Tina Burner still can’t believe she actually filmed a season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in the middle of a global pandemic. “I didn’t even think it would be possible,” she says, looking back to when she was cast on season 13. “I’m just so proud for everyone involved, it was an amazing feat.”
Sadly, last week marked the official end to Tina’s Drag Race run — after competing in a branding challenge where she was tasked with creating her very own soda brand commercial, Burner found herself in the bottom lip syncing against Utica Queen to The Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps.” After a thrilling performance from both queens, RuPaul announced that Utica had survived once again, and asked Tina to turn it, burn it, and sashay away.
Throughout her time on the show, Tina made very clear that she was a competitor to watch out for from the jump — always carrying herself with confidence and assuredness. The New York queen says she took great pains on the show to put her best foot forward. “I tried not to let things get to me, and I tried very hard to stay true to who I was,” she explains. “I’m a very brassy, in your face kind of person. I knew it would piss people off, I knew some people would not like it — but that’s who I am!”
But Tina also knew that bringing drama and fun to the show was imperative. Early on in the show, she formed a friendship with Gottmik and Kandy Muse, now known to fans by their self-given name, the “Mean Girls.” But when Tina saw some fans online reacting poorly to their name, she says she got frustrated quickly.
“When people were like ‘I can’t believe they called themselves the Mean Girls, that’s bullying,’ I was like, ‘Baby, Mean Girls is the most camp, gayest film in the world. How are you missing this? How are you interpreting this so differently?’” she says. “Drag is fun, Mean Girls is fun. Sorry, not sorry.”
That being said, Tina recognizes that the fans also know how to have a good time — after the makeover episode aired, fans immediately screenshots of Tina painting Rosé’s face, and turned it into yet another Drag Race meme, which she has been enjoying immensely. “You just can’t take yourself too seriously,” she says, giggling. “I haven’t laughed that hard in a very long time, they were really going in.”
Below, Tina curated a special playlist for Billboard, featuring some of her all time favorite tracks. An appearance from her namesake Tina Turner, a Vanessa Carlton jam, and even a few of Burner’s own singles made the cut — take a look below and see what else the Drag Race star added:
Tina Burner, “If You See Something, Slay Something”
“My first single I released, and it’s a bop. It was important to me to record and film a video that celebrates my hometown. To quote such a famous song ‘If you can make it here you can make it anywhere.’”
Tina Turner, “Proud Mary”
“The legend with legs and where I get my namesake from. “Proud Mary, keep on burning,” hence Tina Burner. Perfect hair flip, shimmy, shake, strut.”
Black Eyed Peas, “My Humps”
“Although some might think I find this song triggering [LOL], it is the perfect jam. It celebrates fun and not taking yourself too seriously. As you could tell on RuPaul’s Drag Race, mama was having a good time.”
Vanessa Carlton, “A Thousand Miles”
“This is the ultimate sing-along song. All I’ve ever wanted was to be pulled in a radio flyer through the streets of NYC with a Casio keyboard.”
Sara Bareilles, “She Used to be Mine”
“I mean, realistically, any Sara Bareilles. She gives you emotion, heart, and all the feels. I once did a performance of “She Used to Be Mine” and fell through a curtain performing it. She then reposted it. Iconic.”
Britney Spears, “Lucky”
“The gay in me is flamboyantly screaming every time this track hits. I feel the full fantasy. Best actress, and the winner is Lucky.
The Carpenters, Gold – Greatest Hits
“I mean, rainy days and Mondays always get me down. I was raised listening to arguably one of the most melodic voices in herstory.”
RuPaul, “Sissy that Walk”
“I mean who doesn’t wanna sissy that walk. Perfect for the boardwalks on Fire Island. Full summer fantasy (Speedos not included).”
5th Ring, “Can’t Say”
“That’s right. I chose my boy band single. Early 2000s Realness. Bad highlights and all.”
Tina Burner, “What I Did For Love” & “Proud of Your Boy”
“The latest two Broadway covers I did. They mean the most because ‘What I Did For Love’ truly represents my journey on Drag Race. ‘Proud of Your Boy’ was the ultimate love letter to my mom. All the feels hennnnnny.”
Check out Tina Burner’s full elimination playlist below:
