“I’m proud to be iconic, I’m here to serve!” La Kahena tells GAY TIMES of her historic new position in the Drag Race dynasty. The France alum recently set a franchise record when she became the first-ever contestant to be eliminated in last place twice, cementing her status as the Queen of the Pork Chops. “I worked my ass off to get that title!” she jokes. “No, I’m kidding. Of course, I was a little bummed because I wanted to stay [longer], but I’ll take it. It’s something that’s never happened.”
On the Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs the World season two premiere, the nine international queens split into three trios to perform girl group bangers. With the return of the Golden Beaver from Canada season four, maxi-challenge winner Lemon chose to save Alexis Mateo, leaving La Kahena and Eureka to battle it out in the lip-sync. Ultimately, Eureka was declared the winner, a decision that divided the fanbase.
Here, La Kahena discusses making herstory as the first double Pork Chop, whether she wants to make it a trifecta in her inevitable third stint and which of her sisters is most likely to be the drama of season two. She also has her say on the internet’s criticism of the cast and who really won the lip-sync…
La Kahena, Drag Race France legend, how are you?
Thank you for having me! I’m doing fantastic. I just came back from DragCon, which was lovely.
How was it?
It was good. A lot of people, fans and sisters. We watched the [Canada vs the World premiere] there.
And what was the response like, because it’s had such an incredible reaction online? The drama! The performances!
I cannot complain. I’m very happy with the response everybody’s been giving me. A lot of new fans, a lot of old ones, new sisters… Everybody was so nice and gentle.
I love seeing this bonkers mix of queens in the same werkroom…
The group of queens was very surprising. We got along, even though the drama is on because it was the first time we met, and it’s a competition. We’re all sisters at the end of the day. It was very weird to me, because I come from a franchise with no drama. Usually, France is very sisterly and we didn’t have any drama in my season. First day [on Canada vs the World] I was like, ‘Ooh! I love this, this is better than [watching Drag Race] in my living room.’ It’s all fun and games at the end of the day.
You have just made herstory. I know that being eliminated first wasn’t the desired outcome, but becoming the first double Pork Chop is pretty badass, right? You’re forever an icon.
I’m very happy about it. I’m very proud about it. I worked my ass off to get that title! No, I’m kidding. Of course, I was a little bummed because I wanted to stay [longer], but I’ll take it. It’s something that never happened. I did my best and I’m very proud to be the new Queen of the Pork Chops. Pork Chop is our goddess and I’m the Queen. Yeah, I’m proud to be iconic, I’m here to serve. I can’t wait for my third season to be the first out!
Have you spoken to Pork Chop yet?
I texted her recently but haven’t had a response yet. I think Pork Chop is a bit old and not on social media as much as we are. Yeah, I’m very happy to be [part of her] legacy.
Both you and Lemon opened up about how going home first impacted your mental health, so what was that experience like for you the second time around?
Living it the first time was the harsh part. This time, I was ready for it. I knew what it was, I knew how it felt, I knew how to respond to it, I knew when to take time off for myself, when to go back to work. It was way easier. I was just happy and grateful to be there because I’m only the second first out to be back on an international Drag Race after Gothy Kendoll. I actually spoke with Gothy about it at DragCon and a lot of [first out] queens came to us like, ‘Thank you, we now know there’s a possibility for us to go back on the show, not just the ones who made it far,’ which I take a lot of pride in. I would lie if I said I cried and I was depressed, but I was not. I was sad, obviously, for the first day, but I was like, ‘Listen, I made history.’ All 650 of us [Drag Race queens] would love to make history on that show, and I did.
Past queens who have gone home early have opened up about how a select few fans tend to equate a placement in the show to a queen’s worth. As we know, that’s a load of shite because there’s being good at drag and then…
Being good at Drag Race.
Is that something you’ve encountered much of?
The first time around, yeah. It’s not only the fans, to be honest. Even party producers and event producers tend to feel the same, which I understand because the farther you go in the competition, the more people you’ll bring to the party. So, I don’t think it’s as shady as some fans can be – I don’t even think we can call them ‘fans’ to be honest. This time around, no. I didn’t feel it the same way. Pretty much everyone is like, ‘You’re iconic, you’re amazing,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I know! Thank you!’
That lip-sync was incredible. You and Eureka approached it in different ways, but you were both captivating. A lot of fans think you defeated her, and I wanted to get your thoughts on that?
Well… Where do I start? I had one big goal going back on Drag Race, because the first time around, my lip-sync was shit. Let’s face it. I didn’t know my words, and I really wanted to prove that I could lip-sync. I really enjoyed lip-syncing this song, it was my favourite one out of the bunch you’ll get to see. Do I feel like I won over Eureka? Probably, but that’s my ego talking, the drag ego. Listen, what happened happened, and I’m okay with it. I’m not bitter, I’m happy for my sister that she got to stay.
