02x11 - Bimini Bon Boulash

[bunniefuu]

- [Friend] Yes, b*tch.
- Oh my god, yes.

I'm f*cking ready.
- This your stage debut Harry?

- [Onlooker] Yeah!

- Harry, Is this your stage debut?

- Yeah

- [Compere] First time ever on stage?

- Actually, this is the
start of my drag journey,

I think.
- Amazing.

- [Bimini] This is the end of mine.

(all laughing)

(suspenseful ethereal music)

- [Compere] Welcome, everyone,

to the "Ru Paul's Drag
Race UK" season two tour.

(large audience cheers)

- It's showtime.

(mischievous laughter)

(exciting music)
(crowd cheers)

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

This is the only time
we can say thank you.

- Oh my God, I saw ba*ls.

- We're selling out every place we go

and they're getting to
see drag at the finest.

- Fancy us all!
- [Together] All!

- [Performer] It's gonna be a wild show.

- It's amazing.

- I feel like Tommy Lee

(laughter)

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

(gasp)

- [Performer] The best drag
show they've ever seen.

(upbeat music)

- [Performer 1] I'm very grateful

for everything that's happening.

I'm lucky like I get to do what I love

and your dreams aren't crazy.

Bloody aim for the stars.

You might miss once or
twice but just keep going.

(upbeat music crescendos)

- [Crowd] God shave the queens!

(crowd cheers)

- [Singer] What.

Wow.

And all together now.

♪ Release the beast, Bimini! ♪

♪ These girls, they sleep on me ♪

♪ Gender-bender, cis-tem offender ♪

♪ I like it rough but my lentils tender ♪

♪ Embrace the femme ♪

♪ Whether you're he, she, or them ♪

♪ Limp wrist, hair flick,
creme de la creme ♪

♪ Love yourself, say that again ♪

- Yay!

- [Performer] Whoo!

(upbeat music)

- It's been great obviously
coming back with the cast

'cause this is the first
time all 12 of us have been

back together.

Everyone brings something so different.

There's like so much
variety that this show gives

I think that's why our
season people loved it

because everyone is their own

unique character and
we're all given it a go.

Woo!

So I did miss the rehearsals,

the first rehearsals,
because I was working.

A job came in that I kind of wanted to do

and I kind of needed to do it because

it was like a big opportunity.

So I took it and I did it

but they meant I missed the rehearsals.

I felt really bad about it
because I felt a bit like guilty.

- I'm just gonna rehearse
it loads all again.

- Yeah, if you want more help
going through, I'll help you.

Yeah

- I arrived and it was the next day.

I had to really kind of push myself.

(laughs)

We are performers so
you just have to do it.

You have to pick up, pull out your socks

learn to carry on and do it.

- Arms around.

Up.

Round and down.

One, two, three.

- [Choreographer] And then it goes into-

Feeling good.

I think the number's fab.

It's just high energy, bit punky

and I get to perform my
own song, which I love.

(energetic music)

So pole dancing is something
I used to do a lot of.

I haven't done as much recently

but we're gonna go through it.

I need to practice it in the morning,

get that routine set.

I couldn't really do it in these.

I shouldn't have worn these.

But yeah, I'm excited to do pole.

It'll be fab.

(laughs)

(upbeat music)

- [Judge 1] Oh.

- [Judge 2] t*ts McGee.

- [Judge 1] Oh.

- [Judge 2] Oh my god them (indistinct).

- I'm vegan.

(mischievous laugh)

- I am Bimini Bon-Boulash

and I'm East London's bendiest b*tch.

- The impact that our season had is

is mind blowing, I think,

like, it was just magical.

I remember going on the
show taking a gamble

like I've almost went
home like first week.

- Now I've made my decision.

(suspenseful music)

Bimini Bon-Boulash.

Shante you stay.

- (gasps) Thank you.

You wont regret it, thank you.

So like I, I remember
thinking like oh my goodness

like I've just spent
like however much money

I've like, that's all my savings.

Like what's gonna happen?

And then the pandemic
hit and I left the show

had all of this break,
had no money, no job.

I went on the dole basically.

I'm on Universal Credit.

And I was just like, oh
my god, what's happened?

Like have I risked it all?

I think obviously like
everything happens for a reason

and like the, the Covid break happening

and us going back, and that being shown

related to people.

Because people, we all
went through that together

and I think that was like,
something that's so unique.

There's so much trauma attached to that.

So the fact that we can
bring a bit of light

to people, that's amazing.

Like that's amazing.

Like drag is like doing that to people.

- Bimini is a superstar.

She really is. She's fabulous.

Well I would say a super, a rock star.

She's a rock star.

And she's very work-focused out of drag.

Constantly working, constantly thinking

about the next things
that's going on around.

- It's nice to see Bimini just being

the Bimini style that she is.

I feel like a proud aunt,
and just watching her

do her thing and listen
to her song as well.

And it's like what she's
doing is just great

- Bimini's the punk side of drag

and a really different take on drag punk.

