RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Valentina reflected on her career and journey toward finding her identity in the Emmy-nominated series titled Portrait of a Drag Queen.
Valentina competed on season nine of Drag Race where she won Miss Congenality and returned for season four of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.
The fan favorite drag star revisited her iconic “Greedy” lip sync which got her eliminated and subsequently made her an instant star in the franchise.
The Mexican-American queen recalled a time when she "had this conversation with my brother where I was thinking I identify with Ariel from The Little Mermaid, but my brother cracked me by telling me that I was really more like Pinocchio, trying to prove to my father that I was a real boy."
Valentina continued, “It was this putting on of the masculinity. ‘Walk this way, talk this way, study this, go in this restroom.’ It really took me away from my authentic self.”
While trying to navigate her journey to authenticity, The Latinx queen revealed that she experienced “suicidal thoughts” while questioning her gender identity.
“I think the biggest challenge of my life has been being born male,” she shared in the interview.
“It’s been so challenging my whole life,” she added. “I’m really ashamed about having suicidal thoughts before, I’m really ashamed of it because I don’t ever want to go back to that low point in my life, where I don’t see the value of how life is beautiful.”
Today, Valentina also says she is in a better state and can “enjoy every day” living in the “feminine realm.”
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