Drag

Drag Race UK’s Baby opens up about emotional elimination: ‘It wasn’t easy’

Oct 21 2022
Written by Charlie Duncan

A promotional still of Drag Race UK's Baby smiling as she wears a silver-white dress and stands in front of a white curtain backdrop

Fans have joined Drag Race UK’s Baby in criticising BBC Three for their editing mistake. (BBC/World of Wonder/Guy Levy)

Drag Race UK’s Baby has opened up further about her emotional self-elimination from the show.

This week, the queens were challenged to perform in this season’s Rusical – Lairy Poppins, a tale about the beloved nanny’s sordid sister.

Throughout the episode, viewers saw Baby struggling, and she opened up about the difficulties she’d been experiencing.

During judging, Baby admitted how hard she had been finding the Drag Race experience.

“I’ve been struggling a lot, mentally, being here. I have anxiety and I’m really trying to dig myself out of it but I’m having a bit of a tough time,” she told Ru.

Lairy Poppins (BBC)

After performing in the lip-sync, Baby interrupted Ru and announced that she was sending herself home.

Speaking after the episode aired, Baby revealed what exactly she was thinking in what was one of the most moving moments in recent Drag Race history.

“Believe me, it wasn’t an easy decision,” she said.

“I don’t really like to quit or give up, but at that time, I knew it was the best decision for me.

“I was struggling with my anxiety and I know I needed to prioritise my wellbeing, and the best way to do that was to leave the competition, but I’m so proud I was able to have the opportunity to show my art and my heart.”

She has no regrets about her time on the show.

“My time on Drag Race UK was an incredible opportunity to showcase me,” she added.

“The moment I walked in to that Werk Room, I gave it everything I had!

“No one puts Baby in a corner, obviously – It was fun and hard all at the same time, I got to showcase some looks that I’m really proud of, and I made some great friendships along the way.”

Baby and Dakota Schiffer lip-sync (BBC)

Despite her struggles, she said the positives outweighed the negatives.

“My number one highlight was having FKA twigs tell me that I’m a natural performer. I will put that on a T-shirt, wear it and sell that forever. She is my inspiration and I think she’s a pioneer in her field so that was an amazing experience for me.

“Leomie Anderson said it was supermodel serve. And also, Alison Hammond said she loved my dreadlocks for my ‘mane category runway look’ – that meant a lot to me”

Baby’s culture and roots are incredibly important to her, she said, describing how much it meant to be able to express this on the runway.

“It was great to showcase my cultural identity with my Rastamouse BBC runway look and my “Ru Are Ya” runway look, which I’m especially proud of, as it really speaks of my North London roots. It was a loving homage to my nan, my sister, cousins and aunts, who I always wanted to dress like when I was a kid.

“I’ve also heard on the grapevine that news of my journey on Drag Race UK has reached Jamaica, where they’re all rooting for me. I’m second generation Jamaican immigrant, but I’ve never visited Jamaica so that’s pretty amazing to hear.”