RuPaul’s Drag Race delivered its first genuine blindside of the season. All throughout the season, Crystal Envy exuded confidence, poise, and perfection, earning a steady track record. Having never seen a position lower than safe, the pride of the Garden State seemed as if she would be coasting straight to the end. But leave it to Snatch Game to be the hiccup that would lead to her downfall.
Originally from New Jersey, this pageant queen brought an exceptional runway package that helped solidify her position in the top multiple weeks. Her talent show was one of the most praised performances, thanks to the strong production behind the track. The judges knew she could perform, but there was something about her Snatch Game performance that did not connect with the judges.
The fans have been in complete shock to see this frontrunner depart so early, and they’re not alone in their emotions. Crystal is equally bewildered to see her exit the program after one bottom appearance. Nevertheless, Crystal Envy is taking her elimination in stride with plans to conquer the world on her own. She said, “I’m so excited that I get to use this platform to not only boost who I am as a person, but all the things that I want to do in my lifetime.”
Crystal Compares Not Winning a Challenge to ‘Constant Edging’
CRYSTAL ENVY: Girl, I’m shocked as well.
First off, congratulations on a fantastic run. If you could describe your Drag Race Season 17 journey in three words, what would they be?
CRYSTAL: Gob-smacking, gooping, and gagging.
I’m here for it. What has been the most shocking thing you’ve seen now that the season has been airing?
CRYSTAL: It is crazy to see how much we actually do. How much all of us are putting our heart, soul, and pussies into this damn competition.
Absolutely.
CRYSTAL: You’re there, and you’re filming it. But when you go back, and you actually get to watch it all, it’s like, damn, we are working.
I could probably spend this entire interview praising you, which I’m probably going to do. But let’s start off with the high praise for your talent show number. Such exceptional production value. Probably the best produced number we’ve seen on the show before. What’s it been like having your single explode?
CRYSTAL: Oh my god, for one, I am so, so thankful for my amazing friend and producer, Andrew Barrett Cox, who made the song for me and made me sound like the ultimate diva that I wanted to be growing up. Giving my Britney Spears fantasy. It’s crazy to see how much love it’s getting. I knew it was a talented ass song and sickening, but like, I’m really, really grateful that it popped off the way it did. I’m so glad that I got to do the extended version with my drag sister, Jasmine [Kennedie], and she has her little rap verse on it. It was just so much fun. Just a lot of love was put into the song and the video. So I’m really, really, really grateful that the fans are super receptive of it, and they’re enjoying it as well.
Week after week, you were oh so close. I was waiting for a face crack. Were you frustrated being the bridesmaid of the season?
CRYSTAL: Honestly? Yeah. I was very blatant. Yeah. I was. Because you get so, so close. Being so close that many times as well, it’s constant edging. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t like edging, girl. Like, give me it now! I want it now. Give me the win. It’s very, you know, it’s a little frustrating. But it’s also rewarding because you’re doing well, so you’re like, “Okay, I’m killing it.” The judges are seeing what I’m giving, and they’re receptive of it, and they are enjoying it. But then you’re also like, “Oh, give me that win, girl.”
Do you think you were judged fairly this season, or was the talent pool just that strong?
CRYSTAL: I think I was judged fairly, honestly this season. The only one I think I could have really swung was the “Bitch, I’m a Drag Queen” challenge because combined, my runway with the challenge, I thought I was gonna just dominate that whole episode. I thought I really put everything into the skit and then my runway. I mean, like, you can’t say a single negative thing about that runway. I’m so sorry.
I mean, okay, more praise. Let’s discuss your incredible runway package. Talk to me about what it was like to collaborate with your brilliant designers on some of the most sensational looks this season.
CRYSTAL Oh, thank you so much. As you know, I don’t want to brand myself, I’m doing air quotes, as a look queen because that’s just not all that I can do and all that I like to showcase. But for me, drag is a lot about the look, you know? When you walk out onto a stage, the first thing an audience sees is the look. So if you can captivate them with the look, and then you can pull them in with everything else, you’re selling them even more. You’re a 10 out of 10. You’re really just fully, the full package. So for me, I really wanted to make sure that these looks were something unique, creative, and not just relying on me being, beautiful, you know. Something that we’re showcasing different aspects of drag. Where drag meets high fashion, meets beauty, meets glamor, and also meets camp. Because to me, that’s the best intersection of drag.
Crystal Knew She Needed to Let Loose
You are a former Miss Paradise. Many Ru girls have been on the show, some of my close friends have been former Miss Paradise. Ru mentioned that she wanted you to loosen up. You are an accomplished pageant queen, so I understand your strive for perfection. What was it like hearing mother Ru ask you to step out and have fun? Did it come as a wake-up call?
CRYSTAL: Yeah, honestly, that’s the one thing. I’m a I’m very self-aware person. I will say that. That is my one flaw, if you wanted to call it a flaw. Or a bad trait. I don’t think there’s necessarily good or bad traits in people. I think that they’re just traits. And that’s just one of them that I struggle with a little bit. I struggle with letting down, I guess you could say the facade or the wall that I have up. And letting go. My close friends, the people in my life, and everyone sees the real me. But when you’re on national television, it’s a little scary to fully let that guard down and let loose, like Loosey LaDuca said.
Now listen, we know you can let loose. I mean, you play the freaking Tumbleweed.
CRYSTAL: Exactly. I wish. I wish I was a tumbleweed for Snatch Game, girl!
