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One Direction were famous for not dancing. Sure, loyal Directioners were welcome to tear it up at their shows, but the fellas were not going to do a number for your amusement. But Niall Horan was happy to toss that edict aside, for one night anyway, when he played a choreo-happy pirate on The Late Late Show on Tuesday night (Feb. 28).
The singer, who has a long and fruitful friendship with soon-to-depart host James Corden, was game to play along in a bit in which a gaggle of show tunes-loving high seas marauders tortured their captive with strangely elaborate dance numbers. Wearing a traditional tricorn hat, ruffled white shirt, purple vest and scraggly beard, Horan warned the captured British soldier that he was lucky to be alive.
“This ship, and it’s booty is all ours!” he informed the British naval officer, warning that the person he should really be afraid of is their leader, the dreaded Dreadbeard. We know his name because Horan and Corden sang a whole song about it. “I bet you’ve heard a million tales that tell you who I am,” Corden crooned as a fife and drum track bubbled up out of nowhere and their fellow pirates broke out into a jig as the ship inexplicably lit up in neon lights.
“His name has traveled everywhere from England to Japan,” Horan growled, while their prisoner said the tune did answer his question about who was in charge, but in turn elicited way more questions. “Like what the hell was that?” he asked. “That whole song and dance routine? What was that for?”
“What for?” Horan snarled, barely containing his laughter. “To strike fear into your heart and spread the terrifying tale of Captain Dreadbeard.” Suffice it to say it did not do that and the captive seriously asked if this happened every time they boarded a ship.
Yes, in fact, it seems it does. Which, of course, elicited yet another elaborate number featuring their fellow pirates doing a delicate ribbon dance as Horan slipped into a seaweed-covered veil to portray a delicate siren of the deep while he and Corden shared a tender duet.
“I’m so confused right now, a mermaid broke your heart?” their hostage asked. “And whose idea were the ribbons?… And also, I’ve never met pirates before but I feel like there should be slightly less musical theater involved.” Turns out that was all Niall: he thought the ribbons added a “pop of color.”
The incessant questions sparked a mutiny among the crew, who then grumbled about the amount of high seas rehearsal they have to endure every day, along with gripes about who gets the leads in their marauder musicals. The bit ended with Horan and Corden doing an “All That Jazz”-style routine, complete with a tap dance break and Niall’s quick change into a glittery purple waistcoat for a bit-ending Rockettes high kick routine.
Horan’s forthcoming third solo album, The Show, is due out on June 9.
Watch Horan on The Late Late Show below.
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Get ready, BTS Army! Presale tickets for SUGA’s heavily anticipated August D tour will go on for sale Wednesday (March 1).
Due to high demand, Ticketmaster will be using a lottery-style process to pick which Verified Fans will receive access codes for tickets and which will be waitlisted; getting an access code doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get tickets but registering is your best shot at securing tickets.
If leftover tickets are available, waitlisted fans will get first dibs.
“Emails have been sent letting you know if you’ll receive a unique access code or if you’ve been placed on the waitlist, as determined by a lottery-style selection,” the company tweeted on Tuesday (Feb. 28).
“Tomorrow (March 1) fans who received an access code can join the waiting room 30 minutes prior to the start of the presales — which begin at 3:00pm local venue time. Have your unique access code ready when it’s your turn to enter the presale,” reads another tweet.
“Demand is high, and Tour Organizers are making 100% of tickets available for purchase during the ARMY MEMBER Presale,” the statement continues. “If all tickets are purchased during the ARMY MEMBER Presale, there will not be any additional sales.”
Keep reading for details on snagging presale tickets to Suga’s August D tour.
SUGA’s Tour Presale Tickets: Everything You Need to Know
Fans who have registered for tickets will receive email notifications beginning Tuesday evening.
Can BTS fans still register for tickets? Unfortunately, registration for ARMY Member presale tickets on WeVerse and Ticketmaster Verified Fans closed on Feb. 23.
