This time of year can be difficult for many; the holidays remind us of years gone, friends and family we may be separated from, and loved ones now departed. Luckily – and happily – the cure is only a phone call away. A little Bianca is all one needs to turn around one’s holiday blues. What a treat for the senses: her voice exuberant, her smile endearing, and her laugh infectious. The Season 6 winner of Rupaul’s Drag Race could not have been more gracious in a recent telephone exchange from her Los Angeles home. Born and raised in New Orleans, and quickly becoming the darling of the New York Drag scene, Bianca Del Rio has earned her place among the greats like Divine, Lady Bunny and Miss Ru herself. It is impossible not to become enamoured in her approach to life; a simple no-nonsense attitude that – at the core – is age old: don’t sweat the small stuff.

Actor, comedienne and the reigning queen of quick wit and sharp tongue, Bianco Del Rio (born Roy Haylock) is of Cuban and Honduran descent, and boasts supportive parents and four siblings. An admitted entry on my own bucket list, she jokingly promises to make time for me during her next trek to the Stampede City. Her life is now a choc-a-bloc of 15 to 20 time intervals, during which she is persuaded to partake in interviews, press junkets, or whatever other type of promotion that furthers her now hectic and somewhat overwhelming schedule. But she loves every second of it. "What’s not to love," he laughs, as he packs his Louis Vuitton bags (I envision) preparing to depart for Manchester, UK, where he will perform his Rolodex of Hate show, spreading his unique brand of entertainment. "Anywhere in the world I look beautiful and talented after three drinks" – Ms. Del Rio admits. A wild ride, indeed it has been, for the 37-year-old beauty.

Adore Delano (Danny Noriega) along with Australian-born Courtney Act (Shane Jenek) round out the top three contestants of this now-popular superstar competition. Bianca attributes her success, at least in part, to the love and support of her friends with whom she often tours. "Wouldn’t I sound like a douchebag if I had anything to complain about?", she retorts, as I ask the now seemingly lame question Are you happy – truly happy? "I am just glad this all did not happen to be at the age of 20 or 21, because I doubt I would have been able to handle it to the extent I now can." Haylock has primarily worked as a costume designer and won numerous awards for his stunning designs. "I still carry my own suitcases and drive my own car," he wanted me to know, touting his mantra "never let a bitch see you sweat."

Drama and pettiness have no place in a successful drag career. Find inner peace and remember that laughter changes everything. Sage advice for someone who refuses to get wrapped up in the insanity of the world we live in. "We are often our own worst enemies, never cutting ourselves some slack from the pressures and requirements of an unrealistic set of expectations." Del Rio has undoubtedly found the recipe for success that works for her. "We cannot control others, but we certainly control ourselves," he says.

It is not surprising that – after being hand-picked by Rupaul herself – Del Rio quickly became the front-runner among the contestants, and certainly a fan favourite. Never having to lip sync for her life, and never placing in the low or bottom of a challenge, Del Rio has made Drag Race history. Knowing that both the good and the bad have shaped her career and personality, Del Rio believes you have to have both and, most importantly, learn from each as part of the growth process.

When asked what her approach to life was, Del Rio quickly and assuredly responded with: ‘Don’t dwell on the little stuff’. "I am aware that I am not everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ and that’s okay." Del Rio believes that she is working at her best during this period of his life and, from the enthusiasm in her voice, it’s clear she does not mind. "I may not know what I want, but I know what I don’t want," she tells me, as the clamouring noises in the background disturb our conversation. I ask if her assistant is there and she quips that he is not. Del Rio appears to be talking to herself, or running timelines through her head aloud.

Her inner circle is tight and trustworthy. Del Rio was quick to point out that her executive assistant, Jamie Autin, was an integral part of what made her personal life and her public life work. Both he and Jacob Slane, with Producer Entertainment Group (who manage Del Rio’s career and brand along with organizing global touring activities), form part of the village that surrounds her regularly. She clearly owns her life and involves herself in every aspect of her brand management. There are movies, stage productions, personal appearances and co-hosting gigs that require orchestration and fine-tuning. She hardly bats a proverbial eyelash as she lists her upcoming projects, which include both Lady Bunny and Sherry Vine. Her upcoming repertoire includes a starring role in the movie Hurricane Bianca (a film by Matt Kugelman), which chronicles the antics of a New York school teacher who takes up residence in a Texas town and finds himself fired for being a homosexual. We can only imagine what ensues when Del Rio finds herself on the wrong side of the tracks and decides to gain revenge!

Her brand of humour includes an overt rally against political correctness. Her trademark "lighten the fuck up" phrase pays homage to her approach to the world and causes her to giggle with confidence. Make no mistake, she is prepared to walk every step of her talk, her authenticity ever-apparent. She regrets that she cannot stay longer, as she tours the planet, to just meet people – a clear sign of her ground-edness. I ask about her upcoming appearances in Manchester, Belfast, London, New York and Aspen (having to gasp for air as the list seems exhausting) and she glosses over the itinerary as though she could do it in her sleep (and more)! She reminds me that she has little to complain about.

Famous for her ‘readings’ of others, I ended our conversation with some personal anecdotes that included my historical – often negative – experiences with the drag community. Fearing she might ‘read’ me, I quickly changed topic. "Readings are just observations about an individual. It’s what everyone else is thinking about that person that Del Rio verbalizes," she states. I escape her observations for the time being.

So, this holiday season, treat yourself to a little Bianca. It is a slice of heaven.

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Contributor Keith Johnson |

Person Bianca Del Rio |

Topic Celebrity Interview | Drag Queen | Drag Race | RuPaul’s Drag Race | Whistler Pride |