Is It Just Me? - DRAG RACE DEBRIEF: Aubrey Haive 💃

Episode Date: August 8, 2022

Catching up with the eliminated drag queen from Episode 2, Season 2 of Ru Paul's Drag Race Down Under, Aubrey Haive!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it just me? A podcast by a couple of Mitches. Don't fuck it up. Ooh, here we go, another Drag Race debrief, Mitchell Coombs. We're up to week two of Drag Race Down Under Season 2. Yeah. What did you think of the episode? I mean, look, I will say it's much better than Season 1 at this point.

Definitely. Oh, it's an improvement. Something about the lighting is still off, though. Like, there's weird shadows. Have you noticed the shadows? Yeah, the shadows irk me. I've heard other people point that out, but I still can't notice anything. Michelle Visage looks like a man at some point.

And she's the only one that's not a man on the show. I didn't like her look this week, just quietly. No, neither did I. What does she look like? Cher? Older than Cher, which is hard to do with a grey. No, I'm loving the season. It's really good.

I just love seeing Aussie queens with jokes that we get. There's references that I think, oh my God, the Americans watching this won't get it. But fuck them. We have to sit through American references. I know. There was little things like, I can't remember which queen it was, but she goes, oh, not me brush. And I was like, that is so Australian.

I love it. I can't remember who said that. Even the first episode with the sausage sizzle, they didn't explain what a sausage sizzle was. And fuck them. Fuck the international audiences. This is for us. Well, last week's episode, like I said, it was a very strong start.

This week's episode, I was like, a fucking acting challenge. They don't do much for me. No, the acting challenges are weird on Drag Race. I mean, drag queens, we love them. We've all seen them at gay bars. They're great performers. But they're not actors. Let's be real.

They're not. I just don't understand why they keep doing them, especially so early in the season. But anyway, we're catching up with this week's elimine. Is that the word you use? Elimine, yeah. The queen that got faded away. Yeah, she was fucked.

It was Aubrey Have. It was. Sorry for the spoiler if we haven't watched yet, but she's here with us now. Hi, Aubrey, darling. Hi, Aubrey. Oh, hi. How are you feeling after watching it back?

Oh, you know, a little bit devastated, a bit robbed. Robbed. I was going to say robbed, if anything. I think you were robbed, and I'll happily say it. It's been a robbery. Can someone call the cops, please? Yeah, let's get on it, the drag cops. Well, you did do your prison-themed challenge this week,

and like I was just saying, acting challenges for me, I've always been like, oh, my God, another one. Do the actual drag queens feel the same? Because I've never actually met a drag race fan that has said, God, I love the acting challenges. I would use the word acting very loosely. Air quotes, acting. Yeah, look, I mean, yeah, it's interesting because you're sort of at the expense of the

script a little bit um which doesn't tend to be you know it's not oscar worthy unfortunately but we do our best and um you know i was pretty happy with what i did and you know some of the funny moments i did you know you may not have even seen, but even what you did see, I was very happy. Oh, yeah, you were doing the Minogue, weren't you? Yes. I thought that was funny. Chantelle Minogue with the microphone. Yeah, she has a fucking – oh, am I allowed to swear?

Oh, please. Yeah, go, please. The more swearing, the better, Chook. Fuck it. She had a fucking bejazzled microphone in her bra the whole time that she smuggled in. That's the type of contraband I want. No, I thought you were really good.

So you're a trained actress. Tell me about that. Where did you study? Yeah, so I studied over at WAPA in Perth. Another WAPA girl. Yeah, another WAPA girl. Did the three-year Bachelor in Musical Theatre over there. So, you know, I'm glad to finally be using all that time and money

to now spend more time and money on my drag, which is great. Do you think it's like the kind of like the double-edged sword whenever a drag queen says, oh, I'm an actress or I'm an actor or, you know, I'm a singer, I can't wait for this singing challenge, then they get fucking eliminated on the episode that they're meant to thrive in? Is it the best tactic, do you think, to just not say you're good at anything this singing challenge. Then they get fucking eliminated on the episode that they're meant to thrive in. Is it the best, the best tactic do you think to just not say you're good at anything on Drag Race?

