- 29 minutes ago
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00Would you ever want to return for like an all-stars or like a versus the world?
00:05Like once you reach that status of like you are leading a franchise, what does it look like for you?
00:10Well that's a great question and I know that a lot of people want that answer, so you are going
00:14to get it.
00:18Hi, I'm Jason.
00:19I'm Brian.
00:20And welcome back to Workroom Weekly.
00:21Today we are joined by an international drag race superstar, host of Drag Race France,
00:27and now she's taking over the music scene with her debut album, Apollo Artemis.
00:32It's Niki Dolls!
00:34Hi, hi guys.
00:35Thank you so much for being here.
00:36Thank you for having me.
00:37Bonjour.
00:38Bonjour.
00:39I love what you did with your place.
00:41Oh, this whole thing.
00:43First up, we just have to ask, how do you look?
00:46Flawless.
00:47She didn't even miss a beat.
00:50Absolutely flawless.
00:50I've been rehearsing all my life.
00:52You really do though.
00:53I mean, you look stunning today.
00:54You've got the jewels, you're sparkling.
00:55And this ponytail, how many inches are we talking here?
01:00Four centimeters.
01:01I would say 42 inches and just a lot of olive oil on the scalp and you'll just get that.
01:07Because that's obviously mine.
01:09Yes.
01:09In case you were...
01:10Grew it from the root.
01:10Grew it from the root.
01:11I mean, you look beautiful.
01:12How long does it generally take you to look this absolutely flawless?
01:16I would say from the shaving to putting the lashes on, it's three hours.
01:22Oh, that's not too bad.
01:23That's not too bad.
01:23But if I'm late, I can do it in an hour.
01:26I will just not do a meet and greet that day.
01:28You know, no pictures.
01:30See me from the stage and that's it.
01:32Yes, baby.
01:32You can look, don't touch.
01:33Well, we have to congratulate you on Apollo Artemis.
01:36This album, we talked about it a little before we started filming.
01:39We're listening to it.
01:40We're bumping it.
01:41It is so good.
01:42So good.
01:44It just feels like such a complete body of work.
01:47Why did it feel like the right time to put out your debut album?
01:50So the music was always my number one passion.
01:54And I always knew that as a drag performer, you really have to do your homework and you have
02:00one shot.
02:01So it took me years to really release the album because I wanted people to love the music
02:05and then realize that a drag queen was singing it and not the opposite.
02:08So no shade towards drag music or diss track or things like that, but I really wanted to
02:12make pop music.
02:14And I think that's what I've done, at least I hope.
02:16Oh, absolutely.
02:17Troy Sivanius watches back.
02:19Kylie Minogue, watch her back.
02:21I mean, it's so fun.
02:22It's so fun.
02:23All right.
02:23For people who slept through Greek mythology.
02:25Yes.
02:26Can you explain who Apollo and Artemis are and how they are related?
02:30Yes.
02:31So Apollo and Artemis are the divine twins of the Greek mythology.
02:34One is the god of beauty and the sun.
02:36The other one is the goddess of the hunt and the night.
02:40And so my way of using that metaphor was, Apollo and Artemis is basically exploring all
02:45the different facade of pop music.
02:47I can go from dark pop to EDM to also disco, but also explore my femininity and my masculinity.
02:54And so being able to mix both of that with a Greek mythology little metaphor, because I'm
02:59also a big Greek mythology nerd, was the perfect way to wrap it up as an Iki Dole project.
03:05Well, we got to talk a little bit about Drag Race France.
03:08You are a part of a very exclusive group of queens who went from competitor to host.
03:13Yeah.
03:13For you, what kind of shifted for you when you stepped into that role back in 2022 now?
03:20Yeah.
03:20Yeah.
03:20I think what shifted was, obviously, when you are given the privilege to be able to
03:27host your own franchise, you have big shoes to feed, right?
03:30Like RuPaul, Pungina was doing it, Brooklyn Heights.
