By Denny Patterson
War on the Catwalk, the world famous drag show starring contestants from RuPaul’s Drag Race franchises around the world, will be coming to the Broward Center on Saturday, August 13, 2022.
Presented by Murray and Peter, the production will hit 37 cities in less than two months, and the host and lineup of queens of each will vary city to city. The Fort Lauderdale show will be hosted by Miz Cracker (U.S. Season 10, All Stars 5), with performances by Kornbread “The Snack” Jeté (U.S. Season 14), Heidi N Closet (U.S. Season 12), The Vivienne (winner, UK Season 1), Krystal Versace (winner, UK Season 3), Icesis Couture (winner, Canada Season 2), and Jimbo (Canada Season 1, UK vs the World), who OutClique had the pleasure of catching up with.
Hailing from Victoria, British Columbia, Jimbo instantly captured the hearts of viewers with her quick wit and unique style of drag. Unafraid to challenge the judges, not only was she a standout player among the queens of the North, but as one of the all-time greats among the global queer franchise.
Denny Patterson: Hi, Jimbo! Can you begin by telling us what audiences can expect from War on the Catwalk?
Jimbo: War on the Catwalk is basically all of your favorite Drag Race queens from the North America and UK franchises. It’s a broad, sort of diverse cast of all different types of drag, and there’s a lot of glamor, beauty, sparkle, and comedy. We all get along so well, and the show has this fun energy. We all bring a different flavor, and each number is as exciting as the next. The audiences give each queen an amazing response and so much love.
DP: Can you give us a hint as to what we’ll see from your particular set?
J: I have been touring my Casper from the talent show on UK vs the World. I wanted to sort of bring a little bit of the cabaret into War on the Catwalk and showcase another aspect of mine, which is clowning. It’s just another dimension of the whole show, and even though it’s a diversion from drag, it still fits within the world. This funny other performance style that’s showcased, so that’s really cool. Then my other performance is to a track called “Boobs,” and it’s just this comedic song about boobs. I have a fun reveal that makes everyone laugh, and there’s sort of an unexpected twist in the middle of that number.
DP: How does War on the Catwalk differ from Werq the World?
J: I think War on the Catwalk differs from Werq the World in that it has a bigger cast, and I think it’s also a rotating cast. Werq the World has their staple cast, and then they bring in a small rotating cast, usually of the most current queens from Drag Race’s U.S. franchise. War on the Catwalk is different just because it brings in some of these other beloved queens from other franchises like Canada’s Drag Race and Drag Race UK. I also think it differs in the performance style. Because War on the Catwalk draws in a different pool of performers, it offers a different variety of drag.
DP: What are you enjoying the most about traveling and performing alongside so many wonderful Drag Race girls?
J: It really is a sisterhood on the road. We have some beautiful buses, so it feels like you’ve run away with this glamorous circus. This is such a fun traveling road show where each night feels as exciting as the last, and the cast really gets a chance to bond and tighten the show up. The audience can relax because they know they’re in for a really fun show, and they know that they’re in good hands. I’m just so excited about being with my sisters and touring the U.S. for the first time.
DP: For those who do not know, how did Jimbo come to be, and how did you discover your passion for drag?
J: I have always been interested in storytelling, costume design, and transformation. At a young age, I was always interested in drag, and I was always interested in being other than our presenting self. It has always been exciting to explore other parts of myself and discover other facets of my character; who I am through performance and clowning. I saw the joy I could get out of clowning, which is really about being immediate and being connected to your audience. Drag is very similar to that. It’s all about being connected to an audience and storytelling through a song, so from clowning, I moved into drag. Now, I sort of do this mix of the two where I do this elevated beautiful drag, but then I have this twist that can be ugly, silly, or funny. It’s glamor with a sense of humor.
DP: Obviously, the world fell in love with you when you competed on the inaugural season of Canada’s Drag Race. Why did you want to go on the show?
J: I wanted to be on the show because I love connecting with people. I made a dream and a wish years ago about wanting to be friends with anyone on the street. I wanted to figure out how I could have friends around the world. And now through Drag Race and performing on a television show, I’ve been given a platform and a portal to connect with people and fans with similar interests, and maybe similar stories. I can inspire them, tell stories, and make people laugh with a version that speaks to them that’s maybe not seen elsewhere. I think there’s a uniqueness that’s familiar, but also different.