Then they won't target you? And I thought I didn't say anything. Oh. Obviously I did. But I was trying to say it like really loosely because I was kind of like, I was like, yeah, I've studied theater.

I didn't say I'm an actor. Yeah. Yeah. I studied the theater. Yeah. I feel like if they'd done one of the talent shows or the singing challenges one of the other maxi challenges you would have absolutely been able to do your thing are you spewing that you didn't get to do that were you kind of hoping you'd stick around long enough absolutely i mean you you can go on

my instagram and go have a listen to me singing i feel like i've got a pretty good voice in here somewhere she's what betrayed she's what betrayed in musical theater of course she'd be you'd have and go have a listen to me singing. I feel like I've got a pretty good voice in here somewhere. She's Whopper trained. She's Whopper trained in musical theatre. Of course you'd have the pipes on you. And it's a crime that we didn't get to see it. Tell us about the drama with Mini Cooper because it seemed like anti-drama, right? Like that was nothing.

It was really weird because right at the start of the episode she started addressing some shady comments she'd thrown the week before and even I'd forgotten because it felt like nothing. And even you said it was no big deal. Because right at the start of the episode, she started addressing some shady comments she'd thrown the week before. And even I'd forgotten because it felt like nothing. And even you said it was no big deal. So did that just feel like she was dwelling on something unnecessarily? You know, in the words of Art Simone, that means nothing. It's the dementia. No, honestly, look.

What did you say? I said it's the dementia. You know, it's set in. It's the dementia in Minnie. Sorry. No ageism on this show. Sorry. Sorry.

We have enough of it. True. You weren't there on the premiere night, okay? The ageism thing is a sore spot for Minnie. What happened on the premiere night? So don't you dare make jokes like that when she comes in. What happened? What happened?

Look, the whole ageism thing, I love Minnie and I love her dearly and we have made up and we're all fine um but i think that she does sometimes just feel a little bit like people are out to get her and no one is um everyone fucking loves her so um well well no i was set with love she's i i'd like her to win the whole thing i was i was i just knew she could take the joke. I know what you mean, though, because I do love Minnie and, like, huge respect for Minnie. But this episode, I was like, God, it just felt a little bit like she was being, yeah, it was a little bit, I don't know.

I don't want to say shit-stirring, but I can't think of anything else to say off the top of my head. Is she like that just for the cameras or was there a little bit of that going on as well behind the scenes? Look, I've signed an NDA. I can't talk about what happened. She's a smart girl. One thing I noticed when you and Minnie made up though, did you notice that she said, my apology? There was no plural. It was just my apology. Oh, did she? Yes.

No, I'm sorry. My apology. That's a good, that's an anti-apology. I know. Here is my apology. Imagine, like, signing off an email, warm regard. Yeah. Just one. Literally.

That's all you fucking get. Thought and prayer with you. Yeah. What was, I want to know the story behind your name, Aubrey Have. And the look today that we're getting is very Austin Powers. Is it an Austin Powers-inspired name? 100%. Yes, yes, yes.

So I was on the train in Melbourne heading somewhere, and me and my partner, my partner also does drag, and we often just, like, bounce back stupid drag names for way too long, like longer than you should. It's embarrassing, to be honest. And we were sort of doing it. I had an older name that was embarrassing. You're not going to hear it.

Oh, come on. Come on. We're all friends here. I'll share you Mitch's embarrassing drag name that I came up for him. Okay. Okay. No, you go first and then I'll tell you what it was. I wanted him to be Rheanasaurus, but he won't go for that.

That's a fat joke. That's not funny, Aubrey. You can't laugh at that ethically, but I do think that's quite funny. There's nothing wrong with being fat. I was laughing because it's a good name. It is a very funny name. Your turn. Okay.

