Work Text:
Excerpt from the finale of Season 22 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, broadcast on MTV, April 27th, 2030.
[Drag queens ‘Ricky Road’ and ‘Vin Gyub’, of Season 22 fame, sit next to each other on stage. RuPaul is on their left.]
RuPaul: We’re moving on to our stunning top four. Within this group, the bro… mance [Laughter] between Ricky and Vin Gyub was a big point of amusement for those watching the show, as I’ve heard. I was there, and I can tell you this exclusive: [RuPaul pauses for emphasis] It was mostly fighting. [Laughter]
Ricky Road: I wouldn’t call our relationship any kind of mance. [Laughter]
Vin Gyub: I would. I’d call it every kind of mance.
RR: Of course you would.
RuPaul: Cat fight! [Laughter] Vin, I’m sorry for eliminating you. We could’ve had an unforgettable, and unidentifiable, mance [Laughter] in the top three.
VG: It’s no problem. I’ll get over it in another, say, twenty to thirty years. [Laughter] Plus, I was missing my dogs, so I wasn’t that mad I had to sashay away.
RuPaul: Let’s take a look.
[A compilation of clips from Season 22 is played, including Vin Gyub’s entrance, both challenge wins, Snatch Game, and two confessionals. Afterwards, the camera lands on Vin, who claps and laughs.]
VG: Wow, this makes me seem like such a bitch.
RR: You are one.
[Crowd gasps and erupts into laughter.]
RuPaul: Ricky, stop stealing my lines. [Laughter] Vin, who’s here supporting you tonight? VG: Well, my best friends in the entire world are here. One’s backstage because she’s about to win this thing, the other is in the crowd.
[Camera cuts to Shang Hao, who waves brightly. She holds two Italian greyhounds on her lap, whose names, Bibby and Justine, are also displayed on the screen.]
RuPaul: We love you!
Shang Hao: I love you too! RuPaul: How was it watching your sister in the same position you were in just a couple of seasons ago? SH: It was awesome to watch because she made it much further than I did. [Laughter]
[Camera cuts back to Vin, who smiles sheepishly.]
VG: You were robbed!
RuPaul: All Stars is happy to host you, Hao. We’ve been begging you to come back for years. Check your inbox, woman!
[Camera cuts to Shang Hao laughing, then back to Vin.]
VG: You know she won’t.
RuPaul: I do, unfortunately. I showed up at her house once, just to ask, but I heard some really… odd noises when I knocked, so I left. [Laughter] Now, we have a fan question for you, Vin.
VG: Let ‘er rip.
[Camera cuts to Season 19 queen Kim Ji. The crowd applauds, and she smiles, waiting for them to calm down before speaking.]
Kim Ji: Good evening, LA! [Applause] Vin, my question is from Cara in Texas. She asks: Was there a lot of pressure going in, having friends who have already found success on the show? I’m one of those friends, of course! [Laughter]
VG: (Laughs) Of course, there’s pressure, there’s pressure in being on the show in general, and that magnifies it by, like, five hundred. Big shoes to fill. But I think I did a good job regardless.
RuPaul: You did okay. Only top four. [Laughter]
[Vin shrugs and blows a kiss towards Kim, who blows one back.]
RuPaul: Anyway, Ricky.
RR: Present. [Laughter]
RuPaul: You know we love your fierce.
RR: I do! I love it too. [Laughter]
RuPaul: Let’s take a look.
[A compilation of clips from Season 22 is played, including RICKY’s entrance, both challenge wins, Snatch Game, and three confessionals. Afterwards, the camera lands on RICKY, who smiles and claps slowly.]
RR: I do look fierce. [Laughter]
RuPaul: We love your fierce. Why should you win RuPaul’s Drag Race, Ricky?
RR: I love this question, I’ve never answered it before! [Laughter] I should win because I’m an all-around queen: I sing, I dance, I model, and I’m funny. Not if you ask Vin, but. Don’t trust anything out of that mouth. [camera cuts to Vin Gyub, who makes an exaggerated shocked face.] [Laughter] What’s not to love? Everybody wants some Ricky Road in their bowl! [Laughter]
RuPaul: Do you have any plain vanilla? I’m allergic to pecans. [Laughter]
[Ricky laughs, giving an exaggerated upset reaction to the audience.]
VG: My favorite flavor is cookies and cream.
RR: I’ll keep that in mind.
RuPaul: They’re going to start snatching each other’s wigs off in a second, and they’re not even lip syncing. [Laughter] Ricky, who's supporting you tonight?
RR: My family!
[Camera cuts to the winner of Drag Race Season 21, Matty Hue, her boyfriend, Betty Wook of Season 20, and Ricky’s parents. All wave.]
RuPaul: You Betty Wook! [Laughter]
Betty Wook: I’m trying!
MH: Hey, babe!
[Camera cuts back to Ricky, who laughs and waves.]
RR: Hey. Do you have a costume change ready for when you hand me the crown?
[Camera cuts to Matty, now wearing a feathered hat.]
MH: Don’t worry about it. [Laughter]
[Camera cuts to Ricky, laughing with a hand over her mouth.]
RR: Alright, I won’t.
[Camera cuts to Matty, now wearing a new hat. Applause and cheers from the crowd follow.]
RuPaul: Where is she keeping all of those hats? RR: I have an idea, but we’re on TV, so I’ll keep it to myself. [Laughter]
RuPaul: Good idea. We have a fan question for you.