What time do the tickets go on sale? ARMY Member Presale tickets will go on sale Wednesday, at 3 p.m. local time until 10 p.m. local time.
General Verified Fan Presale tickets are scheduled to go on sale Thursday at 3 p.m. local time until 10 p.m. local time – if they’re still available. Any leftover tickets will be available via Public On sale on Friday at 3 p.m. local venue time, per the Ticketmaster blog.
BTS fans can register for both ARMY Member Presale and General Verified Fan tickets but will only receive a notification for one of the two.
SUGA announced dates for the tour, named after his August D mixtape, on Valentine’s Day. The tour, which is his first as a solo performer, kicks off April 26 at the Belmont Park, New York. The jaunt will stop in New Jersey, Illinois and California before heading overseas for two nights in Seoul, Korea in addition to Jakarta, Bangkok and Singapore.
Avril Lavigne has landed at Paris Fashion Week, and continued to proved she’s the ultimate cool girl with her look.
The “Complicated” singer took to Instagram on Tuesday (Feb. 28) to share a photo of her Vetements outfit, which featured an oversized black blazer with quotes in bold white lettering. She paired the look with platform patent boots, futuristic sunglasses and a straight, blonde bob. “PFW,” she captioned the photo, along with black and white heart emojis.
The post comes just hours after Lavigne’s ex-fiancé Mod Sun addressed their breakup on Instagram. “In 1 week my entire life completely changed…I just know there’s a plan for it all. I’ll keep my head up + always listen to my heart, even when it feels broken,” the punk-pop rocker wrote alongside a carousel of photos and videos posted to his Instagram feed. His caption did not specifically mention Lavigne, but Billboard can confirm it is about their split. “Being surrounded by love every night on tour has been an absolute blessing. I have the best friends in the entire world, thanks for always having my back. See you on stage.”
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Reports first started brewing a week ago that Mod and the “Bois Lie” singer had parted ways and called off their engagement. His representative told Billboard, “They were together and engaged as of three days ago when Mod left for tour so if anything has changed that’s news to him.” Lavigne’s team did not respond to requests for comment at the time.
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Blake Shelton debuted his very first spring collection with Lands’ End on Monday (Feb. 27). Shelton’s latest collab with the lifestyle brand features an assortment of clothing and accessories “for the whole family” (including the family dog).
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“My new collection with Lands’ End is about clothes that feel like they were made just for you,” the country star said in a news release. “It’s the feeling, the fit, and the confidence you feel whether it’s working, lounging, or just living life. After all, the only way to know if something’s right is to see for yourself because when you know, you know.”
Shelton showed off the collection during a Jimmy Kimmy Live interview on Monday. The 46-year-old singer wore a demin shirt, jeans and utility jacket from his clothing line.
Lands’ End
Blake Shelton x Lands’ End Men’s Traditional Wester Shirt
$50.36 (with code: HULL) $62.95 20% off% OFF
Jimmy Kimmel jokingly called out items in the collection that fans might not expect from Shelton such as Turkish towels, dog bandanas and pillow shams.
“Those were supposed to get laughs, weren’t they? The audience likes them,” Shelton jokingly replied after Kimmel showed pictures of the items. “They adore my shams.”
Shelton admitted that he “didn’t even know” what pillow shams were until his wife, Gwen Stefani, gave her “input” on the collection. “That’s probably how the shams even made it into the [collection] to begin with,” he quipped.
Later in the interview, Shelton joked about Kelly Clarkson getting him “fired” from The Voice and discussed getting back on stage for the Honky Tonk tour.
Shelton’s newest Lands’ End collection arrives just in time for spring and comes months after his fall collection dropped last year. “Created with lightweight fabrics and a fresh design palette for the new season,” the Blake Shelton x Lands’ End collection features denim shirts, flannel shirts, long sleeve tees, jeans, jackets, shoes and more for men, women and kids.
Lands’ End has been donating a portion of the proceeds from the Blake Shelton x Lands’ End collection to Habitat for Humanity since last September. The company will continue to donate proceeds from the collection until Sept. 1, 2023.
