Catching Up with Drag Royalty Blu Hydrangea

Thanks to RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, audiences were introduced to Blu Hydrangea, a talented performer and makeup artist from Belfast, Ireland. Although she only placed fifth, she certainly made a mark on the franchise’s debut season.

Like with anything, there is always room for improvement, and we certainly saw it when Blu returned to the main stage last year for Drag Race UK vs the World. Possibly blossoming more than any other queen, this cheeky Irish lass proved why she is a force to be reckoned with. From slaying the runway with impeccable looks and going above and beyond in the challenges, to an unforgettable impersonation of both Austin Powers and Dr. Evil in the Snatch Game, it was clear that Blu grew into her potential, both as a drag artist and person.

Ultimately, Blu snatched the crown, emerging as the first Irish queen to win the competition.

It has now been a little over a year since Blu’s victory, and OFM caught up with her to see what’s new. In addition to continuing to evolve and use her platform for good, Blu recently hosted Stitch, Please!, a costume design competition mini-series that is now available to stream on Revry.

I would like to begin by talking about a reality competition show you were involved with last year that wasn’t Drag Race–Stitch, Please! The series is available to watch on Revry, so what makes it worth checking out?

Well, if you love Drag Race, I’m there! (Laughs). It’s basically just a load of creative people who sew and design as a hobby but never had the opportunity to take it anywhere. We give them a certain amount of time and money and let them be as creative as they want to be. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s like the best parts of Drag Race for me because you get to know about these people, their stories, and why sewing means so much to them. Also, you get to see how creative and talented they are. There’s a time limit, so there’s a bit of stress to it, which is always good fun.

How did you get pegged to host this show?

I’m not entirely sure, but I think it has something to do with the fact that the production company and the head of BBC are both from Northern Ireland. At that time, I was the only queen from Northern Ireland, and now there’s Jonbers Blonde. I think they just love homegrown talent, and I think I resonate quite well with the competitors. I’m a people person, so I feel like you’re not going to be scared of me hosting something. It’s not about me walking around scaring people. It’s about having a good time and doing what you love.

As your judging debut, what did you take away from this experience, and what surprised you the most?

I think what I took away is that winning is not everything because me as a judge and host, the decision obviously meant a lot to me as it did the creators, but it’s very subjective to who is in front of you. I think that really helped me, and I didn’t feel as bad about the Drag Race judges were saying about me because it’s just their opinion. Everyone has an opinion. If you don’t like it, that’s fine. That was probably my biggest takeaway. They say that drag is art, and art is subject(ive), and that’s true, but it’s hard to see that when you’re not in the position of making the decisions.

What was it like working with Revry?

Amazing! Revry has been very supportive. Obviously, it originally aired on BBC Three in the U.K., but now they’re airing it on Revry, and to be honest, I think it’s great. It makes me feel very special that they’ve seen this, picked it up, and decided to air it in the States because it’s very camp. I feel like I’m one of the only Drag Race UK queens to have their own show, hosting and judging it. Then, on top of that, it’s being aired in the U.S., so it’s amazing.

If you took part in the competition, which week’s theme would you have wanted to do?

I wouldn’t want to take part in it because I’m not that good of sewer (laughs), but I’ve definitely gotten better. I’m trying to push myself on TikTok and stuff, trying to immerse myself with creative projects so that if I ever have to go back for an all-winners season of Drag Race, I will slay those queens! But I think I would love to have done the Met Gala challenge because you can wear anything, and people just think it’s fashion. It’s very Bimini Bon Boulash. If you watch her Instagram, she just throws a load of crap on, and then everything thinks it’s fashion. That is the Met Gala.

When it comes to creating your own looks, do you prefer to have a theme in mind, or do you like starting with a blank canvas?

Oh, I always have something that inspires the look, for sure. Whether it’s a color, a fabric, or something that I’ve seen online, and I actually get a lot of my inspiration online. Instagram, and social media, it’s so full of ideas, and it’s a great platform for people to show off their creativity. So, it’s hard not to find inspiration daily from there, but I would definitely start off with an idea.

Any word on if there will be a second season of Stitch, Please!?

I would absolutely love to do another season. I think it’s the kind of show that could evolve. The first season was a little trial pilot season, if you will, so I feel like the show could definitely grow and become bigger and better. So, fingers crossed!

I would now like to ask you a couple of questions about Drag Race. It’s been a little over a year since you won UK vs the World. How did it feel becoming the first Irish queen to win across the franchise?

Oh, my goodness! It felt amazing, but it was a shock. Not going to lie. I went into the first season, and the pressure I had on me was to get from episode to episode. The second time I went on, UK vs the World, the pressure was to do well in the challenges and not just to try and cling on. I really wanted to do well, and I think I pretty much did across the board. I don’t think I did badly in any of the challenges, but you can only put your best foot forward. You never know what people are going to think, and once Pangina was eliminated, it was a homestretch for me (laughs). I was very proud of what I did.

