On the Road with Latrice Royale

Let’s be honest, travel isn’t only about the destination, it’s also about the journey by plane, train, or automobile. At Vacationer, we’re taking a new approach to road-tripping with our new franchise, On the Road. We delve into the lives of inspiring and talented LGBTQ+ personalities on tour. This series will provide a unique peek into their experiences, shedding light on current projects and offering insights into what audiences can expect from their on-the-road endeavors.

For our inaugural interview, we had the pleasure of catching up with Latrice Royale, a beloved figure from RuPaul’s Drag Race. With three appearances on the popular franchise, including a notable win as “Miss Congeniality” in Season Four, Latrice Royale, the self-proclaimed “Large and In Charge, Chunky Yet Funky, Bold, and Beautiful” superstar, has joined the cast of HBO’s Emmy Award-winning series, We’re Here. Latrice Royale stands alongside fellow drag luminaries Priyanka, Sasha Velour, and Jaida Essence Hall in spearheading the latest season.

Fresh off the Life Goes On tour, Latrice Royale is gearing up for a winter adventure with their holiday show, Why It Gotta Be White Christmas. Our conversation with Latrice unfolded just before the start of the exciting 10-city tour, which begins at The Sonoran Palm Springs on November 25. The tour will take Latrice to additional cities, including Oxnard, California; Des Moines, Iowa; Columbus, Ohio; and Hamden, CT, with a grand finale at Union Stage in Washington, D.C.

Jeffrey James Keyes: Latrice! I loved seeing you in your recent show Life Goes On in Philadelphia. It’s always great to reconnect with you. How are preparations for Why It Gotta Be White Christmas coming along?

Latrice Royale: It’s going great, we are definitely in the creative setlist and getting media together. It’s going to be a fun, light-hearted show. We have some special guests who are going to come out, have some fun with us, tell some stories, and share our differences. Look, I grew up in Compton. I don’t know about no white Christmas! Not in Compton, not in L.A., you know? But my husband [Christopher Hamblin] is from Tennessee. He’s all about that life. We’ll have some storytelling, share some cultural differences, and talk about how we celebrate––talk about some food and just have a good time!

I read Kennedy Davenport is joining you, too.

Kennedy has done the show every year. Kennedy is going to be in Vegas with us. We will have Jasmine Masters joining us in Palm Springs, and then we have comedienne Samantha Hale joining us. As we move into Columbus, we have my sister Anisa Love as a special guest and then Dawn Tallman in Hamden, Connecticut. Then in D.C., we’ll have Evon Dior Michelle who’s really from Baltimore, but she’s just going to drive over and play with us there. These are all people who were also guests on my Life Goes On tour, so I get to have them back again to have some fun with all of us. 

Now, if someone comes who hasn’t been to one of your shows yet, what can they expect with this one? 

This is a feel-good show. They can anticipate having a good time. We will be absolutely stupid throughout. We have a parody called The Twelve Gays of Christmas. There are a lot of [RuPaul’s] Drag Race references and all kinds of fun bits. The show is good for all ages, too. It’s a “feel good” celebration of the holiday season. A lot of people don’t know that I can sing, you know. 

You have an amazing voice! 

They’re always surprised. The show will be a mix of live singing and lip sync because I definitely have to do certain things that are just Latrice, you know? Of course, my husband Christopher is joining me, and we’ll be on our way! 

Speaking of Christopher, can you share any tips for working and traveling with your partner?

I would say the biggest tool you can use is to make sure you keep your hats separated. By that I mean, you have to know when you’re speaking to your spouse and when you’re speaking to your boss or employee. You can’t blur those lines. 

Christopher and I do a good job of making sure we know who we’re talking to. “Are we working right now? Okay, it’s boss time. Is this husband time? Okay, we’re back.” We keep it separated. That’s the biggest thing, and you also have to make sure that what you do and say has good intent. I would never want to make him feel less than the valuable person he is. 

Everything is with love and respect first and foremost and that way no one gets out of pocket. Sometimes things can get heated, and you have to rewind and remember who you are and what you’re doing. You don’t want that to bleed into your nightlife because your day is shot. You’re mad about something all day and now you’re all here together, and this is your man. [laughs] It’s just best to get it all out and keep it separated. 
Is there a city you look forward to returning to on your tour? 

We love Columbus, Ohio. It’s like a second home for us. We have so much of our chosen family there. I feel like we go to Columbus if we want to get a home-cooked meal. We go there and we actually spend time in people’s houses. I feel like I’m at home. 

It’s nice to not feel so on the road, it’s nice to come back to somewhere familiar and around your loved ones. I’m really excited about going to Columbus. And in Palm Springs, I get to see my family. I’m glad I get to be there for two weeks so I can have some time to go and visit in between things. 

I’m thrilled to hear you’re going to be on the upcoming season of We’re Here. What can you tell us? 

It’s a more immersive experience because rather than staying in one city we stay in one place for three weeks. So, like, I was in Tulsa for three weeks, and there were some places that were not so friendly to people in our community. I feel that the work we did was really good, transformative, and powerful. I gave it a lot of heart; I had no choice but to. There’s a lot to look forward to. 

How is Latrice Royale celebrating the holidays? 

We’re doing a short tour this year so I can celebrate the holidays. It’s ten shows, and then I get to come home for Christmas. We haven’t decided if we’re going to have family over here yet but even if it’s just me and Christopher, we’ll have a din din here and it will be lovely. It’s nice to be quiet at home. We’re decorating. I want the house to be festive. We’re just gonna be chilling! 

What about 2024 excites you? 

I’m excited for it to get here because in 2023 I’ve been planting a lot of seeds and sowing a lot of crops. I’m excited to enjoy the fruits of our labor, which is coming in 2024. I can’t wait to share all of the new projects I’ve been working on. It’s going to be a fun year. 

What is one thing that you don’t leave home without? 

A Bluetooth speaker. You’ve got to have some music no matter where you are. 

Is there anything you would like to share with us? 

Yes. Go vote!

2024. It’s coming. 

Yeah, that part.  

Well, Happy Holidays! 

Happy Holidays…and vote! 

Stay updated on Latrice Royale’s latest adventures on their website. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).