RR: Bring it on!
[Camera cuts to Hannie Ball, underdog of Season 21. She smiles and waves, blowing a kiss in Matty’s direction. Matty, wearing a new hat, intercepts it and places it on her cheek. Hannie waits for the crowd to calm down before speaking.]
Hannie Ball: Hi. [Applause] It’s good to hear you all still remember me. [Laughter] Anyway, Ricky, your fan question is from Oliver in Illinois. He asks: Do you have any makeup tips for a beginner makeup artist?
RR: Well, I love makeup.
VG: We know. [Laughter]
[Ricky shakes her head and shrugs.]
RR: I was raised by a mom who always supported my weird endeavors, from when I was wearing kitchen towels and doing runways in her bedroom to when I bought my first ratty wig. [laughter] She did my makeup for the first time when I was twelve, and she’s taught me everything I know. Sorry, I’m kind of just bragging right now. (Laughs) I really love my mom.
[Camera cuts to Ricky’s mom, who looks emotional. A collective cheer from the crowd follows.]
RR: So I’ll always say: ask your mom. But for those who can’t, there are so many free tutorials online from amazing artists, and if you truly have a passion for something, you can start anywhere. Go to Walgreens and buy the cheapest palette they have, and start there.
RuPaul: Inspirational as always.
[Camera cuts to Matty, nodding, wearing a new hat. Wook grins next to her. The crowd applauds, hoots and cheers follow. Cut to commercial break.]
Interview with Drag Race Season 22’s runner-up, Ricky Road, conducted by Jewel Creek of werrrk.com. Published on May 11th, 2030.
Loved by fans for her bold makeup looks and witty humor, Ricky Road captured fans from the moment she walked into the RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 22 Werk Room. Her sickening makeup skills, growth throughout the season, as well as her portrayal of Mariah Carey on the beloved Snatch Game, cemented her as a fan favorite. I had the opportunity to sit down with fresh on the heels of the RuPaul’s Drag Race finale, which aired last weekend, to talk about friendship, fierceness, and finesse.
Jewel Green: Ricky! It’s an honor to have you here. I’m a big fan of the show, and I have to say, you’re a queen who has really stuck with me. And trust, I’ve seen lots of queens grace, as well as stumble across, the Drag Race runway.
Ricky Road: (Laughs) I’m happy to be here.
JC: Let’s start with the obvious: How does it feel to be in the top three?
RR: Well, it’s obviously a great honor. I’ve been into the show since I was younger, like you, and getting to be on the stage you’ve only ever seen on a screen is truly the moment of a lifetime.
JC: How was the overall experience for you? In as little words as possible, of course. Time crunch.
RR: (Laughs) Like I’ve already said, it was pretty surreal. The Werk Room is so much smaller than it looks on TV. It was nice to get a break from my phone. Honestly, it kind of felt like a vacation, getting to do what I love for weeks. A vacation where everyone around you is conspiring to kill you, that’s how I’d describe my experience. Kind of like The White Lotus?
JC: Fair enough. You got quite a bit of critique, particularly related to the judges wanting you to “come out of your shell”. What was it like being critiqued week after week on the Main Stage by the judges?
RR: The first time was definitely the harshest. You come onto the show thinking you’re hot shit, I got selected for this exclusive thing, and then the first challenge really humbles you. It happens every season. I thought my dress was fierce, Michelle thought it looked like a tablecloth, what now? (Laughs) It got easier as time went on.
JC: Did you have a strategy to deal with the critiques that got under your skin? If any did?
RR: I think Jinx (Monsoon) said it best on her season, and I still live by this: Water off a duck’s back. I’d just remind myself that no matter what the judges think, I’m good at what I do, and one failed challenge does not a failed career make.
JC: I love it. Your positive attitude was beloved on the show. You mentioned you were an introvert, yet you helped all the girls who needed some positive affirmations. Was it hard to get out of your comfort zone like that?
RR: Yes and no. I am pretty introverted, but being a performer, you have to be able to kind of toss that aside and live your extrovert life in certain situations. It was important to me to be able to help the queens through tough spots, and I was happy to help whenever possible.
JC: Your tentative friendship with Vin Gyub, whom you did know before the show, was one of our favorite parts to watch. Did you have the thought while on the show that fans were going to love it? RR: Honestly, no. You know the story, Vinny and I have had our disagreements. I was shocked to see her on the show, because she’d told me she was flying to Korea for Lasik. I should have seen through that because she doesn’t even wear glasses. But, no offense, I didn’t expect to see her walk in.
JC: The so-called ‘yin and yang’ nature of your friendship has been a hot topic, considering she’s a comedy queen and you’re more fashion.
RR: Yeah. Her biggest critique was that she was trying to coast through the competition riding on her comedy skills only, which is, like, her only skill, to be fair. (Laughs) I’m kidding. She can be glamorous when she wants to, she just rarely wants to.
JC: I know she has a good sense of humor, so hopefully she’ll take that in stride. What were the easiest and hardest challenges for you? RR: I never back down from a challenge, so I tried to approach each one with equal ferocity. The comedy challenge was definitely a difficult point in the competition for me, but once Tay (Ray) helped me out, I was confident. The makeover challenge was hands down my favorite. I really love doing other people’s makeup.
JC: The makeover challenge being your second win, of course. How does it feel to win a challenge on Drag Race? Try to lay it out for those of us who will unfortunately never be there.
