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The X Change Rate: "All Stars" Season 5 Queens (Part 3)

In "The X Change Rate," award-winning drag queen, entertainer and TV personality Monét X Change brings her signature wit, heart and style to BUILD Series. In a special three-part episode, Monét was joined by the season five cast of "RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars." This part includes queens Blair St. Clair, Ongina and India Ferrah.

Video transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MONET X CHANGE: Hey, y'all. It's your girl, Monét, and you're watching a special edition of "The X Change Rate," where we're chatting with the cast of "All Stars" 5. Hey, ladies. As we all know, our nation is going through a very tough time right now. We, by no means, want to make light of this. So before we start, I would like to have a moment of silence for protesters, organizers, and all those in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

And y'all, we are here with the-- I'm not saying this lightly-- the very beautiful cast of "All Stars" 5. Hello, ladies.

ONGINA: Hey, girl.

INDIA FERRAH: Hi.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Hey.

MONET X CHANGE: The hairs are laid-- not Ongina.

ONGINA: Bitch. Bitch. What you talking about, bitch?

[LAUGHTER]

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, my God. How are you all-- I want to start out and just, how are you all feeling today? I know this is probably so weird, considering everything going on. How are you all feeling?

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Considering, doing OK. It feels a little strange celebrating us and, like all we worked for with all that's going on in the world. But I think it's really an important time, so I'm glad that we're having, you know, discussions.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

INDIA FERRAH: I feel the exact same way. I feel good, but it's still that uncomfortable feeling right now, with what's going on in the world. But overall, it's amazing that it's finally coming out, and that we get to do this, finally.

- Mm-hmm.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah. [INAUDIBLE]--

ONGINA: There's a lot of-- there's a lot of charged energy, and it's-- just boils down to everything that's happening. But I am very excited for "All Stars" 5. Hopefully, it will put some smiles in people's faces.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Yeah.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah. I think that's a really important thing to know, because, you know, in this-- you know, drag queens are this amalgamation of, to me, obviously, activism and just being a political statement in doing a drag itself. But also, you're injecting and affecting people with joy and happiness. So how are you guys going to tackle all of this with what's going on? Like, social media, posting videos and pictures-- like, how do you think that's going to look for y'all?

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I think with social media right now, it's kind of a bit about, like-- a bit of a juggling act with sensitivity--

MONET X CHANGE: Yes.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: --making sure that we put things in chronical-- right now, we need to put things in chronicalogical order of importance. And I think what's most important is about people's lives.

MONET X CHANGE: Yes.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Like, that's the most important issue right now, and especially black lives-- and keeping Black Lives Matter as our first issue, and then, like, having other things follow suit with how important they are with posting things. Of course, we have to promote our show and promote what's going on in the world. And we also need to create that entertainment away from the chaos of the world as well. So we need to kind of interject some of those things, but also keeping the important issues alive.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

INDIA FERRAH: I agree completely. I would say I faced a lot of backlash with, like, social media and posting negative things over the years. But I've learned from it. I've grown from it. And now I can just do my part in sharing the message, getting the list of charities out there to donate to, getting-- you know, using a platform, and just sharing and reposting as much as I can, because it's an evolution out there that we need to just get that information, and teach, and educate.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: I'm actually trying to find a balance, because I want to continue to help with the movement of Black Lives Matter and press the issues of what's happening in calling for justice, obviously. But I think, also, in finding that balance, I want to infuse some drag in there from "All Stars" 5, because I feel like that will, hopefully, bring some happiness as well, with so much of this energy that's going around. So I'm trying to stay balanced with making sure I continue to voice my support for the movement, and also trying to [INAUDIBLE] some good drag content.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I mean, drag also is inherently political.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

ONGINA: Political.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: It is about making a statement. And I think it's important to find that equal balance of that statement, and also, you know, what drag represents, and, you know, how far we've come as artists in, like, our own lives, and put that into, like, what's going on right now in the world, and like, all that same love, that same energy, that same everything into right now.

MONET X CHANGE: Well, speaking of political-- I mean-- of statements, I want to start with a very exciting [INAUDIBLE] talk about. Tell me, who was your best look and your least favorite entrance look? [INAUDIBLE] real. Who was your best entrance look? Who was your worst entrance look?