So my old name used to be, because it's another pun, because I love puns, it was Justina Wig. Oh, yes, I do like that. I like what you've gone with for Plan B, though. Aubrey Have is better. No, I agree. Plan B was much better. Yeah, so I was on the train, just sort of we're bouncing back names,

and then I think Aubrey came up out of somewhere, and then I think we sort of landed on like an Aubrey, Aubrey have or like Aubrey be do something or whatever. And then like I, as a kid, like grew up watching Austin powers nonstop. That was my childhood film. I'm slightly inappropriate for a child,

but you know, you know, you've got to learn somehow. Yeah. And yeah. And so I, and I sort of found it and then the 60s references and all that sort of stuff that comes with like Austin Powers just like all fell into so camp and I just yeah I just loved it gorgeous now I how did you feel when Michelle Visage said

that you are you were on the struggle bus this week because god that's gotta hurt I mean there were yeah there were a couple of little things that went wrong like there was the the bag all You were on the struggle bus this week because, God, that's got to hurt. I mean, I definitely was. Yeah, there were a couple of little things that went wrong. Like there was the bag, all the stuff falling out of the bag, and one of the wings not working. Well, no. See, the bag thing was meant to happen. Really?

Yeah, there were maggots, right? There were hoo-hoo grubs, which is a New Zealand grub that I grew up. When you grow up in New Zealand, they're in all of your pine trees when you cut your wood and stuff to light your fire and people eat them. And so, and, but the who, who grub turns into a who,

who beetle, which is what I was. Oh, I get it. Yeah. And the whole thing was like, they were meant to fall out. And then I like pick one up and seductively go to eat it.

But I also realized that Rue doesn't like you eating things in front of her. So I would have, it was actually made of cheese. I would have chowed down on that because I love cheese, but Rue was looking right at me and I was like, Can you read the facial expressions? Aubrey, is it close enough to say that she's pissed? Oh, yeah, and she was like, oh, don't do it. So did they make it obvious that that was intentional

or am I the only dumb fuck that thought that that was an accident? Because they kind of painted it as, ooh, whoops, that was a suffer, but you're now telling me that you meant to do that. No. No, lots of people thought like they played it as if it was an accident. No, it was 100% intentional because the plan was I get my phone out, take my phone call, and when I go to put my phone back in my bag, it breaks open and all my hoo-hoo grabs just fall over the stage.

Oh, that makes sense now. Yeah, that checks out. No, thank you. What was the actual – and I got it in the moment, but the wings wasn't, right? The wings was – that was a bit of an accident, right? Look, yeah, the little grabby things, I definitely didn't get time to practice them. And they were, I didn't realize they fling all over the place when you walk around.

So I just, you know, it's much easier to grab them when you're in a mirror. But we don't have that. So I just sort of couldn't find them. But, you know, whatever. It happens. It happens. Yeah. Did you get to do a second take? Because I've, you know, whatever. It happens. It happens. Yeah. Did you get to do a second take?

Because I've listened to a lot of drag race podcasts. A lot of the time I hear that there's a second and a third take. So did they get you doing it properly but chose to put in the shady one? Look, there is a second take but you'll never see it. Interesting. Oh, bugger. Now tell me, you said that you wanted to show off the singing in one of the challenges down the track.

Did you have it mapped out in your head what you would have done? Like what was your plan? Oh, I mean, there was no sort of, oh, I can't say that. I'm giving spoilers. The answer is yes, I had written lyrics ready to sing. So I was just waiting for, you know, they usually do a song or something, you know, near the end. The answer is yes. I had written lyrics ready to sing. So I was just waiting for, you know, they usually do a song or something, you know, near the end.

So I had some lyrics planned out and, you know, I can't write any melodies or anything until we hear the music. But I was definitely going to sing at some point. I would have loved that. That would have been great to see you sing. I know, right? You'll still hear me sing. I'm going to record some songs and stuff and put them all on, you know,

on the interwebs. Yeah, hot, hot. Where can we see, where are you local to? Are you Melbourne based? Can drag, can listeners in Melbourne come and see you? Yes, so I am. I'm in Melbourne. I've been here for like five years now and I started drag in Melbourne.