RR: (Laughs) Hey, never say never. It’s surreal. I’ve used that word already, but there’s no other way to describe it. You’re standing up there in all this heavy clothing and jewelry, and your feet hurt, and you’re sweating, and there’s lights in your face, and you feel gross, and then RuPaul is saying “Condragulations!” and you’re like, what the fuck, me? It doesn’t feel real because you don’t feel real in that moment.
JC: What do you think you have learned from this season? From the queens, from RuPaul, from your own inner soul-searching, whatever?
RR: I’ve definitely learned that I can’t take myself too seriously. I tend to get really in my head about stuff, and wanting things to be perfect. I’ve realized it’s not worth the headache to make things crazily perfect. Doing your best and letting some of yourself shine through despite your imperfections is the best way to do it.
JC: You are so profound, it feels like my life is being changed in this cramped hallway. Are there any friendships that have changed your life?
RR: I mention her a lot, and hers was, of course, the video message that made my ‘icy’ exterior crack on Untucked (laughs), but my best friend Matty (Hue) is a really important part of my life. She’s the reason why I started drag, and she blew everyone’s socks off last season, so go watch that if you haven’t! (Laughs) But yeah, she was the first person to see me in drag, the one to encourage me to keep going and book shows, so she means a lot to me. She’s taught me to never take myself too seriously and to always be my authentic self, even when I feel like that’s not who people want to see.
JC: She is a light. Go watch Season 21, everyone! Matty did mention you on her season, saying you were also very talented artistically. I’m a little upset we didn’t get to see much of that this past season, except in the makeover challenge.
RR: I do love to draw. I plan out a lot of my looks, makeup and otherwise, by drawing them. I didn’t have many opportunities to do that on Drag Race because of the fast-paced nature of the show, but considering the positive reception, I’ll be sharing more of them from now on.
JC: Thank you so much. I can’t wait to see more. What’s the plan post Drag Race?
RR: Honestly, whatever will take me. I want to release music eventually. I’d love to do more art and design. Fashion is a big passion of mine, so I’d love to do something that involves that.
JC: And if they want you on All Stars with Matty, or The Pit Stop with Vin, you’d be down?
RR: (Laughs) All Stars, yes, The Pit Stop… We’d kill each other. They’d have to pay me so much.
JC: Finishing up here, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
RR: Not to care about people’s comments about you. And, the more bad comments, the more famous you are. There’s always going to be more people who love you. I look at the bad comments as a joke, honestly. Matty and I send each other the stupidest ones. One time, someone said I looked like a defaced Barbie doll when I tried a more avant-garde makeup look, which periodically still makes me laugh.
JC: Again, so profound. It’s important to be able to laugh at yourself.
RR: Yeah, for sure. You can ask Vinny all about that.
Interview with Drag Race Season 22’s Vin Gyub, conducted by Jewel Creek of werrrk.com. Published on May 22nd, 2030.
Coming into the show as an established performer, beloved queen Vin Gyub served us comedy and continuance on Season 22 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, sticking it out challenge after challenge when other queens doubted her. While she didn’t make it to the much-desired top three, her fourth-place ranking gave her more than enough time to become a fan favorite. She left the show after a heart-tugging lip sync against long-time friend Tay Ray, with the promise to slay All Stars. I sat down with LA’s favorite ‘gag queen’ (a nickname given to her by Ricky Road) mere weeks after the finale to talk about how important friendship is to her (spoiler: very), her drag journey, and self-confidence.
Jewel Creek: Los Angeles loves you! But you know that already. What has the experience been like for you, post Drag Race?
Vin Gyub: It’s been insane. I was semi-known in LA before, and I know Drag Race is always going to come with exposure and more recognition, but living through it has been crazy. Let me think of another synonym. Bonkers? Nutso? All those words.
JC: Wack-o?
VG: Definitely.
JC: It was close, but you got eliminated in a lip sync against Tay (Ray) that had us gagging on our tears. How did it feel to lip-sync against a friend?
VG: It was simultaneously awesome and awful. Fun alliteration. No, but seriously, it was surreal, is the best way I can describe it. That was my first and last lip sync, so I was scared to death, and it was so high stakes, seeing that it was the last episode. I’m glad Tay won; she deserved it.
JC: We love a talented and humble queen. Even though Ricky and Sung (Sation) won more challenges than you, the queens seemed to see you as a major threat. Why do you think that is? VG: I’m more talented than the rest of them combined. (Laughs) No, I’m kidding, you know I’m kidding. I think it was because I didn’t crack under pressure. I let the judges critique me, though it didn’t happen often (laughs), and didn’t give them excuses. Also, my winning the first challenge probably struck some fear in their hearts, and my unwavering confidence, even when Ricky told me I was cheap and boring.
JC: You barely let the other girls breathe during the comedy and acting challenges. I live for your humor. Where does it come from? VG: I’m not sure. It’s not just from one place, I don’t think. All my friends are funny ass drag queens, you have to keep up. I’ve always tried to push myself as hard as I can, and humor is something that has always come pretty easily to me, though it did take a lot of work to get good at stand-up.
