Cherry Valentine has discussed her elimination from series two of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
The contestant, 26, became the latest queen to bow out of the BBC series after she failed to impress with her performance in Rats The Ru-sical and runway look.
Discussing her exit, Cherry said that she ‘connected’ with guest judge Sheridan Smith who was left in tears over her emotional lip sync battle against Tayce.
Exit: Cherry Valentine has discussed her elimination from series two of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
Cherry, who is a mental health nurse, also revealed that since filming the show she has started working at a vaccination centre amid the pandemic to help out.
For her ‘Surprise, Surprise’ theme runway look on Thursday’s show, Cherry stunned the judges by whipping off her skirt to reveal a fake baby bump as she pretended to host a gender reveal party on stage.
Cherry joked that she ‘connected’ with guest judge Sheridan, 39, who was pregnant at the time of filming, as they both had baby bumps.
Talking about the star-studded guest line-up, which has included the actress and Elizabeth Hurley so far, Cherry said: ‘It was incredible Liz is an absolute icon, she really is, I remember seeing her in Austin Powers.
Sad: The contestant, 26, became the latest queen to bow out of the BBC series after she failed to impress with her performance in Rats The Ru-sical and runway look (guest judge Sheridan Smith pictured)
‘Then to see Sheridan Smith, I literally remember seeing her in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. I have fallen in love with her since, she’s really fabulous.’
Cherry hilariously added: ‘I really connected with Sheridan… I think because we were both pregnant at the same time!’
Talking about what’s next, Cherry revealed that she has used her mental health nurse training to help out at a vaccination centre amid the coronavirus pandemic.
She said: ‘I’ve got loads of plans, Covid dependent. I’ve just started a new job at new of the vaccination centres near me. Trying to speed that up a bit, an extra pair of hands, and all that.
Connection: Discussing her exit, Cherry said that she ‘connected’ with guest judge Sheridan Smith who was left in tears over her emotional lip sync battle against Tayce
Surprise, surprise! For her ‘Surprise, Surprise’ theme runway look on Thursday’s show, Cherry stunned the judges by whipping off her skirt to reveal a fake baby bump as she pretended to host a gender reveal party on stage
‘I’m looking forward to some form of normality. I want to take drag to where it’s never been before. Go to schools, universities, do talks. I want to do more TV and work with brands. Exciting stuff.
‘Travel the world and meet people, get to hear people’s stories from around the world. The main reason I joined Drag Race is to share my story and open that door to meet people.’
On Thursday’s show, Cherry emotionally spoke about her childhood and family to co-star Sister Sister, revealing she had come from a traveller background.
Matching bumps! Cherry joked that she ‘connected’ with guest judge Sheridan, 39, pictured, who was pregnant at the time of filming, as they both had baby bumps
‘Icon’: Talking about the star-studded guest line-up, which has included the actress and Elizabeth Hurley, second left, so far, Cherry said: ‘It was incredible Liz is an absolute icon, she really is, I remember seeing her in Austin Powers
The queen admitted that she never tends to talk about that part of her life and that there is a lot of ‘toxic masculinity’ in the community.
She said: ‘I’m literally the only gay person in my whole family that I can think of in the whole community.’
Talking after her elimination, Cherry said that she was ‘proud’ that Drag Race had decided to include her story.
She said: ‘I feel honestly really proud that was something they put in and wanted to bring more awareness to.
‘Toxic masculinity, there is no time for it, it’s 2021! I feel really proud I was able to have that conversation with Sister.
Emotional: On Thursday’s show, Cherry emotionally spoke about her childhood and family to co-star Sister Sister, revealing she had come from a traveller background
‘I’m not the type of person who would usually open up about stuff like that. Normally, I talk to other people and listen to their life stories. It’s literally part of my job, but it felt really right and watching it back I was just really proud.’
Talking about her exit, Cherry said: ‘ I feel so many different things. I didn’t expect it to feel how it does though. I knew that I would be like shocked at everything and like, I don’t know, I just feel a bit relieved to be honest.
‘I built it up for so long in my head that it was going to be this terrible thing but it wasn’t actually as bad as I thought it was going to be and I don’t think I did a bad job.
‘So I’m happy with everything I did. I feel relieved that it’s finally out in the public and I can move on now to the next thing.’
Cherry also said that the support from fans has been really ‘overwhelming’ and ‘humbling’ since appearing on the show.
Amazing: Talking about what’s next, Cherry revealed that she has used her mental health nurse training to help out at a vaccination centre amid the coronavirus pandemic
Guest judge Sheridan was left in tears after watching Cherry and Tayce’s lip sync battle on Thursday’s show.
The West End star, 39, made her judging debut on the hit show and was able to put her experience to use as she judged the queens on their musical theatre skills.
During the episode the contestants performed in Rats The Ru-sical, a unique take on stage show Cats, before Cherry Valentine and Tayce landed in the bottom two.
Keen to prove their worth and remain in the competition, the two drag queens had to mime along to a classic show tune – Elaine Page’s version of Memory from Cats.
Bye bye: Guest judge Sheridan was left in tears after watching Cherry and Tayce’s lip sync battle on Thursday’s show (L-R)
Cherry Valentine, 26, and Tayce brought the drama and power as they rocked the stage and flooded their performances with emotion.
As the final notes played the camera revealed that Sheridan, who has starred in West End musicals such as Funny Girl and Legally Blonde, was welling up with tears.
The blonde beauty, who was also pregnant at the time of filming, wiped away her tears as she declared ‘I’m crying’ to her fellow judging panel.
Although Sheridan was clearly moved by the lip sync, the final decision was down to RuPaul who sent Cherry Valentine sashaying back home.
