02x02 - Asttina Mandella

[bunniefuu]

(vocal warmups)

- [Offscreen Voice] What a lemon!

(Ginny practicing vocals)

(heels clacking)

- [Camera Crew] Ready?
As the camera goes after-

right?

(Ellie laughing raucously)

- Leave her alone!

- f*cking b*tch!

(dramatic percussive music)

- [Lawrence] Welcome everyone

to the Rupaul's Drag
Race UK Season Two tour!

(crowd cheering)

- It's showtime!

(Joe laughing menacingly)

(heavy bass club music)
(crowd cheering)

- [Awhora] We probably won't
ever all be together again.

This is the only time
we can say thank you.

- Oh my God!

I saw ball.

- [Bimini] We're selling
out every place we go

and they're getting to see drag at,

at the finest.

- Fancy a slice!

(queens hollering)

- It's gonna be a wild show.

- [Ginny] It's amazing.

- Do you feel like Tommy Lee?

(crowd of women laughing)

- I've never been involved in
a production this big before.

(outraged crying)

- [Ellie] The best drag
show you're gonna see.

(camera shutters clicking)

- [Asttina] I think that's what
I'm loving about this tour,

is we're all just sharing
everything that we love

and everything that we enjoy
and just giving it out to them.

It's a bit of a wild ride.

(Lawrence and crowd shouting
"God Shave the Queens")

(crowd cheering)

(indistinct dressing room chattering)

- Am I pretty, am I stunning?

Am I beautiful?

No!

(upbeat marimba music)

- Well, hi, Merry Christmas.

I'm Asttina Mandella.

(Asttina giggling)

In case anyone's unsure-

(tapping camera lens)
Okay?

Just in case you're unsure-

(high-pitched squawking
from Ginny and Asttina)

Asttina Mandella for me is not,

she's just an extension of who I am.

She's just, I always call
her my Super-Saiyan form.

I always call her, like,
my final evolution.

If Aston's like, the starter Pokemon,

Asttina Mandella is like the
legendary evolved form of that.

Since she's helped me explore, kind of,

just part of who I am

and allowed me to be
comfortable in my own skin,

which is not easy for,
for any of us to do.

And I think that's the one
powerful thing that I love

about being Asttina Mandella.

And yeah, she's just a
spinning, dancing twat.

(Asttina screaming)

Childish anime geek, and a
glorious sexual black woman.

(upbeat piano music)

(indistinct dance rehearsal chattering)

Having this tour actually
finally happen is-

Do you know when you do a school trip?

Not a school trip, like
the last day of school

and everyone's signing t-shirts

and for some reason, everyone in your year

just somehow collectively
comes together and is friends.

That's what it's like.

Because we wasn't meant to do this tour.

It was only meant to be
the top four at the time.

We all said no, unless we're all doing it.

And then you added a second, third leg.

It's the most sold-out tour,
I think, in Drag Race history.

That's a testament to
just who we are as people,

who we are as artists, who
we are as, as the show.

(indistinct dance rehearsal chattering)

Before the tour started I was
just like, I can't do this.

This is too much.

I'm not ready.

And I was just putting all
this pressure on myself

'cos that's naturally what I do,

and then I'm on this
tour, like, oh my God,

this is literally what I've
been doing for my whole life,

why was I even stressing?

- [Voice In Megaphone]
Okey-dokey, let's do one more?

(classical baroque music)

(heavy club bass music)

(queens gasping)

- Rude.

(queens cackling and screaming)

I'm Asttina Mandella and I am rude.

I'm rowdy and I'm disrespectful,

but you know what? I'm here for it.

Read the CV, it is all there for you.

I can sing.

I can act, I can choreograph.

I can do a lot of things.

And people find that intimidating,
which is not my fault.

But change that intro.

(other dancers laughing)

That's-

that's the Asstina from five years ago.

She's someone different.

- [Voice In Megaphone] Okay,

so we're gonna position
the opening spotlight?

Asttina.

- [Asttina] Usually I'm
preparing for a number

at least, like, three months in advance.

This number is only taken me, like,

about a month.

Just 'cos I was unsure
what I wanted to do?

Just due to the year I had, losing my Mum,

but this number's quite special.

(melancholic music)

It's about grief, but it's
also about transformation.

It's also about light and
acceptance for yourself.

I just resonated with that so much

since losing my Mum last year,

especially after the finale of the show,

it happened so quickly.

I was like-

I'm still coming to
terms with my own sadness

and my own depression and my own-

all my, all my darkness
that I have inside.

It's nice that I can bring

loads of different elements of who I am

and bring it into this.

And this tour is just the
perfect moment to do it.

- Asttina is one of the
most beautiful people

I've ever met in my life,

like physically and
emotionally and spiritually.

- [Ginny] The thing I
know about Asttina is

that she's always gonna go
out and dance and smash it.

I think Asttina is probably
the most professional queen

on this lineup.