03:33But what I've done was, at the end of the day, I'm the only French one.
03:37We are doing it in my language.
03:38Culturally, it's very different than Canada or America or Thailand.
03:41So I have to make it my own.
03:43And the way that I wanted to do it is, instead of seeing myself as, like, mother, because
03:48I'm only 35, I wanted to be big sister.
03:51And I decided to kind of, like, inject the love and the attention that I wanted to receive
03:59when I was a contestant.
04:00Not that I didn't receive it, but to give it the way that I give it.
04:03And I think I'm so happy that it actually arrived all the way to the audience.
04:07Yeah, absolutely.
04:08Well, you mentioned Brooklyn Heights.
04:10Did you reach out to her for any advice when you first got the call, the gig?
04:14Yeah, absolutely.
04:14Brooke and I are really good friends.
04:16And she said to me, listen, at the end of the day, I can tell you whatever I want.
04:20It's really going to be your own experience.
04:21Make it your own.
04:23And I've done it.
04:24And she's proud.
04:25I'm proud of her.
04:26And she's an amazing, amazing, amazing host.
04:30Yeah.
04:30And it's taken off so fast.
04:32I mean, we already have three seasons, an all-star season.
04:34Four is on the way.
04:35Yeah, just shot it.
04:36Just shot it.
04:37Just shot it.
04:38I mean, did you expect that it was going to just catch fire so quickly?
04:42I honestly expected it to work because of the quality of the girls back home and the heart that we
04:49put into the show.
04:50I was not expecting it to work as quickly as it did.
04:53We went from the reveal of the show being made and people being like, oh, they're never going to be
05:00able to make it.
05:01This is an American show.
05:02So French people cannot do that to the first episode airing and saying, this is the best franchise in the
05:07world.
05:08And we went, we're still like one of the few franchises that have a literally four-month tour every year.
05:16And the country is that size.
05:18But we still managed to do 40 stops.
05:19I mean, yeah.
05:20You've got multiple seasons in like four years.
05:22It's really just crazy.
05:24And we were talking about this before the cameras were rolling.
05:26You live in New York.
05:28You're New York-based.
05:29You're drag famous in New York, but you are famous, famous on the streets of Paris.
05:34Apparently.
05:34You have a hit TV show on France 2.
05:37Yeah.
05:38Some people call me RuPaulet.
05:42I mean, do you have to, does your life change when you spend time in France?
05:46Like, how do you dodge the paparazzi?
05:49What does that look like?
05:49In France, I can have someone, you know, scream my name at any kind of place.
05:55It could be at the bakery.
05:56It could be at a store.
05:57It could be anywhere.
05:58Here, at least, unless I'm in West Village or Hell's Kitchen, I'm pretty safe.
06:02Yeah.
06:02Yeah, yeah, yeah.
06:03And here, it's going to be like, oh, my God.
06:04Hi, Nikki.
06:05Hey, girl.
06:06Over there will be a picture and a long message.
06:08And I'm so happy about it.
06:10But New York really feels like home.
06:12And what is it about the French franchise that you think makes it so unique or special?
06:16I think on a superficial level, the fashion is obviously jaw-dropping.
06:21The girls really know that they have to do their homework on that.
06:24But I think it's the sorority.
06:26I think it's the way that the girls compete with each other.
06:29Instead of trying to put each other down, they try to uplift.
06:32And it really is, may the best drag queen win.
06:34And I think the relationship with the judges is a little bit closer.
06:39I always say, in the U.S., it's like the Hunger Games, right?
06:44Yeah, you've got the mistress.
06:45Right.
06:46I mean, low-key, I would love to have a French mistress.
06:50Her name would be maîtresse.
06:52It already sounds really good.
06:53Maîtresse.
06:53Maîtresse.
06:54Love it.
06:54But, yeah, mistress is, she's scary.
06:57I know.
06:57I know she scares a lot of girls.
06:59Yeah, with love, with love.
07:00I mean, now as a host, as a judge, does it change the way you look back at your time
07:06as a contestant?
