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www.ambiente.us DECEMBER / DICIEMBRE 2007
RuPaul sits with Ambiente for a candid interview:
Artist, composer, writer, producer, actor, model… pipe piper?
By Luis Herrera
Photo by Alex Katsanos
RuPaul was born November 17th, 7:58 p.m. at
Mercy Hospital in San Diego, California. When
asked what she named her baby boy, his Mother
replied, "His name is RuPaul Andre Charles and
he's gonna be a star! Cause ain't another mother
f**ker alive with a name like that!"
Today RuPaul has conquered the music, TV,
movie, music, cosmetics world and has
unarguably achieved icon status.
RuPaul sits down with Ambiente Magazine for an
exclusive and candid conversation about life as
a superstar, growing up, and Starrbooty.
You speak very fondly of your teen years in
Atlanta… tell me about it? “It was very much what
I would imagine San Francisco or the Vllage was
for some in the early ’70. It made it easy for
artistic kids to express themselves. Cops were
nice and clubs allowed young performer to
express themselves�.
You went from selling cars with your brother-in-law
to performing at NYC’s Pyramid Club, touring with
Suzanne Bartsch and doing music videos … do think it was easier then or would it be easier for someone
today? “I think it was easier then than today… today there is more pressure for young people to prove
themselves faster; and need to prove there brand faster… from the nightclub, to the music industry to
movies. Society doesn’t let artist evolve.
In the mid ‘90’s you became the face of MAC … what kind of impact did it have in the cosmetic
industry? “I don’t know how much of an impact I had, but I had a lot of fun and we were able to
produce a lot of monies for AIDS organization. I had a great time and it helped a lot of people recognize
themselves … MAC was about ‘if you have skin, you can wear makeup, its genuine... No matter what color
you are’.�
A lot has happened on TV and film since the Rupaul show, MAC work and your supermodel mega hit,
especially with LGBT characters… do you feel the representation of those characters has changed and in
what way? “It has changed; the LGBT has been watered downed… I wish it would be more outrageous.
We are some sometime to occupied with what the straight world is doing… the approach should be that
there’s only one race, the human race and we come in many different cues and flavors. Be should be
ourselves�
Recently, you released several albums and your working on a couple more ….you have also worked on
films, you’ve written and produced… what’s your favorite media? “I love music, I love being in the
studio in my sweats working until four in the morning, writing scoring, producing…with Starrbooty, it took 17
months of producing and I enjoyed it…I love performing and being on stage, but the travel is hard…I enjoy it
when I’m there and making something good�.
Your most recent project, Starrbooty was released this summer and is now available on DVD… with a
soundtrack… tells me about the character Starrbooty? “I developed it over twenty years ago, and I wanted
to do something that would make fun of the self-righteous!! The movie was fun to do! My character goes
undercover as a hooker and gets to dress up with some of my favorite attire… the Mary Jane Girlsâ
€¦something I said goodbye to when I started doing the glamarama… but it was fun returning to itâ€�.
What was it like working with Mike Ruiz (director of Starbooty and photographer to the stars) ??? “He is
great to work with. We have the same sense of humor as we shot the film; we both knew what we wanted... Iâ
€™m traveling with him now, and its lots of fun!â€�
As you know, you have many fans here… do you have any plans to be in South Florida? “I’ll be in Ft.
Lauderdale this December to film the sequel of ‘Another Gay Movie’; and I’m also working on
some appearances. I’ve been working in Sobe since ’96�.
Madame Tussaud’s NYC museum has a replica of you… this is the ultimate statement of a star’s
success… how do you define success? “I think success is defined everyday by waking up and getting
out of bed and starting your day! You make your success from love, joy and enjoying what I do. Embrace lives,
we only have one!�
Where do you see RuPaul ten years from now???? “Still being creative; still making heads or tale of this
life. I want to be in love and most importantly inspire other people. I want young people to be inspired and let
them know that they can do what they can dream…�
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Starrbooty will screen at Fusion 2007
Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival
9:30pm - Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Luis Herrera is Assistant Dean at the University of Miami - School of Communication - Coral Gables, FL, and
a freelance writer for Ambiente.us
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
RuPaul sits with Ambiente for a candid interview:
Artist, composer, writer, producer, actor, model… pipe piper?