That was a lockdown thing, wasn't it? Yeah. It was the second lockdown. You know, we had many. Yes, famously Melbourne was quite locked down. Quite locked down, yeah. Yeah, we were giving it the lock. We were. And what inspired it?

Because with your partner that was doing drag at the time, had you always wanted to try it? Yeah, well, we actually met, like, shortly after I first, like, sort of started. Yeah. But, yeah, I just had lots of friends. You know, I was in the queer scene, so I was always going out and seeing drag queens perform and stuff.

And being like a performer in the theatre world, like I just loved the idea of it all. I just knew how much money and time goes into all of it. So I was like, I'm never going to have any of that. And then, you know, lockdown was like, actually, now you have nothing to spend your money on and plenty of fricking time. So I was like, well, what else do I do? So you really just fast-tracked yourself,

and now here you are on Bloody Drag Race. That's amazing. I owe it all to Ms. Rona. All right, well, it's so good to meet you on the show. I mean, I wanted more of you. Hang on, Mitchell, you can't rap yet. Oh, you've got the big question. The big question.

Oh, okay, I'll save my compliments for after. The most important question of all, actually. We've got a running list that we asked all of our guests the same question, okay? We've got a list of things better than drugs and dick. The purpose of the list is to remind our listeners that there's more to life than partying. Boys aren't the end of the world. So just little things in life you appreciate. I'll give you an example.

Fofa last week said that her $12 sushi maker from Kmart is better than drugs and dicks. I agree. So is there a little thing in life that you just get a kick out of? That's a really good question. What are some other things, like a good crunch of an apple, fresh bed linen? Good crunch of an apple, yeah. A brand new candle. Someone said a brand new candle.

Someone said a brand new candle. Those little things. I think freshly cutting your toenails. Oh! Yes. I did that last night, but I did it in bed or breathing. I, like, missed a couple. So as I was sleeping, you know when you get scratched by a sharp toenail? Yeah, yeah.

I do that too. I do that too. But that's the fun of it, right? Yes. No, the reason I love that the most is because we're always wearing heels. And, you know, if you have a toenail at the end of that heel. Really? It gets you?

It gets you. That is a brilliant answer. I would never have thought of that. But you're so right. And the toenail clip too. You feel like you've got your shit together after that. And I will say there's something more, I don't know, maybe this is just me, but there's something more sort of fulfilling about a toenail clip than a fingernail clip.

I don't know. The toenails are thicker. And it's so much easier to let the toes go. They're out of sight, out of mind. It is. It is. This is a friendly reminder to anyone listening. Please go cut your fucking toenails.

Clip your toenails, people. If Aubrey has any sort of legacy, it's that. Clip your toenails, you dirty grots. Yeah. Well, here's my compliment now. I just loved watching you on the show. You were so great in the confessionals. You were great to look at.

You were so polished, right? And I think watching you and watching your runway, seeing a polished runway, it was like, oh, this is what I've been waiting for on Drag Race Down Under. And then I was upset when you left. I feel like they really did you dirty. The two runways you got to do, it was like, right, here's a bunch of rubbish, make an outfit.

The second one was dress up as an insect. Like, what the fuck? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, yeah, I mean, I would have to say I agree with everything you said. Yeah. With your Melbourne. I'm sure you'll see more of me, but please go follow the Divas because, you know, at the end of the day, social media

and Instagram followings are all that matters. That's right. That's why we do all this in the first place. You're speaking my language, Chuck. Go and see Aubrey if you're down in Melbourne, and we might see you at the finale or who knows if we'll see you pop up on our screens in the future. But thanks for coming on the show.

No, my pleasure. Thanks for having me. And we'll be back next week with another Drag Race Debrief. Yeah, we will. I'm excited. I don't know who it is. At this point, it could be anyone, truly. We'll see.

I don't know. Catch you then, idiots. See ya. Is it just me? A podcast by a couple of Mitches. Make sure you've hit follow on your podcast app.