07:07Oh, absolutely.
07:08I definitely realized that I was putting way too much pressure on myself and that ultimately everything that Rue says
07:15to us when we contestant makes more sense when you become the host.
07:25Yeah.
07:26And now what is just going on is a bunch of people that are professionally trained looking at you giving
07:32your best.
07:32And if you're having fun, we're having fun and we really wish you to have fun.
07:36Once I realized that, I was like, okay, it's not that serious.
07:40Yeah, absolutely.
07:41Well, with that in mind, you know, you were also on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12.
07:45Yeah.
07:46And now that you are having this full circle moment, what would you say to Nikki from back then?
07:53You know, how the show went?
07:54Like, what would you say to her, you know, just from just a few years ago?
07:56But it feels like a lifetime ago now.
07:58Absolutely.
07:59And a few kilos, too.
08:01I would tell her to just chill, to just chill, to trust her instinct that if her English at the
08:07time was not as good as now, it's fine.
08:09And just let yourself go.
08:12But at the same time, I wouldn't change anything because I don't think I would be where I am now.
08:15I needed to fail in a way in order to rebuild myself even stronger.
08:20So really, really no regrets.
08:22And that's not me being Miss Universe.
08:23I really enjoy and embrace all the success and the failures in my career.
08:27Yeah, absolutely.
08:29I mean, we talked about Pangina Heald a little bit before.
08:32She, you know, an incredible host of a franchise, went and did UK versus the world as a competitor.
08:37Would you ever want to return for, like, an all-stars or, like, a versus the world?
08:43Like, once you reach that status of, like, you are leading a franchise, what does it look like for you?
08:48Well, that's a great question.
08:49And I know that a lot of people want that answer.
08:51So you are going to get it.
08:53I think I would do it.
08:56And I can tell you that other hosts would do it, too.
08:59The only problem is if we continue in that same system of girls voting and alliances, we have a target
09:07on our back.
09:08Absolutely.
09:09Hosts don't really need to go and have that airtime because we have a season every year.
09:13So the girls would say, you don't need this as much as me.
09:16Ta-ta.
09:17What's the point?
09:18So if they suspend the rules for the versus the world, then maybe you would go on.
09:22My suitcase are done.
09:23You hear that?
09:23I am ready.
09:24World of Wonder.
09:25We want Nikki back on our screens.
09:27Come on.
09:29I've been wanting to do it, like, four years ago.
09:31I'm ready to do it.
09:32I'm so excited to do it.
09:33It just needs to be the right system and, you know.
09:36Yeah, and there's so many, like, we're doing, like, brackets now for all-stars.
09:40There's, like, the franchise, it's all a disarray.
09:43But I think if we get back to, like, the true talent, letting it drive the competition, it's a no
09:49-brainer.
09:49I mean, I love the bracket system.
09:50And honestly, as a host, I'm also happy to just sit down on my couch and appreciate the show as
09:56any of you guys.
09:58Because I really, I do my job and then I enjoy the girls.
10:00So I also enjoy not being on it.
10:02But if one day the opportunity happens, I'll be ready.
10:05We've had a lot of other favorite international franchises of Drag Race.
10:09We loved Salation Royale.
10:11Your girl Kitty Space was on there, turned it out.
10:14Do you have a favorite, like, non-French or, you know, U.S. version of Drag Race that you tune
10:20into?
10:20I really enjoyed Philippines.
10:22Thailand was really amazing.
10:25Spain, incredible.
10:27I love Spain and I think if I have to think of a sister franchise that is, like, the most
10:32similar to France,
10:33I would say Spanish, have the same kind of mentality and it's very entertaining.
10:37But, of course, UK is one of my favorites, to be honest.
10:41And I love Rue in the UK.
10:42I feel like she's having so much fun.
10:44So I don't know if it's because here there's, like, Grammys and everything and, like, you have to be, you
10:48know, more.
10:49But in the UK she is as punk rock as she was when back in Atlanta and I love that.