By Luis Herrera
Photo by Alex Katsanos
RuPaul was born November 17th, 7:58 p.m. at
Mercy Hospital in San Diego, California. When
asked what she named her baby boy, his Mother
replied, "His name is RuPaul Andre Charles and
he's gonna be a star! Cause ain't another mother
f**ker alive with a name like that!"
Today RuPaul has conquered the music, TV,
movie, music, cosmetics world and has
unarguably achieved icon status.
RuPaul sits down with Ambiente Magazine for an
exclusive and candid conversation about life as
a superstar, growing up, and Starrbooty.
You speak very fondly of your teen years in
Atlanta… tell me about it? “It was very much what
I would imagine San Francisco or the Vllage was
for some in the early ’70. It made it easy for
artistic kids to express themselves. Cops were
nice and clubs allowed young performer to
express themselves�.
You went from selling cars with your brother-in-law
to performing at NYC’s Pyramid Club, touring with
Suzanne Bartsch and doing music videos … do think it was easier then or would it be easier for someone
today? “I think it was easier then than today… today there is more pressure for young people to prove
themselves faster; and need to prove there brand faster… from the nightclub, to the music industry to
movies. Society doesn’t let artist evolve.
In the mid ‘90’s you became the face of MAC … what kind of impact did it have in the cosmetic
industry? “I don’t know how much of an impact I had, but I had a lot of fun and we were able to
produce a lot of monies for AIDS organization. I had a great time and it helped a lot of people recognize
themselves … MAC was about ‘if you have skin, you can wear makeup, its genuine... No matter what color
you are’.�
A lot has happened on TV and film since the Rupaul show, MAC work and your supermodel mega hit,
especially with LGBT characters… do you feel the representation of those characters has changed and in
what way? “It has changed; the LGBT has been watered downed… I wish it would be more outrageous.
We are some sometime to occupied with what the straight world is doing… the approach should be that
there’s only one race, the human race and we come in many different cues and flavors. Be should be
ourselves�
Recently, you released several albums and your working on a couple more ….you have also worked on
films, you’ve written and produced… what’s your favorite media? “I love music, I love being in the
studio in my sweats working until four in the morning, writing scoring, producing…with Starrbooty, it took 17
months of producing and I enjoyed it…I love performing and being on stage, but the travel is hard…I enjoy it
when I’m there and making something good�.
Your most recent project, Starrbooty was released this summer and is now available on DVD… with a
soundtrack… tells me about the character Starrbooty? “I developed it over twenty years ago, and I wanted
to do something that would make fun of the self-righteous!! The movie was fun to do! My character goes
undercover as a hooker and gets to dress up with some of my favorite attire… the Mary Jane Girlsâ
€¦something I said goodbye to when I started doing the glamarama… but it was fun returning to itâ€�.
What was it like working with Mike Ruiz (director of Starbooty and photographer to the stars) ??? “He is
great to work with. We have the same sense of humor as we shot the film; we both knew what we wanted... Iâ
€™m traveling with him now, and its lots of fun!â€�
As you know, you have many fans here… do you have any plans to be in South Florida? “I’ll be in Ft.
Lauderdale this December to film the sequel of ‘Another Gay Movie’; and I’m also working on
some appearances. I’ve been working in Sobe since ’96�.
Madame Tussaud’s NYC museum has a replica of you… this is the ultimate statement of a star’s
success… how do you define success? “I think success is defined everyday by waking up and getting
out of bed and starting your day! You make your success from love, joy and enjoying what I do. Embrace lives,
we only have one!�
Where do you see RuPaul ten years from now???? “Still being creative; still making heads or tale of this
life. I want to be in love and most importantly inspire other people. I want young people to be inspired and let
them know that they can do what they can dream…�
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Starrbooty will screen at Fusion 2007
Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival
9:30pm - Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Luis Herrera is Assistant Dean at the University of Miami - School of Communication - Coral Gables, FL, and
a freelance writer for Ambiente.us
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
| GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION WWW.GLAAD.ORG |
| Gay American Heroes Foundation Honoring LGBT persons who died because of their sexual orientation and gender identity www.gayamericanheroes.com |
| Web resource for LGBTQ youth www.matthewsplace.com |
| An online forum on sexual health education for gay and bisexual men www.lifelube.org |
| www.familiasporladiversidad.org |
| LIGA Contra el SIDA - SoFla. League Against AIDS www.leagueagainstaids.org |