‘Drag is Art’ Minnesotan and first Drag Race winner BeBe Zahara Benet to perform Saturday

NINA MOINI: This weekend, legendary drag performer BeBe Zahara Benet will headline a show at the Capri Theater in north Minneapolis. Marshall Ngwa first took the stage as BeBe at a pride party in 2000, dancing alongside Cyndi Lauper-- wow. That was shortly after he moved to Minneapolis from Cameroon. A few years later, BeBe competed in the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race, and she won the title of America's Next Drag Superstar.

The reality TV show has, of course, exploded in popularity since then. It's brought more eyes to the art of drag, which LGBTQ people and allies have used to challenge gender norms and celebrate authentic self-expression for more than 100 years. Meanwhile, BeBe has continued to perform and release original music with a home base in Minneapolis. Marshall Ngwa joins me now. Welcome to Minnesota Now.

MARSHALL NGWA: Hi, Nina. [LAUGHS]

NINA MOINI: Oh, I really appreciate you.

MARSHALL NGWA: Thank you so much for having me. It's just such an honor.

NINA MOINI: So that first drag performance in Minneapolis, tell me about that. With Cyndi Lauper? Wow, what a debut.

[LAUGHTER]

MARSHALL NGWA: Listen, if you are going to make a debut like that or an entrance, as they say it, you do it with Cyndi Lauper. It was so amazing. But it was also terrifying at the same time because that was the first time I was really experiencing the art form in its full regalia, so I didn't even what to expect. It was so nerve wracking, but it was so amazing. I mean, she was so delightful and very supportive. And she's always been a champion.

So we got-- actually, she wanted us to go on stage and do "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" with her. So she just wanted a whole bunch of amazing artists to go up on stage with her. And so that was the particular song that she was doing. And then after that, we got an opportunity to sit with her in her trailer and just have a conversation. And it was just humbling, humbling to just have that opportunity being my first, you know?

NINA MOINI: Yeah, in the beginning of a career. How inspiring. Were you hooked at that point? Were you like, this is something I need to be doing? Or were you already set in that journey?

MARSHALL NGWA: Listen, that was the first time I said, oh, I can make a lot of money, OK?

[LAUGHTER]

That was the first time I said, oh, money--

NINA MOINI: Oh.

MARSHALL NGWA: --doing this?

[LAUGHTER]

I always grew up as a child knowing that I was going to be in entertainment. I wasn't sure what sort of entertainment it was going to take. But I always knew that God had gifted me so much with my love for music, my love for fashion, for style, for performance arts, everything.

But then fast forward, I come to America, and then I get an opportunity to be really introduced to the art form of drag. And I was like-- that's when it made more sense to me. I was like, oh, my gosh, that it is, because it's just an art form that just embraces everything that I love to do. And listen, I knew that-- I saw that I could make money [LAUGHS] from doing it.

Because when you come to this country, you're not necessarily coming to this country like, oh, my gosh, I want to be a star, you know? Because our parents do send us here for us to work really hard and really get a great job to be able to take care of ourselves and take care of our families and all that stuff. So the art form was never what I was thinking of until I was introduced to it. And I was like, oh yeah, I'm really good at it. And it was my calling to do it.

NINA MOINI: Yeah, and it's anybody who has a craft that they love, if you could make money or make that into a career of some sort, it's why not? It's kind of, like, the ultimate gift to be able to do that. So I'm so happy for you. How did you get to that first season of RuPaul's Drag Race? And what was that experience like?

MARSHALL NGWA: Oh, wow. Yeah, that was a couple of-- well, I would say that was many years ago, but that would be telling my age. But--

[LAUGHTER]

Many years ago, when they started auditioning for the show, this thing actually happened to me three times. One of my friends mentioned to me, hey, they're doing this project, and it would be great for you to be part of this project. And I remember being out of town. And I was like, oh, yeah, I'll think about it, or whatever. And I just paid it no mind.

And then the second time, the producers actually were going to different cities and states to audition for artists. And so when they came to Minnesota, I was one of those that my name kept coming to them. So they contacted me and said, hey, we would like you to put in an audition tape for this project. And I was like, oh, OK, I'll send it to you, OK. And I never did.

And what's so interesting is that I was performing, and I was doing "Circle of Life," "He Lives in You" from The Lion King. And after I was done, I went to my dressing room. RuPaul was actually in the audience. He came and nobody knew he was coming--

NINA MOINI: Wow.

MARSHALL NGWA: --and he was going to be there. So he just sneaked in to watch the show. And then when I was actually taking my regalia off, [LAUGHS] they come in and tell me, hey, RuPaul wants to talk to you. I was like, what? RuPaul wants to talk to me? Where is he, you know?

And then all of a sudden, he comes to my dressing room, and then that's when he tells me that, hey, I'm actually doing this show, and I would love for you to be part of it because I think that your story and what you represent will be amazing for the show. That's when I decided to put my audition tape and do it.

And mind you, the reason I never wanted to do it is because a lot of times, when I got into the community, I just always saw that people were laughing at the art form, as opposed to laughing with the art form. And the art form has a lot of joy and comedy and all that laughter. But also it is a very serious art. We put a lot in what we do.