How many times did you tumble filming that sketch?
CRYSTAL: Probably like, oh my God. Like, 50 times.
Are you prepared for that to be your legacy at every event, to tumble for the fans?
CRYSTAL: I mean, that’s like a stunt I do in a lot of my shows. I’ll do a big tumbleweed off the stage. I’ll do it onto the stage, or I’ll do one into a jump, dip, or something. But doing it, I don’t know, I was like, I can roll really well, and we need something to roll in the background. I can do it. And it just happened to work out really well. So now, unfortunately, I really have to tumbleweed at every show. I’m gonna have to get some Icy Hot. I need a sponsorship from Icy Hot.
Crystal Had Another Reality Star Ready for Snatch Game
There it is! From one pageant queen to another. What was it like having Alyssa Edwards there on set?
CRYSTAL: Oh, my God, insane. Because, I mean, she’s the Global All Star baby. She’s someone I watched growing up. Like 15-year-old me watched on television. Not to age, Miss Alyssa. I’m so sorry. Listen, I love you. You literally don’t look a day over 21. She doesn’t look like she’s aged. she looks younger now than she did on Season five. So I’m like, okay, it doesn’t matter. But seeing her in person was insane. She is so effervescent, she’s so kind, she’s so charismatic. She really looks at you in your eyes when she talks to you and is talking to the person. So it was really, really nice to see. I also was a little confused because usually when they do bring in someone for Snatch Game. They usually bring in someone who did well on Snatch Game, and she had to Ru-pologize to Katy Perry. I’m gonna have to Ru-pologize to Nicole Richie.
Now, let’s talk about Nicole Richie. What was your thought process behind that decision? And did you have another option?
CRYSTAL: So I did have two options. I did bring two with me. The two I went with were two iconic reality stars that I grew up watching. I grew up watching Simple Life, which is, if you know, you know, it’s an iconic show. And I really wanted to tap into this early 2000s Nicole Richie, who’s been out for a whole week and been going crazy. She was a party girl, because that’s what they all did. All those celebrities back in the day. They were all party girls, like Lindsay Lohan and Paris [Hilton] and all them. And Brittany [Spears]. They were all hanging till the wee hours of the morning. Unfortunately, the caricature of Nicole that I wanted to do didn’t land fully the way I imagined. Because, also, it was just very nerve-wracking on there. I think the caricature would probably land better at a nightclub than on national television. And then the second option was, maybe I should have chose her, because maybe I could have tapped into her a little better, but JWoww from Jersey Shore, of course, was my second option. And I think I opted to not go for her because it would have been maybe predictable for me. Because I’m from Jersey. But maybe I could have just done that. I could have just been myself, and that would have kept me safe that week.
Crystal Spills the Tea On Her Sisters
We’re going to play a quick round of Tea Time. I’m going to give you a name of one of your Drag Race 17 sisters, and you’re going to give me the first word or phrase that comes to mind. Are you ready to play?
CRYSTAL: EHHH! Let’s give it.
Let’s begin with Lucky Starzzz.
CRYSTAL: Lucky Starzzz. Girl, creative.
Joella.
CRYSTAL: Opulence.
Hormona Lisa.
CRYSTAL: Sweetheart,
Kori King.
CRYSTAL: Brother.
Lydia B Kollins.
CRYSTAL: Effervescent.
Onya Nurve: Sickening.
Acacia Forgot.
CRYSTAL: Hot
Arrietty.
CRYSTAL: Hot
Suzie Toot.
CRYSTAL: Mmmm. A star. And I put that in Broadway quotations.
Lexi Love.
CRYSTAL: A diva.
Jewel Sparkles.
CRYSTAL: A baby angel. Those are two, but that’s one. Just don’t put a space.
Sam Star
CRYSTAL: Country girl.
Lana Ja’Rae.
CRYSTAL: Legs.
And Crystal Envy.
CRYSTAL: Ooh, I gotta give myself one. I’m gonna give myself every adjective that I described all the other girls.
I love that.
CRYSTAL: All of them rolled into one, that’s me.
Now that you’ve been on Drag Race, what is the next dream for Crystal?
CRYSTAL: There are so many things that I want to do. I’m so excited that I get to use this platform to not only boost who I am as a person, but all the things that I want to do in my lifetime. Because there’s so many things and so many people that I want to be able to help. And, you know, put my heart and soul into. So now I get to do that on a worldwide platform. So make sure, I just want to say that everyone is, of course, staying up to date with, I’m going to plug my socials, of course. But I have a lot of fun projects coming up on the socials for the fans that I think they will really, really, really enjoy. I’m starting a new series called “Painted By Crystal.” There will be a first installment of the episode series coming out this week. They will be coming out, I think I’m gonna do one, I think they’ll be like monthly. I want to say maybe more so, where I’d be painting my Season 17 sisters, as well as other Ru alum and things like that. Maybe a celebrity or a Housewife or two. You never know what I can pull out of my arse. So stay tuned for that. There’s definitely a lot coming for me in the future. So I’m gonna say: fans come to a show and come fully to experience the Crystal Envy diamond experience up close and in person.
I love it. Well, I am so proud of you. I followed you for quite a while, and I need to tell you, you have raised an incredible drag daughter. Spectra Electra is one of my favorite people on the planet. She was on my podcast yesterday. We talked about you a lot.
CRYSTAL: My little baby, dawty.