The finale episode

I remember like today being on the set with the other two girls and thinking to myself ,wow, this is it and I made it this far. I had a great feeling of accomplishment and felt so proud of everything I did that I was so excited to see what that last challenge was going to be. Santino and Merle walk into the room and they gave us instructions for the challenge. That was a real surprise. When they said that we would be with Ru in her new video doing a choreography I almost shit in pants, and I could not stop thinking how bad I was in the girl group episode. To my advantage the choreographer was super fierce; when it’s down to learning, if there is a good teacher I will get the job done!!! The rap part was a little hard because the rapper who was helping us said that my accent was to strong so I did what I could. After the choreography and the rap we had 30 minutes with Ru, and this was actually the only time we had with her since we were there. It was amazing being able to have a one on one talk with her about more personal things. I remember being in front of her and all I was thinking was when I first saw her in 1993 with her first hit video Supermodel, and I was standing right next to her waiting to become The Next Drag Super Star.

I was very positive about it. I thought I was very consistent during the entire race. I change my looks all the time, I change my wigs and never repeated a gown change my makeup and most important as an entertainer I feel that I have a different  style with qualities that would certainly be innovative and that would captivate the audience. This doesn’t mean that I underestimate my competition. Miss Bebe was a lady in every sense, when she hit that stage everyone gags. She was clean and elegant, with an incredible gift of expressing herself with property and fluid words. Not to mention her great spirit!

Miss Rebecca, despite the fact that she kept saying that we were old, her immature and sassy style made her look cute enough to make her go far in the competition, so I always had my eye open and watch for her steps. I remember the first day on the set; she was one of the sweetest of the group, but as the competition change so did she. I think she is a beautiful girl with great qualities who needs a little more practice in working with other professionals. I know she has all the potential to go far, so if you’re reading this, you go bitch and don’t forget I was one of the first drag queens you saw in Puerto Rico and pray that when you reach my age, you’re still rocking and storming the children!

The moment of elimination arrive and Rebecca was sent home, so it was down to Bebe and me. We had such a strong connection since day one that before going into the finale day, when we were at the hotel, we had a nice talk in which I told her that it was a pleasure to be by her side and that no matter what would happen if I didn’t turn out to be the winner I would be happy for her if she would have been the chosen one, because I knew that she deserve it as much as I did and I knew she would be an amazing representation  for the title.  Her feelings towards me were pretty much the same and when we were battle ling on that last song, we were feeding on each other’s energy in such a great way that it made the performance a unique and wonderful experience. I had my hopes till the very last minute, but when Ru said that she was the winner I was crying of happiness for her, like I said before, I know she will represent!

This is not the end, is only the beginning. Lots of great things are happening to me and I know that you will hear from me again!

I thank all of you for your comments, your messages, you love and support. I’m working a lot and it’s hard to keep up with all the fan mail but every now and then I do my best to send you guys my love.

I promise that I will keep you inform on all the cities that I will be visiting this year.

For now I am producing my own show here in Denver call “DRAMA DRAG” at the hottest gay club in Colorado ”TRACKS” were I’m also a DJ.   www.tracksdenver.com

See you soon. Loves, La Nina Flowers!Work it Loca!

The sixth Episode

And then there were four! Because I won the mini challenge I had the opportunity to select which flavor I was going to represent in the runway! I was overwhelmed with winning the challenge because I had not won anything since the first episode, so it felt really good.  It was time to pick, and I choose my favorite fruit, Mango. Aside from being my favorite fruit, I pick mango because this fruit transformation has many colors. It goes from green to yellow and red. I thought that I was going to be able to work with all this colors, but that was not the case, because the production team had already pick the fabrics for all of us, so I had to work with what they gave us,only green. To my disadvantage my sewing machine wasn’t working, and while all the other girls were working on their gowns I had to wait for the production team to bring me a machine so I could work on my gowns. While I was waiting I decide what to design for every gown and I cut all the fabrics, so that as soon as my machine arrives I could start working immediately. While I waited, Shannel and Bebe let me use their machines. This challenge was fun for me. I also got to help Bebe with some questions she had about her outfits. I was surprise that I got great reactions from some of the judges that were always very severe with me.....

Bebe was the winner of the challenge and I was second place, and the fierce Shannel was sent home. I believe that if she would not say she didn’t wanted to be there no longer, she would have been in the final 3. But she left with her head up high because she stayed true to herself the whole time.....

This far we have done so many things, that the question of the day is, what will the final test be?....

