Mayan Lopez sashayed her way onto this week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The Lopez vs. Lopez star appeared as a guest judge and shared a heart-to-heart moment with the top six queens. In an exclusive with Remezcla, Lopez talked about her love of the TV show, her personal connection to drag, and being in the presence of RuPaul.
“I have watched all seasons of the U.S. versions of RuPaul’s Drag Race who knows how many times, and I love many of the international versions of the series as well,” she says. “The first season I started watching was season six in 2014 where Bianca Del Rio won, and she is one of my favorite queens of all-time as I admire her so deeply as a comedian.”
Like Bianca Del Rio, Lopez is also a comedian and actress. She got her first big break in 2022 on the hit NBC series Lopez vs Lopez. The Mexican-American multi-hyphenate serves as a co-creator, executive producer, writer, and co-star on the show with her father George Lopez. The next frontier in TV for Lopez is being a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
“It was a no brainer!” she says about accepting the gig. “Are you kidding?! I’m a super fan so being able to judge and be a part of the ‘herstory’ of Rupaul’s Drag Race and its incredible legacy was my biggest dream that actually came true.”
Lopez shined on the judges’ panel in a sparkling gold suit and matching eye makeup that popped. Being able to sit alongside the show’s regular judges Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley and host RuPaul was a very special moment for her.
“I saw Rupaul, the queen of drag herself, walk down that runway,” she recalls. “It was an incredible sight. It takes your breath away. I feel very lucky to have that vivid memory.”
After seeing the remaining six queens in the “Bathroom Hunties” challenge, she offered her critiques about their performances and fierce outfits. And during RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, Lopez joined the contestants backstage and talked about her connection to drag. She got emotional talking about overcoming a dark moment in her life.
“Drag has saved my life quite frankly, and this show has, when I felt like nothing,” she said. “I was close to… you know. I feel like drag and drag queens have taught me what it means to have femininity and be a strong woman. I’ve lost 85 pounds and it’s helped me find confidence in my body. Drag has helped me and you guys are superheroes.”
Morphine Love Dion, the last remaining Latina contestant, and Dawn placed in the bottom two this week. Lopez was living for Morphine Love Dion’s lip-sync performance of Megan Thee Stallion’s “Body” where she proudly flaunted her BBL. And by the end of the episode, Dawn became the ninth queen to sashay away from the competition.
RuPaul’s Drag Race airs on Friday nights on MTV.