INDIA FERRAH: Oh.

- Ooh.

ONGINA: [INAUDIBLE]. I can answer that right off the bat.

MONET X CHANGE: Mm-hmm.

ONGINA: I loved my entrance look.

[LAUGHTER]

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah, a lot of the girls loved your entrance look. A lot of--

ONGINA: Oh, thank you.

MONET X CHANGE: Or, a lot of people liked yours.

ONGINA: I really wanted to come back to "All Stars" and represent for my country, and for my Filipino culture, and also bring drag, as what Ongina has become. So I kind of just, like, wanted to pick that as an entrance look. But you know, if I wasn't going to choose myself--

MONET X CHANGE: Mm-hmm.

ONGINA: --I loved India's look, actually-- the old [INAUDIBLE] jewels in the back. And it was very much her. It was boobs, body, beauty. Like she said, she's been renovated. And I see-- I see the renovation. [INAUDIBLE] remastered. Sorry, remastered. [INAUDIBLE].

INDIA FERRAH: Yeah.

ONGINA: My least favorite was Mayhem's--

MONET X CHANGE: Mm, yeah. That seems to be on theme.

ONGINA: --but only-- and I read her [INAUDIBLE], and she knows it-- but only because it was something-- I think, for me, the entrance looks was a first impression, and that wasn't what I was expecting from how elevated Mayhem is in her drag.

MONET X CHANGE: Work.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I think my favorite entrance look might have been Miz Cracker's.

MONET X CHANGE: OK.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I really loved the feather teal moment. Like, I thought it was very her-- very, very pretty, very cute. Ongina's was, like, super spectacular, so I also loved that one. My least favorite, though-- 'cause, like, there were so many favorites, but I could definitely tell you--

MONET X CHANGE: Uh-huh.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: --my least favorite.

MONET X CHANGE: Uh-huh.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: My least favorite was Jujubee's.

MONET X CHANGE: Ah, her black--

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I thought it was so--

MONET X CHANGE: [INAUDIBLE]

BLAIR ST CLAIR: --basic and so, like, [INAUDIBLE] like, I love my Jujubee so much. But when she walked in, I was like, grandmother--

ONGINA: Oh.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: --has arrived. And I was [INAUDIBLE] escape from the wolf--

MONET X CHANGE: Ah! Grandmother has arrived.

INDIA FERRAH: Grandmother.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: [INAUDIBLE] literally, like, Little Red Riding Hood just axed her out of the wolf's belly. She came alive. And she said, I have been in there for too long. I'm back!

MONET X CHANGE: [LAUGHS] (SINGING) She's black.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Yeah.

INDIA FERRAH: For me, if it wasn't my own, which I spent a lot of time and thought into, it would have to be Blair, because the minute she turned the corner, it was the attitude, the sass, the bitchiness. Like, she was there to prove that her glow-up was, like, on point.

MONET X CHANGE: Work.

INDIA FERRAH: And for the least favorite, I would have to say, personally, Derrick Barry--

MONET X CHANGE: Mm.

INDIA FERRAH: --just due to the Britney fact, and leaving her season saying that she was more than Britney. But you come back to "All Stars," and-- yeah.

MONET X CHANGE: Well, Derrick-- you and Derrick-- Derrick has had a lot to say about you. You have a lot to say about Derrick. I'm very interested.

INDIA FERRAH: Oh.

[LAUGHTER]

Wow.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: And tell us more.

INDIA FERRAH: Well--

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Tell us more.

INDIA FERRAH: --tell me more. I want to know. Yeah.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I'm ready.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah. Well, you know, she-- well, she kind of commented on your entrance look, saying-- trying to shade you saying that it just said "old," like she didn't see the "school" part of it-- like you were just getting old. And she-- yeah, Derrick is-- seems to be-- had a lot of feelings.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: No tea, but at least you gave something, girl.

ONGINA: Yeah.

INDIA FERRAH: I mean, it is what it is.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I mean, also--

INDIA FERRAH: And it will be what it will be.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Yeah. [SQUEAL] Leave it on the stage, girl. Leave it on the stage.

INDIA FERRAH: Oh, OK.