Shop items from the Blake Shelton x Lands’ End collection below. Enter the code “HULL” at checkout to save up to 60% off your order.
Blake Shelton x Lands’ End Men On Stage Bootcut Jeans
$55.96 (with code: HULL) $69.95 20% off% OFF
These bootcut jeans are available in sizes 30-40, in regular or tall fit and available in four shades of blue including rock river wash, fox river wash, buck creek wash and clear river wash.
Lands’ End
Blake Shelton x Lands’ End Unlined Denim Jean Jacket
$95.96 (with code: HULL) $119.95 20% off% OFF
A classic, denim jacket always looks good in your closet! This unlined, denim jacket is available in size small (34-36) to XXL (50-52). The jacket features two button-shut chest pockets, two hand pockets, front buttons and button cuffs and an adjustable button tub waist for a clean fit.
Lands’ End
Blake Shelton x Lands’ End Men’s Super-T Short-Sleeve Shirt
$26.36 $32.95 20% off% OFF
From regular, traditional fit to big and tall, the Super-T Short Sleeve T-Shirt is a comfortable, cotton shirt with no itchy tag to worry about; a rib knit collar that will keep its shape and reinforced shoulders that won’t stretch out. This shirt is available in sizes small (34-36) to XXL (50-52) and in multiple colors including light blue, rustic red heather, blue slate heather and deep black heather.
Lands’ End
Blake Shelton x Lands’ End Men’s Long Sleeve Garment Dye Slub Henley
“Soft, comfortable and versatile,” this henley shirt from Shelton’s collection is available in evening blue, antique rose, flint blue and light stone. The cotton shirt features a ribbed neck and ribbed cuffs with side vents and three front buttons.
Lands’ End
Blake Shelton x Lands’ End Men’s Cotton Lined Chore Utility Jacket
$119.96 $149.95 20% off% OFF
Available in forest moss, flint blue and golden oak brown, the Chore Utility Jacket is lined with soft cotton/viscose twill and has two chest and side pockets (available in sizes S-XXL).
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Nothing beats the sound of a vinyl turntable, right?
For music lovers, having a vinyl setup in your home is the ultimate way to enjoy your favorite albums, but with all the turntables out there, it’s hard to find the perfect one.
Fear not, Billboard has your back! To make it easy for you, we searched to find a selection of our favorite turntables (click here funky, sleek ways to store and display your record collection in your home or studio).
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Some of the products below are from retailers such as Amazon where Prime members can get free shipping (start your 30-day free trial here) and other benefits — including discounts and access to Prime Video and Prime Music.
See below for a list of eight of the best record players and turntables to buy in 2023. For more product recommendations, check out our tips on how to clean your vinyl records and the best speakers for music lovers.
Crosley CR8017B-BK Voyager Vintage Portable Vinyl Record Player Turntable with Bluetooth
$59.88 $99.95 40% OFF
Heyday turntables are budget-friendly favorite among TikTokers, but they’re currently out of stock at Target. If you don’t mind shopping pre-owned options, HeyDay turntables are available on resale sites like eBay. Plus, there are tons of other record players under $100 such as the Crosley CR8017A Voyager Portable Turntable pictured above and the ByronStatistics 3-Speed Vinyl Record Player ($51.24).
Amazon
Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable Record Player
$249.99
Fluence RT81 is another highly rated record player. Features include an Audio Technica AT95E diamond elliptical tipped stylus (designed to track your record grooves with greater precision and accuracy for a high-definition audio experience) and a rubber slip mat for “superior isolation from unwanted vibrations.” Although Fluence record players do not include Bluetooth, you can connect them external speakers or click here to shop the Fluence RT81 turntable with five-inch bookshelf speakers ($489).
