because I think what they saw in that episode was the reason that they love Astrid Mercury.
Was there a moment from your time that we didn’t get to see that you wish we would have?
I think you didn’t get the chance to see more of Astrid being funny, being sweet among the girls, being the stunt queen — and her gorgeous face.
What’s next for you?
What’s next for Astrid? I don’t know yet but I’m open to opportunities such as brand campaigns, world tours, and the one that I am looking forward to, DragCon!
This interview has been lightly edited for conciseness and grammar.
Rachel Shatto, Editor in Chief of PRIDE.com, is an SF Bay Area-based writer, podcaster, and former editor of Curve magazine, where she honed her passion for writing about social justice and sex (and their frequent intersection). Her work has appeared on Dread Central, Elite Daily, Tecca, and Joystiq. She's a GALECA member and she podcasts regularly about horror on the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network. She can’t live without cats, vintage style, video games, drag queens, or the Oxford comma.
Rachel Shatto, Editor in Chief of PRIDE.com, is an SF Bay Area-based writer, podcaster, and former editor of Curve magazine, where she honed her passion for writing about social justice and sex (and their frequent intersection). Her work has appeared on Dread Central, Elite Daily, Tecca, and Joystiq. She's a GALECA member and she podcasts regularly about horror on the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network. She can’t live without cats, vintage style, video games, drag queens, or the Oxford comma.
