Quotes from BeBe Zahara Benet

I'm very excited to be able to take the Jungle Kitty experience to different places and travel with it and meet all the different jungle kitties out there.

Of course, Jungle Kitty got really famous when I was doing it on 'All Stars 3.' I was just writing the song, and the words came out - that was the state of mind i was in.

Seasoned queens can also learn new tricks, right?

You know, many people do not know that I am so immersed when it comes to music. I have such a huge knowledge of music. I like my songs, I like my melodies, my harmonies, you know.

I might not the best seamstress, I might not know how to sew, but I know how to make a garment look like a million dollars.

People always ask me, how did you grow up to be so confident? I tell them, I always look in the mirror and say I belong, you are so beautiful and you are meant to be here.

I don't have anything to prove because I've already validated myself and my work speaks for itself.

There are a lot of BeBe Zahara Benets in Africa. It's important that our continent can move forward, and respect diversity.

Anybody who has been following me right from the get-go, even prior to being on 'Drag Race,' has known that my platform has always been about spreading love and spreading light and celebrating identity. It's always been very positive because I feel like we need that.

We get inspired and we learn new things.

It's very important that when we have platforms like 'Drag Race,' we use them to really unite forces.

At the end of the day, I come from a culture and an upbringing where you create your own path. There is no seat at the table for you? You create your own opportunity.

There is something about the art form and about drag entertainers that is very uplifting.

I feel like when you call us drag queens, it stereotypes us. It puts us as labels and I feel like we are performers.

On stage, we embrace every ounce of ourselves, we celebrate who we are, we are honest and live our truth - and we inspire people to do the same.

To me, Jungle Kitty is a frame of mind where you don't apologize for who you are. You're very ferocious, you're a free spirit, you're outgoing. You don't conform to labels. It's really that side of me... she's so regal and she's so royal.

We need more drag king role models for all those interested in the art

Prior to the online platform, I had to make sure I go around and have conversations and go to schools and make appearances. But now with online presence, I try to put out videos and different posts every day. I try to inspire.

People love culture and authenticity.

Drag Race' is a competition.

I think that people are taking our artistry a little more serious compared to when we started. They are of course fascinated and entertained by who we are as performers and what we do in terms of our artistry, but a lot of viewers identify with us as human beings. I think that that has helped change how people view drag.