Drag Race UK vs The World star Minty Fresh on shock exit: ‘I just think I slayed the lip-sync’

The butcher of drag RuPaul is on a roll, as another queen has just been given the chop. 

Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World season three episode three.

In episode three of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World season three, fans watched as the famed Snatch Game got a little revamp, becoming the Miss Snatch Game pageant. The nine remaining queens – following Melinda Verga’s crushing elimination last week – were tasked with embodying a famous face and answering questions during three rounds.

Drag Race Philippines star Minty Fresh, who was, erm, fresh from the bottom three last week, opted to become a unicorn. The unconventional choice for Snatch Game, which usually features human celebrities, left RuPaul a little perplexed, but Minty carried the idea forward.

Sadly, it was to her detriment. Despite delivering a stunning lewk for the ‘Let The Eat Cape’ runway presentation, Minty was informed that she was in the bottom three, alongside Drag Race Mexico star Serena Morena, and Drag Race Sverige favourite, Fontana. Drag Race Thailand’s Gawdland was called as the winner for the second week in a row and tasked with saving one queen from the bottom three via the power of the Chippy Tea.

Last week, when Minty and Gawdland were in the same position, Gawdland opted to save Minty from the bottom. This week, things didn’t pan out like that, and Minty was left to lip-sync against Fontana. RuPaul decided to save Fontana, and told Minty Fresh – shockingly, some fans would argue – to sashay away.

Minty Fresh opens up on her elimination, whether she won the lip-sync against Fontana, her relationship with RuPaul and whether she’d be down to compete Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale.

PinkNews: Hey Minty Fresh! How are you feeling, now that your elimination has aired?

Minty Fresh: I’m actually happy and grateful. A lot of people are messaging and commenting on my pages that they’re really proud; they’re sad that I was eliminated.

It’s been a long time since you filmed the season. What was the period between filming and the season airing like?

It was a process [of] getting over not just the result, but the stress of preparing and doing the competition. I needed a lot of vacations, going to the beach, just to relax myself from it.

You did so well on Drag Race Philippines, winning two challenges and placing fifth. What was the difference this time around?

The difference is I feel like this season is harder. Going through this season, the fan base in the Philippines are focused on me. Compared to my season [where] there’s a lot of us from the Philippines competing, so the attention of the fans [is] divided. But now, the Filipino fandom is focused on [me], so it adds a bit of pressure. I already knew that this season will be harder. It will be much bigger pressure and bigger challenges.

How did you find being with RuPaul in the Werk Room and on the main stage? You seemed a little reserved around her.

It was overwhelming actually ‘cos I’ve never been judged by RuPaul. This is my first time. So although I already saw [her] at DragCon, this time it’s really Drag Race. She will be judging you. I always feel light-headed around RuPaul. It feels like she’s not real even if she’s in front of me.

How do you feel the two of you connected during those Werk Room chats?

I don’t know. I’m just in my head the whole time. I can’t distinguish the relationship we had. It was a challenge for us of like, “Oh my God, we need to impress Ru!’”

This week’s challenge was the Miss Snatch Game Pageant. You were in the bottom two for Snatch Game on Drag Race Philippines, and you’d just been in the bottom the week before on this season. What was going through your head when you found out it was Snatch Game week?

I always know that Snatch Game is not my strength. I’m not really excited every time it’s going to be Snatch Game. It’s my least favorite challenge and I know I’m not good at it. Since I was in the bottom in the previous episode, I was just hoping that it’s not going to be Snatch Game. But then it was Snatch Game and there’s this new format [so] I [thought] that it was my chance of ‘Oh, maybe this Snatch Game will be better or more in line with my skills.’ But still, it’s not! So yeah, I still hate Snatch Game.

You played a unicorn in the Miss Snatch Game Pageant, which RuPaul seemed uncertain about. You went ahead with the idea anyway. Do you feel like that was the right decision?

I still pushed through [with] my idea of the unicorn, but I simplified it because of what Ru said to me in the Werk Room. So I tried to simplify it, but I feel like it was overly simplified and it lost the point of view. I feel like I was lost.

After you were called as being in the bottom and Gawdland was called as the winner, she had to decide who to give the Chippy Tea to. Last week, she gave the Chippy Tea to you. This week, she chose Serena Morena over you and Fontana. How did that make you feel?

I was feeling 50/50. Like, she can save me again, but there’s a big possibility that she will not ‘cos she already gave me the chance last week. Either way, I will be OK. Gawdland told me that she didn’t save me ‘cos she knows that I can save myself [in] the lip-sync, especially with that song [“Angel Of My Dreams” by JADE] ‘cos she knows that that song is very in line with my aesthetic and my drag.

Getting to perform that song in front of JADE must have been a moment. Did she offer you any words of support or encouragement behind the scenes?

I can’t remember exactly, but Jade was wonderful and she was really nice. That’s our memory with her. Everyone was fan-girling!

With Drag Race UK vs The Worldbeing an international season, you’re not all in the same drag scene. Have you still managed to stay in contact with your season sisters after filming?

Yeah, we all actually have a group chat but the time difference is very confusing and getting in the way. But we do chat almost every day actually.

Did anyone send messages of support following your elimination?

Everyone was sending me voice messages asking if I’m OK and [saying] they’re proud and just checking on me and cheering me up.

After being eliminated, you said that you didn’t think you were the right queen to go home. Why’s that?

I just think that I slayed the lip-sync. Not that I’m saying that Fontana didn’t, but I wasn’t really focused on what Fontana was doing. I was just focused on myself and I think that I slayed the lip-sync.

Now you’ve seen the lip-sync, do you agree with the decision to give you the chop?

I don’t know, but we were both amazing. Let’s just say that. 

Very diplomatic. You’ve had so much love from your fans in the Philippines. How have they reacted to your elimination?

Everyone was sending me good messages. They showed support and [have said] they were really proud of me. Most of them [are] saying that I’m robbed…

They just want to still support me and they are craving for another season, I think.

Is that something you’re interested in? Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale perhaps?

If they will call me, I will say yes. Why not? 

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World season three continues on BBC iPlayer and WOW Presents Plus on Tuesdays.

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