Canada’s Drag Race Exit Interview: Mya Foxx & Velma Jones on the Shocking Double Elimination

Mya Foxx and Velma Jones are standout contestants from Canada’s Drag Race, known for their distinct styles, cultural representation, and strong presence both on and off the runway. Mya Foxx represents the Maritimes and Inuit heritage, blending urban fashion, performance, and dance into her drag, while Velma Jones is a Montreal-based AFAB queen celebrated for her theatricality, mentorship, and commitment to inclusive representation in the drag community. Following their surprise double elimination, both queens continue to tour, perform, and build their platforms across Canada.

TEM (The Extra Mile) : It was definitely a huge gag, losing both of you guys in the same episode. And I guess, like, how did that feel? Because, I mean , you guys had at least kind of each other, almost, to support each other in that moment.

Mya: Yeah, mean, it was a huge gag. mean, anytime that there’s a stunt like that, like a double elimination, you’re just hoping it’s not you, it’s not you, it’s not you, and then it ends up being you. I think, like, the saving grace was we had each other. You know what I mean? We went through the exact same process. So, like, from the whole elimination, post-show, all that kind of stuff, we had each other. So that was nice. Although I would still like to see Velma there, too, but at least I wasn’t alone.

Velma:  It’s bittersweet. It’s like, it’s better with Mya, but I would be with Mya in the workroom.

TEM: And I want to know if you guys had, like, if you could swap Lipsync songs, even like, if you just had like a different moment decision, because I know Mya, you got to kind of choose a little bit earlier. Would you guys still, like, would you have chosen a different song?What song would that have been?

Mya: I was wrestling in my head a lot with the song. And honestly, like the Tate McRae, It’s Okay, I’m Okay, is more on my wheelhouse. But I was sort of trying to play to win the episode, not win the round. So the other song that was like, speaks to me and like, I eat, sleep and breathe is Don’t cha by the Pussycat Dolls. So I was like, if I do the Fefe Dobson, that means I get the Dont’ cha song. So I was trying to play a couple rounds ahead when, in hindsight, maybe I should have just stuck to something in my wheelhouse. But I still think it did really well. And like, you know, it is what it is. was a really good lip sync.

Velma: Oh, yeah. I got the first one also. We were all gagged. And of course. I would have to choose another song. I had in my head like Celine Dion because I love like the spoken word. I love to be silly with that. And I would have played with it. And also, I wanted to feel good because it’s a French song.

Mya: It was so funny. There’s three of us that speak French on the cast and none of us got the French song. It was crazy.

TEM: I want to know for me, each of you guys, I want to know a little bit about kind of where your drag started and like how you guys got your name.

Mya: Yeah, sure. So I started in the drag scene as like a backup dancer. So I was like taking dance classes here in Halifax and a couple of the queens here in the city kind of reached out and we’re like, you know, you should backup dance for us. And then eventually they were like, girl, like you got something like you need to get in drag and do a show. And it was like during COVID that it actually happened because I was sort of on the fence wasn’t sure if it was something I’d be interested in or not. And then, you know, once the bars had kind of reopened and after you’ve been locked inside for months and months and months, there was a guest spot in one of the shows and the girls were like, you know, come on in, we’ll do your hair, we’ll do your makeup, we’ll give you a costume, you just need to go out and perform. And that’s sort of how it started. So shout out to the Haus of Rivers here in Halifax. And yeah, they’re the ones that gave me my start. And then for my drag name, Foxx comes from one of my dried mentors, Trinity Foxx. And then I’m super inspired by like the late 90s and early 2000s. So Mya comes from like the R&B center from that time.

Velma: For me, I was helping other queens to do their numbers. Like I was an extras in some like big numbers that we used to do in Montreal, theatrical things. And once we, it was during Pride and I asked one of my mentor, what she’s now my mentor, but is there a place for me? Do you think I can do it? And she’s like, Yeah. I host a show that is called Drag Moi, Drag Me, and it’s like a school, and it’s a contest, and it’s three months, and if you’re in, every week you do a show, and it’s a challenge, so I went, and I won that contest, so that was the beginning of it, yeah, and I was so stressed to, like, have a good name, and my first song was Roxy from Chicago, so I met Velma Kelly with Catherine Zeta-Jones, and it came Velma Jones,

TEM: Watching the season back, was there anything that the audience didn’t quite get to see the full picture of who you are, like, is there something about each of you that didn’t quite make it on TV?

Mya: Uh, I mean, it’s, it’s hard, it’s hard, right, I mean, there’s, there’s only so much time to kind of fit into an episode, so of course, like, certain things are missed and whatnot. I think, like, for me, a lot of people just kind of thought I was, like, this quiet wallflower and whatnot that was in the corner the whole time, and I think I proved them wrong when we got to the acting challenges and Snatcj Game and all the fun stuff, right, but I don’t know, like, I’m just, I’m super goofy, I’m really dry and sarcastic, and, like, there was a lot of kind of, like, fun workroom banter that didn’t make the cut in the end, but yeah, like, I’m, like, one of those backstage girls, you know what I mean, that likes to kiki and really break it down, and, yeah, so I, I wish we’d have to see a little bit more of that, but, like, it is what it is.

Velma: Yeah, we had too much louder, uh, queens in the, in the workroom for that, for me, like, um, I’m always, like, being silly and do silly things, but I, I was, like, maybe they didn’t want me to speak a lot in English because I was not, um, enough good, I don’t know, sometimes I’m, like, oh, I’m so quiet, why? I was, like, talking, but I don’t know.