Amazon
U-Turn Audio – Orbit Plus Turntable with Built-in Preamp (White)
$399.00
Time for U-Turn! The U-Turn Orbit (available in white, red, black and blue) is known for it’s “balanced and neutral sound” and they’re popular on TikTok. This sleek turntable is equipped with an OA2 gimbal arm that utilizes “precision bearings” to ensure that the stylus moves freely, a low-resistance acrylic platter for “speed consistency” with anti-skate preset and an adjustable counterweight. The external, two-speed belt drive (33 1/3 RPM and 45 RPM) is designed to separate the “low-noise motor from the rest of the turntable.”
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Sony PS-LX310BT Turntable
$249.99
Moving up on the price scale, Sony’s PS-L310BT wireless turntable lets you experience vinyl in full stereo. This $250 turntable features a single button press, high-quality audio, Bluetooth connectivity and both operating speeds (33 1/3 rpm and 45 rpm).
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Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-RD Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Stereo Turntable, Red/Black, Bluetooth, Hi-Fi, 2 Speed
$219.00
Interested in Audio Technica? The AT LP-60 is discontinued but the AT-LPX60BT is a good alternative for beginners and intermediate listeners. Merging hi-fi audio and Bluetooth technology for wired and wireless listening, the AT-LP60XBT easily pairs with speakers and headphones. The turntable is available in several different colors including red, white, black, blue, silver and lilac.
Victrola
Victrola Revolution GO Portable Rechargeable Record Player $199.99
Need a portable record player? Check out Victrola’s portable, rechargeable Bluetooth record player. It features a three-speed belt driven turntable and an Audio Technica moving magnetic cartridge. The rechargeable battery lasts for up to 12 hours.
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Amazon
Rega Planar 1 Record Player $595
If you can afford to go up in price, the Rega Planar 1 is a good starting point on the scale of high-end turntables. It features a brand new RB110 tonearm, built with the new Rega designed bespoke bearings with ultra-low friction performance and a 23mm, higher mass, phenolic platter equipped with an improved flywheel effect for better speed stability. The turntable runs on a 24v, low noise, synchronous motor designed to reduce the vibration transfer.
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Technics SL-1200MK7 Turntable
$1,099.95 $1,299.99 15% off% OFF
For DJs looking to invest in a quality turntable, Technics is the way to go. Last year, the brand unveiled the Technics SL-1200M7LPA Turntables celebrating the 50th anniversary of the popular series. The limited edition turntables — which were available in seven colors including red, black, blue, white, green, beige and yellow — were only around for a limited time but if you want an alternative from the same brand, go for the the SL-1200MK7.
Entertainment industry veteran and Live Nation Urban vp Brandon Pankey has announced the launch of Artist Presented Experiences (APEX), an advertising-based video-on-demand streaming network exclusively featuring programming presented by and for music artists.
Set to launch Tuesday (Feb. 28) on iOS and Android, APEX will offer a range of diverse and artist-centric content, including original scripted, unscripted and licensed programming. The network is powered by brand services agency Quantasy + Associates.
APEX’s programming lineup features content designed to allow artists and production partners to deliver their unfiltered creative vision directly to fans, with programming partners including Raedio, Complex Media, Mercury Studios, Live Nation Urban, LVRN co-founder Sean Famoso and director Stacey Muhammad (OWN’s Queen Sugar, BET’s First Wives Club). The network’s slate of original programming includes Raedio Presents The Playback, executive produced by Benoni Tagoe and Morgan Davis; On the Record, executive produced by Muhammad and Marc Lamont Hill; SuperShorts, executive produced by Famoso; and Help Wanted, a scripted comedy series executive produced by Max Smith and Atlantic Records recording artist Symba. Other original series slated for release on the platform this year include titles such as How I’m Livin, Ring Walk, APEX Acoustic and Generally Speaking.
APEX has also secured licensing agreements for episodic content from Complex Media (Brackets, Making It) and music documentaries from Mercury Studios, a division of Universal Music Group, featuring music superstars such as Amy Winehouse, J Balvin, Tupac Shakur, Miles Davis, Queen and Joni Mitchell. APEX will additionally offer exclusive themed national and international concerts and events.
