{"id":384552,"date":"2026-04-17T17:55:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T17:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/384552\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T17:55:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T17:55:10","slug":"rupauls-drag-race-stars-nini-coco-myki-meeks-darlene-mitchell-share-fond-memories-of-the-first-time-watching-a-queen-perform-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/384552\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u2019 Stars Nini Coco, Myki Meeks & Darlene Mitchell Share Fond Memories Of The First Time Watching A Queen Perform Live"},"content":{"rendered":"

After 15 glorious episodes of RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race<\/a> Season 18, 3 finalists are left standing, poised to lip sync for the mother tuckin\u2019 crown: Nini Coco<\/a>, Myki Meeks<\/a> and Darlene Mitchell<\/a>. Over the course of the season, these very different queens have faced their own issues while evolving into a tight unit. The bug-loving Coco struggled to find connection throughout the competition, but fought her way to the finale after 3 terrific lip syncs. After showcasing her talents in Fannie: The Hard Knock Ball Rusical, the once demure Meeks broke out of the middle of the pack and won the last 3 challenges . With 9 years of sobriety under her belt, Mitchell was validated by the support of her fellow queens and gained much-needed confidence as she joined an elite group of queens who never had to lip sync before the finale. <\/p>\n

Inspired by one of Mitchell\u2019s excellent questions in the \u201cGood Morning, Bitches!\u201d challenge<\/a>, Decider, to celebrate just how far they have come, asked each queen to remember the first time they saw a drag queen perform in-person. Hard to believe that these now seasoned and dedicated performers were once nervous and timid about the art form.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in Tampa at a Hamburger Mary\u2019s , which does not exist anymore,\u201d remembered Meeks wistfully. \u201cAlexis Mateo is the first queen I saw in person.\u201d Drag Race fans everywhere know and love Mateo, who first appeared on the series back in Season 3 and went on to compete in All Stars and even Canada\u2019s Drag Race: Canada vs. the World. \u201cI was just a little closeted gay boy, like, \u2018oh, take my dollar,’\u201d laughed Meeks.<\/p>\n

\"RuPaul's Brian Zak\/ NY Post<\/p>\n

The first drag queen performance Mitchell saw stayed with her over the years. \u201cI went to Columbia College in Chicago, and my friends got us into SPIN nightclub, which is no longer there,\u201d said Mitchell. \u201cIt was a drag show that night, and the performer was Debbie Fox.\u201d Drag Race fans might know Fox from her appearance on OUTtv\u2019s Camp Wannakiki. \u201cI made my friend Haley hold my hand because I was so nervous and scared,\u201d continued Mitchell. \u201cMaybe they won\u2019t interact with me if they think I\u2019m a straight man,\u201dMitchell remembered thinking, noting that she now knows \u201cthat just makes them want to interact with you more.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a Drag Race fan, Coco remembered the first time she saw a queen from the series perform. \u201cThe first Ru Girl that I ever saw was Shea Coule\u00e9 at Oilcan Harry\u2019s in Austin when I was in college,\u201d said Coco. The legendary Coule\u00e9 first appeared back in Drag Race Season 9 and then went on to win All Stars Season 5. \u201cIt was when I was first just learning about drag, so it was very, very exciting,\u201d remembered Coco.<\/p>\n

These impressionable moments in their lives helped mold our Season 18 finalists into the amazing artists they are today. There\u2019s no doubt there are people watching who have been inspired by the journeys of Coco, Meeks and Mitchell as they fought through multiple challenges. But who will come out on top? Tune in to watch the RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race Season 18 tonight at 8\/7c on MTV to find out!<\/p>\n

\t\t