But she's so well received

and it's because of
who she is as a person.

It's part of the reason she's
so successful is because

whether it is your style or not

What the hair she wears, whatever.

You relate to her on some basis.

I think we can all see a
bit of ourselves in Bimini.

- How did Bimini become Bimini?

A lot of messing up.

A lot of doing things the wrong
way and learning from that.

When I first started doing drag

so I tried to follow this kind of criteria

of what I expected Bimini should be.

And I was wearing certain outfits

and do my makeup in a certain way.

And actually when I started realizing

that it kind of got to become part

of me as my gender and my identity

then I realized that Bimini and Tommy

aren't so different to be honest.

It's not like I put on a persona

as such even really.

I feel like I'm very similar
as Bimini in and out of drag.

People would probably be a bit bored

if Tommy walked on stage and did something

so Bimini is a bit more
exciting to look at, I think.

(Bimini laughs)

A bit more glam. (laughs)

With a smokey eye. (laughs)

(uplifting music)

When I was a kid I would always dress up.

And it wasn't until you get a bit older

and then you realize that
look societal pressures

to kinda, kind of stop you doing that.

Then as I got a bit older
I started experimenting

with fashion, learning
about like reading magazines

learning about like
history of club culture

and like seeing all of these amazing kind

of club people experimenting
with music and makeup.

And that's kind of when I started thinking

okay maybe there's, that
feels very much like me.

And then I went to London
and then was just surrounded

by all of these like weirdos
and was like, okay, here I am.

(Bimini laughs)

We're home.

I think since the show,
even even on the show,

I was just making it up as I went along

and I was like, bloody you like,
dunno what's going on here?

I didn't know if I was ready
for the show at that time.

I just went into it and then
everything that's happened

since some kind of just
kind of going for it.

(upbeat music)

- I feel more rested today than I felt

in the last eight months.

So that feels quite nice.

Not often do I get to sleep
until three in the afternoon.

Ever.

So I just slept. I just slept.

I thought I was gonna
get out, go for a massage

but I think my body needed it.

You just gotta listen
to your body sometimes.

So, I slept solidly from about
one o'clock in the morning

til I looked at my phone
at a quarter past one

and I went back to sleep.

And I've, I've not done that in so long.

And I had to wake up and
answer emails and stuff

and to get back to reality in life.

But here we are, we move on.

What show are we on now?

Six? Five?

- It's the fifth. Fifth show.

- It's the fifth show.

What?

- [Friend] Just two.

(Bimini laughs)

- [Friend] Fifth show,
we've been spoiled around.

- It's the second day.

We're gearing up for

no it's, I'm excited now to like

we've got today and then tomorrow

and then we're...

off.

- Off for a day, Bournemouth.

- Well I'm going, I'll be off back

I'll be off back to London in the night.

(playful music)

- I'm very grateful for
everything that's happening

and some of the things that are
happening just blow my mind.

Like I can't believe like
I've been to do the shoots

I've done and work with
the people I work with.

I'm lucky.

Like I get to do what I love and, and have

have fun with it and,
and make my own rules.

And I think that's
something that I'm so happy

that I get to do, is like do it my way.

I don't really, I need to
take a step back sometimes

and like really appreciate
it 'cause I think I'm always

thinking of what's next and what's forward

and I'm not as present as I used to be.

'Cause I used to be yoga teacher

I was always bloody present.

I had too much time on
me hands then, I think.

I do need to take a step
back and have like a day off.

(laughs)

- It's not personal.

- [Both] It's drag.

(exciting music)

- [Friend 1] Lovely.

- [Friend 2] Oh yeah.

- Lovely. (laughs)

We've known each other
since we were three.

Yeah, we went out for two weeks.

- [Friend 2] They were lovers.

Now we're friends.

- Do you want to see a picture
of us when we were younger?

- Get out.

But no really because we
started like, realizing

that we were like

- Weirdos

- Weirdos compared to everyone else.

- How old are you there?

- Probably 16.

(Bimini screams)

- You're 17, I'd be 16.

- Yeah, oh look.

- 17, no you'll be 18. Maybe 19, 18?

- And I don't smile anymore.

(Bimini laughs)

I'm like, I don't do that.

- That is nuts.

- Ah! I remember that Tommy.
I remember that Tommy bit.

- There wasn't anyone
like as kid, that it was

in the mainstream that I could look to.

Or there was, but people didn't
take them at that seriously.

Like, like in, in the kind of mainstream

kind of maybe straighter audiences.

So when you start exploring
yourself and the fact

that younger kids are doing
it now, it's just amazing.

Like drag isn't, wasn't
always aimed for kids.

Like if I could have done it
at that age I would've done it

but I didn't really have that opportunity.

- Get over here, baby!

- Come on!

- 3, 2, 1

(crowd chattering)

- You never really realize
that like you're gonna

have an impact like that to people.

And I think like when people
bring their children to talk

to me and like you just
see the like, they like...

