Drag Race's Monique Heart Is Ready to Be Political

At long last, the Snatch Game arrived in season 10 of RuPaul's Drag Race, preceded by the reading challenge. This episode saw some surprises. Aquaria, who has not shown much comedy or personality in the competition, pulled off the best celebrity impersonation with her take on Melania Trump. And Ms. Cracker, a self-designated comedy queen, only flew middle-of-the-road with an unremarkable spin as Dorothy Parker.

Monique Heart as Maxine Waters -- as well as Asia O'Hara and The Vixen as an oddly mean Beyonce and Blue Ivy, respectively -- had the weakest takes. Ultimately, it was Heart, a fan favorite, who sashayed away, and The Advocate spoke to the Kansas City native after her elimination.

The Advocate: It was the reading mini-challenge this week! What was your favorite read from a contestant?
Heart: The one read to Monet, about being black and using hotel lotion.

You impersonated Maxine Waters, and your take fell flat with the judges. How would you impersonate her differently if you could go back in time, or would you have scrapped the idea and gone with Cookie Lyon?
Now that I know how to play Snatch Game, I would go back and just reclaim everything.

What was your reaction to the appearance of guest judges Audra McDonald and Kate Upton?
I don't know who they are! Ha, I don't really know celebrities, honestly. I didn't know who any of the celebrities were except Tisha Campbell-Martin because she was on the TV show I used to watch.

Whose Snatch Game performance had you gagging?
Monet's! And after watching, Aquaria. She was in front of me so I couldn't see her, but watching it I was like "bitch was good!" She deserved to win.

What inspired your mermaid look?
I was just trying to create a mermaid. It wasn't the look I wanted, but it is what it is.

You mentioned that you were afraid to be too political in your performances, as a black drag queen in a red state. Have you ever had a bad experience in Kansas
City?
I haven't had a bad experience; I just don't want to have a bad experience. I was afraid that if I upset these people, will I be able to work and pay my bills?

Will you be more political going forward?
Yes. Now that I feel like I have this platform, I feel that it's necessary to not hold back and call out the bullshit that's there.

You talked about how money can be a barrier to entry to drag. Do you believe you'd still be in the competition if you had more resources then?
Yes. I would have been able to sleep or just study and learn my songs instead of having to work on finishing stuff.

Thanks, Monique! Don't miss RuPaul's Drag Race Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern on VH1.