Hazel on Canada’s Drag Race Season 6, From Athlete to Drag Star

Hazel is a Vancouver-based drag artist and former competitive diver who appeared on Canada’s Drag Race Season 6. Known for her hyper-femme style, confidence, and competitive spirit, Hazel brings both polish and personality to the stage. She hosts a weekly show called HAZE and is excited to take this next chapter of her drag career beyond Canada.

TEM (The Extra Mile) : I want to know more about your drag. I know you run a weekly show, I believe, called Haze. Where did your name come from? Haze came first? Hazel? Tell me a little bit about your inspiration.

Hazel: Okay. So my first name was down in Florida.I lived in Florida for four years. I was on a diving scholarship down there. And I befriended a drag queen. Well, I actually matched with them on Tinder. And I told them we’re becoming best friends. And then so they painted me down there. One time I did my first ever performance. I threw a house party for like other app. It’s crazy. I’m crazy. I can’t believe I did that. But my name was Nadia Taylor, because my boy name is Aiden. And then Nadia, Aiden backwards is Nadia. And so then I did that. And then thank God I discovered Hazel, because it was going to be Ashley with a Y. And that is just not okay. So I.. Hi, my name is Ashley with a Y,. So no, how I got Hazel, I was sitting in my friend’s apartment. And I was like, I need a drag name. And I need it now because I have a performance in two days, my debut.I was like, not a debut, but just wanted to like, get out there, you know? And so I started looking at myself in the mirror. And I was like, listing off body parts. I was like, leg, arm, face, nose, eyes, brown eyes, hazel eyes, hazel.And then I was like, I actually had my full name was actually Hazelnut. But then I dropped the nut. You know, because I wanted just like one word. It was like hazel. And then I was like, people are going to take that and just run with it and make it nasty.

TEM : Here do you get like your current drag inspiration from? Like, where do you pull from you feel like? Or do you feel like, like, tell me the story behind of, you know, your drag?

Hazel: Yeah, so my drag, I mean, like, it’s developed so much in this past, like, it will be four years in February. That’s when I really started. And yeah, my drag to me is like, when I was an athlete, I really wanted to do drag. And I told myself on 10 Meter that if I ever did drag, I really want to be the hottest hyper femme drag queen in the place that I live. And you know what? Four years later.  But no, like what I take inspirations from, like, I really love what like take inspirations from other drag artists as well, like Plastique Tiara, love, love, love, love. I also love Monet X Change. You know, like, I really love, like the American girls, also the international queens as well, you know, like you really, really see, like, Akira Davenport, who made my more is more, you know, like that, like, I love how she embodies the beauty, the glamour, you know, and everything. And that’s what I really, really want to, like, take on moving forward with my drag is that I really just want to keep elevating it.

TEM: I did read that you were in the diving competition. So it’s kind of, it’s kind of interesting, because I can kind of see where your competitive side comes from. Like, how did it feel then being in like a competitive setting again? Like, do you feel like you’ve kind of taken, you know, when you were competing into drag race?

Hazel: Oh, 100%. I was like, oh, yeah, let’s fucking go. I was like, this is my first time back, like in a competition. I haven’t competed in years. And I’ve never done a drag competition. So why not do drag race? You know, like jump right in head first. But no, it’s actually like, they’re very similar in a way where diving competitions and drag racing, you know, like you have to wait around for challenges. Like, it’s like you have to wait around for the dive, you know, and you just got to go, go, go. It’s individual. So you have to put your best foot forward every time. And if you mess up, you have to pick up and then keep going. So I learned all of those skills from my diving days that I literally just bring. And what I brought to this competition.

TEM: What’s something that you kind of wish people knew about you that didn’t we really didn’t get to see on TV?