DP: Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
J: I don’t think so. I really loved the whole thing. Looking back, obviously, there were some intense judging aspects to that season, but that created a dynamic story. A lot of people were speaking about the show, and that helped amplify it and bring it to more audiences. So, it all worked out perfectly. It wasn’t easy for me as an artist and being someone that’s always had to explain my point of view and always had to sort of fight to be seen, that was no surprise. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy for me. Being a weirdo or being on the outside, you’re always fighting against ideas, ideals, and norms, so of course I wanted to go into that competition and be at the top and be celebrated all the way through, but I was a little bit more of the underdog, and I think that’s relatable for people. Life is hard, and people identify with a bit of that struggle. So, I wouldn’t change anything. It was fun, crazy and awesome.
DP: You then came back to compete on UK vs the World. What did you take away from that experience and being judged by RuPaul for the first time?
J: Being judged by RuPaul for the first time was a dream come true. After years of wishing, hoping, planning, and thinking how it would ever happen, and then to actually live in your dream, it was so surreal. We had a great connection on set that was really fun. I was inspired and wanted to show my best self, so I had a great experience with Ru and being on the show with Ru.
DP: Your elimination on UK vs the World has been dubbed as one of the most “controversial” in the history of the franchise. What was going through your mind when that happened?
J: I was completely shocked. I’ve kind of compared it to being in a race car and being in the lead while going 200 mph, but then someone else pulls your brake. You’re like, that’s not what’s supposed to happen, and I just flew out of the car and smashed onto the ground. Like, that’s the end of that. It was an abrupt, shocking, sad turn of events, but it was a great story. The beauty about Drag Race is that you’re a part of the franchise and you’re a part of this story, as long as the audience is interested in your story and interested in seeing what’s going to happen next. Obviously, everything I had worked for stopped right there at that moment, but then over time, I realized that was just one moment in time, one part of my career, one bit of my story, and of course I wanted to win, but it was also another case of the audience getting behind the underdog or someone they wanted to see go further. In a way, it just added to the story and added to the audience’s experience. It was an intense moment, and when you’re telling stories, making television, and wanting to have impact, those are the moments that really do that. Being the person that it happened to was not necessarily the greatest, but it was crazy, interesting, and made for this wild online controversy. I just know that’s not the end, and there’s more to come. I’m at peace with it all, and of course, I love Pangina. There are no hard feelings there.
DP: Did you feel vindicated when she was eliminated the following week?
J: I sure did! (Laughs). If that story had gone differently following that, like if she went on to win the whole thing, I probably would feel different. I might have felt a little bit more sour, but everyone sort of wanted that to happen in this weird way. When you’re watching a story objectively and you see those dynamics happen, you kind of want there to be a balance and you want it to swing back in this weird way. That’s what happened. It was sort of this weird, bittersweet moment where people were really rooting for Pangina because she’s an amazing drag performer, and she was also killing it. We were both doing very, very well. It was hard because we lost another front runner, but you also get this excitement out of someone getting some sort of karma or just desserts.
DP: If asked to compete again, would you?
J: I’ll do anything. I love saying yes and seeing what happens. I would love to do any form of shows, plays, tours, music, gigs, and I actually have new music coming out later this summer. I’m open to anything. I just love saying yes and seeing what happens.
DP: What more do you hope to accomplish with your career and platform?
J: I hope to continue being a boundary pusher and being someone that’s making people laugh. Bringing out new ideas, being forward thinking, and being funny. That’s very important to me. A big part of clowning is surprise, so that’s what we as artists are supposed to do. Keep surprising ourselves and the world with new ways of seeing things, thinking about things, or presenting things. I hope to stay fresh and keep people thinking and engaged. I also want to spread positivity and show as many people as possible that it’s okay to be the best version of yourself. Find those versions of yourself, explore them, and share them.
DP: Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you’d like to mention or plug?
J: Basically, my plan is to just keep being an artist and to keep exploring all facets of expression. I have my House of Jimbo show, which I’m continuing to pitch, develop, and look for funding for, and I have a new show coming up with WOW Presents, a new talk show called It’s My Special Show. I have an EP coming out later this summer, and I am also working on new merch. It’s my dream to have a fashion line or a clothing brand. So, I’m working on all that, and then I have my tours with Murray and Peter. Working to build this empire is very time consuming!
Stay up-to-date and connect with Jimbo by following him on Twitter (@JimboDragClown) and Instagram (@JimbotheDragClown), or visit his official website, HouseofJimbo.com. Visit BrowardCenter.org for more information and to purchase tickets for War on the Catwalk.
