The Diva Rules

by Michelle Visage

IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED, YOU’VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO GIVE GOOD FACE, and that doesn’t mean you’ve got to be pretty. It means you’ve got to own who you are and what you’ve got, know that you’re beautiful, and, baby, act like it. On Drag Race, I often critique these young queens by saying they’re not showing enough of themselves. They hide behind the wigs and the makeup and the characters they play, fearful that if they reveal who they really are, they’ll not be good enough, or likable enough. We all do that in life sometimes. When we’re scared that we don’t measure up, we hide behind things: excuses, other people, schticks, fake personas. But here’s the thing: If you’re constantly hiding behind something or someone else, life will pass you by. Opportunities will pass you by. Relationships will pass you by. Back in the ball scene, if you wanted to win the Face category, you had to be willing to strip yourself down, take everything off, and let your own best features shine through. The same holds true in life. If you want to win, you have to be willing to be vulnerable. Believe me, I know. That’s what gave me my name, and ultimately, my power.