 Hazel: So here’s the thing. Honestly, I was me 100%. Like what you see on TV is literally who I am. I think what I did share a lot more emotional stuff that I wish actually came out a little bit more. Just like some personal stories that help understand me, like why I’m the way I am and like that. Because like, I’m a good time girl all the time, you know, but behind those layers, there is a deeper side and like that, which they didn’t really get to show and like that that much. But I feel like people can relate to me still.

TEM:  Is there anything that you want to share that, like, we didn’t really get to see that you that you wanted people to kind of see a little more of?

Hazel:  We would be here for three hours, girl, and you would be my therapist with that trauma dump, okay? It’s like we’re back filming.

TEM: What was your personal favorite look on the show and why?

Hazel:  My favorite look is that you’ve seen is More is More. That one like literally embodied who I am. I felt so gorgeous. I felt stunning. Like it gave me like when I put that on, it gave me a new self-confidence I’ve never had before in drag. And it really, really opened my eyes up. Because beforehand I used to be like, oh, I’m just gonna put on a little too base and go perform. But then like putting that on, I was like, no, I actually feel the essence of drag. I feel like this is the new found form of who Hazel is. And there’s only the way up from it. No, it is beautiful.

TEM : When you walked into the workroom, like it was, which queen do you think kind of surprised you the most this season?

Hazel:  PM. Hmm. I had zero idea and we’re from the same place. No one in the city knew. No one. Gagged. Bewildered. And Velma. I was like, who the fuck is that? I was like, period. Love it, love it.

TEM : Like, was there anyone that you, maybe that you didn’t know that you kind of took like, were surprised by, I guess, throughout like what you’ve kind of been seeing throughout the show.

Hazel: Oh, Mya, Mya Fox. Mya Fox gagged me in the Snatch Game. Absolutely. Took me out. I was having a cackle in the corner. I was scared I was being too loud.  Nailed it. Like, yeah, devoured  eight and like that.  We all said Maya is the dark horse of the season.

TEM: Is there anything that you kind of wish that you could have done differently? Maybe like in the challenges or any like different choice that you would have, if you can go back.

Hazel: I wish I didn’t fumble my first joke. That fucked me up. Like that’s the only thing really, you know? I mean, in the acting challenge too, I would give myself a bigger part. What was not mentioned in that was that someone actually in my group wrote the whole screen play and like that and divvied it up and like that. So, I mean, I also did say we can’t make it sexual, but no one listens to Hazel.

TEM: You have so many different talents and like I want to know what’s next for Hazel. Like is there anything that we can expect that you can share?

Hazel: Yeah, so my goal right now and like this with this platform is to really get my name out there. So my plan is that I want to go international. I want to be able to travel. I want to be booked all across America. I want to go to Europe. Like I really want to do the damn thing because I’m not only representing myself, but I’m also representing Canadian drag franchise. So that’s the thing where it’s like I really want to show like, I’m sorry, this season is the best one yet. Like everyone is killing it. The hype around it. You can see it. You can feel it, you know? And I really want like not just me, but everyone from this cast, go out, spread your wings, you know? Show off, show how amazing you are. Everyone in Canada knows that now. But make sure to go outside to be able to bring that force that we all bring on this season.

TEM: How do you go the extra mile? What does that mean to you?

Hazel: Going the extra mile, I would say is that if this is your craft, this is what you’re doing. You have to invest yourself 100%. If you want to be the superstar, then you have to put the work in to be the superstar because the things are not just going to fall in your lap. Unless you got a billion dollars, then give me some, please. But you know, it’s, you really, really have to put yourself first in situations that may be uncomfortable, you know? And that’s the thing where it’s like, if you want to reach that mile, if you want to reach that next goal, go after it. Also, you may get told no, you may get rejection. I’ve gotten told no, practically my whole life, you know, with sports and like that. And then coming into drag, if you don’t get an opportunity there, make your own opportunity. Start being the person that books the other people. Look after your community. You know, if you have all of that, then they will also ride for you. And that’s the thing. It’s like going the extra mile is going after not only yourself, but the community that’s helped raise you to be where you are now.

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