THE ARTIST AWARD

Todrick Hall SUPPORTED BY JAGUAR

TODRICK HALL, THE HIT SINGER-SONGWRITER, BROADWAY AND TV STAR, CHOREOGRAPHER AND CREATOR HAS BLOWN US AWAY WITH HIS UNIQUE TALENT. HERE HE TALKS TO ‘ADOPTED MOTHER’ MICHELLE VISAGE ABOUT RACISM, REPRESENTATION AND ONLINE HATE

Words Cliff Joannou

Todrick wears suit, by Musika, tee, stylist’s own, shoes, by Jean-Baptiste Rautureau

Photography Magnus Hastings Fashion director Joseph Kocharian Styling Aquiles at The Only Agency

First breaking out as a semi-finalist on the ninth season of American Idol back in 2010, Todrick soon transformed what for most would have been a 15-minute window of fame into a career that has traversed theatre, music and television.

Although celebrated for roles in Chicago and Kinky Boots, Todrick often directs, choreographs and writes all his original material. The visual album Straight Outta Oz reimagined the famous L. Frank Baum tale with a sassier edge, while the video to smash-hit single Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels is the definition of a gay house-party anthem and ratchets any night out up a notch.

Proving Todrick is an auteur for the YouTube generation, his live shows attract truly diverse crowds of gays, straights, mums and dads with their offspring, as well as drag queens and queer kids. He is a worthy winner of Attitude’s Artist Award.

When we reached out to Todrick about this interview, there was one person who immediately sprung to mind for him to be grilled by – his ‘adopted mother’ Michelle Visage. Recalling what he remembers to be the first time the pair met on the set of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Todrick says, “I came in with this ridiculous green suit on, and I remember them being, like, ‘You’re going to sit next to Michelle,’ and I was terrified because I was, like, ‘She’s going to be so mean, I’m so intimidated by her. I just don’t know what I’m going to say to her.’

“I was already nervous to be there, and then, the fact that I’m on the other side of Michelle, where I can’t see RuPaul, was very scary. But Michelle was just the sweetest person in the world, and honestly made me so comfortable, and ended up at that point basically adopting me. And we built this really crazy bond .”

Michelle Visage: How are you?

Todrick Hall: because we never really get to work with each other outside of the Drag Race world.

So, Toddy , my first question is: tell the story of how we first met. Do you rememb er the first time we actually met? It was in an airport.

Oh my God, I do remember that. We were in Arizona or something, and I saw your nails and I was, like, “That looks like Michelle Visage.” You had this big, Grizabella-from- Cats fur coat on, and I was, like, “Oh my gosh!” I was telling my dancers, “That looks like Michelle Visage’s hands, the back of her neck. I watch that show so much that I know that’s her,” and I went up and spoke to you. And you were really, really nice to me then, but I was still scared to re-meet you. No offence to the drag community, but I feel like you, next to Ru, are the most iconic drag queen there is. And when people meet you with your hair and makeup done, it’s just a fully different experience. So I feel like I met you first twice.