Read on for Kahanna’s elimination interview, and listen to the full conversation on EW’sQuick Dragpodcast above.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: It’s been a tough week for you, after a public fallout with Heidi.
I’m curious as to how this all escalated, and where your relationship stands?
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It just went left, and it was a huge misunderstanding and communication with me and her.
I stand by my experience, and I’m 1,000 percent sure she stands by hers.
We all have our own perceptions in competition mode.
I did reach out to her privately, and I apologized, because I don’t condone violence.
This has been a dark period for me."
If you’re comfortable, can you elaborate on the dark period you’re talking about?
The old Kahanna couldn’t even imagine trying to do those challenges.
People saying I should’ve went home, it really got to me.
I’m doing the best I can.
I was honest with my abilities.
I knew I wasn’t an actor, but RuPaul called me to doDrag Race, so guess what?
The argument can be made that your runway looks were the closest we can get to perfection.
People who are saying that didn’t see it for me in the first place.
None of that matters.
you’re able to’t make somebody live for you if they just don’t.
I’m not going to change who I am to accommodate whatever you like.
It took me years to find what my drag is, and I love it.
I’m not changing a damn thing.
And I know my drag is good.
What did you mean by the “energy ain’t it” comment?
I was really going through it at that moment.
I started to feel like I overstayed my welcome.
When everything happened withJaymesleaving and me staying, I could feel that maybe not everybody wanted that.
It really got to me.
There were girls who wanted to be there, and I had to look at that.
The queens were supportive.
It wasn’t that.
It wasn’t like I was begging to stay, they just thought I did good.
There was no tea, she’s in an alliance, it was none of that.
Not for that elimination, at least.
Is there secret alliance-ery?
You know aboutJimbo, Kandy, Heidi, I think Alexis had an alliance with somebody.
I knowLalaand Heidi had one, there were a lot of alliances going on.
Did Kahanna have secret alliances?
Because the girl I was in an alliance with voted me off!
Me, Lala, Kandy, Heidi, and Jimbo had one.
I’m going to make any kind of side bet to stay.
How far along in the quitting process did you get and what changed your mind?
Oh, I had packed my stuff and everything.
I felt so defeated.
I didn’t see anything else that I could do that would change, especially after the challenge before.
I’m so glad I stayed, because I would’ve looked back and fully regretted it.
I expected something a little different for an improv challenge, it felt more scripted.
What parts did you improvise?
I was like,Lil Poundcake, you’re going to get it from me, girl.
I was in my Halle Berry era.
What wasMother Coco Montrese’s reaction toSnatch Game?
She was actually a lot more supportive than I thought.
I thought she’d disown me and take the last name back.
I think it was the filter one.
She was like, “Oh God, don’t you ever say that again!”
But, she was happy with it.
It was bad, but it was a lot better than what she thought it was going to be.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