Emotional: The blonde beauty, who was also pregnant at the time of filming, wiped away her tears as she declared ‘I’m crying’ to her fellow judging panel
RuPaul said: ‘Roses are red, violets are blue. You are Cherry Valentine and we’ll miss you.’
Taking the exit news in her stride, Cherry Valentine said: ‘Thank you very much. You have lit a fire under my a**e, and never again will I let anyone overlook me, ever.
‘I’ve learnt to always be yourself. Don’t give a s**t about what everyone else thinks about you. You do you. Every day is Valentine’s Day.’
She also left a note in lipstick on the mirror in the werk room: ‘Always remember love yourself first. Can’t wait to pop your cherries again.’
Judges: Sheridan (right) joined Alan Carr, Michelle Visage and RuPaul as a guest judge on episode two
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series two: Meet the 12 new queens
Name: Lawrence Chaney
Age: 23
Location: Glasgow
Who are you? I’m from Glasgow and every single stereotype that you are thinking right now about a Scottish person is, is true for me! I love Irn-Bru, and a caramel wafer. I’m almost the Austin Powers ‘fat bastard’ of drag! I think of my Scottishness as an asset. I am definitely very proud to be Scottish and Glaswegian.
Name: Bimini Bon Boulash
Age: 26
Location: London (via Norfolk)
Who are you? I have a degree in journalism, and I have done a lot of social activism, which is something I’d like to pursue further. I invented veganism about seven years ago…haha! No, I’ve been vegan for about seven years. I love yoga, and I’ve never been healthier.
Name: Cherry Valentine
Age: 26
Location: Darlington
Who are you? Cherry Valentine is everything. She is glamour, she is a club kid, she’s dark, she’s gothic, she’s a dancer, she’s flippy. Look at me, I am a queen.
Name: Ginny Lemon
Age: 31
Location: Worcestershire
Who are you? I’m basically a drag troll. I’m the hairiest woman in show-business! I’m the only nonbinary drag queen in the UK…with a sense of humour! I don’t do traditional drag; I am a character. My look is a 90’s daytime TV presenter. I wear my face which suits me. For me, it’s not about makeup. It’s all about the performance.
Name: Joe Black
Age: 30
Location: Brighton (Portsmouth)
Who are you? I come from the world of cabaret so it’s all ostrich feathers, glitter and burlesque. What a lovely place to come from. Oh, and I am the first person from Drag Race to hail from Brighton.
Name: Tia Kofi
Age: 30
Location: London (via Essex and Nottingham)
Who are you? Originally from Essex, I am now the queen of Clapham. My name, Tia Kofi is a very camp and very British – Tea or Coffee darling? It’s very me, and at the very least, it’s memorable! I’m a mashup of the drag styles. I love comedy, camp, old school, contemporary, and cultural references. As there aren’t a huge number of POC queens on the scene, I’ll often throw in something from my Nigerian heritage too. I’m also a geek. One day I might be a character from Dr Who, and I love channelling a bit of Star Trek. My drag is a melting pot!
Name: Veronica Green
Age: 34
Location: London (Via Rochdale)
Who are you? When I was a little boy, my brother and I used to make our own comic books, and when our baby sister, Veronica, came along we were so jealous that we created a supervillain in our comic books and called her Veronica Green! Unwittingly, my sister’s birth sparked off my drag persona! She’s going to be mortified at all of this – I stole her prom dress and everything.
Name: Sister Sister
Age: 32
Location: Liverpool
Who are you? I’m from Liverpool where the drag scene is incredibly varied. We have the grand high mistress, Lily Savage, who paved the way for drag queens everywhere, God bless her! You have the gorgeous queens of drag town, like angels from a high, then you have the grungy queer scene who like to get down dark and dirty, and throw condiments, and then you have me! I think I fit in to the middle of lots of different worlds. I’ve always had a strong aesthetic and I’ve always had a strong sense of what I think is funny and when you put those things together: it looks, and sounds like me.
Name: Tayce
Age: 26
Location: London (Via Newport, Wales)
Who are you? I’m from the Welsh lands of Newport. Newport can be a bit grey, dingy and so I just love to bring a bit of colour to the world. Since I was born, I have been prancing around in little skirts and wigs. I’ve always been full of life and energy. I’ve always got a smile on my face and I have been wearing crazy looks from day dot.
Name: Ellie Diamond
Age: 21
Location: Dundee
Who are you? I’m 6ft 4 out of heels, and in drag, I love to go even taller. I like the biggest wigs, heels, outfits, lashes, makeup and ass. I would describe my drag as a cartoon character that has come to life. If you were to search online for a photo of drag queen, then a picture of me would come up.
Name: Asttina Mandella
Age: 27
Location: London
Who are you? I am known for giving very extravagant MTV style performances. I have up to twelve dancers with a big concept show. There are lights, and pyrotechnics and extravagance. It’s very interactive, sometimes with a bit of comedy. I have been dancing since I was tiny, and I have been dancing professionally since I was 20 years old. I am trained in ballet, tap, contemporary, Latin, hip hop, funk and street and it’s all in my show. I have worked with Little Mix, Pussycat Dolls, Melanie C, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Fleur East, Kayne West at the Brits. Now it’s my time to be on the poster and get the headlines. I can’t wait.
Name: A’Whora
Age: 23
Location: London (Via Nottinghamshire)
Who are you? I’m from Nottinghamshire originally. I now live and work in London, but I’m still Northern as Hell. I’m a fashion designer and A’Whora is my muse, best friend and alter ego. She is well known as a fashion queen, but I’m here to prove she’s so much more than that. She is different to anyone you will ever meet. She is striking, she has presence, and you will never see her in a High Street dress. I’m gagging at the thought!