Can’t wait to see how this next final episode goes on TV! J....
Love you all and were still on the race!!! J....

The Fifth Episode

After the sad goodbye of the lovely Jade there are many doubts in my head. I started wondering about the nature of the show. I had so many questions in my head, but the biggest one was are they really looking for the best of the best? With no answers to my questions, all that remains is try to keep up with the challenges and survive till the very end. It was really hard because as I started to have doubts about the show, I was losing my enthusiasm and all I could think was when will it end.....

Ru comes into the room with these girls that were there to give us some self defense workout.  This would lead to the mini challenge, which would lead to our fifth challenge. The mini challenge had no point to me so I really did not make my best in winning it. I was hitting so hard that my knuckles were almost bleeding, so I stop. Finally I was assign to do the lovely Mia’s makeover. The challenge was to make a female version of ourselfs. I was trill that they gave me the most beautiful girl in the group! I thought this is going to be easy!....

As part of the challenge, the girls would get to keep the gowns that they would wear. In my case I knew I had to make an outfit for my baby because none of my gowns would fit her, she was 6 feet tall and I’m 5’4. So I pick a fabric that screamed my name and I started to build her a gown and with the fabric left I would create something for myself. I wanted both to have same fabric outfits, so that we would match perfectly. I finish her gown and started working on mine. I really did not have much to work with because most of the fabric was in Mia’s gown, but still I try and make something that I thought would be cute.....

I had made the most horrible gown,it was hideous. When I try it on I said to myself, if I wear this I will be the fashion victim of the drag race. Having no time left I went to my gowns and I pull out one that had colors that would match with hers. All I could do was try to work on similar hair and fierce make up so that the judges would find there was something similar between the 2 of us. ....Elimination time arrive. I was so disappointed after hearing what the judges had to say about my work. They asked why didn't the fabrics match and I told  them what happen with the outfit that I had created, but  still they said that they would love to see it, I guess they really wanted to have a good laugh at me. But the part that hit me the most was when they said that my girl look like a drag queen, that she had too much make up on, that I should do the hair a different way, and I’m thinking to myself this does not make any sense. When RuPaul was giving directions about the challenge the first thing that she said was that we had to recreate our drag persona in the makeovers that we would do to the girls, meaning  that they had to embody our looks.  I look at my baby girl and I said to myself, it feels like the judges have been given a whole different explanation of what the challenge was about. I felt so stupid and angry. I was so mad. My Mia was amazing, even all the girls said that she look like me but taller. At that point I’m beginning to think that some of those judges really hated me. But i will never give them the pleasure to see me fall. I will fight till the end. FUCK THEM!!!....

As a tragically end to this episode, the amazing Ongina was send home. It was a very emotional moment for some of us. After this, the show was never the same. She always had the room full of joy and happiness.  Without Ongina, there was a sense of emptiness.  It’s down to four Queens and even knowing I have struggle a lot, ”I’M STILL STANDING”.....

Can’t wait to see what’s in the box for me.....

Thank you guys for reading my blogs and for your love and support, this is all for you.....

FLOWER POWER!....

.. ..

The forth challenge

After having so much fun and good results on the Opra challenge, I was back in the same spot, dying to know what comes next. When our next challenge was reveal to us I thought it was going to be really hard for me because of my language problems. To our favor we were provide with some information about Viva Glam Campaign and all its stands for. To me every challenge first concern was looking fierce and beautiful, so the first thing I did was getting my face ready and then work on my presentation. After I decided what I was going to wear, I still had like 25 minutes left to work on what I was going to say in my commercial, so I began to review the information that we were given and I try to select the most important facts that I thought had to be mention. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />....

We all had 10 minutes to come up with enough material for the production to create 30 seconds of the commercial. The only girl who had more time was the winner of the mini challenge, she had 15 minutes. To my surprise I was the first to do the test screen. I had managed to memorize my lines so that my English would be fluid enough. I finally get on the set and did my lines in 2 minutes and 34 seconds. I thought it went out great and that I had nail it when Ru told me that I had 7 more minutes to play around and do it again. So I decided to give it another try, but this time it was a disaster. I twisted all the information and change a few things. It really was not that bad but since the first time was so polish I felt I screw up the second time. (I’m very hard on myself) After I did it the second time I still had a like 6 more minutes to play with the set and give the production some footage.....

That was amazing! Because there was no radio, RuPaul started singing and clapping on the set so that I had some groove to dance to, and that felt like winning the lottery big price. I left the set pretty confident that I did a good job, an even knowing that I had a few problems with my English I manage to survive this challenge.....

