Drag performer and TV personality Valentina, best known as a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars, is on the cover of the June 2022 issue of ELLE México.
The magazine’s cover image features Valentina wearing a puffy red dress designed by Carolina Herrera with red roses arranged in her styled hair. The headline for her story reads, “All About Valentina.”
“From its first appearance, [Valentina] won over the public with her charisma, conquered everyone with her beauty, and surprised everyone with her impeccable fashion sense,” an ELLE México Instagram post reads. “She has always carried her Mexican identity high and to become Valentina. She has been inspired by great Latin [American] women she admires.”
During her interview with the outlet, the queer model and icon spoke about the LGBTQ+ community and how she’s grown as a performer over the years. She describes herself as a “Mexican Cinderella” in her Carolina Herrera dress.
“I identify myself as an artist, and my evolution began when I began studying fine arts at the age of 11. From there began the creation of Valentina,” she said. “My evolution as an artist has been to transcend drag. Yes, I am a star. I have worked in the world of burlesque, and I want to continue in this environment. I want to be recognized as a complete artist. Art and creativity in all its forms have been my salvation.”
In 2019, Remezcla described Valentina as “funny and charismatic” and “outright stunning” for the fourth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars. “She sells it,” the article reads. “She knows she’s both conniving villain and sweetheart lead. That leaves very little room for her to acknowledge anyone else on the show.”
It’s probably the same reason why Valentina extends across nearly the entire ELLE México magazine cover. There isn’t room for anything (or anyone) else. If she had the choice, she would’ve likely gotten rid of the masthead, too.
