EDGE Interview: Alaska & Lola have 48 Hours to Organize a Pageant in 'Drag Queen of the Year' Docuseries

Alaska is from a different side of the competition circuit, although it's based in the same world. While "Drag Queen of the Year" is a docuseries about the process of putting on an underground stage show, the Emmy-winning "RuPaul's Drag Race," where Alaska starred in Season 5 and went on to win "All-Stars" Season 2, is its commercialized sister. Both are reality shows, but they focus on different aspects, namely the talent and how they identify. "Drag Race" has had issues in the past with casting trans contestants and the U.S. series is still sluggish when it comes to casting diverse performers, like drag kings. But Lola and Alaska believe "Drag Queen of the Year" should feature diverse performers, allowing them to be creative no matter how they identify.

"I mean, from where we come from, anyone who's done drag has shared a dressing room with trans women or drag kings," Alaska contends. "Like, it's not unusual. Anyone who knows the world of drag knows that that is not out of the norm. So, it was really just putting our authentic experience on stage."

Adding to that sentiment, Lola says there's room at the table for everyone and some pageants can be specific to certain genders such as Miss Gay America, which is gay male-oriented. Or Miss Continental, which is primarily trans women.

"The whole point of our pageant was to have a place for those people who don't have a place to go," says Alaska. "Um, there are some folks that want to show off their talents, but they're not accepted, and they don't have a chance in the normal pageant system. But this is a normal pageant system. This is everything about a normal pageant system. That's why we create."

Where there was only one drag reality TV show in 2009, there are now several. Not only has RuPaul's brand gone global with shows in 14 countries like Thailand, the Philippines, and Germany, but other iterations are trying to capture that same sizzle with shows like "Call Me Mother," "Drag Me to Dinner," and "Dragula."

Although "Drag Queen of the Year" isn't technically a competitive game show –- the actual contest is a side note –- it's still in the same realm of the art of drag. To the point of risking content fatigue, why would viewers want to watch it?

"We're telling the stories of not just what happens on this really stressful day, we're telling the stories of these really inspiring eight artists," says Lola. "That's really what the show is about and why it's good."

Until the next season begins filming, the duo will stay very busy. Lola is currently working on something she doesn't want to reveal just yet, but she says 2024 is going to be a great year. Alaska is less covert about her schedule. She's wrapping up "Drag: The Musical" in Los Angeles in March before heading to the U.K. In April with her Lady Gaga tribute show "Artpop."

However, even she has her secret projects. When asked if she is planning to release new music, she doesn't give a definitive answer, opting to be vague instead. "You might just get your wish," she says slyly.