So it gets emotionalized, actually.

(somber music)

(Bimini cries)

It's like, I just felt
like when I was growing up

I didn't have anyone to like look up to.

(Bimini sniffles)

So when people bring their kids to me

and it's like they, like

(Bimini sighs)

I just wanna make them proud, really.

Like keep doing it and
be the light for them.

(sniffles)

Just like, also it's like
the, the fear of like

f*cking up sometimes. like I do f*ck up.

But I'm a human and like I think sometimes

I put a lot pressure on myself

to like always be on and like,
'cause I wanna give a lot.

I've got a lot to give.

Then I think like even
when the like, kids come

and it's like, it's so so mind blowing

that like they, they
come and like be there

and be present their, their
parents that allow them

like it is amazing but I just
don't wanna let people down.

I think that's it.

(crowd cheers)

I feel a lot confident in who I am now.

Actually to me a while.

Like I wasn't, I wasn't straight away.

Like, I kind of started
playing around a bit

but now I feel a lot
happier within myself.

(crowd cheers)

So I think that helps
with everything I do.

- Make some noise for Bimini Bon-Boulash!

(crowd cheers)

- So this performance, I've ended up doing

like a mashup of Prodigy.

I would never have done
that four years ago.

I never done Prodigy, which
I didn't think it was drag

So I played into that.

So now I'm like I can do what I want.

So I've got the pole.
We've got the dancers.

It's a bit like chaotic, just like me.

It's a little bit sexy,
a little bit naughty

a bit daring and yeah,
a bit wild. (laughs)

(upbeat electronic music)

(audience cheers)

- Sexy is for everyone.

Sexy isn't an aesthetic or a look.

It's kind of a state of
mind and it's who you are

and it's like you are being,
and everyone should feel sexy.

Everyone can feel sexy.

And I think a lot of people

that are kind of q*eer, or don't feel sexy

or don't have that.

And everyone should, because
they don't feel desired

because they don't feel like

that, they, the way they
look is, or whatever people

don't find it attractive.

Whereas I think I want
everyone to feel that.

I want everyone to know
that they can be that.

And like to me, that's
important as a non-binary person

to kind of have that.

If I can get that message out
to people like that's amazing

'cause I think like I've
struggled with it in my past

and now 'cause I'm a lot more confident

I feel sexy all the f*cking time. (laughs)

(upbeat electronic music)

- The audience response has been amazing.

I think like, people like to
see people doing something

a bit different and I like, I'm
not, I'm like I go out there

to do the performance
'cause I'm doing pole.

You can't wear a lot of
clothes, which I love anyway.

I'd go out there naked if I could.

I'm not in a massive drag outfit.

I've got like wet hair,
like a fishnet of bikini

with chain essentially.

Like, it's not a lot of outfit.

People love enjoying
the performance 'cause

I'm giving them something I think

that's a bit different, or it's very neat.

So the reaction is always amazing.

Like it blows my mind
when people are even here.

Like we're selling out
every bloody place we go.

I'm very lucky that I'm
getting to do this, basically.

It's like my childhood dream.

(upbeat electronic music)

(audience cheers)

- There's this weird one with
me and drag at the minute

because I don't even know
if I'm doing drag anymore.

I feel like it's me.

It's just like my, the other side of me.

It's just me exploring my
fashion and I don't follow

the rules like of of what
drag is meant to look like.

'Cause it isn't a rule
and that's how I see it.

I feel like it's definitely, it's more

of my gender fluidity
and, and my expression.

Like, like where it's
like blurring the lines

of what gender looks
like or, or what it is.

I think like for me right now

it's just like exploring my queerness.

'Cause drag is q*eer, drag is q*eer.

But I think, yeah, for
me it's just like more

it's a bit deeper now, I think.

I'm just happy that people
like what I do. (laughs)

- [Compere] Make some noise
for Bimini Bon-Boulash!

(audience cheers)

(upbeat electronic music)

- Yeah! Shake it!

Shake it!

(crowd chants)

- [Crowd] Bimini! Bimini! Bimini! Bimini!

(crowd screams)

Bimini! Bimini! Bimini!

- Please take a look at my t-shirt.

It's "Girls in Line 2009"

Can we get a picture?

Excuse me.

- Everything that keeps happening

I'm like, I just keep wanting
to push it more and further

and like, I never thought I could do it.

But the fact that it's happening now

I'm like, no, I can do it.
Like it's, it's achievable.

Your dreams aren't crazy.
Your dreams aren't wild.

Like, bloody aim for the stars.

You might miss once or
twice but just keep going.

I think like, as someone
that's like come from where

I come from, like working
class, like someone that

was a dreamer that believed.

That wanted these things
and it's happened.

Like if it could happen for
me, it could happen for anyone.

I'm in a position that I never
thought I could ever be in.

So I would've grab all these opportunities

and if it's opening doors
for me, It'll open doors

for other people.

That's the reason I do this.

(audience cheers)

(electronic dance music)