- It's amazing that Asttina gets to, like,

dance and perform and, like,

showcase Asttina Mandella on this tour,

because Asttina did not
necessarily have the opportunity,

'cos someone-

beat her in a lip sync.

(dramatic drum beat)

- Tia Kofi.

Shantay you stay.

(gong ringing)

(car engine whizzing by)

- Still no idea how that happened.

- The Asttina we saw on Drag Race

in that first episode where she like,

walked in and like shat on all of us,

this is the Asttina we've got on tour.

(relaxing music)

(performers clapping)

- [Tayce] Raise the roof-

- Oh, is that what happened?

(performers laughing)
(Asttina groaning)

- People always say,

when you do drag or
you're being a drag queen

or drag artist, it's
just someone different.

Or it's a transformation
to someone different.

Well, obviously now the drag-

drag form has completely
changed into an art.

So it's just, it's a
lot about expression now

and just identity and XY and so forth,

especially 'cos I don't come
from a very q*eer background.

I came from a black household.

I came from a very, not
strict, but not in the LGBTQ.

When you find the truth
about being who you are,

you just learn like about the world.

And I think that's the
wonderful thing about the-

Being q*eer.

It doesn't matter who we are.

We're all just doing drag.

We're all doing, we're
all playing dress up.

(Asstina shrieking)
(Joe cackling)

We're all just taking
everything we like to do

and putting it on stage to make it fun.

So when you have a three
minute quick change,

sometimes you just have
to put the front break

up your ninny.

And bam!

- [Lawrence] Please welcome to the stage,

the wonderful talents of Asttina Mandella!

(crowd cheering)

- And I think that's what
I'm loving about this tour,

is we're all just sharing our-

everything that we love and
everything that we enjoy

and just giving it out to them.

(bouncy club music)

Oh no, it's really fun to be in Southend.

I used to come here as a child.

I used to come here with
my Mum, my Nan, my cousins.

So I used to spend a lot
of my childhood here.

As soon as I stepped off the bus

and I smelled that sea air and I was like,

(Asttina sniffing deeply)

Oh wow.

I'm tired.

Like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

I did not need the sun today.

Lord God.

(Asttina hissing, vampire-like)

To be here on my birthday,

it took me right back and I
was just like, this is fun.

(Asttina squawking)

Oh my God!

Oh my God!

Okay, see, now that's cute.

It's like the small details
like that, that just-

it means more,

it means more for my birthday

or just means more even on the show.

It's like they do, they,

they think about you.

Well, no, this is really cute.

This is unexpected.

- [Producer] Is it nice to be made-

to feel special?

- Yeah.

It's a hard one.

(sentimental music)

I, I'm just waiting for a text from Mum

and I know it's not coming.

So this is keep-

it's keeping my spirits lifted.

As hard as it is for me,

I know that I've got my family around me.

And now I have to get it to drag.

Oh no!

(heavy bass club music)

- [Intercom] Good evening, everyone.

This is your five-minute call.

You have five minutes, thank you.

- [Asttina] How is it five, that's-

- [Crew] Thank you, mister man-

- [Asttina] Yeah. Thank you.

Five minutes. Five minutes.
Sorry. That's right.

Yeah. Yeah. He's correct.

Aw!

(thumping, singing and
chattering from corridor)

Message from my auntie.

Says happy birthday Aston, Mum-

Mum is with you, smile, live, love,

be happy, dance, laugh.

Love you loads, Auntie Sandra.

Oh, not now!

No tears!

(Asttina growling, frustrated)

Oh, Jesus Christ.

- [Bimini] Asttina, you all right, baby?

- Oh, good baby.

- [Bimini] Yeah?

- Yeah.

- [Bimini] You look gorgeous.

- Overwhelmed.

- Overwhelmed?
- [Cherry] Overwhelmed?

Overwhelmed.

- It's your f*cking birthday, b*tch.

[Cherry] Yes. Get it.

Trying not to cry.

(hairspray can hissing)

[Cherry] Don't crack that sh*t-

- [Bimini] Well, if you
wanna cry on my shoulder,

If you want an arse, if you wanna minge-

(Asttina laughing)

we're here for you.

- Thank you.

(Raucous yelling from corridor)

- Yeah. Today's hit me.

- Yeah.

- I didn't reali-

(Asttina huffing)

I didn't realize how- ah!

- you, you're such an icon.

- [Cherry] We're sisters literally like-

We're in this together.

Let's get it!

- Let's get it

- Doing a h*-

(Asttina Mumbling)

The number I'm doing now
from "Ultraluminary," I've-

It's one of my favorite films.

I absolutely love it on Netflix.

It's got an anime, Japanese vibe to it,

so it's all the things
I love in the world.

And I just wanted to pay homage to Mum.

- [Crew] Want a top up?

- No, baby-

(Asttina huffing)

I'm so nervous.

- [Woman] Don't be nervous,

Or be nervous, it shows that you care.

- [Asttina] When my
Granddad passed in college,

then obviously my Mum passed last year,

it's always been at, like,

one of the highest
moments of my enjoyments.

Like, we've just done our final exam.