JC: Got it. Your friendship with fellow queen Ricky was widely discussed across social media as the show aired, with many finding your dynamic humorous. Were you surprised to see her on the show? VG: No, not at all. I mean, in the sense that she told me she was going backpacking, and then she walked into the Werk Room after me, I was surprised. Not that much, actually. You probably can’t backpack in stilettos, and hers are permanently glued to her feet. (Laughs) But in the sense that Ricky was on Drag Race, no. She’s the most talented queen I know. Don’t tell any of my friends I said that.
JC: Lips are zipped, and the key is gone. LA has such a stacked roster of queens already. Did you feel like you had big shoes to fill on the show? VG: (Laughs) A little bit! Obviously, I naively assumed I was going to be the only LA queen on the show. And then Ricky walked in. And then Tay walked in. And then Sungie walked in, and she’s not from LA, but she’s so fucking fierce I knew she was going to be big competition. I’m not from California originally, so I had to fight tooth and nail to prove myself on the scene there. That sticks with you, and I feel like it’s a big part of why I work myself so hard.
JC: Love it. We love a determined queen. You’ve talked about your friendships so much. Am I correct to assume your friends mean a lot to you?
VG: Oh, yes. My friends are everything to me. I’ve found I really do need friends around me, otherwise I go crazy. They have to hear me talk all day, every day, about everything. It’s not an easy job. (Laughs)
JC: My favorite challenge we saw from you this season was the roast, and obviously, that was RuPaul’s too. A lot of people commented on how little you prepared for that challenge, a very bold move that paid off. How did you manage that? VG: To be honest, I’m a little mean. (Laughs) Just kidding. I knew the queens well, since I found it important to really ally myself with everyone, so it wasn’t hard to roast them in ways I knew the judges would like. I’m still waiting on that cease and desist from Ricky, but it’s been a while, so maybe she really does like me?
JC: Well, it’s important to dream big. How did it feel to receive critiques on the stage, though it didn’t happen often? VG: (Laughs) Being subjected to critique and other people’s opinions is a big part of drag as it is. I grew up in a small town, and when I did drag for the first time, on Halloween, I know, so cliché, I got exactly the backlash I was expecting. You develop a pretty tough skin when you’re in that kind of environment, which I’m grateful for. Some of the critiques that would have had other queens crying made me shrug. It’s all about how you view yourself and whether you let things affect you intensely or not.
JC: You’re almost beating Ricky in terms of profound advice.
VG: (Laughs) No, definitely not. I read the article. She wins.
JC: Of course you did. You made it into the top four, against Ricky’s odds, so what are the plans post Drag Race?
VG: (Laughs) I’m sure if she wasn’t on the show, she would have bet money against me. Actually, she probably did. Anyway, I’m taking it all in stride. It’s pretty overwhelming, being skyrocketed to fame like this, and some people, like Ricky, are definitely better at handling it. But I’m managing. Self promo, I do love to dance, so I’d love to do something that has to do with that. Do you think Ricky would want to start a podcast?
JC: Well, she didn’t seem keen on the Pit Stop, so I wouldn’t bet money on it.
VG: Shucks.
JC: What was the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, related to anything?
VG: My great friend (Shang) Hao, one of the first people I met in LA, told me once that I have to always unapologetically do me. It’s really basic advice, from a very not-basic queen, but it stuck with me. When I first got to California, I was totally overwhelmed by the drag culture, and I thought I’d have to change myself entirely in order to be accepted. She gave me the talking-to of my life. Also, know how to laugh at yourself, always.
JC: Solid.
VG: Also, never trust a girl named Ricky.
Reddit post made by user gyubrik_lovr in the RuPaul’s Drag Race subreddit, May 30th, 2030.
r/rupaulsdragrace
u/gyubrik_lovr
Ricky and Vin closer than we think?
Has anyone else noticed how much Ricky and Vin mention each other? Like I know they’re like, friends? Apparently? Does Ricky know they're friends? TBD. But Vin talks about her so much. They both mention each other more than any other s22 queens, and trust me cuz they’re my faves from this season so I’ve read a lot of articles and interviews. Also, Ricky calls her Vinny which I think is so cute. Maybe theyre closer than we think?
EDIT: Okay I never said they were dating so stop arguing and getting mad at me in the comments. I made this account just to post this I usually just lurk and they were my top two picks for the season which is why I made my user the “ship name”. Hop off my dick.
EDIT 2: If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it, damn! Reddit is so toxic
tangyweird 122 points · 5h ago
You’re reading too much into it honestly. They don’t even seem that close, i think they just know fans like their friendship so they mention each other.
girlwithlashes 88 points · 4h ago
idk girl, i feel like their friendship was somewhat faked for the cameras. theyre both talented queens and i have no doubts that they respect each other but i think people are overestimating how close they are. vin seems more desperate to keep up the illusion than ricky, dunno why
gyubrikreal -4 points · 4h ago
Lowkey I can see where you’re coming from.
sinnerr44 34 points · 3h ago
Is this op on their alt account?
Excerpt from DragCon interview with the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 21, Matty Hue, conducted by Olive Copper for Pink News. Posted June 28th, 2030.
[Matty approaches the camera, waving to fellow queen Kim Ji as she does. She stands next to Olive, smiling and waving at the camera. She’s wearing a Marie Antoinette-inspired look, down to a necklace of red beads to represent the queen’s unfortunate end.]
Oliver Copper: Matty! It’s so good to see you again!
Matty Hue: Oh my God, hi! You look so sickening.
OC: Thank you, you do too.
MH: [smiling] I remember you from the, [she snaps, trying to recall something] you know.