MONET X CHANGE: [LAUGHS] Were you-- so this brings me to my next question. Were you surprised to see anybody in the cast? Were you like--

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Yes!

MONET X CHANGE: --oh, my God, especially Ongina, someone who, you know, we've been rumored so long?

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Girl, I was shocked and gagged to see Mayhem walk through the door, because I asked her ass if she was going to be on "All Stars," and she said, no.

MONET X CHANGE: Work.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: And she walked in, and I said, [GASPS] goop? But all tea, I also told Mayhem that I wasn't going to be on "All Stars," either, so--

[LAUGHTER]

INDIA FERRAH: I think that's, like, the sisterly thing to do. No, I'm not going--

BLAIR ST CLAIR: It isn't, though.

INDIA FERRAH: The biggest gag for me was Ongina, because when she walked in with that costume, and the whole entrance line, and-- we've all wanted to see Ongina for so long. We all love her for season 1, and we know her. So for her to walk through the doors, I was so excited and gagged that she was there.

MONET X CHANGE: Mm.

ONGINA: It's so funny you said that, because I was gagged when I saw you there. And--

MONET X CHANGE: Oh.

INDIA FERRAH: As were a lot of other people.

ONGINA: Ah. It was based off the fact that all of these rumors were flying around, and you were the surprise for me. And I was like, mm. She's going to be the one to get a new set of teeth when this is over.

[LAUGHTER]

INDIA FERRAH: Period.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Not that she-- but--

MONET X CHANGE: --Ongina.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Not that she was there, but she was there.

INDIA FERRAH: Oh, I'm trying to get them right now while we're in quarantine, bitch.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Girl, I got--

INDIA FERRAH: Perfect time to heal, baby.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: You better believe I got my new teeth.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh. Well, you use Invisalign, right?

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Yeah, bitch.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah, [INAUDIBLE]--

ONGINA: Not you. [LAUGHING]

INDIA FERRAH: [INAUDIBLE]

[LAUGHTER]

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I got my TV Invisalign in.

MONET X CHANGE: [LAUGHS] So, you know, I can speak for myself. From "All Stars," like, in my-- from my experience going back in, I was like, oh, I need to come and prove this to the audience, and yada, yada, yada. Is there anything that you guys felt that you had to prove to either yourself or the fans?

BLAIR ST CLAIR: For me, I felt like when you are eliminated early or in the middle of your season, on your normal season of "Drag Race," I think the fandom is kind of conditioned to think that you are not as talented as the girls that make it further in the season, or--

MONET X CHANGE: Mm-hmm.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: --to the very end, or win. And I was eliminated early to middle of my season-- season 10 with you. And I felt like I had so much more to give and to offer.

MONET X CHANGE: Right.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: And I though, like, coming back into "All Stars," I was like, I have to prove that I am not a middle-season girl. You know, I am--

MONET X CHANGE: Mm.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: --a star. I deserve to be here. I deserve to win. I deserve to go as far as I can. And so for me, originally, I was like, girl, I'm here to show that I'm a boss ass bitch.

MONET X CHANGE: [LAUGHS]

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I really am, though. And I was like, I've grown up a lot internally-- not a whole lot physically, but maybe kind of a little bit.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: And so, like, I just wanted to show that growth.

MONET X CHANGE: Mm.

INDIA FERRAH: I feel the same way. Coming all the way from season 3 and just being known as the girl who gets picked up-- or, like, being constantly reminded of how horrible I was on that season, I had to really prove who India Ferrah is this time. And it's really a whole new India. She's more mature, she's more grown, she's more structured, and she's stronger than ever. So back then, on season three, I was very weak. I was very shy. And having someone physically abuse me, pick me up through a lip sync, and having to deal with that show after show on the road--

MONET X CHANGE: Mm-hmm.

INDIA FERRAH: --and at the meet-and-greets-- it was very traumatized, you know? It was a lot of-- it was a dark cloud over me my entire experience. So coming back and being able to prove to the new "Drag Race" fandom that India 2.0 is here, and you're going to-- you're going to get to see her this time, and it's not going to be interrupted by somebody else.

MONET X CHANGE: Mm. All right, bitch.

