‘I don’t have to win, I want them to keep calling me back’: Lala Ri doesn’t regret a moment of Down Under vs the World

Reflecting on her third time on the Drag Race mainstage, Atlanta queen Lala Ri knew it was her time to go. But having brought so much joy to Drag Race Down Under vs the World, she wouldn’t change a minute of it, would go back in a heartbeat, and even planned a throwback to her iconic bag look.

This week’s Aussiebums makeover challenge may have led to Lala Ri’s exit from the show, but she never stepped into the series planning to win; she just wanted to have a good time.

“I just love doing TV and being able to be wild with my personality,” Lala told us.

“I have so much fun doing the show and enjoy Drag Race so much. It’s always a good time for me every time I’m there. But this is my third time doing the show. I know how it goes.”

“I was in this position before on All Stars. I was looking around the room and knew these girls were going to sacrifice me,” she laughed. “So it let me prepare myself. At that point, I was content. I had a good time. I had fun.”

“I haven’t seen the episode yet, so I’m not sure how much they showed of me and Sam. But we had a great time and great conversations.”

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You shared in the episode that you planned a different look for you and Sam to wear, but it just wasn’t going to work, and you made a new look. What did you have planned?

“I was inspired by the colour scheme of my infamous bag look. We were gonna do this gift bag moment. But the looks that I brought just weren’t right. It’s so crazy because every time I try to recreate that bag moment, like when I tried to do it on All Stars. The look wasn’t right. I tried again on Down Under, and the look wasn’t right again.”

“I think it’s telling me to keep the look as it is, and never mess with it again. It was another moment of me trying to recreate something that just didn’t work out. But oh well.”

You and Sam were having a ball on the runway, but he was having a bit of trouble walking in those heels. While the judges may have focused on his makeup, you can’t deny that, as a duo, you were both having a ball.

“On the show, I said, as long as Sam has the best experience while he’s here, I can be eliminated. I’d be perfectly fine knowing that his experience was great because I’ve already had a great experience myself.”

“But for Sam to pick the highest heels. I was like, ‘What are we doing here?'” [Cue Lala’s iconic laugh]

Since you haven’t watched the episode yet, you should know that you get amazing screen time from your exit (especially compared to when Flor just walked off the stage last week). What is it like having the full Down Under experience with Michelle in the host seat instead of Ru?

“It’s amazing. Don’t get me wrong, Mother Ru is always mother of them all, honey. She paved the way for the gods. But having Michelle in that moment, as the head judge, it’s just a beauty.”

“I don’t know how to describe it. It’s an indescribable feeling. She truly cares about you doing well. Ru does too, but Michelle, she just has that motherliness, because she’s a real mother.”

“She has that motherly love, and you can feel it, and it’s just amazing. She just really wants greatness from everybody.”

When you walked out of the Werk Room, were you joking when you said, ‘See you on All Stars Brazil, or not?

“Honey, I’m on the Duolingo app, honey. I’m learning, and I’m getting ready for the girls, honey.”

“Vejo vocês em Drag Race Brasil Vs the World com Lala Ri”

Pode vir, rainha, você é mais do que bem-vinda por aqui. Ai como eu amo Lala, a definição de Miss Simpatia!!! #DragRaceDownUnder pic.twitter.com/rCGl00AwF2

— draglicious.com.br (@dragliciouz) September 4, 2026

What was the experience like for you going to Portugal, and stepping into the Werk Room not knowing all the queens, and creating connections?

“It was amazing. I enjoyed travelling the world and experienced different forms of drag outside of my city. So to be able to be under one roof with queens from different countries was amazing.”

“To have Nicole Paige Brooks, also from Atlanta, Georgia, there was amazing. To briefly compete with Raven, who I’m used to seeing on the side, with Rue and stuff was a joy. As I said in my post this weekend, meeting all of the girls from all over the world, we really got close.”

“You see me break down when Estrella Xtravaganza leaves in her episode. I was really heartbroken. Even me and Flor, though we had a little riff in the beginning of the season, we’re already cool now. We’re Virgo sisters. I think Art Simone is a Virgo as well, if I’m not mistaken. So to connect with my Virgo sign sisters was amazing.”

You talked about being inspired by other styles of drag in the room; what did that mean to you?

“Everything that M1ss Jade presented on the runway was mind-blowing. I don’t have the body that Jade has, so I honestly wouldn’t do a thing she does. But just the way she does her drag is so amazing to me. To see how she fits.”

“Okay, I’m just gonna say this. I don’t go to Drag Race in the sense of competition. I don’t really put a lot of thought into my runway stuff. I go with the idea of me going to work, doing a job and entertaining people. I’m not here to compete. That’s why I always tell people I don’t have to win because I want them to keep calling me back, honey.”

“I want to keep coming to work. I want to keep locking in, so never let me win. Let me get close, but I don’t have to win, okay? Them giving me the call and bringing me back means I’ve already won. You know what I mean? But to see how serious those girls are about their runways. Y’all be really playing outside runways, and y’all be really sketching, be designing. Do whatever you want to do, girl, and I just pick it up.”

Editor’s note: Yes, Lala talks about M1ss Jade’s body (which is gorgeous), but look at her runways too. Lala puts together a fit with her padding and structure that is like nothing else.

What is one of the challenges that stands out as the most fun for you?

“The Rappin’ Roast was super fun. The challenge I won was also fun, and so was the acting challenge. It was super fun to work with Art on that one. I wish we had an improv challenge; I love doing improv.”

“But overall, I enjoyed all the challenges except for the sewing.”

Even though you don’t think about your runways that much, was there a look you were super proud of?

“My Shock and Awe look. I was super proud of that, especially the piece underneath because it was hand-painted by an artist by the name of Titus here in Atlanta.”

“He hand-painted the entire look, and that’s why I didn’t want to stone it. I wanted it in its raw form to show appreciation of the artist’s hard work. Also, my entrance look by Malcolm Dean.”

There’s one more episode to go. There are four queens left. Who could take the win?

“I really want Michelle Visage to win the season. That’s the only girl I’m rooting for.”

“No, the top four is amazing. I am super proud of every one of them. They all have the chance of winning the crown in their own way, so I’m gonna sit back and watch like everybody else. Because honestly, I wasn’t there, so I don’t even know what happened.”

We are eagerly waiting to see Lala return to our screens on another Drag Race franchise. Not only does she make great TV, but she’s also a sweetheart of a person. We hate to see her go, but top five is a great place to leave.

And then there were four. Who do you think will take the crown? Art Simone, Vybe, Micheal Marouli or M1ss Jade So?

Catch up on all episodes of Drag Race Down Under vs The World on Stan, with the grand final dropping on Friday at 5 pm AEST.

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