Chi Chi Devayne talks life-changing 'Drag Race' experience

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 22: Chi Chi DeVayne performs onstage during Logo's "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 8 Premiere at Stage 48 on February 22, 2016 in New York City. NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 22: Chi Chi DeVayne performs onstage during Logo's "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 8 Premiere at Stage 48 on February 22, 2016 in New York City. Photo: Santiago Felipe, Getty Images Photo: Santiago Felipe, Getty Images Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close Chi Chi Devayne talks life-changing 'Drag Race' experience 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

Chi Chi Devayne told "RuPaul's Drag Race" viewers she doesn't get ready, she stays ready. And now, the Shreveport, La. queen is ready to take on the world.

"It changed everything in my life. Everything has turned in a different direction," she says of the show. "Before, I was just like, 'What's a good job that I could get here in town, working in a factory.' It's crazy.

"Bank account-wise, everything has changed, too."

Devayne was eliminated just shy of the Season 8 finale, leaving Bob the Drag Queen, Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls to battle for the crown. It's arguably the strongest top four in "Drag Race" herstory.

Fans quickly warmed to Devayne's down-home charm, Southern drawl and identified with her journey to self-acceptance. She performs May 28 South Beach nightclub in Houston, where she spent lots of summers "just hanging out at Deerbrook Mall in Humble and having fun."

You seemed to take the elimination very gracefully. What was running through your mind?

There was a feeling of disappointment that I didn't make it. Everybody wants to win. But there was a feeling of relief. All the hard work was done. I think I did a damn good job of doing the best that I could personally do. I didn't win, but there's no shame there.

This season's top four seemed really close.

It's very, very accurate. We're all very much still friends with each other. We're happy that we had a chance to share that experience with each other. We were all very close. I didn't really know anybody (before the show).

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Who did you click with the quickest?

In the beginning, believe it or not, me and Acid Betty were good friends. From the beginning, she would always make little side comments like, 'Girl, you're gonna win this. You're gonna take it home.' I never really understand what she meant when she said the world's gonna fall in love with me. We kinda bonded in the beginning.

On the flip side, who was the most difficult to deal with?

Everybody was cool, but there were certain people that I would definitely steer clear of, and that was Derrick Barry. You don't wanna get on her bad side. She becomes vicious, Regina George from 'Mean Girls,' and she would not stop until you are destroyed. She's very intense.

What was the biggest challenge for you on the show?

Basically, everything. I came into the competition with pieces of costumes, and every challenge we had to create something. I was doing it on the fly. 'I so happen to have this dress that's gray, so I'm gonna put it with this and this and this and create my black-and-white look.' The whole thing was a challenge.

Naysha Lopez left you a bathing suit and a body suit when she left. Did any other girls give you things?

No, not really. Nobody really wanted to give up their stuff. That was special, what Naysha did. Everybody cherished their stuff. She did it, and I love her for that.

What was your proudest moment?

The Book Ball and getting a chance to portray my mom onstage. I was used to working with paper. I've done paper outfits in the past. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. You really can't see the detail on TV, but there was a lot of work that went into that. I wanted to prove to people that I can make great costumes. You just have to give me a little nudge in that direction, and I'll turn it out for you.

Can you recall the moment you realized performance and drag was truly what you wanted to do?

Making it onto 'RuPaul's Drag Race.' I was doing drag as just a hobby on the weekends to let my hair down. I never thought of drag was going to be my career and what I would be doing for the rest of my life. Once I made it onto 'Drag Race,' I'm like, 'Oh, OK -- this is my calling. This is what I'm supposed to be doing.'

What are the post-'Drag Race' goals for Chi Chi Devayne?

I've always wanted to do Broadway. I sing. I wanna release music. Now, I have the time to pursue other dreams that I've always wanted to do.