Dusty Ray Bottoms's 'Neva Lavd Yah' is a Middle Finger to Her Haters

“Neva Lavd Yah!”

The herd is thinning on the tenth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Where once 14 queens stood now 10 remain vying for the crown, cash prize, and title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar.”

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This week. fans of the show got their invitations for this season's ball much earlier than usual. The strenuous sewing challenge takes no prisoners, usually being reserved for the top five or six queens. But this time around it was the top 11 who took us on a couture journey during the end of the world and beyond. The bottom two saw New York City sisters Monét X Change and Dusty Ray Bottoms fighting for a chance to stay in the competition with Dusty ultimately being told to pack her wigs.  

OUT: How would you describe your experience on the show?

Dusty Ray Bottoms: It was great, I had the best time. Being on the show was an absolute dream come true and I was so honored to have this platform. It was a whirlwind of an experience and I can’t believe I’m sitting on this end of it now. It seems like it all happened in the blink of an eye even though this has been an eight month process.

What was it like walking into the workroom on day one and seeing all those other New York City queens?

It was comforting, because these are New York City girls that I love. I was like, ‘these girls aren’t crazy shady, they’re awesome, they’re my sisters. This is going to be a good ride.’

Is there anything you would have done differently in this week’s challenge that you think might have kept you safe?

I made a hat that I would have worn instead of leaving it in the workroom. But other than that I wouldn’t have done anything different, I don’t think my looks were the worst with or without the hat.

What about if you got the call to come back for All Stars? Would you change anything about your approach to the show?

I don’t think I would. I would still be myself but I would probably be louder about being myself instead of being so nice about it.

Is there any part of Dusty Ray Bottoms you wish fans had gotten to see more of?

I think I did a really good job of representing who I am and showing that off. I would have loved to do another acting challenge and really slayed and hopefully won the episode because I do pride myself on my acting abilities. But she got a sewing challenge instead.

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Tell us about your catchphrase “neva lavd yah,” where does that come from?

It actually originates from my very best friend Kay Day. She’s a punk rock singer who has an EP out called Exes, look it up, it’s everything. It’s just our inside thing that we have always done with each other and now it’s become this saying where, if you have a hater or a bully that’s coming for you, you just cross your fingers and it’s like, ‘neva lavd yah,’ and it doesn’t matter. Fuck them.

And you just released a new single called “Neva Lavd Yah,” tells us about that.

You’re totally going to jump up and down in your office and want to watch the video more than once. Shooting that video was everything, I felt like I was on Drag Race all over again. We shot in one day, 12 hours straight. It was a really great time.

RuPaul’s Drag Race airs Thursday nights on VH1 at 8/7c.

Dusty Ray Bottoms's 'Neva Lavd Yah' is a Middle Finger to Her Haters

Dusty Ray Bottoms's 'Neva Lavd Yah' is a Middle Finger to Her Haters