Thanks to my good friends at All Starr Management I was able to catch up and interview RuPaul’s Drag Race breakout star and Las Vegas celebrity headliner Coco Montrese for a few personal thoughts on her new level of superstardom, what filming reality television is really like and maybe a bit more insight about the brouhaha between her and fellow contender Alyssa Edwards. I’ve interviewed many of the most popular girls from the RDR here at iamstevenmichael.com and am grateful for each one for their time and trust in what I’m doing.
I know Coco on a personal level even though distance and scheduling is often not our friend. We’ve been to see her in Frank Marino’s Divas Las Vegas at The Quad Resort and Casino twice and had planned on connecting during Christmas but the weather was too chilly for a delicate showgirl like Coco. We quickly forgave and catch up via text every so often. I’m thrilled to see her on Logo TV and know this is just a hint of great things to come for Ms. Montrese! Look for her coming soon to a city near you for her amazing impersonations and lip-sync realness! For now, I present the diva of Las Vegas turned hot reality star Coco Montrese.
Steven Michael – Coco, this conversation has been a long time coming, my love. Let’s start our engines… I know you’re busting a move between Las Vegas, appearing as a Season 5 Doll on RuPaul’s Drag Race in various cities and we hope to find out where and what else. When you’re able, how do you relax and describe the moment.
Coco Montrese - “Sometimes home with my puppies and my husband just laying on the couch watching Netflix. (laughs) Or out with my friends at a movie or bowling, hitting the great lounges at the hotels on The Strip. I’m not really in clubs much because I work in them so I don’t visit them often when I’m off work.”
I always ask this but each response is different. What’s the biggest misconception about filming reality TV?
“That it’s scripted. I can truly say it’s not scripted. It’s real, in this case of RDR for sure.”
What did you find yourself doing in between filming? I understand you’re considerably sequestered alone away from life. How lonely did you become, if at all?
“Very lonely! You spend a lot of time alone and you have a lot of time to think about life and I think that makes your emotions heighten.”
I bet emotions do run high. Type-A personalities thrown together then separated to sort it all out alone. The back together. We are routing for a few of you Ladykins this season on RDR5. Who were you genuinely excited to see when you walked in?
“Roxxxy Andrews. We’ve been friends for years and had not seen each other in ages!”
Roxxxy is doing very well! Are you happy with how you’ve been portrayed on television? Girl, you are in your eyes!
“Yes!!! I am very happy so far. It’s me and I’m real. Some people aren’t going to like someone who is real and faces issues head on. I live my life by its motto, ‘Don’t do anything to someone you don’t want done to yourself.’ I have no problem with letting someone know if I have an issue with them. I will tell them before I go tell someone else about them. I just like to keep it honest and upfront.”
Girl, trust. Would love to get into the “Coco-Alyssa Brouhaha” but with it being earlier on in the season I assume you can’t allow much due to confidentiality clauses. But… Girl, tell us the Tea. Well, pour what you can.
“You’ll have to watch that all unfold on the show!”
And many of us caught that last episode! Girl, emotions. Can you share your experience becoming Miss Gay America? Had you entered a number of times paying dues beforehand or in other systems? And what advice could you give to queens wanting to become Miss Gay America?
“I entered Miss Gay America three times in a row before I was crowned. My advice to anyone who wants to become Miss Gay America is to make sure you know what it requires and be willing to complete those task given. It’s a great responsibility and just because you are a great competitor and can win the real question is, can you reign? To win feels so good but to reign successful is how you leave your mark on the pageant industry and the world.”
I love it! The question “Can you reign?” can be interpreted many ways. I appreciate that. It’s no secret that I worship Las Vegas. If we weren’t here in Palm Springs, we’d be there. Do you love truly Sin City and does it ever become too much? It’s such a late night scene there and there are always crowds! Can it be a tough environment to stay focused and on track?
“I absolutely love LAS VEGAS! I wish I had moved here much sooner but this worked out perfect in my career at this time. I love the night life here and the day life it’s all so exciting. There’s so many people from all over the world that you just can’t get enough of this town.”
What’s happening at the new Quad Resort and Casino, former home to Imperial Palace? Is it chaos with construction and are you getting a new showroom? I loved Imperial Palace as a child. The awe of the Oriental flair. Of course this was during the days of the fabulous Dunes, Caesar’s Palace blue illumination and you could walk from the corner of MGM Grand now Bally’s straight across the street to Caesar’s moving walkway. Pre-Mirage decade of grand facade.