“The vision for APEX has never been more clear,” said Pankey in a statement. “Artists deserve a platform to share their stories and connect with fans in a meaningful way. APEX has been a dream of mine since I started in the music industry. We’re providing a first-of-its-kind network exclusively featuring programming presented by and for music artists, allowing them to showcase their unique perspectives and creative visions. Artist innovation and creativity now has a home to live and to thrive.”
For more information on APEX and its programming slate, please visit watchapex.com.
Jesse Williams is joining in on the murder mystery fun. Selena Gomez took to Instagram on Tuesday (Feb. 28) to share a photo with the Grey’s Anatomy star, who will be joining the cast of Only Murders in the Building for season three, though she didn’t clarify who Williams will be playing in the popular series.
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“So @ijessewilliams is killing it on season 3 guys.. @onlymurdershulu @hulu,” she captioned a smiling mirror selfie of the duo in the makeup trailer.
Only Murders in the Building season two, starring Gomez Martin Short, and Steven Martin as true-crime loving neighbors who get wrapped up in a murder mystery, dropped on Hulu back in June. Pail Rudd joined the cast for a surprise cameo at the end of of the season as Ben Glenroy, the star of Oliver’s (Short) Broadway production. His character was found dead at the end of the season finale, and the upcoming third season is said to focus on the investigation into Glenroy’s murder.
Since then, Emily in Paris actress Ashley Park revealed that she is also joining the cast for season three. “Murders?? IN THIS BUILDING????” Park wrote in a caption on TikTok, along with a video in which she, Gomez and Short recreate a scene from the 1942 movie My Sister Eileen. “So excited to join this killer (pun intended) cast of amazing humans.”
Only Murders in the Building season three does not yet have a release date. In the meantime, watch the first two seasons on Hulu here.
The Starboy is coming to the silver screen! The Weeknd will be starring in his first feature film, his rep told Billboard Tuesday (Feb. 28).
The “Die For You” hitmaker (real name Abel Tesfaye) will not only star but also write and produce the as-yet-to-be-named film, which is being helmed by critically acclaimed director Trey Edward Shults (Waves, It Comes At Night), who is also co-writing and executive producing. Golden Globes-nominated Wednesday actress Jenna Ortega will co-star alongside The Weeknd and is credited as the film’s executive producer. The Banshees of Inisherin actor and Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan will also be in the cast.
The film is currently shooting in Los Angeles.
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The Weeknd’s producing partner Reza Fahim — who co-created the superstar’s upcoming HBO series The Idol — Kevin Turen and Harrison Kreiss are also credited as the film’s producers. Fahim is also one of the co-writers. Director of photography Chayse Irvin (Blonde, BlacKkKlansman) is also joining the production.
The chart-topping superstar tapped his frequent collaborator, producer Oneohtrix Point Never, to score the film with him, just one year after he co-executive produced his latest album Dawn FM. OPN also previously scored the 2019 film Uncut Gems, which The Weeknd also starred in.
The Weeknd is represented by CAA, manager Wassim “Sal” Slaiby and Amir “Cash” Esmailian and attorney Kenny Meiselas of Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks. Shults is represented by WME and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Ortega is represented by CAA, Gilbertson Entertainment and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Keoghan is represented by WME, Entertainment 360, B-Side Management and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.
Global C-pop singer and fashion icon Tia Lee (Lee Yu Fen) made waves at the coveted celebration of artistry, design, and all things fashion. Following her recent record-breaking new single Goodbye Princess and its sensational music video, Tia was spotted making her LFW debut alongside A-list guests at the shows including Julien Macdonald, David Koma, Richard Quinn, Moncler Genius, and the ES & Perfect Magazine fashion bash. A few notable names in attendance at LFW include actress Joan Collins, TV presenter Ashley Graham, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, supermodel Sara Sampaio, British Vogue’s editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, singers Alicia Keys, Justin Bieber, Ronan Keating, Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz, socialite Lennon Gallagher, Hailey Bieber, Serena Williams, and many others.
