Miss Vanjie Saves 2021 in New ‘Drive ‘N Drag’ Production

It’s a bird … It’s a plane … It’s Super Thot! Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, also known as Miss Vanjie thanks to her iconic, early exit on RuPaul’s Drag Race, will be joining some of the show’s other leading queens in the springtime edition of Voss Event’s Drive ‘N Drag Saves 2021. They are on a mission to save the world from the shitshow that was 2020, and the production will be in Denver May 20-22 at the Denver Premium Outlets.

With fierce, high-octane dance moves, an instantly recognizable, Puerto Rican-firecracker voice, and natural, comedic charm, Vanjie is an entertainment powerhouse ready to make her mark. We can only imagine what she will do as Super Thot.

OFM had the opportunity to chat more with Vanjie about the show, her times on Drag Race, and how she has been holding up during these difficult times of COVID.

Hi, Miss Vanjie! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me about Drive ‘N Drag 2021. How excited are you to be a part of this production?
I am super excited! I love touring and being a part of the whole Voss experience with my fellow Drag Race sisters and everybody in between.

What can audiences expect?
A sickening show during the pandemic.

You play the role of Super Thot. Can you tell us more about that?
With the theme being superheroes, I was like, ‘If I was a superhero, what would I want to do?’ I did not want to be serious and be like, I’m super whatever. Be something serious. I was like, ‘I want to be Super Thot because it is going to be fun, people will have a good time, and it will be like kiki.’ That was the first thing that came to my head. I am going to be Super Thot, and I am going to save 2021!

How beneficial do you believe these drive-in productions have been during these times of COVID?
I think it’s great because it gives you a little sense of normal. With these times and all the stuff going on, it gives you a little escape from whatever you have going on. We are all dealing with work and everything all together, so I think it’s good because it helps everyone to have a little moment and forget about whatever is causing them a headache. We all have something that is bothering us at this point in time. So, they get to escape and join us in this little fantasy world safely from their cars.

That is what you hope audiences take away from this production?
Yes. Just a good escape from whatever the fuck is going on. A good time, laughs, kikis, a great production, and great drag.

How have you personally been doing, and how has the pandemic impacted you?
I have been doing well. You know, it is a roller coaster, up and down. Some days are easier than others, but honestly, for me, the pandemic gave me a little bit of a break. Before the pandemic, I was working nonstop. I would have never taken a vacation. Now, being home, it has allowed me to spend more time with my mom and family. My mom moved to L.A. as well, so I got to see her, which I never got to really do when I was working. I was working all the time. I took the downtime to focus on what I want to do as soon as everything opens, and just trying to get re-inspired and creative again.

I would love to ask you a couple questions about your time on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Did you ever think you would be the most loved first eliminated queen?
Thank you for saying that, I appreciate it. Honestly, I thought, child, you just never know. Going home first before I did it, not to just say I did it, but it is rare for you to really be able to milk the experience. When you leave first, a lot of people forget you. There are a lot of girls you are competing with who have a lot of personality, and everyone falls in love with them. I was just really happy to get any kind of anything. It humbled me, and I feel like going home first, I still have the going-home-first syndrome. I’m always like, I went home first, and it’s like, girl, let it go. You came back. But yes, I feel honored. I try not to think about it too much because it is a lot to process.

What was going through your mind when you were invited to come back for Season 11?
I was gagged. When they asked me, at first, they didn’t really tell me what was going on. They were like, ‘Would you consider, what do you think about this?’ I was like, ‘Of course I would go back!’ I was just really excited because at that point, all the viral stuff and Twitter was happening. Everybody and all the celebrities were putting my name out there. I was definitely going to do something. I did not know if I was going to come back and compete, but they might give me a little shout-out. I was really honored and excited because I wanted to redo what I did on the first episode.

If you were asked to compete on All Stars, would you?
Of course! I would love to go back. I feel like I have grown so much since 11, and the show is such a special and cool experience. It is like when you perform on stage, you get the same adrenaline. When you get on the show, it pushes you to places and things you did not know you could do. I would love to come back. I just want my win!

Obviously, Drag Race has opened several doors for your career, but in what other ways has the show changed your life?
Drag Race has changed my life because I grew up watching the show, but it helped me grow as a person. I got on the show, and I was still super young. I did not know what I wanted to do with my life, I was still all over the place, and that is how I have always been. Being on the show helped me become more secure with myself. I know who I am, and it has helped put me in positions where I can help my family. Drag Race has helped me become who I am today.

For those who may not know, how did you discover your passion for drag?
It was random. I worked with Alexis; I was back up dancing for drag queens and with a dance company, but I was not in drag. I never thought I would become a drag queen. I just enjoyed backup dancing. One day, they encouraged me to do a little talent show, and I got to perform in drag. I got a little taste of it and wanted more. I was like, ‘When’s the next talent show?’ I really enjoyed it, and I felt like I found something that I was more passionate about than what I was doing at the time, which was makeup and backup dancing.

What more do you hope to accomplish with your platform?
The sky’s the limit. I can never predict what will happen. For me, I’m like, I just want to go on tour, live in the moment, and accomplish the short-term goals. I just hope to come back to All Stars one day, continue working with people who I love, admire, and respect, produce music, travel, and continue doing what I love to do. Keep myself excited and entertained, every day is an adventure. I do not get bored like a regular 9-to-5, which is not a read. People enjoy that as well, but for me, I was always a little bit all over the place.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention our plug?
Child, just go to my Instagram and website. I will be doing music; I will be doing a little bit of everything. I don’t want to say too much, or then people will send me messages over and over, being like, ‘I thought you said you were going to do this!’ So, I rather keep it broad and leave it to the imagination, but I will be doing music; I will be doing other things; Vegas is opening up, and I will be with Werq the World again. I will be cross dressing and tucking back my private parts all the way to my butt, and I will be at a city near y’all!

Follow Vanjie on Instagram or visit her official website to stay up-to-date. Click here for more information and tickers for Drive ‘N Drag Saves 2021.

Photos Courtesy of Stephen Sparco