OC: I interviewed you after you won.
MH: [Groans, shaking her head] Of course, I’m sorry, girl. I’m so frazzled today, there is so much going on. I lost my girlfriend somewhere already.
OC: (Laughs) No worries. We only have a couple of quick questions for you.
MH: Bring it on.
OC: Firstly, how do you feel about Sung Sation winning?
MH: She is phenomenal. Like, seriously. I love Ricky so much, and obviously, I was rooting for her, but I did tell her, if not her, I wanted Sungie to win, and she agreed. So I’m very happy with the outcome.
OC: You are just so positive, I love it. [Matty smiles and performs a curtsy, careful not to tip her wig.]
MH: You know it.
OC: Don’t I! Where is Ricky tonight, speaking of? I haven’t seen her yet. MH: I’m not sure. [She frowns, taking a look around the red carpet.] She’s probably with Vin.
OC: With Vin?
[Matty blushes, like she’s said something she shouldn’t have.]
MH: Uh, yeah. Ru wanted the top four to make some kind of entrance, I don’t know. Wait, sorry. Wook’s calling me over, guess she found me first! Wook! Wookie! [She rushes out of frame. No one can be heard calling Matty’s name in the background.]
OC: [frowning] Guess that’s all she had time for today. No news on RuPaul wanting the top four to enter together.
[Runner-up of Drag Race Season 22 Tay Ray can be seen in the background, squealing over a fan’s outfit. Olive frowns at the camera, and the video cuts to the next interview segment.]
Excerpt from DragCon interview with Season 21’s Betty Wook, conducted by Lacy Clark for WOW Presents. Posted June 28th, 2030.
[Lacy stands next to Wook, smiling.]
Lacy Clark: Hi, guys! We are here at DragCon with the fabulous Betty Wook. You Betty Wook.
[Wook nods and smiles, giving the camera a wink.]
LC: So, we have loved following your journey post Drag Race, and we are obsessed with your relationship with Matty.
Betty Wook: [laughing] I’m obsessed with it too!
LC: The two of you looked stunning during the finale. And today, of course, I saw her earlier.
BW: Girl, thank you! You look sickening today. Gagging.
LC: That means the world. Speaking of the finale, were you expecting Sung Sation to snatch the crown?
BW: Listen, I love Ricky, but Sungie was my second pick. She is an amazing friend and performer, and all-around drag queen. I’m so happy for her.
LC: I live for good sportsmanship. I wanted to ask—
[She’s interrupted by Matty Hue stepping into the frame, saying something to Wook.]
Matty Hue: Wookie, do you know where Rik and Vinny are, I have to— [she looks in front of Wook, seemingly now noticing the cameras] — shit. We have to go.
[Matty drags Wook off-screen. Lacy shrugs at the camera, and the video cuts to the next interview segment.]
Fan video taken in Los Angeles, California, at an IHOP restaurant, July 2nd, 2030. Posted the same day to RuPaul’s Drag Race subreddit, and titled ‘me and my friend saw s22’s ricky and vin at ihop today lol’.
[Ricky and Vin sit on opposite sides of a booth, Ricky leaning back with her arms crossed, a plate of waffles in front of her. Vin's plate has pancakes.]
Fan #1: Is that them, do you think?
[Ricky frowns at something Vin says.]
Fan #2: Duh. Ricky’s hard to miss, even without the makeup.
F1: Yeah, but why are they at IHOP? F2: Drag queens gotta eat too.
[Vin begins cutting into the last pancake on her plate as Ricky says something to her.]
F1: Do you think it would be rude to ask for an autograph?
F2: [laughing] Probably not. But I don’t—
[The fan is interrupted by Vin stabbing a piece of pancake with her fork and moving it towards Ricky’s mouth, in a ‘here comes the airplane’ fashion.]
F2: Oh, what the hell? [Ricky rolls her eyes and leans forward to intercept the pancake.]
F1: Uh.
F2: Am I tweaking, or was that kinda weird?
[Ricky and Vin both laugh at something. Vin tucks a strand of hair that has come loose during the laughter behind Ricky’s ear.]
F1: Yo, are they dating?
F2: I don’t know them that well, but I don’t think so. Not officially.
F1: Then what the fuck?
Article from gossip magazine Gag!, published July 3rd, 2030.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 22 ‘Bromance’, Ricky Road, and Vin Gyub, Spotted Enjoying an Intimate Brunch at IHOP.
[Reddit video with faces of other IHOP patrons blurred for anonymity, captioned ‘Ricky Road and Vin Gyub getting cozy at IHOP. Credits curlwurlgirl on Reddit.]
Gaggatronda! We can say with certainty that we weren’t expecting to see this when we woke up this morning. Ricky Road and Vin Gyub have been two of the most talked about queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 22, and not just because of their sickening skills.
Ricky and Vin met in Los Angeles in 2017, and it’s rumored by the drag underbelly that they didn’t get along at first. At all. Admittedly, the queens themselves have said this, but we have suspicions it might not just be a silly story. Vin has joked that Ricky used to sabotage her shows, but there might be more to this rumor than just a bit of Vin humor.
In an interview with werrrrk.com, fellow Season 22 queen and friend of both Ricky and Vin, Tay Ray, admitted she remembers Ricky, many years ago at a bar in Santa Monica, loudly telling other queens Vin had stolen wigs from her. It’s unknown whether this caused her to lose gigs, but we wouldn’t be surprised. Ricky plays it fierce!