ONGINA: Well, I come from the very, very first season. So there was a lot of pressure for me to come back to "All Stars" and prove that season 1 girls are just as fierce-- the Vaseline filter. And I did very well in my season. And so there was the pressure of going back and doing very well in this season, because I just wanted to prove to myself and my fans that I am-- what you see now is an elevated Ongina. But I am still just as charismatic, unique, nervous, and talented as-- [LAUGHS] [INAUDIBLE] well, yes, nervous. But you know what I mean. [LAUGHS]

MONET X CHANGE: Oh. OK, there it goes. So-- and a big thing that we all-- the fans, me being a big fan of "Drag Race"-- that we're all gagged about is this twist that Ru has announced again. You know, no one-- literally no one-- RuPaul-- "All Stars" rules have been suspe-- like, we get it, girl. Ain't nobody ask to suspend nothing. But--

INDIA FERRAH: OK.

MONET X CHANGE: --were you shook, bothered, or worried about it?

BLAIR ST CLAIR: All the above.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah?

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I was [INAUDIBLE]--

INDIA FERRAH: I was shook, but not worried--

MONET X CHANGE: Mm.

INDIA FERRAH: --'cause I love to entertain, and I love-- lip syncing and performing is in my blood, so it was kind of exciting to get that chance-- you know, an opportunity. Lip Sync Assassins are coming back, and you might have that chance to go up against them? That's very exciting to look forward to.

MONET X CHANGE: Well, I have to say, the fans, like, a rumor was saying that they bring back the person that sent you home, and that is the person that you lip sync against. Can y'all confirm or deny if that's true?

ONGINA: [LAUGHS]

MONET X CHANGE: Are we going to get an India/Mimi match-up again?

ONGINA: Nope.

INDIA FERRAH: Ooh.

ONGINA: Nope.

INDIA FERRAH: I don't know her.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Wait, girl. Did Mimi send you home with that lip sync?

INDIA FERRAH: No, it was Stacy.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Oh.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, Stacy.

INDIA FERRAH: Yeah, Stacy.

MONET X CHANGE: Right. Right, right, right. Oh my god.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Now that, I would pay good money to see again.

MONET X CHANGE: I would want to see that again. That would be really good, actually. If you all could go back and redo any of your previous looks, what would it be?

ONGINA: Oh. I would love to do my Makeover Challenge look.

MONET X CHANGE: [INAUDIBLE]

ONGINA: I wouldn't do her look, but I would redo mine. And I would make it more elevated, and I would make it more drag. And you guys know I love Tulle. Something somewhere in there-- it's going to have a train that's 20 feet long, layers and layers. So I would love that to be more of a modern take on a jumpsuit with a long ass Tulle train.

MONET X CHANGE: Work. India?

INDIA FERRAH: Mine would probably-- mine would be probably the spider web cat suit with the 50-inch ponytail-- the one that everyone [INAUDIBLE] for. I would love a chance to, like, recreate that and make it more drag. And I would make the ponytail about 50 feet longer. I would make it a different fabric. I don't know. I would love to recreate that.

MONET X CHANGE: Yeah, I think I'll be fierce now. Are you wearing a Hair by Blair?

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Bitch, yes, I surely am.

INDIA FERRAH: No, not this one.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh.

INDIA FERRAH: But she is.

MONET X CHANGE: Blair is--

INDIA FERRAH: But I own two.

ONGINA: Yes, I--

INDIA FERRAH: I just washed them.

ONGINA: Yes, I am. Thank you.

INDIA FERRAH: Ongina--

MONET X CHANGE: Blair's doing custom--

ONGINA: Hold on.

MONET X CHANGE: [INAUDIBLE]

INDIA FERRAH: Yes.

ONGINA: Hold on. Hold on. Is my bangs-- my bangs all right? OK.

MONET X CHANGE: There we go. There we go, girl. And one more question from the fans. @EmmaXXX says, "if you could swap looks, makeup, hair, clothes with any other queen in the cast, who?" And I have to say, before y'all answer, a lot of the answers were Blair.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Aw.

ONGINA: Aw.

INDIA FERRAH: Yeah, that would literally be mine.

MONET X CHANGE: Blair St Clair--

INDIA FERRAH: Seeing what I saw-- like, definitely Blair.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Aw.

