Billy B. shoots the breeze with long-time friend and diva extraordinaire Ru Paul.	July 1, 2004 American Salon
	Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to say that Ru Paul is back. His album, Ru Paul Red Hot, was released in June and is his best yet. I sat down with Ru, who happens to be one of my closest friends, to talk about the man, the music, the makeup and how he still manages to work it. Billy B.: I'm so excited about the new CD. Tell me about it. Ru Paul: It's the best thing I've done. I got to push it a bit more with some things I wanted to say. For instance, I've had my Web site, rupaul.com, for a while, and in 2001 I started my Web log. I've gotten some pretty wild e-mails, as you can imagine, but the best are from hundreds of kids who feel so alone and lost living in the middle of nowhere in a closet and feeling so isolated. They relate to me, and I relate to them. They inspire me to keep going and give my music added meaning. BB: Why did you do another album now? RP: It felt right. I took a break, and now I'm ready. I have embraced what I call "the monster," just like Cher. Look at her. She can't ever be anyone else. Besides, there's only so much longer that I can do this-the makeup can only take me so far before I have to go under the knife too. BB: Maybe you should go on The Swan. RP: Omigod, I would love that. BB: I love that you refer to the Ru Paul the world knows as "the monster." When was the monster born? RP: Well, "the monster" that the world knows was born when I reinvented myself from other forms of drag into the glamazon thing. BB: How did that happen? RP: I would like to take credit, but it was really my friend and makeup artist Mathu Anderson. I met him in 1991 at a party at a Polish community center in New York. He did my makeup for a photo shoot. I wanted to be larger than life-Dolly meets Barbie meets haute couture. BB: Was this the first time you wore a lace-front wig? RP: I heard of this lace-front wigmaker uptown. He had this second-hand lace-front wig that I got pretty cheap. A lace-front wig is handmade out of lace, giving you a natural hairline. This one wasn't fitted to my head, but honey, I was like, "I will make it work." It was platinum blonde and the bargain of the century. I knew I could wear it with the hair all off my face and give everyone the full mug. Give them the realness! I was recently watching the Beverly Hillbillies and realized Granny wore a lace-front wig. BB: Does Mathu still do your makeup? RP: Yes, and he helps with the wigs and the wardrobe, but he's also an amazing photographer. He shot the album cover. BB: It's great that you're so loyal to Mathu. We've known each other since I was doing Michelle Visage's makeup on your show. She was the real drag queen. RP: Yes, she was. BB: I still have never "beat your face!" Seriously, it's nice just being friends and not having that other dynamic. You're so smart, talented and funny, and I'm glad you're ready to share yourself with the world again. I love you; you're my gu-Ru!