On Season 22, the audience couldn’t tell if they were allies or not, and it seems neither could they. This made for one of the most enthralling Drag Race watches we have had in years. Sorry, Matty, not even you could save that boring ass season!
Since the end of the season, the two queens have not publicly interacted — though they’ve publicly shamed each other on Insta stories more than once — and it has left fans wondering if they faked their dynamic for a more entertaining watch.
They seem cozy (a little too cozy, even, if you ask us) in this video. Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think. Are you team #GyubRikIsReal or team #GyEwwwwBrik?
sarahpally
#GyubRikIsReal
fortynotes
#GyubRikIsReal
girlgonemad
This is a crazy invasion of privacy. #GyubRikIsReal tho
frikshen
#GyEwwwwBrik
Reddit post made by user grapejellyjreams in the Rupaul’s Drag Race subreddit, July 5th, 2030.
r/rupaulsdragrace
u/grapejellyjreams
Ricky and Vin omg?
Vin just posted this omg. Anyone have any interpretations?
[Two screenshots of Vin’s recent Instagram post. Both slides are her in drag, giving the camera the middle finger. The song on the post is “Rules” by Killumantii, set to the lyrics “Rule number one if it's 'bout me, at me so I can see it Rule number two if you heard shit That didn't come from me then don't believe it 'Cause I hate a bitch that like to post shit Then before you see it she delete it. The third screenshot is of the comment section.]
@vinningyub
🥱
@haoboutnow
Oh she’s getting cheeky
@seokmattyhue
girl bye
@youbettywook
Set those boundaries gyub!
@btchbettahavemykimji
This look is so fierce, girl! Love it so much. 👏🔥
@rickyroad
😑
@vinningyub
@rickyroad hey babe
View 432 more replies
french_fry_44 92 points · 2h ago
Well her and ricky were spotted together recently, maybe it’s some kind of clap back? Considering the video was a total invasion of privacy.
armoredeggplant 74 points · 2h ago
probably just a callout to people speculating on her and ricky’s relationship. some are being really weird.
greenbookworm 12 points · 2h ago
agree w the others saying it's a callout but her reply to ricky? lol what dat mean
marchshowers3 38 points · 1h ago
Babe is not inherently romantic. Women and gay men call each other it as a term of endearment/in a friendly way. I don't think we should be looking at that as “proof” of them dating.
Tweet by Ricky Road, posted July 8th, 2030.
@rickyroad
some of you bitches are really weird
@vingeance
@rickyroad tell em babe!
@rickyroad
@vingeance highkey meant you but whatever. feed the dogs
@vingeance
@rickyroad Ok im sorry can we do movie night
@rickyroad
@vingeance sure but no titanic
Article from gossip magazine Gag!, published July 10th, 2030.
Ricky Road and Vin Gyub Might Be Cozier Than We Think, and We Were Already Thinking Pretty Cozy.
Ricky Road and Vin Gyub both emerged as shining stars in Season 22 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, bringing killing comedy and fierce fashion to the Werk Room. Fans have been following their friendship closely, as have we, and we’re happy to share some new developments.
[Screenshot of Vin’s recent Instagram post, and next to it, her calling Ricky babe in the comments.]
Putting aside the clear shade of Vin’s Insta post, you decide: With that “babe”, is Vin hinting towards a sultry romance, or do the two just have a playful friendship? We’re a team of girls and gays, and this has left even us stumped.
[Screenshot of Ricky’s most recent tweet and conversation with Vin underneath it.]
Again: Putting aside the clear shade from Ricky, undoubtedly aimed at fans that dig their acrylics a little too deep into these queens' personal lives, their conversation is undoubtedly domestic.
[Image of Vin Gyub in full drag, posing with her two Italian greyhounds.]
We all know Vin’s Italian greyhounds, Justine and Bibby, the two of which she mentions constantly, so much so that it almost felt like they were on Season 22 with her. We aren’t aware of Ricky having dogs, but we can only know so much. Do you think Ricky is referring to Vin's dogs, does she have her own dogs, and what does this mean for fans of #GyubRik?
Personally, we think they’re closer than they appear. Maybe #GyubRikIsReal.
karamelo
I’ve been a Ricky for ages before RPDR. She’s never mentioned dogs, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have them. I like the idea of #GyubRik. #GyubRikIsReal
penny4urthots
I think they're dating #GyubRikIsReal
gretagetherawig
teaaaaaa #GyubRikIsReal
frikshen
#GyEwwwwBrik
Fan video taken at an unnamed cafe in Los Angeles, California, August 8th, 2030. Posted the same day to X, formerly known as Twitter, and captioned “Met Ricky and Vin today OMG!”
[Shaky video of someone approaching a pair of legs, which we quickly find out belong to Ricky]
Fan: Oh my God, I’m a really big fan, hi!
Ricky: Hi!
Fan: Could you sign an autograph for me?
Ricky: Of course! I’m just gonna need a pen and something to sign, I don’t have anything with me.
Fan: No problem!
[The phone is pressed against her bag as she rummages through it, and the screen goes black, and the sound becomes muffled, but intelligible.]
Fan: I just can’t believe I met you here. I come here, like, every day.
Ricky: I’m happy to meet you, too. What’s your—
[Ricky is interrupted by a third voice.]
?: Hey, babe, did you want the croissant, or was it—
Ricky: Vinny, oh my God.
