Nicky Doll

How does hosting Drag Race France and representing your home country feel? What do you hope to bring to the show as a host that reflects your own experiences in the drag community?

From being a contestant to being the host of my franchise feels better than any crown I could have received. I started as the first-ever Frenchie to step in the Werk Room, before franchises, before the audience was really familiar with international drag. Now we are seeing a global phenomenon around the art of drag which is finally understood by most!

As the first French contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race, how has your French heritage influenced your drag persona, and how do you incorporate elements of French culture into your performances?

Oh, I’ve always been extremely proud of my roots and showcasing them through my aesthetic. I always say that Nicky Doll is the perfect intersection between 90’s Parisian runways and Japanese anime villains. A strong, charismatic (and a bit evil) French lady.

You’ve spoken about facing cultural barriers during your time on Drag Race. How did you overcome these challenges, and what advice would you give to others facing similar insecurities?

I did have a lot of struggle managing to be my most authentic self in English with all the wit and qualities I had in French. Luckily this is all in the past as I have been living in the US, in English for a while now. But at the time, as a perfectionist, it was very hard not to be at the same level of who I was in French and I refused to go the easy route, by giving in the clichés only. I am a very layered and funny queen and I wanted to show the finésse of it all. Luckily I get to do it now year after year on Drag Race France and around the world, live on stage; I’d really only advise you to stay true to yourself, follow your heart, and know when it is your time or not. As long as you hustle, your time will come!

Since your first appearance on the franchise, how do you feel you’ve grown personally and professionally? Are there any specific moments that you look back on as pivotal in your journey?

Oh my god, I am a whole different human since season 12. Since then I had to keep having a career even though we were going through a global pandemic. I now have a music career, signed with a major (Universal Music), and have TV gigs, world tours, and a queer travel show. And I am just starting. Looking back I’d say that leaving early on season 12 and having that revenge craving led me to go head-first into everything I’ve started to work on. Lift up your sleeves and work like there were no other choices!

Being described as a “look queen” suggests a strong focus on fashion and aesthetics. What inspires your unique style, and how do you choose the looks you want to create?

I am a proud look queen but this term is being thrown around without the proper understanding of the layers of it. I am a comedy queen, a performance queen who also knows how to pull some sickening looks, it’s an extra feather to my very feathered wings! But to answer your question, being a look queen is having a real passion for fashion. I try to pull references in everything that I love, whether it is from a book I am reading or a movie reference, it can even be the colors of a butterfly that will give me inspiration for a color combination for a look.

Moving from Paris to San Francisco and then to New York is a big transition. How have these different locations influenced your drag and your understanding of the drag scenes in various parts of the world?

I arrived in SF with a very strong Parisian clubbing aesthetic. I left SF allowing myself to also give pageant drag in some of my looks. As for NYC, I arrived there as a fully rounded queen who liked to tap into many worlds of fashion and experience many kinds of performance. The New York scene is the most diverse and extremely competitive it can be. If you can make it in Drag New York, you can make it anywhere!

Carrying the Olympic flame is a ritual of unity, hope, and excellence. As one of the most recognized drag performers worldwide and the second drag queen to ever carry the torch, how did this experience resonate with you, and what message do you hope it sends to the world?

It was an incredible honor. Before France, there were never any drag queens to carry the torch. So it’s an insane thing for representation and proof that Drag is now seen as an art and not some obscure kinky thing queer people do. I’ve been very happy not only because I carried the torch but also for performing at the opening ceremony!

The opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics sparked controversy, with some people wrongly interpreting the performance as being inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. Given the reactions from both the Catholic Church and conservative politicians, how do you personally interpret the role of art and performance in challenging traditional narratives, especially in such a high-profile setting?

Yes, the Olympics opening ceremony has received quite a reaction. 85% of it was extremely positive around the world and we proudly showed what France really looks like: diverse, colorful, of all shapes and genders, and with strong and revolutionary values. Sadly some remaining 15% have felt that it was an attack on their views of the world, and their religion even as the “Festivities” number that I was a part of made these people think of “The Last Supper” by Da Vinci. Even after this was debunked, as it was a reference to “The God’s feast” with Ancient Greek mythology gods, the hate and phobias didn’t stop. Because these people weren’t offended by us maybe reference religion, they were offended to see us on their screen, period. And to these people, I say “stay mad”, because we sure ain’t going nowhere.

In your opinion, what role does intention play in art, and how do you think audiences can be encouraged to engage with the underlying messages rather than surface-level interpretations?

Intention is everything in art! But I also think that interpretation is a right that everyone has, but to force others to agree to it isn’t. Art is subversive and starts conversations. We’re all extremely proud of our work in this ceremony!

Did you have any concerns or discussions about the potential backlash while preparing for this performance?

Nobody saw the backlash coming because, again, it was never related to anything religious. But as a queer person, getting criticized, insulted is sadly something we’re used to. And if I’m being attacked by bigots who unleash their homophobia, transphobia, and fatphobia, then be it. Let’s have everyone see their true colors, and be careful because if you’re being too graphic on social media, I might sue for defamation and cyberbullying.