Dusty Ray Bottoms talks to her mom 'once a week,' dedicates post-'Drag Race' single to NYC 'haters'

Dusty Ray Bottoms moved viewers with a harrowing coming out story. Dusty Ray Bottoms moved viewers with a harrowing coming out story. Photo: VH1 Photo: VH1 Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Dusty Ray Bottoms talks to her mom 'once a week,' dedicates post-'Drag Race' single to NYC 'haters' 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

Dusty Ray Bottoms was prepared to let her freak flag fly all the way to the "RuPaul's Drag Race" finale. But the New York performer's oddball attitude was muted early on, leaving her questioning her identity.

It landed her in the bottom during this week's Last Ball on Earth, where the queens were tasked with creating three distinct runway looks. And after a fierce lip sync against Monet X Change -- who clinched it with a death drop fake out - Dusty was teleported home.

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She talked about resurrecting the makeup dots, her harrowing coming out story and haters in New York City.

What's your takeaway from your time on the show?

I'm obviously not happy that I have to have this conversation with you right now. But other than that, I think that I had a great run on the show. Specifically about last night, I don't think that I deserved to be in the bottom two nor have to go home. I wish I could figure that out. I thought Ru was at least gonna keep us both. But I'm very proud. I got to leave with a bang. I didn't do anything to embarrass myself other than the feather look.

You had lots of things you weren't able to show. What's something you particularly wanted to get across?

I just wanted to at least have the opportunity to have another acting challenge. I'm a really great performer. I really wanted to bring my A game and show that. And then slay the runway with my makeup and how I turn a look. I was kinda shook from the critiques, and looking around and seeing that I was the oddball out amid the other girls. I started to try to look like them and try to do them. I wasn't really being true to myself through my makeup.

Michelle Visage clocked you the first week for those dots on your face.

I was trying to take the critique and give them what they wanted for a couple of episodes, and then I was banking on the next episode being an acting challenge and for me to let them have it and show them what I do.

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So are the dots back in full force?

Yes, oh absolutely. There's never a time I have performed without dots all over my face, for sure.

You moved to New York to become an actor – but when did drag become the thing for you?

I had a hard time getting to New York City, and by the time I got here, I didn't wanna leave. I'm a very homebody person. If you came to my apartment right now, it probably looks like a Midwest home inside. I have to create a nest and feel like I'm at home. I was getting things that were, like, tours or a cruise ship. I couldn't take them ... because I can't live out of a suitcase. I can do that now, I couldn't do that then. Three, four years passed, and I'm like, "I didn't come to New York City to wait tables and bartend. I came here to perform." And that's when I came across Bob the Drag Queen and Thorgy Thor. I would go to Bob the Drag Queen's show every Monday night and Thorgy Thor's show, Our Lady of Saliva, on Tuesday nights. I've never been so inspired, and that's what made me put the wig on for the first time and wanna start Dusty Ray Bottoms.

You were very candid about your family not accepting you as gay, even having you exorcised of a "gay demon" and sending you to conversion therapy. Have you been in touch with them since the show began airing?

I talk to my mom, like, once a week. It's a work in progress. We're talking about things. The thing that you didn't get to see on the show is when I told my whole story is my family did apologize for getting me to go through therapy and all of that. There wasn't enough time to show that. So that's something that we've talked about and moved past. We're working on our relationship (now) because of other things.

Were you surprised at the reaction from fans?

I was so shocked. Every day I have hundreds – almost a thousand people a day, I'm telling you, send me a message about how they've gone through it, how they have a family member, how they're going through it right now. it was literally the most overwhelming thing and gagging.

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You've released the requisite post-show single, "Neva Lavd Yah!" available now on iTunes.

"Neva lavd yah" is this saying that I have with my best friend. Since I've been back to New York City, I haven't had necessarily the most welcoming and bright time working as a drag queen. Ex-sisters have had a lot to say. People have dragged me on social media. This was just my way of clapping back, waving my freak flag and just letting you know that I don't care. It's a great, beautiful summer anthem. It spreads positivity, and I hope people can jump around and say "Neva lavd yah" to their haters.

What were they mad about? You being on the show?

That. Very that. Just jealousy and silly stuff. We don't have time for that. The song is reclaiming my time and reclaiming my joy. I've been dancing around to it all day.

Last question: Who were you planning for Snatch Game?

I was planning on doing a character from "Mad TV." Her name is Dot Goddard. She's the eight-year-old girl that wears fairy wings. If I wasn't allowed to do her, since she's a character, I was gonna do comedian Deven Green (Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian).