Warning: This article contains spoilers for the RuPaul’s Drag Race series 11 reunion episode.
RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Brooke Lynn Hytes and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo have revealed the fate of their on-screen romance, in the show’s reunion special.
Throughout the current series of Drag Race, Brooke and Vanjie have been seen growing close in the werk room, with a recent post on the latter’s social media account prompting speculation the pair’s relationship had extended past the show.
However, speaking to RuPaul in the series 11 reunion episode, Brooke and Vanjie announced they were no longer an item.
Brooke explained that Vanjie’s busy schedule – having already been a huge hit on the 10th series of Drag Race – was partly responsible for the break-up, saying: “We dated for about four months after the show, and we tried to make it work, but our schedules were just very different.
“He was travelling all the time, I wasn’t travelling at all, so we never really saw each other, and it was scary for me.”
She added that she was beginning to feel “stifled” by the relationship, adding: “The number one thing that’s always been really important to me is my freedom, I’ve always wanted to be free and be able to do what I wanna do, so to factor somebody else into my life and plans, and never be able to look at someone else and find them attractive, or flirt with somebody else, I was starting to feel very stifled.
“And it was really hard, because I really do care for Vanjie a lot, and I still have a lot of love for him.”
Vanjie noted: “I’m a romantic at heart… I wanted The Notebook experience and I was getting a Post-It. And that’s no T… but it’s OK, and that’s why we’re on good terms, we recognised it early. It is what it is. We had different views.”
When asked if it was difficult reliving the romance by seeing it on television, Brooke insisted: “That’s been really nice, because it was a really nice moment for me, it was a great memory to have and like I said, I’ll always love him. I really do have love for him, and I’m happy we can still be friends.”
Brooke was also quick to dismiss the idea that her relationship with Vanjie was a “showmance”, as suggested by fellow contestants Nina West and A’Keria C Davenport.
“That’s why I was so careful to distance myself from Vanjie at any part of the competition,” Brooke reminded her season 11 sisters. “I was aware people were probably going to think [the romance was for air time]. I wanted to keep that very, very, very separate.
“And quite honestly I didn’t think that I needed any help in the competition.”
While Vanjie declined to answer when RuPaul asked if she was keen to reunite with her ex, Brooke refused to rule it out, saying: “I still have feelings for you, and I know you still have feelings for me, and just as long as we always have love for each other, anything is possible in the future.”
As the two shared a hug, Vanjie shouted to the other queens: “And this ain’t fake, motherfuckers!”
Vanjie was eliminated in last week’s episode of Drag Race, while Brooke is now a contender to be crowned the winner of season 11, alongside A’Keria, Silky Nutmeg Ganache and Yvie Oddly.
RuPaul’s Drag Race series 11 is now available to stream on Netflix UK.