It was time to get ready for the elimination and this time I knew that I would face some strong criticism  for the outfit that I had chosen, but still I decided to stay true to myself and wear and outfit that was really amazing to me and that reflected my passion for this art. At this point the judges had already said to me a couple of times that in order for me to become Americas Next Drag Queen Superstar I have to learn to be soft.....

 I thought I gave them softness in the past 2 challenges, and for this one I wanted to give them Drama. They hit me hard with their opinions. You’ll be surprise with the things they said to me, but because the production has to edit everything in such a short way, they really don’t show much. To my favor, the judges love my presentation about Viva Glam, so basically the commercial save me from being in the bottom two. Still I kept my head up high because I felt I have being able to give them so many looks. I feel that everything I have presented has been with a lot of class and good taste. I was really upset when Logo first got on their website information about the show and they wrote on my description that I had lack of versatility, when RuPaul herself said on the third episode evaluation that it was interesting how I was able to give them so many looks. But then again some of the judges think I’m all about Goth. I love Goth, it’s my roots, but I have proof so far to be able to do other looks.....

The hardest part of this chapter was to control our emotions when our baby sister Ongina reveals her situation. I look up to her and I proudly can say that she is and inspiration to us all. I love you sister! God Bless you!....

As you may notice people are beginning to change in the competition and you can feel the tension on the set. To everyone’s surprise the beautiful Jade was sent home. This was a shocker to all of us. I think she is really beautiful, she is very talented and her lip sync presentation was great, hands down. I thought this decision was taken in other to bring more drama on the set. After this happen, I began to question myself the nature of the show and what they were looking for, so it was anyone’s game. I was not the only one feeling this way, some of my sister in the show felt the same way. We got together and talk about it. For this very same reason we agree it was important to stay true to ourselves. At the end all that matters is our own satisfaction, and to know that we did things the way we wanted to, the way we thought was right.....

Follow your instincts and you will always succeed!....

Love you!....

The third challenge.

After my bad day on the second challenge I woke up with a positive attitude and ready to get back on my feet and do my best to win the title. Getting into the set was very stressful, because there was always someone missing and also the competition was getting tight and the tension higher. The worst part was not to know what comes next.  We would always start the day with the SHE MALE. The SHE MALE was a video of RuPaul giving us some ideas of what the next challenge was about. The truth is I never understood a thing about what she said on that video, but that was the idea, to keep us intrigue and in suspense. Then she would always come into the set and tell us our assignment.  This time it was about channeling our inner Opra.  I said to myself this is really getting harder and harder, but I was prepared to have fun and not take it too seriously.

I was really concern because I never watch Opra, but that didn’t stop me from doing my thing. On the first part I had so much fun reading from that screen. There were a lot of words that I have never pronounced in my life. I was so into the reading that I even read at the last part MY NAME when I was suppose to say this is Nina Flowers Good Night!  God!!! Everybody was laughing on the set, even Ru was laughing so I guess it was not so bad. For the second part they told us we would do a section call my favorite things. They would have some products on a table and I would have to pick just one and say why it was my favorite, but none of us had no clue what was on that table.  I pick that blow dryer and I felt I was doing a commercial, a funny one .  I thought that bringing some humor into the situation would make it fun to watch and I wouldn’t look so stiff doing it. The last part of the challenge was really nerve racking because I had no idea who this people were, and I knew I had to look fresh on the interview and not nervous at all. I was so freaking nervous that I even change their names, and in one of the questions I had to ask about their HIT TV SHOW and I said, tell me about your HIV,??????????

What ……What……..Locaaa ,how could you?, I ask myself, and I literally froze. Thank God that for them it was a joke, and I kept going with the interview as if I knew them for 10 years and I had never make that horrible mistake. It was so  funny. The worst part for me was that I was the last one they took from the set to do the challenge, and as the other girls were done, they would go into the GREEN LOUNGE were they would wait for the others. (The Green Lounge is where they get the" Under The Hood” section on the website.)

Going into elimination was always stressful. It was like being on a rollercoaster.  I was really happy with my result in the challenge. When I talk to the girls about how they did, I knew I wasn’t the best, but neither the worst, so thought I was safe from elimination. I got good reviews from the judges, but for some girls was really hard. The worst part was to see another one of us going home. The more time we spent together, we learn to love each other, respect each other and understand where we come from.  

