Hot for Teacher: An Interview with Pandora Boxx from RuPaul’s Drag U

Tyra Sanchez may have scored the grand prize of season two of RuPaul’s Drag Race, but if you really want to know who America’s sweetheart is, look no further than Miss Congeniality herself (a prize bestowed on her by the show’s viewers with thousands of votes cast online) Pandora Boxx. The blonde bombshell won the hearts of everyone with her wit (“Scurvy!”) and sass week after week on Drag Race, and when she was unceremoniously sent home toward the season’s end, people lost it!

And have you seen the dishy little campaign that People.com has waged over the last week? They want Pandora to be considered for an Emmy! This fake lady’s on a roll, months after she took her last sashay down the Drag Race runway.

So it’s no surprise that the powers that be behind the new show, RuPaul’s Drag U, would want to bring back the Boxx for their maiden voyage. And boy are we glad they did! The world needs more of Pandora’s charm and humor — and I’m guessing the ladies who get schooled on Drag U are gonna love their pretty professor as much as we do. (The show premieres next Monday, July 19th at 9pm ET on Logo!)

To get the skinny on what we can expect from Pandora as the halls of Drag U are opened for summer session, we went straight to the source. After the jump, find out what’s gonna happen when this Boxx gets opened all over again!

Sheeeeee’s baaaaack!!!

Pandora, we’re so happy you’re on Drag U! Now let’s get to it. What was the biggest drag drama that you faced as a professor on RuPaul’s Drag U?
I think at first it was, “What the hell am I going to wear!” I actually laughed out loud when I got the call to be on RuPaul’s Drag U because I said you want the queen who got her style ripped to shreds on Drag Race to come and be a drag professor?!? Ha! I love it! One of the biggest things was to realize that this show is really all about the women, not the queens. You know, it’s hard for drag queens to make it all about someone else!

How do you think the power of drag can help biological women?
Drag has the power to change people. It changed me in more ways than I had ever realized even before my experience on RuPaul’s Drag Race. So it only makes sense that it has the power to change biological women too. Drag brought out my Inner Diva and now it unleashes the Inner Divas of these women. It showed them that they can feel fabulous every day in or out of drag! Drag is the catalyst that makes people love who they truly are or have always wanted to be.

Academic question: Drag is considered an exaggerated form of gender presentation; how do you help these biological women use the art of drag to feel comfortable with themselves in a non-exaggerated way?
We find that part of them that is buried deep, that spark of fabulousness that has gone out for some reason. By taking them to the utmost extreme we break down those walls that kept their Inner Diva hidden. Once those walls are down being an everyday diva is a piece of cake.

How has helping these women made you feel?
It made me feel empowered. To know that drag can really change people’s lives is an incredible feeling. I cried more than a few times seeing just how much these women needed to feel fabulous and to love themselves.

Without giving anything away about the episodes, which transformations were the most challenging and why were they so tough?
Most of them were tough because it’s always hard to change someone’s way of thinking.  It was difficult to get these women to truly believe that they were fabulous and also deserved to be proud of their fabulousness!  You’d also be surprised how many women can’t walk in heels!  Honey, I exited the womb in a pair of sequin stilettos!

Drag professors Jujubee, Raven & Pandora watch as their subjects get wurked over by Dean of Dance Frank Gatson and Headmaster RuPauls on Drag U. Classy!!

Describe your proudest moment as a professor on Drag U.
My proudest moment was when I shot my first episode and seeing my gal walking the runway. She was beaming with that Inner Diva she had lost. It was true drag magic!  It’s a moment I will never forget. I feel so blessed by everything drag has given me and to be able to pass that on to someone and see a change in them is an incredible feeling.

What do you think your students have gained from their experience at Drag U?
I hope they left knowing it’s ok to take time for yourself. It’s ok to pamper yourself. In fact, it’s a necessity!  I hope they leave Drag U with the ability to bring a touch of glamor to their everyday life. It makes life golden!

What have you gained from your experience as a professor?
I think it just reinforced the idea that if you really believe in yourself you can achieve anything you want.  If you can bring your inner light out to the surface you life will be beaming with positive energy.  It’s not always an easy task but you can do it.  It happened in my life and I watched it happen with these women.  It is truly powerful.

How did your experience as a contestant on Drag Race prepare you for your role on Drag U?
I knew on Drag Race that we were doing a television show first and foremost.  Some of the other girls seemed unaware of that fact.  So I brought that same mentality to Drag U.  You’ve got to be entertaining! Drag Race also prepared me for the extremely long days standing around in heels.  It’s brutal but worth it!  Also, going into it knowing the queens already made it so much easier working with them. The biggest thing though is to never second guess yourself. When you feel something deep down, go with it!  I received my harshest criticism on Drag Race when I second guessed myself.

Aside from yourself, who was the best Drag U professor? Why?
You are so focused on working with your girl, it’s hard to see what the other girls were doing.  I heard little bits and pieces of what the other queens were teaching and they were right on the mark.  I shot a lot with Shannel and I think she is an amazing drag professor. I am so glad I got to meet and spend time with her and learn the softer side of Shannel.  The one you didn’t see on Drag Race.  She has an amazing spirit and was such a joy to work with.  Some of the queens from Season 2 are more noted for ripping people apart so it’ll be interesting to see if they can actually turn it around and help people!

And who was the worst?
That’s really hard to say! I think everyone came in with the idea that we were there to help these women and that’s what it was all about. Aside from us mugging for the camera, you know. I’m really going to have to watch the show to be able to tell you who should have their Doctorate of Drag revoked!

Knowing what you do now, if you could tell yourself anything when you were first starting to get involved with drag performance, what would you say?
I’d start with a slap to my face and say “CONFIDENCE!”  My younger self probably would have just punched me in the cooter and ran off. But that is really the biggest hurdle I’ve faced in my life, is knowing that I am great entertainer and believing it.  I think maybe it’s more that I am allowed to know that I am good.  It’s acceptable to know you are good!

She’s got a lovely bunch of coconuts…

Want more Pandora Boxx? Then watch the big sassy premiere of RuPaul’s Drag U when it premieres on Logo on Monday, July 19th at 9pm ET. And join us right here for a Live Blog Party where you can comment along as the madness happens!!!

Plus, you can check out Pandora’s Facebook, follow her via @ThePandoraBoxx on Twitter, too. An for sneak peeks and video previews of Drag U, head to LogoTV.com. Get schooled!!!

Finally, let Drag U professors Pandora, Shannel and Morgan McMichaels take you on a exclusive video tour of the Drag U campus. Watch below!!!