10:54I love to see her having fun.
10:55Oh, absolutely.
10:55I love seeing Gramm Norton on the Judgment Day.
10:57Oh, my God.
10:58Alan Carr.
10:59I know.
10:59I just love the British.
11:01Yeah.
11:01Well, speaking of France, you know, anytime an American celebrity speaks French fluently, everyone freaks out.
11:08The clip goes viral.
11:10Have you seen any of these clips?
11:11You've got Timothee Chalamet, Bradley Cooper, Jodie Foster.
11:14Jodie Foster is fluent.
11:16Fluent.
11:16Scary.
11:16Scary.
11:17She has no accent whatsoever.
11:19And now she's actually playing in French movies.
11:22In full French.
11:23Increible.
11:25She's really good.
11:26Have you seen the boys?
11:27Are they okay?
11:28How would you rate their French?
11:30Timothee Chalamet, the only thing French about him is his name.
11:34And not his love for ballet or opera.
11:36I know.
11:37So rude.
11:38A little rude.
11:39But his French is okay.
11:40Bradley Cooper, I haven't heard.
11:41Okay.
11:42One that was actually, that had a really good accent was Meryl Streep.
11:46Oh, of course.
11:47I mean, the greatest actress ever.
11:49Oh, my God.
11:49Another thing that I think Americans are obsessed with is Quotidian.
11:53Quotidian, the French.
11:54Quotidian.
11:55Oh, the French show with the good lighting.
11:56With the good lighting.
11:57What's the secret?
11:58What's the secret?
11:58Why are people so obsessed with it?
12:00I think that because the stage is actually centered, there's light all over.
12:05And there's so many light that it actually gives that beautiful softbox diffused lighting.
12:09I remember back in 2020, when I was a guest at Quotidian, I looked at myself and I was like,
12:16I've never looked better.
12:17And now I understand, oh, they actually have a great lighting.
12:20But I think that's it.
12:21We're going to pull the clip and we're going to just gag over it.
12:24It's true.
12:24It's like lighting on all-
12:26It's everywhere.
12:27Yeah.
12:27It's like a beautiful day.
12:28Beautiful day.
12:29You have helped launch an entire new generation of French drag superstars.
12:34Like, looking back at the role that you have played in this, like, cultural shift for French
12:39drag, global drag, like, what does that feel like for you?
12:43It's an honor.
12:44I think when I moved to the U.S. and I was the first contestant to be from France, I
12:49carried
12:49that weight of my country because I wanted them to be proud of a drag queen to make it
12:54over there.
12:55Now I was able to bring back that spotlight and for them to appreciate nationally talent
13:00that has always been there, but that was never really appreciated to their own value.
13:04So now to be able to see that all of our contestants live full-time through the art of
13:09drag, before, back in France, not too long ago, people would need it to have a make-up
13:14party's job or over-the-counter job, and now they can fully inject themselves into the
13:19art.
13:19And the fact that French people, not just queer French people, appreciate it is a big
13:24win.
13:24And I think that now more than ever, we need to have that kind of representation when
13:28people are trying to put us back in a box.
13:30Hear, hear.
13:31I mean, you've conquered TV, music.
13:34What is the next big challenge or art form for Nicky Dahl?
13:39Music is really my passion.
13:41I wish I could just fully immerse myself into creating new music, doing my solo tours, and
13:48for people to enjoy that music with me.
13:50Drag Race is always a beautiful platform, and I'm so proud to represent it.
13:55But, you know, acting, I've been receiving some things.
13:59And I've been receiving some things in drag or out of drag or for both.
14:03And listen, I always say, if there's a check, I'm kidding.
14:08It's not just about the money.
14:09I'm obviously very passionate about everything, but I love to plant seeds.
14:13And I'm young, and I want to experience everything.
14:15I'll see you next time.
14:17So say, I'm going to see you next time.
14:18And then, you'll see you next time.
14:20You try to work on the next day.
Comments