Dancing with the Stars contestant Blu Hydrangea has said that it'd be a "dream come true" to be the first drag queen globally to win a version of Dancing with the Stars.
The Drag Race star and pro dance partner Simone Arena spoke to RTÉ.ie after last Sunday's show, in which they danced a samba to I Go to Rio by Hugh Jackman, landing them the first top marks of the season.
Asked what sort of a message them winning the show would send out to Irish people, Blu responded, "Oh my gosh. I mean, being in the quarterfinals is a big deal because honestly, when I started this competition, I just thought, I'm just gonna enjoy week by week.
"And now that the final is getting closer, you just want to be there. I think everyone does, don't they?" they said.
"We've put in so much work, so many hours, we've dropped literally everything in our lives to be here, and I think that it obviously would mean a huge amount to win, it’d be incredible."
Saying that there have been "incredible drag queens on Dancing with the Stars globally, including Panti [Bliss]," they continued, "I think I would feel really proud to be the first one to win, and I think it would be great for anyone in Ireland, who feels like they're an outsider or a bit different, to see someone like me just live my best life.
"It's not all about winning, but if I did… that's a dream come true. And I’d feel very lucky, privileged and I would be so proud."
When asked if they plan to increase campaigning to secure those all important votes, they responded, "If we have time to, we absolutely will. Yeah, for sure.
"Like the next two weeks are going to obviously be incredibly intense, but I know that people will get behind me if I put the effort in and I think we're willing to do that.
"If you see posters up of me around Dublin on the back of doors and nightclubs, I hope you take heed and vote for Blu!"
Reflecting on the achievement of receiving the first '30’ of the series, Blu said it was "wild" following a week where they really struggled with the dance during rehearsals.
"I feel like all week I've been complaining about this samba… but I feel like tonight I've been that one kid that didn't study for their essay and then they go, I got 100%" they laugh. "The first time I enjoyed doing that dance was tonight. The production, the costume - I feel like it just all came together in such a lovely way."
Dance partner Arena chimed in, "The samba is… the most difficult dance. There's so much technicality to it and you came into the room for the whole week with the mentality of a student that wants to be there and wants to learn. You complain because it's hard and I get it."
Arena, who is in a relationship with Strictly Come Dancing pro Michelle Tsiakkas, says that she has come "a couple of times" to watch he and Blu in action. "She's seen the show. She's helped me as well in choreographing some beautiful dances for Blu.
"So yeah, she's a big support for me and I couldn't be more thankful," he said.
The five other remaining couples in the competition are Jason Smyth and Karen Byrne, Davy Russell and Kylee Vincent, Laura Fox and Denys Samson, Katja Mia and Ervinas Merfeldas, and David Whelan and Salome Chacua.
Dancing with the Stars continues on Sunday on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player at 6.30pm.
