What does winning Drag Race really give you? The crown, sure. A scepter, maybe. Instagram followers, definitely. The title, duh. Oh — and money, usually. But besides all that, just making it into the Werk Room is itself a win. And if you show up every week and try your best — or at least try to turn your flopping into great TV — you can leave the show feeling like a winner, baby. The followers and the money will come, it just might be in incremental installments paid annually over your career. So when you think of the fifth place queen of Canada's Drag Race Season 5, don't look at her as having just missed out on the finale — because Perla has plenty to be proud of.
Perla came into the Werk Room as the fashion girly and never let that first impression down. She served lewk after lewk, and even gave Brooke Lynn Hytes her own show-stopping runway moment (in a good way, because we're not going to talk about what happened when Brooke turned around). The doll won a comedy challenge and, surprising herself, the sultry lip syncer even proved to be a dynamite dancer, blasting off in one of the best lip syncs in franchise herstory. Perla's cemented her place among the top echelon of Canada's queens.
Below, read my conversation with Perla about all the moments I just ran through ... yes, including that damn popped stitch.
Brett White: Congrats on a fantastic run on Canada's Drag Race. What have fans been saying to you over the course the last eight weeks?
Perla: I'm gagged that so many people resonated and are obsessed with me because, um, what? That's the best way to sum it up. Like, are y'all okay? Me out of all people?
After watching the season, what has been the biggest shock to you?
Okay, this is the dumbest thing. The biggest shock to me is how short I actually am. When they did a zoom out on the runway that first week, I was like, there's no way that I'm actually that short. Y'all are punking me. They say the camera adds 10 pounds, but no, it takes away 10 inches of height.
I've been told that y'all got to the hotel and the producers were like, "Okay, now you're going to write a verse. You're not going to relax before you go into the Werk Room. You're going to start working now." What was that like to you?
You know when you just hear "Bohemian Rhapsody" in your head and you're just like [mumble singing] "Is this the real life...?" in that moment. Like, walking down the hallway to record the rap and I'm like, "Mamaaaa..." Great time, great time.
I feel like people probably relate to you because of your trajectory over the season, where you're a stunning queen but you still had the ups and downs of an underdog queen. What was it like going from the bottom in Week 1 and then all of a sudden you're winning a comedy challenge?
You know, I don't like roller coasters, but I sure as hell rode one all the way to top five. I think it's hilarious to watch and I'm shocked that I I managed to not cry until episode eight. I'm quite shocked. I did not realize that I really am that emotionally inept, that I was able to just hold it all in. And even when I'm crying, I'm still making stupid jokes.
That's also very relatable. This season also had low-key alliances and strategy with the Golden Beaver. You saving Xana in Episode 2 ends up paying off weeks and weeks later. Was that strategy paying off?
Honestly, not at all, not at all. I wish that I came into this game calculated. I really just walked into that room and said, "I'm just happy to be here." And that was the extent of it. But I knew saving Xana — I was like, this diva, this crazy little bitch right here, she is fighting for this. She wants to be here so badly, and I feel that from her, and I knew — regardless of if she ever saved me later down the line, whatever — I knew that she was fighting for this. I had to keep her in this game, because that fire was real. And then when she had the beaver, I was like, "Diva, this secret alliance that we may or may not have, that we only know about, and have been telepathically telling each other about this entire time that no one else knows about, but we're telling each other through our minds because we're psychics, maybe, who knows ..."
Yeah, like, on All Stars 2, Alaska saved Roxxxy because of a rhinestoned tank top, whereas when The Virgo Queen had the Beaver and you're like, "I designed the wig on your head..."!
Oh, 100%. I'm like, "You had a deadline to pay me, and you didn't do it. I'm still waiting on my deposit. So why don't I void that to save my own ass?" Because I'm what? A Capricorn and strategic, and now that I have this opportunity, let's try to take it. And when she was like, "Hey, Jaylene, you want the beaver?" If I could raise my eyebrows, they would be moving right now.
My favorite moment of yours the entire season, though, has to be the Slayoffs. You and Sanjina turned out the Lip Sync battle of 2024 at the end of the year.
I had no idea that was gonna happen.
How aware were you of Sanjina? Or are you the only girl in the room while you're performing?
I'm definitely in my own world, but I'm also aware of when I need to make myself more visible, which I think says a lot
You were going against the tallest girl in the room, and you are the Pocket Rocket.
Pocket Rocket forever.
You had to do all different kinds of songs for lip syncs this season, too. How do you prepare for an Avril Lavigne ballad as opposed to a Priyanka club banger?
You know, I consider myself a mid-tempo diva. Give me my Ariana Grande, give me something that's like, ooh, something that's fun, something that's hot — but not, like, I'm gonna pop off and dance for you. So even doing "Bad Bitches Don't Cry," I'm like, "This song is out of my element." I'm not this pop off girl that I need to be in this moment. And somehow I held my own.
The hair flips! I don't know how the hair flips work in ballads!
You know what? You can make it work. If there's a will, there's a way, and I will hair flip at any cost
The gaggiest challenge of the season, though, had to be designing a look for Brooke Lynn Hytes. How excited were you to do that challenge? Or were you more nervous?
I was excited. I think I benefited — minus that damn friggin' one hand stitch, but we won't talk about that, we're putting a veil over that — I was one of the only people in the room that actually knew how to sew and actually knew how to really sew, besides Helena Poison. And going into that challenge, I know how to manipulate a pattern. I know how to do these certain things. And luckily, Brooke and I somehow have the same size waist. So I was like, "Oh well, pop off. We got this going, diva. I now know that I just need to extend my patterns." I was having a great time. I finished, like, almost an hour and a half early compared to everyone else. And I was like, "I did that!" And this hand stitch popped and then sabotaged me.
In your final challenge, you mentioned that it took you so long to show vulnerability. And then you cry in the Werk Room, but your critique in the challenge is they wanted more vulnerability. You all did so well in the "What Just Happened?!" challenge.
I had a lot of fun. I I really felt at home just being myself, getting to say stupid things, and having fun with my sisters. Regardless of the outcome of that challenge, I still got to see my dog and my partner, and I looked so good in that outfit. I was sitting back there like dryer friendly Lemon in the back and I was having a great time. I look great in bangs.
Did you spend the entire time waiting for the message from home? It's a reality TV staple.
At that point it was the last few weeks, Episode 7, Episode 8. I brought a journal with me so I could write my thoughts out so I wouldn't spiral as much, and there were pages in there being like, "I wonder if this is when the message from home is going to happen. I need to hear from Will. I'm going insane. Is my dog still alive?" Like, just spiral, spiral mode.
What was your proudest moment of Season 5?
Honestly, I'm just thankful that I got to share my story. Never in a million years did I think so many people would resonate with my story. It means the world that talking about my childhood, talking about my sobriety, talking about my insecurities within myself, and showcasing my love of fashion, my stupid, stupid personality and connecting with so many people over that is honestly worth more than a crown. And I may not have won the season, but I won the fans, and I can't even put it into words. It means the world to me.
I cannot wait to see you on UK vs. the World, Canada vs. the World, Global All Stars, US All Stars — who knows!
You know what? RuPaul, let's do this. Let's do it. I know you love a tiny, funny bitch. I'm ready to be tiny and funny in front of you. Michelle, I'll wear enough blush for you.
Follow Perla on Instagram at @callherperla. All seasons of Canada's Drag Race are now streaming on WOW Presents Plus.
