Michelle Visage, superstar international TV and radio personality, makes her debut Seattle appearance this weekend at Sinfinite Events' 'Queen for a Day' charity auction as well as a meet & greet appearance at 'EletroPOP-HeatStroke,' the beach-themed summer dance party hosted by RuPaul's Drag Race superstar Morgan McMichaels and Seattle's own Robbie Turner at Fred Wildlife Refuge.

Michelle will be joining us hot off her recent taping of Drag Race Season 6, which is rumored to feature not one but TWO queens with Seattle ties. Michelle is excited to be a part of Seattle's first annual 'Queen for a Day' charity drag queen auction, a fundraising event with profits benefiting the 2014 Seattle Red Dress Party and its beneficiaries. The auction, presented by Mercedes-Benz of Seattle, is the brainchild of Jimmy Scarpello and Arden Turnbull, the men behind Sinfinite Events, and will feature 10 local Seattle drag personalities, each being auctioned off to the highest bidder. The winning bidders will get to experience a once-in-a-lifetime day with their queen, which will include a champagne reception at the new, state-of-the-art 84,000-square-foot Mercedes-Benz of Seattle showroom; a gift bag from Atomic Cosmetics (www.xerionskinscience.com); and round-trip limousine transportation from Amy's Limousine Service (www.amyslimo.com) to Seattle's Teatro ZinZanni, where they will experience a three-hour whirlwind of cirque, comedy, and cabaret along with an incredible five-course dinner (www.zinzanni.org)

The queens on the auction block this year include Robbie Turner, Ladie Chablis, Aleksa Manila, Cherry Sur Bete, Drew Paradisco, La Saveona Hunt, Jessica Paradisco, Atasha Manila, Mark 'Mom' Finley, and Isabella Extynn St. James. Each queen will be introduced by Ms. Visage herself and then asked to perform a number for the audience. Once the performance is complete, the bidding will be open with a goal of raising money in support of local nonprofits that help those living with HIV/AIDS. Each winner's bid will then be combined with a $100 donation from the employment discrimination lawyers at Teller & Associates, a proud supporting sponsor of the auction (www.stellerlaw.com).

Immediately following the auction, Michelle will be available for a VIP Meet & Greet at the ElektroPOP 'HeatStroke' beach-themed summer dance party. Limited VIP meet & greet tickets are available at the door for $25 and include VIP area access, Vita Coco VIP tiki bar featuring discounted tropical drinks, a gift bag, and a photograph with Michelle Visage printed and autographed onsite.

We had the opportunity to chat with Michelle about the event, her visit to Seattle, RuPaul's Drag Race, and more. Here is what she had to say:

Seattle Gay News: Welcome to Seattle! Is this your first time visiting the Emerald City?

Michelle Visage: Nope! We went to your fair city last year before our Alaska cruise (Carnival, not Thunderfuck) and we all fell in love!!

SGN: This is the first annual drag queen auction here in Seattle. It's obviously known that you spend a good deal of time 'judging' queens, but have you ever had the opportunity to auction off queens before?

MV: Never queens. I used auction off hot-oil wrestlers when I worked at the strip club, but never queens. I am SO looking forward to this!

SGN: Jinkx Monsoon, as you know, is our hometown hero here in Seattle and you are gearing up to do a mini-tour with her and several other RPDR alumni. Very exciting for a lot of fans out there. Can you tell us a little more about the tour?

MV: The thing about the tour is this: you get to see some of your favorite queens perform LIVE. I'm not talking about lip-syncing, I am talking about live performance art, theater. It brings more focus to the artistry of drag and that is thrilling to me!

SGN: Any chance we will get to see the tour dates expanded...maybe even to include a Seattle stop?

MV: Fingers crossed! If all goes well, there will be no stopping our little traveling band of misfits!

SGN: Speaking of RPDR, it's no secret that you just wrapped filming of the HIGHLY anticipated RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6! Congratulations on that, by the way. There are big ol' rumors flying around town speculating not one but TWO queens with Seattle ties in the Season 6 cast. Obviously we know you are sworn to secrecy on that, but do you have ANY insider info you can share with us here in Seattle? We'll keep it between us, we promise. ;)

MV: Yes. I will be back for Season 6. Surprise!

SGN: You and Morgan McMichaels seem to have been having a lot of fun working on 'Hooker Makeover' webisodes for the World of Wonder website. Do you have any other projects in the works outside of RPDR that you can share?

MV: I do, but I don't talk about them until they become reality. Nothing irks me more than people talking about everything they have going on and somehow none of it manifests. I learned early on to shut up until it's done and ready to go.

SGN: Speaking of Morgan McMichaels, RPDR superstar from Season 2, she is the hostess of Seattle's monthly ElektroPOP dance party and will be here with you this Saturday. Can we look forward to any sort of 'Hooker Makeover' live on stage?

MV: Maybe I will send her out to the street corner to make some money for me.

SGN: You have had such a great career and are infinitely talented. From your days singing with Seduction, and S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M., numerous radio shows all over the country, The RuPaul Show on VH1, and now RuPaul's Drag Race. With all these incredible experiences what would you say is the most important thing you have learned about success in the entertainment industry?

MV: Staying true to who you are. Yes, it will take longer to get to where you want to go, but ultimately you can sleep at night knowing you are being YOU and not shutting up just for fame.

SGN: Through six seasons now you have had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the most talented drag personalities across the country. What advice do you have for upcoming queens and those who have dreams of being on RuPaul's Drag Race?

MV: To be true to yourself, like I just said. PLEASE don't audition for the show being something you think the judges would want to see, because Ru sees right through that shit! Be YOU and YOU will shine through!

SGN: Thank you so much for your time, Michelle. We can't wait to see you this Saturday, and hopefully again here in Seattle down the road!

MV: Cannot WAIT! I'm glad Jinkxy told everyone that it's okay to hire me now :)

Mercedes-Benz of Seattle presents the 'Queen for a Day' charity drag queen auction, to be held at Fred Wildlife Refuge on Capitol Hill, entrance across from Captain Black's at 128 Belmont Ave. Ages 21 and over, doors open at 7 p.m. with the first bid at 8 p.m. Admission to the auction is only $10 and includes the ElektroPOP dance party. $20 VIP and LIMITED $25 VIP Meet & Greet options also available at the door.

For any inquiries or donations to the cause, please e-mail: sinfiniteproductions@gmail.com

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