I heard there was a little romance going on between you and Pangina. Is this true?

I love Pangina with all my heart. I don’t think she feels the same way about me romantically, but I’m OK with being her friend. I always love to troll her online; it’s my favorite thing, so she’s not getting rid of me anytime soon!

For those who don’t know, how did your journey with drag begin?

I started watching drag whenever I was about 10 or 11 years old. I found the second season of Drag Race online, and I used to download the episodes and hide them in some very deep folder on my laptop so no one would ever find it. I would watch it with the volume on 1% in case, God forbid, my dad would walk in on me watching something completely risqué. But ever since then, I loved it. I also loved Divine in Hairspray when I was younger, as well as musicals.

Then when I went to university, I was such a teacher’s pet in school, so everyone expected me to go to university. I did, but I hated it and dropped out. My partner then signed me up for a makeup course on my behalf, and I didn’t want to do it, but I went, and that’s how I started with makeup. Then came the wigs, the outfits, and performing on stage.

Why did you initially want to be on Drag Race?

Because the show has done so much for change and progress. I remember the call coming, it was around December time, and I just thought, this is going to change so much. I watched the casting call, and my whole body was shaking. I was like, yeah, I’m going to be on this. There’s no way I’m not going to be on this.

When you were invited back for UK vs the World, did you have any reservations at all?

Absolutely. The lovely guy that gave us the call said that I was the only queen that didn’t say yes straightaway. I had to sleep on it, and it wasn’t for any other reason than I just wanted to show as much growth as possible whenever I went back. I knew I had grown because I felt so much different, and I would have the money and confidence to showcase a fuller version of Blu Hydrangea, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it so soon, especially mid-pandemic. No regrets, though.

Was there a moment where you were like, “Oh my God, I could actually win this competition?”

Not until I got to the final episode. Even in the episode after Pangina had left, I remember RuPaul saying something about the line in my song verse about holding up a lipstick saying goodbye or something, and I remember her saying something along the lines of, don’t let that come back to bite you. I think she said something similar to Princess Poppy. Princess Poppy said, ‘bye losers,’ and RuPaul went, hopefully that doesn’t come back to haunt you, and it did.

I thought that was going to happen to me because I was fifth in my original season, and I was like, I’m going to come in fifth in this one, too. But then once I made it to the finale, I thought, I think I’ve got this. I didn’t think we were going to crown an American in the first-ever international season, and once Baga chose to lip sync against Mo Heart, I was like, yeah, I’m going to win. There’s no way Baga is going to win a lip sync against Mo!

Out of every challenge you participated in, your original season and UK vs the World, which one was your absolute favorite?

I like any girl group challenges. Frock Destroyers, obviously. The highlight of my career, probably. I just absolutely adore those girls and working together, and I don’t know if anything’s going to happen in the near future because I feel like it had its time, but I will always love performing “Break Up Bye Bye.” I will continue to as long as they’ll let me.

That was my next question. Is there anything new going on with the Frock Destroyers?

Yeah, not sure, to be honest. We are all working quite a lot separately, which is very good, and I’m happy to see that for the girls. Nothing has been said, but anytime anyone books us together or asks us to do anything for World of Wonder, I will absolutely be there. I love it. I would love for the three of us to go and do RuPaul’s Drag Race LIVE! in Las Vegas.

How would you say Blu Hydrangea is constantly evolving as a drag artist?

I just always think that drag is the kind of thing that you can’t stop learning. You have to continue to find new things to elevate yourself and your drag, which is one of my favorite things. Like, I’ve still got a long way to go, and I want to take this year to learn new crafts. Not because I’m worried that someday soon I’ll receive a call and they’ll be like, “It’s time to come back,” but also I just want to be the best queen I know I can be. I want to keep this train going as long as I can.

What are some future goals you hope to accomplish with your career and platform?

I would love to start a business. Don’t know what the business is going to be about yet, but I want something that’s going to give me some longevity. Something like Kim Chi’s makeup line or a fabulous YouTube series. I don’t know, anything. I also want to do some more TV, and I want to push myself and, like I said, learn new things. I just love drag, and I hope to continue doing it on a bigger platform. I hope to keep that up as much as possible. That’s the end goal. You’ll see me doing everything I can. I’m going to be a hustler (laughs).

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention or plug?

There probably is, but I always forget whenever people ask me these things (laughs). Just check my social media. I’m always posting about where I’m going to be, so keep your eye on that. I promise to be back on your TVs very soon! Even if it’s just a small little clip and a glimpse of me, you will see me.

Stay up-to-date with Blu by following her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @bluhydrangea.

Photos courtesy of Juke Jonathan