[The third voice, now identified as Vin, stops.]
Vin: Uh, hi.
Fan: Oh my God, this is seriously the best day of my life.
[The video ends here. It’s unclear if this is the end of the video or if the fan edited it shorter.]
Instagram story posted by Matty Hue, August 16th, 2030.
[Matty stands in her living room, where a shelf covered in photos of her friends is visible. One of the photos depicts two people kissing.]
Matty: Pride just ended, and preparations for next year are already in full swing!
[She flips the camera to show fellow queens Ricky Road and Vin Gyub on her living room floor, working on some kind of rainbow head piece. The two of them laugh, and Betty Wook waves from the other side of the room. She flips the camera back to herself.]
Matty: Love my friends so much. And isn’t my boyfriend so cute?
[She looks back at Wook, smiling. She has moved closer to the shelf of photos, and it is now clear that the people kissing in the photo are Ricky and Vin.]
Instagram story posted by Matty Hue, August 16th, 2030. The story is a selfie of her looking apologetic, and the text reads ‘Oops’.
Instagram story posted by Ricky Road, August 16th, 2030. The screen is black, and the text over it reads “I don’t know drag queen Vin Gyub. Anything she may post of or about me is a doctored image or defamation”.
Instagram story posted by Vin Gyub, August 16th, 2030. It’s a close-up of the image seen in the background of Matty’s story, and it is now even clearer that the two people in the photo are her and Ricky. The picture was taken professionally.
Paparazzi video taken outside of gay bar Precinct on South Broadway, Los Angeles, where Vin Gyub celebrated her 26th birthday, on August 30th, 2030. Posted by TMZ, August 31st, 2030.
[Vin Gyub, Ricky Road, Matty Hue, and Shang Hao exit a car that pulls up to the curb. A couple of photographers snap photos of them, and some club-goers stand around, watching. Matty rushes ahead with Hao, while Vin helps Ricky out of the car, holding her hand.]
Paparazzi: Ricky! What’d you get Vin for her birthday?
Matty: Oh, come on! [Ricky rolls her eyes at the speaker as she finally makes it out of the car. Instead of walking towards Matty and Hao, she stops to answer, Vin still holding her by the arm.]
Ricky: That’s for me and her to know, isn't it?
P1: I guess so, but we were just—
Ricky: Why don’t you focus on your own life, dude? You’re papping drag queens. We’re not even that famous. Surely there are better things to be doing with your time.
[The small crowd gathered in front of the club cheer her on.]
Ricky: Like, really. What did I get her for her birthday? I’ll tell you what I can give you for—
[Vin puts her hand in front of Ricky’s mouth, stopping her abruptly.]
Vin: What she got me is for me to know, and you to hopefully never find out!
[Ricky laughs and grabs Vin by the arm, leading her into the club. The camera zooms in on Matty holding up two middle fingers, then the video ends.]
Interview with Ricky Road and Vin Gyub, conducted by Hanna Crane. Published on September 10th, 2030.
Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 22 Queens Ricky Road And Vin Gyub Officially Announce They Are Dating in an Interview With Entertainment Weekly’s Hanna Crane.
Drag queens Ricky Road and Vin Gyub: You probably already know their stories. Both came off of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 22 with legendary performances behind them and have gone nowhere but up ever since. More importantly, these feisty queens are known for clapping back at and calling out paparazzi and obsessive fans who dig too much into their personal lives. It’s this digging, in fact, that led to their relationship getting exposed as slightly more than Werk Room-mates before they had the chance to tell the world themselves. Today, they sit down with me to officially come out as drag’s newest ‘scratch the b out’ bromance, as RuPaul referred to them during the Season 22 finale, and talk about love, friendship, and breakfast foods.
Hanna Crane: Ladies, it’s an honor.
Ricky Road: We’re so happy you’re here.
Here, being their LA home, into which they welcomed me with warmth and a glass of pink lemonade. Vin is situating an Italian greyhound on her lap while Ricky, just having intercepted her own glass, searches for a way to hold it without dripping condensation all over her lap. Their living room is tastefully decorated, and it’s clear both queens have had an influence on it. Ricky wears jeans and a cardigan, paired with Versace drop earrings, while Vin is in what seems to be her pajamas.
Vin Gyub: This is Justine. No clue where Bibby is, we’ll find her later.
Hanna: Hi, Justine. Sorry, I just can’t stop looking around. Your home is beautiful.
Ricky smiles at me, and I feel like my life has just been made.
Ricky: We’ve spent a lot of time on it. It was important for both of us to have a space that reflected us, visually and artistically. We both make a lot of bullshit, hence the amount of empty space. You can see Vinny’s most recent project back there.
She points behind me, where I can see a dress pinned to a mannequin. It seems to be taking the shape of a hot dog.
Hanna: I love it so much. How long have you been working on this space?
Vin: Ages. We’ve been roommates for a while.
Hanna: I, like many others, was under the impression you two weren’t very close, even on Drag Race. Can we get the real story, now that we know you two are together?
Ricky and Vin both laugh, arguing a little over who’s going to tell the story. They decide on Ricky.
Ricky: Most of it was true. We’ve known each other for a really long time. Our dynamic is exactly what it looked like on Drag Race: we fight a lot. It’s confused a lot of people in our time.
Vin: Some of our friends don’t believe it when they find out we’re dating.
Hanna: Speaking of, how many years together do you two have under your belts?
Vin: We’ve known each other for… nine years, I think.
Ricky: Yeah, about. We’ve been dating for five.
Here, I nearly choke on my pink lemonade, but compose myself quickly enough to avoid throwing up on the couple’s beautiful Persian rug. Vin laughs at me when I finally come up for air.
Hanna: Wow. Honestly, I was expecting an answer of, like, six months.
Vin: (Laughs) We kind of had a bet going with some friends about how long we could keep our relationship a secret. It wasn't that high stakes before Drag Race, because we had about four fans combined.
Ricky: To clarify, three and a half of them were mine.
Vin: After Drag Race, the amount of eyes on us increased so significantly in a way we really weren’t expecting, so it really didn't take long. Especially considering people started really looking for clues we were together.
Hanna: I’m sure Matty (Hue) posting that story didn’t help.
Both groan at the mention of friend Matty Hue’s incriminating Instagram story, where a photo of the two of them kissing was visible in the background. Though she deleted it fairly soon after posting, a quick-thinking fan took a screen recording, and it spread through social media like wildfire. And Vin posted a close-up, so there was no denying the obvious.
Ricky: I love her so much, but no, it didn’t.
Vin: There’s no explaining tonguing your competitor.
Hanna: Indeed, there is not. How was it being on Drag Race as a couple?
Vin: It was both rewarding and very challenging. It’s good to have someone there with you who you know will support you unconditionally, someone you can cry to if you don’t do well in a challenge, but I was also comparing myself to her a lot.
Ricky: I did the same. We excel in different things, although I think being together has helped the two of us strengthen the weaknesses we have. Like, Vinny’s really funny, and she’s helped me a lot in my comedy, and making sure it comes across the way I want it to.
Vin: When I first got here (Los Angeles), I could barely paint my face. (Laughs) No, seriously, I looked ridiculous. Ricky helped me perfect my mug, and even now, I get tips from her. On fashion stuff, too. It’s really awesome having someone who does the same thing that you do, especially considering this is such a niche field.
They smile at each other, and I’m happy to confirm: This royal couple is here to stay.
Hanna: I can imagine. Now, I have to ask. You told multiple sources you had no idea about the other coming onto the show. Now that we know you live together, and well, love together, I can’t help but wonder how true this really is.
The two laugh and take a couple moments to compose themselves before they reply.
Ricky: So, basically.
Vin: It’s a long story.
Hanna: I have time, ladies.
Ricky: We’ve both auditioned for the show a few times in the past couple years. Imagine us on Matty’s season.
Hanna: I can’t.
Ricky: Me neither. This season was perfect for us. Anyway, we’ve auditioned over and over, and it was never a goal to get on the same season, but it happened anyway.
Vin: And we did tell each other, don’t worry.
Hanna: So Ricky’s beloved reaction when you walked in wasn’t real?
Vin: Well, I wouldn’t call it entirely fake. She loves me, though, I think.
Ricky: Oh, come on. Yes, it was fake. We’ve told every news source different things about what the other told us they were doing as an explanation for the Drag Race absence.
Vin: Lasik, backpacking, plastic surgery, Everest. I don’t know if anyone’s put the pieces together yet.
Hanna: I certainly didn’t notice.
The two high-five.
Vin: One person bamboozled is enough for us.
Hanna: Something I’ve been wondering since I heard the relationship speculations: What would you two have done if you had to lip sync against each other on the show?
Ricky: That was like my worst nightmare going in.
Vin: I was worried, too, but I probably would have flopped a little to let her continue. Ricky wanted it more than me, and trust me, I wanted it really bad. (Laughs)
Ricky: You’re too sweet. You’re making us do, like, mental gymnastics here, thank God that didn’t happen.
Hanna: Sorry! A more positive question: What were your first impressions of each other?
Vin: I had seen Ricky a lot on Instagram and stuff before I moved here, because we had some mutual friends, and I thought she was so hot.
Ricky: Embarrassing. I was not impressed by Vinny when I first saw her, but she charmed me eventually. Somehow.
Hanna: Adorable. So, I have to ask the question all of America has been asking: Pancakes or waffles?
This, of course, refers to the couple being spotted feeding each other breakfast at an IHOP earlier this year. A video taken by a fan and later posted to the RuPaul’s Drag Race subreddit sparked curiosity about the nature of the relationship, and one of the fans behind the camera even commented, “Yo, are they dating?”. Both laugh before answering.
Ricky: Waffles.
Vin: Pancakes, for sure.
Ricky: That video was so embarrassing. I don’t like that there’s proof of her feeding me out there.
Vin: And you liked it!
Here, Ricky shoves her boyfriend, who gives me an exasperated look. The Italian greyhound on her lap, Justine, doesn’t budge.
Hanna: So, what are the plans for now?
Ricky: Overall, we just want to stay together and keep doing what we love for as long as we can. Short term, we’ve been tossing around the idea of a joint tour, but I’m not sure people will come if she’s there.
Vin: Oh, please. There’s a lot in store that we aren’t able to share right now. Ricky is about to slap a hand over my mouth so I don’t blab.
Hanna: Oooh, secretive.
Ricky: You know how I play it.
Hanna: I do. I’m wondering if the two of you can pitch a new WoW Presents show. Something like: A Trip Down GyubRoad.
Vin: I’d be down.
Ricky: We’d have to workshop the name a little, though.