Adventures with drag superstar Alexis Mateo

Alexis Mateo by JJ KeyesLast night I rolled up my sleeves and escorted Drag Superstar Alexis Mateo through the night at the RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 3 finale party at Providence. I was there for the splashy arrivals of the contestants and excited to say hello to New York favorites: Manila Luzon, Mimi Imfurst, and Carmen Carrera and to meet Raja, Yara Sofia, Mariah, Stacy Layne Matthews, Shangela and my girl Alexis Mateo.

After the arrivals I changed costumes and joined the girls for a quick bite in the Maderia Room before the show and felt like Alice in Wonderland amidst the colorful wigs, heels, makeup caddies, duct tape, Absolut bottles scattered throughout the room. I got a little star-struck as I watched Raja, Manila Luzon, and Alexis touch up their makeup and help Shangela adjust her dress.

“The winner is…Manila Luzon,” Alexis declared in a hysterical manly voice. “No, it’s Mariah,” someone else yelled. Manila’s backup dancers marked through their routine off in a corner.

216492_10150562446275487_4235930_nJesus and Antonio Estrada of the Haus of Estrada came up and started helping the girls and the room bustled with excitement. “Five minutes,” Rob Rosiello from SPI declared. The girls started lining up and we passed Jujubee, Bebe Zahara Benet, and the legendary Flotilla Debarge through the VIP lounge.

Shangela hyped up the packed audience while surprise guests Kelly Osbourne and Adam Lambert hung out and condragulated the girls as we passed through the VIP lounge. I brought Alexis through the crowd and to the stage but had the most fun hanging out with the girls on the commercial breaks, getting them cocktails, and helping them into their next outfits. No glasses were thrown, but the power went out just before Raja was crowned the next drag superstar.  Shangela brought her microphone up to the Maderia Room to give the crowd an impromptu glimpse into the chaos upstairs. Mimi Imfurst introduced the other two ladies in her girl group, XELLE and we had a slight break to relax, gossip, and sip Berry Açaí and cranberry cocktails. Once the show was back up and running, we ventured back downstairs for the final Lip-Synch for your Life. Raja won the crown and my buddy Brewster were there to present her with the enormous check. We got a sneak peek of each of the upcoming Drag Race tour with performances by the ladies of the night.

Alexis Mateo by JJ KeyesI whisked Alexis Mateo through the crowd in a “sickening” Wonder Woman costume and everyone wanted a picture. We stopped for as many as we could, but by the time she took to the stage I looked back and saw thousands of tiny camera phones snapping away. “You did good, girl,” I said to Alexis on the way back up to the lounge. “Thanks for all your help, boo,” she replied with a smile. Raja may have won the competition, but Alexis Mateo certainly won my heart.

Photography by GayCities New York Editor Jeffrey James Keyes
Special thanks to SPI Marketing

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