Camp Wannakiki Season Six: An Interview with Dear Ruthie!
Published on: Jul 18, 2024
Written by: Joey Hodgson
Enjoying your hot gay summer? Need a break form the sun? We got you covered. Camp Wannakiki is back with it’s sixth season and it’s the campiest season yet! With new challenges, and a fierce new group of campers, Camp Wannakiki brings back all we’ve grown to love about the series along with a few fun surprises. In the past we’ve chatted with the creators Sugarbaker Twins, the more recently hired Ranger Danger and now we finally get up close with Dear Ruthie. Check out the full interview below and don’t miss new episodes of Camp Wannakiki every Thursday…all summer long!
For the OUTtv viewers who haven’t gotten a chance to check out the other seasons, what is Camp Wannakiki all about? What’s your role on the show?
Camp Wannakiki is a kooky nutty drag reality show that sets some of the world’s most hilarious drag performers in a campground. They must do all camp activities in full drag all day every day. At the end of the night, someone has to “take a hike,” and eventually we’re left a new Camp Champ. I’m the Camp Counselor, hosting daily activities and co-judging the nightly talent show.
What makes this season stand out? Without giving too much away, what can fans expect? Any surprises?
What can I say about Season 6….what can’t I say?! These campers are fantastic! Funny, creative, kooky and campy! They’ve got it all. The Sugarbakers and I really brought in top talent from Las Vegas, Canada, Boston, Chicago and other major hot spots from coast to coast. Viewers are already telling us how much they love this cast!
What is your favorite and also least favorite thing about your relationship with the Sugarbaker Twins? (and please drag them through the mud)
I love how much the Sugarbakers truly care for each other and look out for one another; but…Jesus, those girls are gassy. Sweet mother of God!
What is Dear Ruthie’s origin story? What does she mean to you?
Mama worked in a sauerkraut factory and daddy was a toe dancer. Daddy had lots of male friends, and I guess I just sort of grew up loving the LGBTQ+ community. Dear Ruthie got her namesake from writing advice columns in numerous LGBTQ+ focused newspapers and magazines. I’ve been writing “Dear Ruthie” for ages, getting lots of mail from the brokenhearted, the lost and my personal favorite, prisoners. Very hot, lonely prisoners. Prisoners who enjoy big-boned redheads who know how to sneak in a shank—and poppers.
How was it working with Teddy Bear this season?
I first saw Teddy on OutTV’s “Go Go for the Gold” and became obsessed (to put it mildly). When we met in Los Angeles it was a dream come true. We instantly hit it off. I tried to bring him back to camp with me, but he managed to untie himself and escape. Once the lawsuit was settled and he dropped his restraining order, Teddy agreed to appear on “Camp Wannakiki.” He’s such a doll. I love a man who plays hard to get.
Do you have a favourite memory form camp growing up?
I have three…Camp Counselor Mike, Camp Counselor Dennis and Camp Counselor Tom…four if you count Fr. Jacob.
What would be your ideal “hot gay summer?”
HOT, GAY SUMMER? Honey, at my age I’m all about cool comfortable springs, but if Tom Selleck wants to share a pitcher of margaritas and a hot tub, I ain’t gonna complain.
If the show were to change locations, where would you like to see the campers compete and why?
Florida…directly outside the governor’s mansion. Two weeks of loud, screaming campers…all in drag…with cameras rolling 16-hours a day. Either there or Palm Springs. I heard the guys were hot, older and rich in Palm Springs. (Must pack poppers.) On second thought, I may never make it to the set; better stick with Florida.
Why is this show important? What does it mean to you?
The humor and overall art of camp is key to the drag world. We have competitions where glamor is the focus, and we have a show where horror is spotlighted. We need one for camp. “Camp Wannakiki” offers that. We celebrate the camp in every performer. It’s important that performers who feel their drag doesn’t fit in have a show in which they can see themselves–a show that motivates them to amp up their camp, and I’m more than happy to help give that show to them.