“The Quad Resort is taking shape right before our very eyes and it is so cool to watch it happen. DIVAS is in the same showroom which is also going through many changes for the good and the show is going stronger than ever while performing to sold out audiences and presenting new characters nightly. You never know what celebrities you’re going to see at DIVAS on and off stage!”
Yes! Last trip we were there Manila Luzon almost ran me over coming out of the bathroom. It threw me because it was actually the men’s room. What is the biggest misconception about Frank Marino? And about being a showgirl on The Strip?
“Many don’t know that Frank Marino is a wonderful man to work for with a lot of history on the Las Vegas Strip celebrating 28 years on The Strip. Many don’t know that he is a down to earth person with just as many jokes backstage as he does on stage. Biggest misconception about being a showgirl on The Strip is that you are always a DIVA. I love my sweatpants, my baseball cap, the basketball court and gym. It’s not always feathers and boas and jewels!” (giggles)
Where on The Strip do you find yourself spending time off? Any secret hotspots or fabulous hangouts we should know about?
“The Cosmopolitan Chandelier Bar, Grand Lux Palazzo and of course the Sugar Factory at Paris. My favorite spots! They know me by name at these establishments.”
Well, obviously Coco. You are a DIVA! We worship The Chandelier Bar at The Cosmopolitan. Missed ice skating there with you there at the resort last trip during Christmas. Do you have any advice to entertainers who want to submit their audition tape to RuPaul’s Drag Race? What did you do on your tape that caught the casting agents’ eyes?
“All I can say is be yourself. If you are trying to fit a mold of what someone else thinks you should be then you shouldn’t send in an audition tape. They are looking for YOU and if you can be just you then you got to find you first.”
Wisdom, gal. When are you the most comfortable, on stage in full drag under the spotlight with worshipers a’ plenty or out of gig around people who aren’t really affected by your superstardom?
“I’m kind of comfortable in both. I love life on stage and would probably die if I had to go without it. But I also enjoy my friends who don’t really even care to know the celebrity side of my life.”
I’ve tasted moments of the spotlight myself and continue to chase it in various capacities. I know where you come from. Describe the feeling when you see that Joel McHale has you featured on The Soup and strangers upload viral videos based on your time and performances on RuPaul’s Drag Race? It must be completely surreal…
“It was really weird, because I watch his show all the time and then to see yourself on it was one of those ‘fall out of your chair moments.’ Definitely created a smile from one end to the other for sure.”
How do you deal with the haters and have you come across many from being on the show? Always remember my love, “If there were no haters, there would be no lovers.”
“It’s national television and everyone isn’t gonna like you. So you’ll have haters and that’s totally OK. If you say my name anything you say after it is OK with me. You thought enough of me to say my name and that’s all I need in this wonderful world of social media!”
And finally, anything you want to say to your fans? Your precious “Marsh-Mellows.”
“Never give up on your dreams and know it’s OK to dream but it’s even better to work at making those dreams come true!”
THANKS MY DELICIOUS COCO! You’re one in a million! See you on The Strip next trip… Save us seats. Follow Coco Montrese on Facebook and Twitter.
feet are walking across. It’s hard to decide what order I’d “introduce” myself to first. Ah, 5, 3, 2, 1, 4… But who’s counting? This picture is too damn hot! I wonder where they’re coming from. Visit 
before receiving the nice freebies, we had NO qualms about leaving after about 3 hours o’ fun and dance floor frolic. I like her music but not enough to wait around another reportedly hour or so to see her. Um, no… I’m sure she was superb and very special but we were already home in bed asleep with visions of Sugar Daddies dancing in our heads when she hit the stage at the convention center near 3 a.m. Way past our bedtime! You’d have to have a bunch of “caffeine,” yeah – that’s it, to stay up in to these party hours. Not us. Not no more. Been there, done that! Still have the shady pictures to prove it!
, ever-popular Laura Croft and cutie Josh Strickland to mention just a few. Oh, and a cadre international media flying in (again – that’s me!) for the event. Share has an adult entertainment license so they are able to get away, err, provide more service than say other clubs. The website says to ask the Shot Boys for “anything” and you shall receive. I’m living for that! I want the full experience, Ultra Lounge and Private Cabana filled good time. The event benefits not only the NOH8 Campaign but the 
(of the Pussycat Dolls), 
and 
among many others. Check out the website for the real Tea or hang in the lobby of host hotel Riviera and find you some!
starts and start lip-syncing like it’s all planned. You (CeCe) will tip out (strut, walk) the crowd will go up. Motion will look at you and you will say something like “Girl, you need to press.” Motion will walk off and you sing. CeCe just squealed at my use of “press” and I believe stole the phrase from me.
