Miz Cracker: She’s A Woman

While COVID has left most of us in a pickle as to how to keep ourselves busy, Drag Race Alum Miz Cracker has been quite the busy girl.  Not only did she place runner up on the most recent season of Drag Race: All Stars, this month she releases TWO new Jewlicious holiday singles, Eight Days of You (feat. fellow Drag Race alum Jujubee) and Get Me The F%#$ Out Of Here, AND launches her premiere podcast, She’s A Woman.  At the root of everything – her life, her career, her success – is her inspiration from the women in her life.   

Her podcast, She’s A Woman, will kick off each week by talking with incredible women from around the world about their achievements. Featuring interviews with detectives, pilots, bookstore owners, comics, and more. Each show asks a new guest: What is it like to be a woman in your field? In the world? And what are some life lessons that every listener should hear?  Miz Cracker’s mission is to find out how drag queens and gay men can become better allies to women in an age when Feminism is more important than ever.  The podcast comes at an important time in history as the nation prepares for our first-ever female Vice President.  Once COVID gets under control, Miz Cracker will embark on a national, multi-city tour for a live performance, concert version of She’s A Woman filled with comedy, storytelling, and probably a pickle appearance.   

We chatted with Miz Cracker right before her crazy month started: 

You are SO busy with so many projects in the fire, how do you keep your sanity?  

When Corona pushed my “She’s a Woman” tour to 2021, I suddenly had nothing to do and it was driving me nuts. Launching the podcast, coming out with holiday music—all this activity is helping me stay sane. Without it, I would be back to building model houses out of popsicle sticks. Yeah, I really was doing that.  

What sets you apart from the other RuPaul girls?  

I wouldn’t say there is something that sets me apart from other Ru girls. We are a family. But there is something that makes me a unique part of the family—my belief that drag can change the world. That is why I launched the “She’s a Woman” podcast. I wanted to use the power of drag to amplify the voices of amazing women.  

Where did you get your sense of humor from?  

I got my sense of humor from my earliest comedic inspiration: my sister. One time when I was a kid, I told her that her haircut was a mistake. She replied, “Mom and dad got married in December, and you were born in April. Do the math. You are a mistake.” I was like… snatched bald. She is so quick. I had to learn to keep up. 

Your podcast debuts this December, your podcast has a very different approach to what some of the other Drag Race girls are doing on their podcasts.  What made you choose to focus on women?  

I owe everything I have to women. I was raised by my mother and sister. When I was a queer kid in school, only women would befriend me. A woman made my Drag Race Audition tape. And when I look out into my audience at shows, some 70% of the faces are women. I feel like it is time for me to give back.  

What is one of your favorite stories from these women?  

Our debut episode features an interview with Jeannine Cook, who runs a bookshop highlighting women’s voices. Cook has received threats and hate mail for following her heart. But the other day, a little girl came into her shop wanting to do a report on the bookshop for school. And Cook thought “Oh my Gd, this makes it all worth it.” I love this image of women inspiring one another across generations.  

What have you learned about yourself from becoming a podcast host?  

I’ve learned that you must be willing to make mistakes. Sometimes you are going to ask an awkward question and you will look silly, and that’s okay. If you try to be perfect, you will never take risks, you’ll never ask a provocative question, you’ll never find out what you don’t know.  

What woman has been the biggest inspiration in your life?  

My mother, of course, is my biggest inspiration. She is a talented painter, but she never uses her gift to win attention. Her priority is to explore and improve, not to win fame or money. Whenever I start a project, I always think about her, and I try to keep her values in mind. “She’s a Woman” podcast is not about money or follows – it is about doing something I love that is important to me. 

Which experience did you enjoy more – Drag Race or Drag Race All Stars?  

All Stars. Those last weeks with Juju and Shea were such a treasure to me. I feel like I learned so much from them about optimism and faith and maintaining grace under pressure. I will carry that with me. 

What is one of your best Hanukkah memories?  

My mother used to throw the most beautiful Hanukkah parties for the entire family, with wonderful latkes. I will never forget the sight of the sour cream and apple sauce in little blue bowls… 

What can we expect from your Jewish holiday songs?  

The songs could not be more different. Eight Days of You is all about Jujubee and me cuddling and poking fun at each other—it’s our whole friendship translated into song. Get Me the F Out of Here is an anthem for anyone who hates family gatherings—and that’s a lot of us. 

What is your favorite part about recording music?  

I love writing lyrics. I am a comic writer at the end of the day, so the words come to me so naturally, and I feel like I am in my element. I hate recording, to be honest. Because in my head, I am a gifted chanteuse and, I sound like a seagull! 

As soon as COVID subsides, you will take the show on the road – what are the most important things you are going to pack? 

Red Bull for energy. A towel for when I spill the Red Bull. The New York Times to keep me informed. My diary so I can privately shade everyone around me.   

What is your ritual in the dressing room prior to a performance?    

Before every performance, I always have a little chat with my copilot Katelyn like, “Okay, today we’re going to show the world what we can do! We’re gonna go get ’em!” It’s this promise that I make every time. And at the end of the show, I always go up to Katelyn like, “Did we do it?” Just to check. 

If you were to create a brand-new holiday, what would it be?  

My cousins and I invented a holiday called Winnaleaux. It happens sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it is specifically for all the misfits and weirdos to get together and complain about everyone else. You drink hot cocoa and give gifts wrapped in baby blue and brown. It’s a nice one. 

The biggest misconception people have about you?  

I think people believe that I am an incredibly driven person. I’m a bit lazy and it’s my copilot Katelyn that keeps me getting up early, dieting, exercising, sketching ideas in my little notebook. I have a lot of creative power within me, I just need a cattle prod to keep me moving.  

Strangest fan request?  

I’ve never gotten a strange fan request, but I did get a bizarre fan gift—a padded envelope filled to bursting with tiny plastic babies. Each baby was pierced through with a hot wire so that you could string them into necklaces and bracelets. I am still haunted by the image today.   

What is your message to your fans this holiday?  

If you are miserable during the COVID-19 crisis, you’re not alone. I am miserable. People everywhere are getting worn down by the months of solitude. So, don’t be afraid to reach out to other people and commiserate. There is nothing wrong with a little complaining if it’s helping you blow off steam.  

What is your New Year resolution?  

To be more decisive. I think so. Well maybe. We’ll see. 

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Official website: https://mizcracker.com/