And because of that, I was just like, oh, I don't want to be in a project where anybody is going to laugh at me. I want you to laugh with me if you dare, so. [LAUGHS] But then knowing that RuPaul was part of this project, that's what really encouraged me to end up doing it. And the rest is history. [LAUGHS]

NINA MOINI: So in the last 20 years or so that you have been performing and you've been BeBe, how have you changed as a performer, as a person throughout that time, while maintaining this identity?

MARSHALL NGWA: Well, first of all, I think that when you get to be and have the platform that I have, you get to hear a lot of stories. When people come and tell you, hey, I was going through a dark time and just watching you doing what you do inspired, you just know that it's not just about putting the regalia on and being on stage and doing what you do, but it's really affecting people.

It's inspiring people. It's moving a movement. And to me, that's what has been so great about it. And it has changed me. It just changed my perspective of so many things. It's like, don't judge a book by its cover.

NINA MOINI: Yeah. So it must have been a different, elevated version of you who was on All-Star season of the show than in 2018.

MARSHALL NGWA: [LAUGHS] [? Great call. ?]

NINA MOINI: Yeah.

MARSHALL NGWA: [LAUGHS] Nina, you better know your stories and know your history.

[LAUGHTER]

You got scared.

NINA MOINI: It's a full timeline.

MARSHALL NGWA: Listen, listen. There's no way that you can live-- just be in this world. Forget even about the artistry. There's no way that you can just live the life of humanity, and you don't change. Hopefully, you're elevated with life experiences. That's what I feel like everybody--

NINA MOINI: That's the goal.

MARSHALL NGWA: --hopes to is to be elevated, you know?

NINA MOINI: Well, just that drag has become more mainstream. There have been more eyes on it. That has come with some good and some really difficult moments and difficult rhetoric that has been out there. Do you reflect on that, and how the art form has been perceived by different groups of people and talked about?

MARSHALL NGWA: Well, first of all, I would always say that drag is art. I just have to put that out there. Drag is art. People spend a lot of money to watch us do what we do. People invest a lot of money to be part of our art form, to be in whatever shape or form that is. Because it's always been a struggle where people would use the word "drag" and then not put it in the same sentence with art. It is art. We do create.

And just to be able to see that we are part of the conversation, there are two things, I would say, in the story, right? The first thing is that we're in the forefront, and you're hearing about us. You're hearing about who we are and what the art form is all about. So that is always good, because any point and sense of exposure is necessary to get us doing what we're doing.

But it's coming at a point where it's not really helping us because it's using it to weaponize everything. It's weaponizing us, weaponizing-- making people scared of what we do and how we do. And it's really, really unfortunate. But that is why our voices need to be bolder. Because when everybody comes and they get to experience what we do, and they celebrate what we do, that's making our voices bolder.

And that's why we need just not only the community, but the allies to be able to say, no. This is what you think, but you've not been able to connect with these people to know that it's not threatening. And it's just a distraction. You're just using something to distract from what the real problem is. And we just have to keep putting that rhetoric out there.

NINA MOINI: And when you are using your voice, another part of that is that you've shared your story through a documentary. I got that timeline going, 2021.

[LAUGHTER]

Now we're at 2021. So your documentary that follows your career, it's called Being BeBe. It was like through the pandemic, through a lot of different stuff, themes around how LGBTQ individuals are treated, and Cameroonians and in other parts of the world. What was it like sharing so much of yourself and your journey?

MARSHALL NGWA: Well, I think it was important to be able to share my journey while I was alive. At first-- because I'm also a very private person. While I'm always on stage doing, I also live a private life. But when the opportunity presented itself to do a documentary and tell my own story, I just came to a point where I was like, if somebody's going to do it, I have to do it.

And I have to do it very honestly and authentically because I think it really inspires people. It's going to share some light. And you get to watch my journey not just as a human being, but you get to watch my journey as an artist. And hopefully, it sheds some light where people can look at my story and can look at my family and look at everything and just my community and say, oh my gosh, I get it now. And they can get a little understanding.

But I think the basis of what that is, is being dedicated, being disciplined when you fall, doing everything you have to do to get back to the top. And you can actually always get back to the top, and just sharing love. And even when I'm not here, those things will still stand true.

NINA MOINI: Yeah. Well, BeBe, thank you so much for stopping by Minnesota Now. We really appreciate you. And wishing you the best and excited for your show this weekend at the Capri.

MARSHALL NGWA: Thank you. I really appreciate you, Nina. Thank you.

NINA MOINI: Marshall Ngwa is the drag performer BeBe Zahara Benet. She's headlining a show called ROAR at the Capri Theater in north Minneapolis this coming Saturday. Thank you all so much for joining us today on Minnesota Now.

Tomorrow on the show, we'll have the latest from tonight's vigil, of course, for Melissa and Mark Hortman. Plus, we'll learn the story of a Northfield man who's paid it forward for hundreds of strangers in his town. I'm Nina Moini on behalf of the entire Minnesota Now team. We thank you for listening. Have a good rest of your afternoon.

[MUSIC PLAYING]