Great. Let's celebrate, and then I can't.

I've just finished Drag Race.

Let's celebrate. Oh no, I can't.

- [Lawrence] Okay, and honestly,

I think all the queens of the season

are so different from each
other and so talented.

And I think that's what makes
season two of Drag Race UK-

- (whispering) It's for Mum,
it's for Mum, it's for Mum-

- [Lawrence] The best season of Drag Race.

(crowd cheering)

- Get on that stage, it'll all be fine.

- [Asttina] I'm finding the
hardest part in my grief

right now is letting go.

You don't wanna hold onto your grief.

You don't wanna hold onto anything

that's negative in your life,

but you have to let these
negative emotions run through.

And it's just a great way

for me to put my, all of that into it,

So I get to release it.

(crowd cheering)

- [Lawrence] Yes!

But to open the show,

please make some noise for
the wonderfully talented

ASTTINA MANDELA!

(crowd cheering)

(evocative music)

- During this number,
I just wanna be, like,

this supersonic Super-Saiyan fantasy,

and I get to do that.

(crashing thunder)

Every time that ball of energy starts,

I want the energy to, like, come out.

As in like, this is the energy of

everything that I've been feeling.

This is all the emotions
that you want to get out

is in this ball of energy.

When that sparkle bits
it's going, yes, I can-

I control what happens.

I control where all the power goes.

You control what your emotions are doing.

Don't let them overtake you.

(crowd roaring)

Then stars come up,

And it's just, that is my, it's,

that spotlight moment where I go,

I'm just gonna release this.

(upbeat music)

I got her this ring for her 40th.

I usually just hold the ring, do that,

and as I look back, I can look at the ring

and I just know that,

that invisible connection
that's there is just there,

and it feels really good
to have the little solo bit

when I just see the spotlight

and I just think of Mum,

and then that's for her.

It's just, it's just me
going, Mum I love you.

I'm just glad you're okay.

I'm glad you're not in pain anymore.

I know you're-

I know you're up there singing and dancing

and so happy and pleased.

(heavy bass rave music)

(crowd cheering raucously)

(climactic music from stage)

(crew talking, indistinct)

- Oh!

- [Crew] Get those shoes off.

- Oh!

(muffled announcements from stage)

That was not easy.

(Asttina huffing and hissing, pained)

Now I look like a nun.

(producer laughing)

Yeah, It's just, it's difficult.

(somber music)

And to have-

so much emotions still running through me

and for them to,

even though I can let
it out in different ways

or I can release so much

they just come rushing back straight away.

(teary) Yeah. Emotional.

(Asttina sobbing)
(crowd cheering outside)

I just wish she was here.

I just wanted to be on tour and-

(relaxing music)

- You know, we've all had a hard time

because of like, the pandemic
and like, personal things.

But I know Asttina's like, had

a lot going on.

What, sort of, Asttina's

channeling like into her
performance and it's amazing.

- [Lawrence] Asttina is like, the bravest,

most confident person I know.

I don't know where she
gets the strength from.

I would love some of that strength.

What a powerful human being.

- Such an amazing dancer, just,

just an incredible human being.

She's lovely. She's sweet. She's kind.

- She's never missed a beat.

It's never a dud show.

So to see her every day smashing it

and being a true professional

whilst all of this is going on,

it's, it's amazing.

(bouncy club music)

- It's just nice that I
get to share my experience

and what's going on.

It gives me such power.

Every day, every show,
even on the days off.

And the fact that I get
to share it with the girls

who are so supportive.

(Bimini Mumbling, indistinct)

Thank you, babe.

You have to lose things
to then regrow and learn,

and I think that's just,

it's a hard thing, but-

There's people around you.

You are loved.

We are loved.

I am loved.

And no matter what darkness you may feel,

there's always light around you.

Literally!

(crowd cheering)

- [Lawrence] Listen, before
we thank any of our cast

and our amazing dancers,

we need to make noise
because one of our queens

just turned a new age.

She's 29 today, right?

(crowd cheering loudly)

Make some noise for Asttina Mandella!

(crowd cheering even louder)

So think we're gonna sing happy birthday

to Asttina, that good?

Okay, here we go, 1, 2, 3-

? Happy Birthday to you ?

? Happy Birthday to you ?

? Happy Birthday dear Asttina ?

? Happy Birthday to you ?

(crowd cheering)

Blow, make a wish!

(relaxing rave music)

- I am just so blessed to have such

wonderful supportive
family that I've chosen,

and not everyone has this.

Not everyone has people like this.

For them to go this full out,

It's just, it's a real honor.

It's a real blessing.

It's a real, it's something I will cherish

till the day I leave this earth

and I join Mum in the stars,

my Mum and Grandad in the stars.

I will cherish this day, this tour.

And I just,

I love you girls!

I love the cast.

I love the crew.

I love my friends.

I love my family and my fans.

Like I-

(teary) Thank you.

Just thank you all.

And I love you, Mum.

And I love you.

(upbeat rave music)