Kennedy Davenport talks 'RuPaul's Drag Race' elimination

Kennedy Davenport, Dallas, TX. April 25 at South Beach nightclub. Kennedy Davenport, Dallas, TX. April 25 at South Beach nightclub. Photo: Mathu Andersen Photo: Mathu Andersen Image 1 of / 107 Caption Close Kennedy Davenport talks 'RuPaul's Drag Race' elimination 1 / 107 Back to Gallery

Kennedy Davenport is going to be just fine.

The dancing diva of Texas was eliminated one place shy of the "RuPaul's Drag Race" finale, leaving Ginger Minj, Pearl and Violet Chackhi to werk it out for the Season 7 crown.

"It's been up and down. We knew who didn't make the top 3 before everybody else. That gives me time to adjust to the news," Davenport says. "When I got around the girls (at the reunion), it kinda hit me again. It was hurtful. But I have more good days than bad days."

The Dallas native, who served three years in the Navy and appeared on "America's Got Talent," was a titleholder long before her TV debut.

Among her crowns: Miss Diamond Diva 2012, Miss Geogia USofA, Miss Female Impersonator of the Year, Miss Queen of Illusions and Miss Gay Black USofA 2008. Her drag sister, the late Sahara Davenport, appeared on Season 2 of "Drag Race."

What do you think it was caused you to sashay away?

Honestly, I do not know. That day was the best day I had in all of the episodes. And that includes the acting and everything. The way they edited made it seem like I was having problems. Everybody got corrections that day. Everybody. I did not feel like I was doing something that I shouldn't have done. There were no coulda-shoulda-wouldas that day. From my understanding, it wasn't an easy job for her to pick. I was just more than confident that my experience and my performance in the episodes for the season would have gotten me through to top 3.

A lot of talk has been centered on you misusing the word 'condone' during your runway speech.

I'm human. Putting a word where it ain't supposed to be is nothing new. Everybody has done that once or twice before. And I'm-a tell you, they cut my speech up like they was cutting a goddamn sandwich. I said a lot more than that. I used (condone) instead of using conduct, but those sentences didn't come back to back like that. The way they cut it made it seem like I was illiterate or stupid or something. The only way you could understand where I was coming from is if you heard the whole speech.

You have to tell me about the amazing rainbow dress you modeled on the runway.

That dress was made by Rico Cavalli of Houston, TX. I was actually getting ready for a pageant when I got that dress made. If I pick someone to make something for me, I believe in them as an artist. It's very seldom I go to them with an idea of what I want. I tell them to do what they want to do. I'm your muse. I'm representing you. If you gonna make me some bull(expletive), I'm gonna put on some bull(expletive). Or I will just get my money back. Make me something that's gonna turn heads. And that's exactly what he did.

Is there something you'd like viewers to know about you that didn't come across?

I really want the world to know that I'm not bitter. I'm not a hater. I'm not a bully. I am not that at all. I'm the total opposite. I love people. If I was that type of person, I wouldn't be the guardian of my (mentally disabled) sister. I wouldn't be the caregiver of my family. And I wouldn't have genuine people around me that love me unconditionally. It hurts my heart that I still haven't gotten the opportunity to show a different side of me on national television. Not to say that I didn't say the things that I said. I did say them, and I stand behind everything that I have said. But they never showed the brighter side of me. Because it's reality TV, they like mess. And there has to be a villain. It's just like a soap opera. You watch 'One Life to Live,' and you don't like who Todd Manning is because of the way they write him in the script.

Has the social media response been a lot to handle?

I read every comment. I try to catch up on everything that a fan or even a hater has to say about me because I care. That's my downfall. It's a good thing and a bad thing. It's easy for y'all to say, 'Don't pay them no attention.' But I really care what people think about me. I will probably continue to do that until it gets overwhelming. This is my life. This is my profession. And with performing comes social media. That's just a part of the job. If out of the five, if I can at least change the mind of at least two, then my job is complete. If I can, I will.

You don't seem like a person who has regrets – but would you change anything you did on 'Drag Race' if you could?

I don't think I would have changed anything. If I was picking, it would probably be the way I handled the Shakespearian challenge. But had I not did that, then it wouldn't have sparked a fire in me to step up my game. Or even, like, what if I would have just really changed up the conjoined twin challenge when I won the mini-challenge (and assigned partners)? But I'm not vicious. I really put people together who I thought could work well with each other. None of those girls pose any threat to me.

What do you take away from your time on the show?

I definitely learned that no drag is wrong. I had to learn to give people a chance. You have this picture in your mind of what's right, of what drag is. Being on 'Drag Race,' you have to let all that stuff go and accept what people have to offer. It's their contribution to the art form.

You had an emotional moment during 'Untucked' when you told Violet Chachki you'd never been proud of yourself or thought you were beautiful. Has that changed since the show?

Um – I still do kinda feel that way, honestly. I still do. My drag, I guess, was no longer a hobby. It became my full-time job and a lifestyle and my life. I've never had the time to take out and say, 'Bitch, you know what? You are sickening tonight, honey.' It's not so much lack of confidence, it's just that I never looked at myself as the prettiest thing walking. The first time I got most beautiful at a pageant, I was gagged. It's getting better. I'll say that. Being on 'Drag Race' helped me to really see myself and be more attentive to how I look. But I've always been a professional. You're not going to see me out and about and not look the part. If you see us all together, I'm always gonna look like the winner.

Kennedy Davenport appears Sunday at F Bar in Montrose alongside fellow "Drag Race" divas Latrice Royale and Coco Montrese. 10 p.m. showtime, free before 9 p.m. and $10 after 9 p.m.