Michelle Visage on being gay in America under Donald Trump’s regime, turning 50, the ageing process and plastic surgery

YOU'VE JUST finished filming season 11 as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Why do people love the show so much?

The glitz and the glamour is beautiful, but for me it’s about the integrity, tenacity and spirit.

Almost all these kids come from broken homes, or they’ve been thrown out by parents or had parents try to make them straight with conversion therapy or religion, so we go on a journey with them.

Why do you feel an affinity with the LGBT community?

It comes down to acceptance. I never felt welcome in the heteronormative groups.

I was never pretty enough or cool enough. I was the class weirdo, but I didn’t own that weirdo moniker until much later.

When I moved to New York, the gay community welcomed me with open arms and told me how beautiful I was. I will never turn my back on them.

RuPaul caused some controversy earlier this year over whether trans women should be able to go on Drag Race. What’s your opinion?

Everyone has always been welcome, and trans women have always been a part of the drag spectrum.

What made you take on a role in the musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie?

Literally everybody was talking about it, and I thought it was a lovely story with some great music.

It’s very of the now, especially with what’s going on in America with our regime that’s ruining our good, fair country.

We’re guessing you’re talking about Trump…

I was on a gay cruise [when he was declared president] with 300 queer people, as well as my family [husband David Case, a screenwriter, and daughters Lillie, 18, and Lola, 16].

I’ve got a queer daughter, and she was sobbing. It’s scary for her. We were frightened to death.

He’s trying to erase everything our brothers and sisters have fought so hard to make happen.