Can’t wait to see how I did next week!

I always read all your opinions and comments, but only reply the messages.

Thank you for your love and support, this really means a lot to me! Love you all, FLOWERS!!!

The second challenge.

After my success in episode #1 I was very excited to see what was next on the show. Then Ru Paul came into the room and gave us our second challenge. As soon as she reveal   what the competition was, I Knew it was going to be hard. The person in charge the group assigns everyone a different thing to do, to make the stage presentation a good one. Before every one of us started to work in our different areas, we had a conversation were we all agree that we would respect every ones work with the best intention of having a successful result. I was responsible of doing the wigs for my group. Two of my team mates were happy with my work and one of them was not. After he express how he felt about the wigs, this brought a bad vibe into the set and it even makes one of the guys insecure about them. I was really upset about this because I wanted everybody to be happy about my contribution in the team challenge. Finally we agree that we would use the wigs the way I knew how to style them” MISS TEXAS STYLE”. And what really disappoints me is that in the editing of the show they don’t mention when the judges talk about my wigs and how they all love it. That was a BIG YES!!!....

But my problems for this challenge were bigger then the hair that I make for my team.  The sister in charge the costumes did a great job. The sister in charge of the makeup also did a good job and the one in charge the choreography did all she could to get us together. The truth is that I have always got challenges when it comes to choreography, and the time that we were given to prepare the presentation was only a day. That itself was a big deal for me because I really need time to learn my words. Going to the stage without knowing the words to a song is the biggest mistake that any entertainer can commit. To add a little more pressure we would sing this song to the artist who sings it. That night I went to bed around 4 am trying to get the steps for my routine, and thinking that I had learn the words to the song.....

We finally got into the set, and guess what? My wig was not done jet!!! I took care of every ones hair and left mine for the last minute. Then the rush of getting ready and having the staff off the show coming in screaming, ok girls we have 10 minutes. It really became a nightmare, it was so depressing. And all I could think was, dam, after winning the first challenge, but all was in my mind was not to let the judges down. I wanted to come to the show as a strong competitor and the consistent performer that I am. So finally, it was time to hit the stage. My mind went completely black out and I totally forgot the words and the steps to my routine. It was a real disaster for me. I remember going to my room that night and being so depress that I started crying. It was a very bad moment that I had on the show.....

Till this day, I was really worried about how this experience was going to be translating into the episode. But after watching it a few times I told myself that I will never let anyone criticize me or my work and most important, that I would never bring myself down, for no one is better than the other and none of us are perfect! Can’t wait for next week to give you my insides of the story!!!....

Love you all, and thank you for your support!....

The first episode!!!

I remember like today arriving in Burbank, California, and having a rush and ensaity to meet the rest of the girls that were chosen for the show. I got there not knowing anything about them and not knowing anything about the show. All we knew was that we had to bring a few gowns and we also had to be prepared to start from the scratch. The suspense was killing me. Finally we got to our first day of filming and we were brought into the set, one by one, until the 9 girls were there. It was amazing to see what a variety of styles were selected to be a part of the show.

I was the second one walking into the set. When I got there Shannel was already on the working room, and as soon as I saw her I knew the competition was going to be interesting.  As the rest of the girls kept coming in, I realize that some of them  had more experience than others, but this don’t mean I underestimate any of them. I also thought that it was going to be a room full of mean bitches, and to my surprise there was a lot good energy in some of them!

After meeting the girls, the next overwhelming thing was having RuPaul walking into the room. Having her face to face was amazing. She has been an inspiration for all of us and she was the most important judge in the competition, so no matter what, she had the last word.  It was very important to make a good impression.

We finally were asked to do our first photo shoot, and I felt great about mine. There were so many elements to distract us, but I always focused to be the center of my picture and not let anything steel my attention.  Then the first Challenge arrives! After I completed my gown I look around the room and I felt really good about myself and my work. The goal was to make an outfit that would scream and reflect my drag persona but still look good and fierce. I got a great reaction from the judges, but in the air there was a feeling that some of the girls did not felt so happy about the final decision. This was the beginning of what I knew was going to be a rough ride.

Winning the first challenge was amazing, and as one of my prices I got immunity for the second challenge. But in my mind I was thinking that I was not going to play safe, because I wanted the judges to see how bad I wanted this, and how hard I was going to work to get it!

Now I’m really excited and curious to see what the next challenge is going to be! Stay tune for my reactions and my feelings in this great adventure call “RuPaul’s Drag Race”.