Alaska Thunderfuck knows the power of a catchphrase. She answers the phone with a nasal, drawn-out “hieeee,” her hashtag-ready greeting from the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Since finishing as runner-up in 2013, Alaska (real name Justin Andrew Honard) has become glamazon royalty, touring with RuPaul’s Battle of the Seasons, showing up on other queens’ singles, and working as a spokesmodel for American Apparel.
Courtesy the artist
Alaska Thunderfuck
It’s been really good. People like it! We hit number one on the iTunes dance charts, and we hit number three on the Billboard dance charts the week it came out. I’m really happy with that. I get notes and tweets from people saying what their favorite song is, or that it’s their summer jam. So it’s been really great. I’m glad people are connecting with it.
You’re performing the album in its entirety at Roscoe’s on July 28. You’ve performed in Chicago before, yeah?
The album art for Anus
I really love Trannika. I really love Kim Chi. I really love Gia Gunn, of course, and my sister Monica Beverly Hillz, and Jade. All these queens are really amazing and they’re really talented, but they’re also really fun to hang out with.
Do you have a drag philosophy?
No, not at all. When I was in college, I went to the University of Pittsburgh and I studied theater arts. After college I moved to Los Angeles, and I just planned on being an actor. But once I got out there I realized I hated head shots and I hated auditions. The whole idea of it was really repellent to me. So I just did drag for fun, and then I ended up getting a job because of it.