Your showing in this episode was great. I loved your verse, your runway was gorgeous and you slayed the lip-sync, so how does it feel to go home when you didn’t do a bad job?
I got sad for a moment because I knew I didn’t do a bad job, but that’s what All Stars is. All of us do a great job, that’s why we’re here, we’re all great queens. This is something that happens every All Stars, where the first episode is very hard for the judges to judge because everyone is good and you need to go into the small details. I think that’s what happened. I’ll be back at the finale anyway, so I’ll show a bit more!
Which challenge would you have slayed, or the one you were most looking forward to?
A few of them! Usually, people tend to go with the design challenge or the acting ones, but I would’ve loved to do all of them. The Snatch Game, the Ball, I want to show my skills because I have them all. I was ready!
Who was your pick for Snatch Game?
I was doing Louis XVI, husband of Marie Antoinette. That was my choice. Marie Antoinette felt too easy, and I wanted someone people would know internationally, but was still French. I felt like doing the King of Versailles was pretty correct.
How would you have placed?
High! Probably [would’ve] won, let’s face it. I would’ve won Snatch Game.
It’s good for the remaining girls that you’ve gone, then?
They were standing no chance if I [survived] past episode one. It’s fine, I’m giving [the win] to them. They’ve tried three or four times, I was just on my second time. I’ll be back for the third time, and I’ll win! It’s fine.
Imagine going home first twice, and then coming back a third time and winning the whole thing?
That’s the only route. Honestly, it’s either I’m going back and going home on the first episode again, or winning it all.
Placing, like, fifth would be a bit anticlimactic, wouldn’t it?
I would be so mad. Nuh-uh. I need to stay on the iconic route. I would be so frickin’ mad.
Last or first, no in-between.
I’ll Nomi Malone those bitches, I’ll throw pearls on the stage. I’m not going home until the finale!
Again, this episode was drama-filled – particularly between Alexis and Eureka. You know these girls, so who do you think will be bringing the drama this season?
Hands down Fiercalicious. She doesn’t really bring the drama, she stirs shit up. She will try and make drama happen between other people so she can just sit and enjoy the show, which is exactly what I did in the first episode. I wish we had popcorn, because I was having the time of my life. I was sitting next to Kennedy and we were like, ‘Ooh! Bitch it’s happening, episode one!’
When Fiercalicious came to your defence in Untucked, everyone was stunned. Absolutely hilarious.
No one had a comeback because she just said the truth.
The cast for this season was met with a bit of controversy, because people like to complain over queens who are three or four-timers. What were your thoughts on that?
Listen, you could’ve put anybody in that cast and people would’ve been mad. People had things to say about me because I was the Pork Chop of my season. I really don’t care. I think we’re a great cast. I was very happy that it was a mix of icons and legends and people who are back for a second time like Le Fil, Tynomi, Fierce and myself. We felt ego-boosted to be in the same cast as such legends like Alexis, Eureka, Kennedy, Cheryl and Lemon. Yeah, we deserve to be here as much as they do, no one is less deserving than anybody else, and I don’t see why they could not be on the season again. They didn’t win theirs. I’m very happy to be in a cast with them.
I mean, bring back Jujubee. Do it!
Honestly, I was hoping that Jujubee would pop up. They should bring her back as a judge on the international franchises, because the bitch knows. She did it all. She did every Drag Race show ever, from Queen of the Universe to Drag Race to Drag Race All Stars to UK vs the World. I mean, she’s it. She might be the one who can replace RuPaul at some point.
A lot of French queens from your season have now gone on to do a vs the World or All Stars: you, La Grande Dame, Soa de Muse and Lolita Bolita hosted Drag Race Mexico. What other French queens would you like to see return?
There’s a few of them. My season is one of the best seasons in the world. We all did amazing things. From my season, I would love to see Kam [Hugh] back at some point. On our season she was very focused on looking good and being pretty, and now she’s over that and knows how to be stupid as well. She could rock a season. And I would love to see the love of my life, my sister, my everything, my twin: Moon. I think she would do a great job on an international season. And we need to see more dolls, more trans women on the series. She deserves it.
What’s next for La Kahena?
We’re going to do so many things! We’re gonna keep going around the world, partying, spreading the Pork Chop love. It’s weird because, to be the double Pork Chop as an Arab queen, feels… correct. My parents are very proud!
Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs the World season 2 is streaming in the UK on BBC iPlayer.
You can watch our interview with La Kahena here or below.
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