BEBE ZAHARA BENET

The first thing I do when I get up is pray and meditate to center myself for the day ahead. I ask for inspiration in my creative endeavors, guidance in my relationships and patience in my journey. It's a great way to get focused for the day.

I think it's important as artists to always keep creating and always have stuff in the archive because you never know when you will need them. I'm that kind of artist. I always plan.

To me, Jungle Kitty is a frame of mind where you don't apologize for who you are. You're very ferocious, you're a free spirit, you're outgoing. You don't conform to labels. It's really that side of me... she's so regal and she's so royal.

I hope I don't come off as being cocky.

I go into the kitchen and cook with music on or go for walks around my neighborhood when I feel the most overwhelmed.

You know, many people do not know that I am so immersed when it comes to music. I have such a huge knowledge of music. I like my songs, I like my melodies, my harmonies, you know.

Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna, all of these artists that we do love - you see so much of what we do, the personas, makeup, hair, fashion - like, all of is now incorporated in pop culture, and a lot of it has to do with drag, because we over-exaggerate everything, right? We take it out to the next level.

Seasoned queens can also learn new tricks, right?

People always ask me, how did you grow up to be so confident? I tell them, I always look in the mirror and say I belong, you are so beautiful and you are meant to be here.

I respect myself. I have very high expectations for myself.

I have a motherly instinct and I'm always trying to give therapy.

I don't have anything to prove because I've already validated myself and my work speaks for itself.

Prior to the online platform, I had to make sure I go around and have conversations and go to schools and make appearances. But now with online presence, I try to put out videos and different posts every day. I try to inspire.

I've always wanted people to feel great about themselves, for people to know how special they are and really love themselves and accept themselves and celebrate themselves.

I feel like when you call us drag queens, it stereotypes us. It puts us as labels and I feel like we are performers.

Jungle Kitty is one of the colors of my persona that allows me to be free, allows to be untamed, allows me to have fun and let loose and be ferocious, raw, unapologetic, and carefree.

I had always wanted to do a show of girls of color, a show that showcased diversity.

VANITY' is a celebration of beauty, self-identity, and self-respect. We want people to leave the show feeling okay to accept themselves - not to hold back and be ashamed of the extravagances they like to indulge in. We should be able to celebrate these things because they are part of living and we all strive for them.

There is something about the art form and about drag entertainers that is very uplifting.

I love rewatching 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' episodes, 'Project Runway,' 'Making the Cut' and other fun shows. If there's fashion and/or drama involved, I'll give it a watch. And of course I've got to watch my show 'Dragnificent' on TLC!

Dressing up like a woman does not make me less of a man.

You don't gotta let the girls know you're sweating, honey.

I like to compete with the best.

I think that I've always represented self-empowerment, you being your best cheerleader, you always affirming yourself. I've always been about empowering people. It sounds very cliche in a way, but it's not.

Generally speaking, the term, 'vanity,' itself can be perceived as negative, superficial and egotistical, but I see it as being unapologetic for celebrating other sides of my artistry.