Drag Race's Mandy Mango enters a new era as advocate for HIV care

Introduced as "Philly's favorite fruit," Mandy Mango's journey came to an untimely end on RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 episode 3, titled "RDR Live Returns," after somehow landing in the bottom 2 during the three first episodes of the season — a point of contention that the Drag Race fandom is still debating.

Mandy, who played a character named Barbara Johnson in this "Tuckahoe County Fair" sketch of "RDR Live," appeared alongside Darlene Mitchell and costarred with queens like Discord Addams and Mia Starr portraying the cohosts of the event. Yet, Mandy's performance wasn't necessarily praised by the judges, who critiqued her for doing too much (and losing sight of the character she was playing).

During an exit interview with Out, Mandy discusses how it felt to land in the bottom in all three episodes of Drag Race that she's competed in, why she's surprised by the very positive reaction from fans, and how her daytime job as a nurse specializing in HIV and sexual health for people in the LGBTQ+ community is a really important message for a platform like Drag Race to feature — no matter what her placement in this competition series turned out to be.

Out: You had a short and intense journey on RuPaul's Drag Race season 18. What has been the most surprising thing about this experience so far?

Mandy Mango: Honestly, all of the love given and sent my way. Just how much they love my kindness and my personality. When you get ready for the competition, you really just focus on your package, and your drag, and making sure you're polished, and you have everything.

But I didn't expect people to be like, "Oh my god, there's just like something about her soul." I'm like, "Oh my god, you guys like my soul?!" I didn't even consider that to be a likable thing. But thank you. I love that.

It's never happened on Drag Race (U.S. flagship series) for a queen to be in the bottom (and eligible for lip sync for her life) in all three first episodes of a season. At least two of your bottom placements felt confusing to me, but we have to go by the actual critiques and placements. What was going through your head, three episodes in, being in the bottom for all three episodes?

It's such a rollercoaster. There's ups, and downs, and it kind of shakes you up so you're not really sure if you're seeing clearly. The first episode, you know, I still like my look. I don't think it was totally bottom, but I also see why it belonged in the bottom. So that one… I kind of understood that one.

The girl group challenge, I really thought I ate! But we also hadn't seen the girl groups — and they really ate it up. Jane Don't's "test positive for slaying"? That was really good. And Mia's singing voice is beautiful. I'd like to think that I did well for my girls group, but I think the other girls definitely took it out of the water.

I'm really glad though… Like, it's so funny hearing it back, because it brings back all the memories. I really liked my verse; I thought it just spoke to who I was. It might not have been disco… But, at that point, I was just focused on making sure that my stamp was made on that stage.

The "RDR Live" challenge didn't work as well as it did, for me, this time around. I felt like no one really did as poorly as we've seen before, so I understand that it was hard to pick a bottom 2. But, again, I was surprised to see you having to lip sync for your life. Did you see that, at the time, and maybe went into this lip sync feeling kind of defeated? Did you have any hope that like you would stay? What was the vibe?

I was hopeful. I really trusted and had faith in my ability to lip sync. But, you know, at that point, I am like emotionally and physically drained. If you ask me what I did in that lip sync, I can't really tell you. [Laughs.] I feel like I blacked-out for a little bit there.

I remember seeing Briar in the corner of my eye, kind of kicking her leg, and she was in a bra and panty. It was really like a fever dream. Overall, I like what I did. Looking back, I'm like, "Why did I choose the old lady character? But I think it all just uh tracks with me being a high-energy, too-much girl at the end of the day.

Your entrance look in episode 1 was a reference to Nurse Joy. Can you talk about that reference? Is Pokémon something that has influenced your drag?

Yeah, of course. I feel like I've given so much of my life growing up with Pokémon. I wanted to make sure I had a "nurse" look walking into the werk room. I really wanted to like show off that brand and that perspective right off the bat. I was just kind of like, "In what way should I showcase a nurse?" I thought of other iconic nurses, and [Nurse Joy] just felt perfect. It shows off that playful, soft side. And like, obviously, my interest in anime and video games, which are huge influences to my drag.

I always say that the main adjectives for Mandy Mango are "animated" and "energetic," and I think Nurse Joy — and that look — definitely lent to that playfulness.

Overall, this cast has been very well received in comparison to other recent seasons. Beyond that, you've also had one of the best receptions from fans out of this entire group. What's been your relationship with the fans so far?

It's been so healing, honestly. You know, you have this experience, and you have your own sort of perception and impression of it all. You sit with it for a few months, and then you finally see it on TV, and you finally see the reaction to it.

It's been pleasantly surprising to see how much people really see you, and see your drag, and understand your point of view, and just see you as a person. That's been so… I don't know, I just want to say that it caught me off guard in the best way. I didn't expect for Drag Race fans to be applauding me, you know, beyond just my drag.

Editor's note: Out of drag, Mandy Mango is an RN (Registered Nurse), has a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), and is an ACRN (HIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nurse).

Casting a drag queen who works as nurse — and whose work centers people in the LGBTQ+ community specifically — is a really poignant casting choice for Drag Race season 18. Since last year, politicians are trying to limit medications like PrEP for queer people, not to mention gender-affirming care for trans people. Given that you work in healthcare with our community, can you take a moment to discuss your experiences that are beyond this TV show?

Working as a nurse in this field — no matter what angle you're in — working with HIV and sexual health has become harder. We've had resources taken away from us. Webpages with resources that were available online have now been taken down. It has placed a lot of the work on local leaders, who have had to step up and provide these resources for our communities. I think it feels very timely to be have given this platform on Drag Race because this is exactly what I want to do.

I want to be a drag queen who's a symbol of knowledge and advocacy for HIV care and sexual health — especially now, when it is being taken away. Knowledge is power. When they take away knowledge, they're trying to take away our power. I don't want to see that for our community. I don't want to see that for our people, as we can only take care of ourselves if we know how to. Hopefully, this platform allows for more opportunities to educate and advocate for causes and resources that are being taken away from us.

RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 airs new episodes every Friday on MTV. Keep up with Mandy Mango on Instagram, X/Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. You can also support the Drag Race star by buying her merch on MandyMango.com and/or booking a personalized video on Cameo. During the next few weeks, Mandy Mango will star in Nymphia Wind and Plastique Tiara's The Serpents Tour.