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In attendance at some of the hottest runway shows, Tia Lee turned heads in London with one showstopping outfit after another. The highlight of her time at LFW was the Julien Macdonald FW23 show, where she arrived in a stunning custom couture dress and cape, handpicked by the leading British fashion ace himself. The delicately tailored lace slip dress, paired with a flowing black chiffon cape came directly from the FW23 collection. She wore the dress with a pair of glittering heels from Gina and Jessica McCormack jewelry.
As the only celebrity personally selected by Julien Macdonald to wear a piece from the collection prior to its debut at the FW23 collection show, Tia joins an exclusive international list of celebrities to be dressed by the King of Glamour, including Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum, and Naomi Campbell.
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“It was an absolute honor to meet Julien Macdonald in person and receive the gorgeous dress fresh off his latest collection. The intricate details are a testament to Julien’s passion for his craft, and I loved putting it on and watching a fabulous showcase of his latest work,” shared Tia after the show.
At Richard Quinn’s FW23, Tia wore an embroidered coat from his Spring 2023 collection, featuring blossoming floral embellishments with encrusted beads. The elegance of her outfit was further elevated by a teardrop-shaped headpiece from Victoria Grant, featuring exquisite beading and netting detail. The beaded theme continued to present itself on Tia’s black suede platform sandals from Jimmy Choo, topped off with elegant pearl earrings from Theo Fennell.
The global superstar also made an appearance at David Koma’s fashion show. Lee arrived in a shimmering silver two piece suit over a bomber and a pair of leather boots from his Spring 2023 collection.
Tia’s iconic video “Goodbye Princess” pays homage to the struggles of life, but ultimately showcases Tia’s determination to rise from the negativity, stereotypes, and bias being placed on her. In fact, it is even more iconic because the track is the first-ever Chinese song produced by Grammy-Award-winning producer Swizz Beatz, who has previously worked on mega-hits with music icons such as Justin Bieber, Jay-Z, and Madonna. Tia became the fastest artist to break 100 million views on YouTube within 20 days with a Chinese pop song.
Tia’s journey at London Fashion Week represents an opportunity for intercultural appreciation and a testament to Tia Lee’s ambition to redefine her role in the public limelight as someone who remains fiercely independent and true to herself. For more of Tia’s fashion escapades, follow her on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
The category is … 200 episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race eleganza!
Last week’s installation of the hit reality show (aired Friday, Feb. 24) marked the series’ 200th episode! To celebrate such a milestone, Drag Race decided to throw a good, old-fashioned ball, tasking the remaining queens to showcase three distinct looks — a racing suit, an outfit inspired by one of the past ball challenges, and a crystallized look they had to make in the work room — in the first-ever Crystal Ball.
The front-runners of the season managed to stun the judges yet again, with Sasha Colby earning her second challenge win, while Anetra and Mistress Isabelle Brooks achieved high marks. Meanwhile, the judges remained unimpressed with the looks turned by Salina EsTitties and Spice, locking the pair into a Lip Sync For Your Life to Lil Nas X’s “That’s What I Want.” Salina managed to wow with her emotional performance, meaning Spice was sent packing to reunite with her sister, Sugar.
Billboard caught up with Spice following her elimination to talk about performing as a solo act for the first time on the show, how she approached the competition as a “producer,” and why she “never really cared” about Michelle Visage’s critiques regarding her iconic runway trot.
Congrats on making it this far into the season! How are you feeling about your time on the show?
I’m loving it, and I’m cringing, and I’m crying, and I’m laughing — it’s a full rollercoaster, for sure. I’m sure it’s not as weird for me as some of the other girls, because I’m just so used to watching myself back on camera and editing videos and all of that. But, of course TV’s different because you’re not in control of all of that, so it’s more like, “Oh, what are they gonna use?” I feel like me and Sugar gave them truly so much material, that there’s so many moments that ended up getting cut that made us go, “No, that moment was amazing!” But, it’s not the Sugar & Spice Show.