Mya: But we were also, like, Velma and I are, like, the two oldest on the cast, the chill people, like, the grounding people, trying to keep everybody centered, even though that’s Saltina’s gig, apparently. But no, like, we were just kind of, like, a constant, like, chill force, and people would, like, come to us when they were having problems and stuff like that, and, like, we kind of helped them out with those kinds of things.

Velma: yeah, we were really at fault with a lot of people, and we didn’t see that a lot, like, yeah, but it was all my idea anyway, so.

TEM:  Is there anyone, like, who in the cast would you say surprised you kind of the most, then?

Mya: I would say Paolo, honestly. Like, when Paolo came in, I was, like, who is this girl, like, her in a little chainmail dress and looking amazing, don’t get me wrong, but I was, like, I had no idea who she was, and then as soon as I heard her verse, I was, like, oh, that’s that girl, that’s that girl. She’s crazy off her rocker, and I live for her. So yeah, I think Paolo was the biggest surprise for me because it’s just the aesthetic and her mind don’t match, and I live for that.

Velma: I would say you, Maya, because during Snatch Game I was gagged. Like, what is going on? I didn’t see that side of you at all. Like, yeah, you really surprised me in a good way.

Mya: Oh, thank you, girl. Like I said, I’m just like, my natural demeanor is just more chill, and I think people don’t equate that with funny or comedy or whatever, but it’s like, when you put me on a stage or I’m in a challenge or whatever, it flips on. So yeah, so I was happy, it surprised a few people.

Velma: I think it’s a mature thing to keep energy just to give it in the right moment. for the good person that’s right

TEM: What was your favorite look that we got to see on the runway and why

Mya: uh I would say my chemical reaction yeah we both and you know what’s so funny is it’s the same designer that made both looks  and I think we we definitely had the best the two best looks of the week that week but no we we gagged them I um I remember like when I put it on and I came around the corner and it was Hazel was like like where did this come from I’m so gagged and I know it felt really so good special effects like we both had smoke I had the lava going like the makeup for like we I think we both turned it out that week

Velma: Can you imagine she did that makeup and after we had to redo a makeup for the the the roast

Mya: homophobia oh my god. It was the craziest week like I don’t know like if you clock like the runway came before the challenge so we did them back to back and it was the one runway where it’s like nobody’s doing pretty glam makeup like you had a glass  like you looked wet I had like I was gray and red and orange and we had to take it all off and put the like a regular mug on in like an hour we were so panicked it was the biggest like the most chaotic scene

Velma: But I’m really hesitating because I have like three major I found like that the tampon was really something like it was a big statement for me and it was really important and Johnny was another one like the warewolf I was like super excited to wear it and of course my chemical reaction like it was something I was so stressed to bring that because of the crystals like I was panicking in the airplane I was sweating it was like my crystal oh they’re okay.

Mya: And nobody talks about Michelle, like the packing and trying to make sure everything holds up when you get there, it is like, I don’t know, they need to like send one of those like rink security trucks to each of our addresses so we can load our drag in and it comes perfectly,

TEM: is there anything that you guys can share that’s kind of next for you?

Mya: Honestly, like, I mean, this has just been such a crazy ride, and like we’re getting booking requests all over the country, I’ve got like my summers booking up, like we’re so excited for all of that. Honestly, I’m ready for a little break, to be honest, like, it’s just been, it’s been nuts, like the schedule and whatnot, so I mean, I’m gonna take a little hibernation nap at the end of January and then get back on it, but yeah, I’m gonna be traveling, you know, trying to get out to see as many people as I can, and like, it’s such a blessing. Honestly, to be part of this experience, and like, I just want to ride it as long as I can.

Velma: Yeah, because the thing is with the show is like, we don’t have the people, we don’t have our crowd. And it’s like, in every show, what I say is like, do you know what I missed the most? It was you, like, the love and the give and take and the energy of it. And like you, Mya I can’t wait to, like, just go on stage and the more stages and the more country or the more provinces or territories or whatever, like, yeah, I want to go out there and just meet people and have fun.

TEM: We’re all about going the extra mile. So what does the extra mile mean to each, to you guys?

Velma: For me, I think it’s, it’s the fear. I think if I fear something, I have to go the extra mile and I go there. Like, it’s a good way for me to, to, like, to gauge. to do something, like, does it scare you?

Mya: it’s sort of the same thing, to be honest. Like, I think, like, we all know, like, we’re scared of failure as people, but I think we’re also even more scared of success. And sometimes that turns us off from doing something. Do you know what I mean? And I think when there’s something that maybe you’re not comfortable with or something you’ve never done before, it’s important to, like, go for it.I mean, this whole experience with Drag Race has been insane. Like, I had never recorded a track before. I had never, you know, recorded a commercial, did a talk show that did all of these crazy, crazy things. But when you, like, put yourself into those situations, you just need to rely on yourself and you don’t know what you’re capable of. And it’s, like, coming out of this now, it’s, like, I’m a recording artist, I’m an actress, I’m an improv person, I’m a dancer, I’m all these things. And I think you just need to, like, jump in and challenge yourself.

Velma: Yeah. And, like, the most important thing I found that I learned in that experience is, like, the choice that you make. Like, be confident and… Just choose one and go with it because sometimes it’s like, yeah, it was not a good decision. It was not a good choice, but you made it, so go.

Mya:  That’s one of the biggest things that it teaches you. Like, I think when you’re secluded on the show, you don’t have your partner. You don’t have your, you know, your parents, your family, your friends to like bounce an idea off of sort of like Velma’s point. You just have to trust yourself and go with it. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it doesn’t. But I think like coming out of that experience, you know yourself so much better.

Catch a new episode of Canada’s Drag Race on CRAVE every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET