Bebe Zahara Benet journeys to Queendom

Since winning the crown in the inaugural season of RuPaul's Drag Race, Bebe Zahara Benet has proven that life is anything but a drag. The larger than life persona is as diverse as her native West African home of Cameroon, and is in no way letting her heels slow her pace.

"I'm being pulled in ten different directions," Bebe enthusiastically admits, "but that's why they call it: a one-woman show."

Bebe is referring to the current drag event that she's been sinking her much manicured talons into, a unique cabaret event Zahara Benet is calling Queendom.

"I call it a retelling - it details my coming to the United States, from Cameroon, my experience with fame on Drag Race, and then coming into New York City - which is [of course] the concrete jungle. It's all about me finding my own rhythm and path here." And with New York City's own unique and vibe, the Big Apple has been a great inspiration to the artist. "It's wonderfully crazy here."

Had something to say

At the intersection of West and Central Africa, because of its vast savannas and tropical forests, Cameroon is often referred to as "Africa in miniature." This description is befitting the artist that won the hearts of the nation on the competition reality show, but Bebe wasn't necessarily out to win the big prize on Drag Race. "I didn't go on the show to win it. Drag Race gave me a platform; it didn't give me a career. I did it because I knew I had something to say. I wanted to be an artist and have a platform."

Which is what Bebe is promising with Queendom. "We previewed it during the summer and now are prepared to bring it to a bigger stage," she says of the show's current iteration. "I'm creating an eclectic kind of sound. I incorporate a lot of that in my music - which is pop, r&b or house and infuse it with a lot of my tribal elements whether it's chatting or singing in another language." The recently released single "Cameroon" which was produced by Mark Picchiotti is a sample of Bebe's musical veracity. "It's going to be all about my journey. As artists, we are storytellers and when we have the opportunity to tell our stories we have to do that."

Though life on Drag Race paved her way onto the social consciousness, Bebe admits the road though rocky was set from the start. "I knew growing up I wanted to be in show business, but I didn't know what direction to take. You don't pursue drag growing up in Cameroon." The story is something now of legend: Bebe fashioned for herself a drag persona and worked a Paris fashion runway. "I did that, and then went back home to Cameroon, but I didn't have anyone to share that experience with - it was a little secret I kept to myself." Moving to the United States finally exposed the aspiring entertainer to the fanciful illusion of the drag culture. "I felt so comfortable and found an incredibly creative outlet in drag."

Story continues on following page:

Watch Bebe Zahara Benet's video "Cameroon":

Watch Bebe Zahara Benet's video "I'm the Shit"

Life since Drag Race

It's certainly has shaken up the traditionalist values Bebe left behind in Africa. "Well an African male is not supposed to do this." Bebe is referring to drag. It's an unacceptable art form in the African culture. "It would be totally out of control, but y'know just being on Drag Race has stirred up the pot." With Bebe having garnered the international attention that the show has created, it's very difficult for her native Africa not to lay claim to such a shining talent. "People's perceptions are changing."

It certainly has brought some resonance to an aspect of our gay community that was for a long time considered an off-shoot of the subculture. "It's important to be able to demonstrate that you can be anything you want to be," Bebe elaborates. "I'm not a drag artist because I'm gay. I'm a drag artist because that's my outlet for how I choose to express myself and share my story with people." Certainly in today's world acknowledging the importance of Bebe's actions to creates a visible presence helps to provide an aspiring role-model to gay youth who can identify, but Zahara Benet prefers not to be perceived as a role model. "I'm not a role-model - I'm a human being. I do the charity work and appearances not because I'm a celebrity, back because it's the human thing to do. I do it from the heart"

And as for the popularity of drag since the launch of the hit Logo competition series, Bebe offered this insight: "Who would have thought that after Drag Race we would have had all those people watching the show? But we're still not compared to mainstream talent -- and our talent is so much more. It takes a lot to do what we do as entertainers." Proving that Bebe Zahara Benet is more than just a one-note wonder, stretching her fame into a viable brand. Bebe enthusiastically reveals "I want to be the Martha Stewart of Drag." Sights are set on various ventures that she hopes will perpetuate her image. "We build our personas around women, and I'm constantly asked about my fashions and even perhaps a wig line - anything that can enhance a woman's image."

And with work coming together for the arrival of the Queen, Bebe is only just beginning her rainbow tour. "The work gets harder. People will always have an expectation about me, and are wondering what I'm going to do now that I have a platform. I have an even greater expectation of myself." Following the beats of the drum as the African Goddess brings her tribal talent to her loyal fans, but be warned, if you miss Bebe Zahara Benet when she takes to the stage this month, it will be at your own risk. She is prepared! "I will hunt you down!" -- in the most fashionable way possible.

The royal opening of Bebe Zahara Benet's One-Woman-Show Queendom will be unveiled on Monday, December 13th @ 9:30pm at The Tank Theatre located in New York City's Theatre District at 354 West 45th Street.