With this being a massive milestone as the show’s 200th episode, what was the vibe like on set? Were there any big celebrations or anything?
Yeah, it was really fun! Before we all did the runway, they came out with this cake and we all got to take a picture. It was giving birthday bash extravaganza realness. I don’t think I even got to have a piece of the cake, but it looked cute!
Let’s rewind for a little bit and go back to the moment that Sugar got sent home — while you were competing against one another, you two clearly had plans for the rest of the season together. What was the biggest challenge for you with Sugar not being there?
It was truly just feeling bad that she wasn’t there — we’d be doing the girl group challenge, and I was like, “Oh my god, Sugar would be slaying right now.” Or we’d be doing the design challenge, and she sews, and I was like, “She would be eating these girls up right now.” It was a lot of FOMO for her end. When she went home, of course I was sad that she left, but I was mostly the angry upset fan for her; I’m her biggest fan, so I was like that mad fan on Twitter riding for their fave.
There was a lot that went down after she went home that no one needs to know — I had a little bit of a breakdown. Now, there were rumors that I shut down the set for three days, and I was like, “Babes, that’s hilarious, no one on cast has the power to do that.” But I did have a little breakdown, for sure, but we had a three-day weekend, I got refreshed, and we picked it back up.
Last episode also saw the iconic moment where Anetra spared you in the final Lalaparuza lip sync, saying she didn’t think it was fair to lip sync against you. How’d you feel when you saw that?
Oh, I was absolutely living for it. I told Anetra and I told all of the girls, “I am not offended if you want to lip sync against me — this is what y’all do, this is not my wheelhouse.” Like, all of those girls were going to beat me in a lip sync. If they didn’t, that would be very embarrassing for them — and I’m not gonna lie, I actually came kind of close to winning some of those, so that’s … that’s saying a lot. [laughs] That’s when you know. But we all have different areas of expertise, and I love and respect what the girls do.
When Anetra saved me, I was so gagged. And her saying that it was unfair to lip sync against me? I completely agree! Look at what she can do — I can’t even bend down and touch my toes! I feel like she was like, “We are giving her one more life.” Sugar said in her song “A bimbo never dies,” and she was right, I guess … well, eventually she died … wait, no, I didn’t die!!
In the last design challenge, you mentioned that Sugar was the seamstress amongst the two of you, and you had planned on designing the looks while Sugar would actually construct them. How did you imagine that strategy working?
That was 100% our plan from the beginning. We were being little producers, Ms. Sugar and Spice — we were saying, “Oh, that would be hilarious, let’s lean into it; I’ll design, you’ll make it, and it will get all of the other girls mad that we’re working as a team.” We wanted to kind of start a little drama by doing all of that, and I feel like that would have been so fun. God, there were so many moments that could have happened with Sugar being there more.
Well, in the great tradition of the ball challenge, there are occasionally some seamstress queens who like to help out with those who might be struggling — did anyone come to your aid during this challenge?
Oh yeah, for sure. Especially for that first design challenge, I was kind of doing it all by myself, but Luxx finished quick — my “barely there” skirt I had, she helped me sew those pieces together. So, if you’re reading, thank you Luxx.
When it comes to the runway, did you ever find yourself getting annoyed at Michelle’s fixation on your little trot?
Honestly? No shade to her, but I never really cared what she said about the trotting. It just went in one ear and out the other, I was like, “This is just fodder, she’s getting her soundbite for TV.” I fully planned to trot off the stage regardless of what happened. I was like, “Baby, don’t give me more material, because I am definitely going to do it now.”
If you had the chance to go back into season 15 and do it all over again, is there anything you feel like you’d want to do differently?
No, I wouldn’t change a thing — it was meant to be how it was meant to be, it was already done, it was already in the cards. Especially on something like reality TV, you’re not in control, so you just sort of have to roll with the punches. I feel like I made the best out of every situation. I was … very aware of what time it was on this episode, if that makes sense. I easily understood my role, if you will. So, I leaned into that, and had the absolute most fun with it.