Who is Ivory Glaze? | 5 Minutes with The Drag Race Down Under Queen
In the captivating world of drag—where dreams are woven with sequins and stardust—the journey can be as tumultuous as it is glamorous. Drag Race Down Under season three introduced us to an array of eclectic queens, each with a unique story to tell. Among them, Ivory Glaze: the bank worker by day, and drag diva by night. A queen who left an indelible mark despite her early exit.
Ivory speaks candidly with A Modern Gay’s Guide about her thoughts and experiences, and considers what lies ahead.
The life of a drag queen isn’t all glitz and glamour, and Ivory’s story is a testament to that. Amid the fierce competition, she faced her own battles behind the scenes, from insomnia to stress-induced eating habits. “I was already not sleeping at all on the show. I’d fall asleep at five and wake up at seven to go film,” she revealed. “I was drinking five Red Bulls a day to feel something. And I was not really eating that much because I was too stressed.”
So, when it came time for Ivory to Lip Sync For Her Life, she shares a candid glimpse into the moments before she fainted on the mainstage, divulging, “I had all those factors already happening at once. And maybe I’m a bit delusional here, but I really thought I was gonna be saved from the bottom two. So, I guess I was just so gagged that I had to do a lip sync again. Then girl, she fell.”
Stepping into the spotlight of Drag Race’s werkroom, Ivory Glaze knew she was in for an adventure. However, her elimination at the start of the third episode wasn’t met with disappointment but with an unexpected sense of relief, Ivory admits, “To be honest, just because of the circumstances, I was kind of relieved. I was like, ‘It’s done. It’s over.’
“Obviously, I was gutted because everyone wants to go to the end, right? But I do honestly think that I was in a bit of a crazy mental state at the time. So, getting eliminated was almost like a mercy feeling, like it was quite nice.”
Months after the whirlwind of filming her early departure, Ivory reflects on her journey, embracing both the positive and negative aspects. “I don’t mind,” she shares. “It’s pretty rare that anyone gets to go and drag race to start with. Maybe I went on a little bit too early, but you’re not gonna say no if someone calls you to come film drag race. Since the show, I’ve done a lot of self-reflection. I’ve learned more about who I want to be as an artist, my makeup got even better. I’m happy I went on and I’m fine that I got eliminated when I got eliminated. It was fair.”
Admittedly, ivory wishes she could transport her current mindset back in time: “that’s my only regret.”
A personal highlight of her time on Drag Race, “was behind the scenes. I did get to banter with Ru quite a bit, and she was really nice, and we got to crack jokes. Getting that Ru laugh is what you want, and when I finally got it. I was like ‘YES!’”
On the flip side, “the disappointing part was the wonky boobs.” She explains, “you get a boob insert right and they look little teardrops, and to keep it in, sometimes you need a pin it into your outfit to hold it up. So, I only put like one pin on the nip, and I don’t know how but one of them had swung around upside down. That’s why I had lumpy boobs. Not because they were sewed wrong, it’s because my boob insert had betrayed me.”
Addressing a controversial statement made by fellow DRDU alum, Art Simone, Ivory sets the record straight, “Art Simone and I have chatted, and it’s been resolved,” she says. “But you know what gags me the most? How can you say that I’m not passionate about drag if I work at a demanding full-time job, still do drag on the weekends, and all that sort of stuff? I think it was just a little bit of an out of touch comment, to be honest. She doesn’t know me. She’s never met me. So, how would you know?”
However, she does say that her portrayal on the show might have skewed Art’s opinion, saying, “I can understand how she’s got that opinion. But no, the rumours are not true. I am passionate about drag.”
As for her career trajectory, Ivory reveals a pivotal decision. “I quit my job,” she asserts boldly. “I always wanted to try to drag full time, or at least find a new job.” And with Drag Race as a catalyst, and one week before DRDU’s airing, “I resigned. So now I am a full-time crossdresser and I’m just trying to make a bit of money. So, if anyone needs me for something, I’ll show up. I’ll do it.”