MONET X CHANGE: Ooh.

INDIA FERRAH: Mm-hmm.

ONGINA: Blair--

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Girl, she took out credit cards for you to see that.

ONGINA: That's what I was gonna say.

[LAUGHTER]

INDIA FERRAH: Yes.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: OK, bitch, last week-- so last week, we filmed-- we filmed "All Stars" a year ago next week, so it's been almost an entire year.

MONET X CHANGE: Wow.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Last week, I just paid off all those credit cards.

MONET X CHANGE: Wow.

INDIA FERRAH: [INAUDIBLE]

BLAIR ST CLAIR: It's taken that long.

ONGINA: Yeah.

MONET X CHANGE: I guess I'll buy two more wigs, girl.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Girl, [INAUDIBLE] call. I'm ready. Hello? Miss Monét? Oh, yes, we got you ready.

INDIA FERRAH: Yes.

MONET X CHANGE: Ongina, what about you? Who would you?

ONGINA: I would probably do Shea's closet.

MONET X CHANGE: Mm.

INDIA FERRAH: Mm-hmm.

ONGINA: You know, following her on her run in season 9 all throughout her years after that and onto "All Stars," I really enjoyed some of-- I really enjoyed her looks, so I would definitely steal all of it.

MONET X CHANGE: [INAUDIBLE]

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Girl, I might have to say Ongina, because what y'all might not be able to see is Ongina had two or three backup looks for every single look.

ONGINA: No, two. I had--

MONET X CHANGE: What?

INDIA FERRAH: Oh, every challenge and--

ONGINA: I had--

INDIA FERRAH: --every runway, she had backup looks.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Yeah.

MONET X CHANGE: No.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Yes, bitch.

ONGINA: OK. First of all, don't call me out, OK?

[LAUGHTER]

And two, I came prepared on the look runway part, because I wanted two looks per runway just in case another bitch had the same color, silhouette--

MONET X CHANGE: Mm.

ONGINA: --idea. So I was being smart. And plus, why not?

[LAUGHTER]

INDIA FERRAH: Yes.

MONET X CHANGE: Work.

INDIA FERRAH: Plus, why not?

MONET X CHANGE: Well, listen. We are getting the call we have to wrap soon. Before we leave this lovely, elaborate Zoom call, is there anything that y'all want the fans to know? But I have to say, season 5 of "All Stars" looks very shady. I'm all the way here for it. Is there anything else you want to say before we [INAUDIBLE]?

ONGINA: Blair. Blair has something to say.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Oh, OK.

ONGINA: But you have to say it. It's so there.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, oh, oh. [INAUDIBLE] ready.

ONGINA: It's Blair.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: So all I have to say about "All Stars" 5 is that I'm very excited to watch "All Stars" 5, because there was a big confrontation that happened on the season. And we still, to this day, as a cast, have no idea what the truth is or not. So I'm hoping that watching this season, we will figure out what the truth is about this big drama scenario. [INAUDIBLE].

MONET X CHANGE: Huh.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: So there's [INAUDIBLE]--

MONET X CHANGE: OK.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I'm ready to find out the truth.

MONET X CHANGE: Mm.

INDIA FERRAH: I'm with her.

MONET X CHANGE: [LAUGHS]

ONGINA: Girl, there was a "she said, he said, she said" all over.

BLAIR ST CLAIR: Mm-hmm.

MONET X CHANGE: Something tells me it has to do with Derrick Barry.

ONGINA: [LAUGHS]

BLAIR ST CLAIR: I mean, you have to watch. Tune in every single Friday at 8:00 Central, Eastern-- whatever time it is on [INAUDIBLE]--

[LAUGHTER]

--and watch it.

INDIA FERRAH: Yes.

MONET X CHANGE: Oh, my God. Thank you, ladies, so much. And I mean that. This looks really good. Y'all all look gorgeous. I'm excited to see y'all turn it, or not, in "All Stars" 5.

[LAUGHTER]

ONGINA: Thank you.

MONET X CHANGE: And that was the cast of "All Stars" 5. We're super excited for this season and can't wait to see y'all bitches be shady. Mm-hmm. Until next time, thank you.