LaLa Ri is even more himself: Meet LaRico Potts
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PHOTOGRAPHY: Nolan Knight
STYLING: Branden Ruiz
MAKEUP: Ty Sanderson
PRODUCTION & ARTICLE EDITING: Molly Rose Apple
INTERVIEW BY Veridiana Teng of Matadora Paris
In this extra (and we mean extra) exclusive, LaLa Ri — the queen who stole hearts and raised eyebrows on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13 and All Stars Season 8 — spills the tea on his decision to step away from Drag and embrace a bold new chapter as an all-encompassing artist. That’s right, folks, the fierce performer who served us unforgettable looks and sharp shade is swapping his Drag persona for something even more audacious: an IRL artist (gasp!).
But don’t fret — the world isn’t losing LaLa Ri. Instead, fans are gaining him in more ways than ever before: through his freedom in fashion, his exploration of music and acting, and an exciting creative production that reflects his journey from childhood to this transformative “rebrand.” LaLa is ready to show MERDE who he truly is—inside Drag, outside Drag, and everywhere in between. Spoiler alert: He’s still the same magnetic LaLa, just even more himself: LaRico Potts.
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Shot by Los Angeles based photographer Nolan Knight, who captures LaRico’s transformation through symbolic branches (a nod to growth and new beginnings), this editorial is both a visual statement and a manifesto. The glam, masterfully applied by celebrity makeup artist Ty Sanderson, plays with the contrast between laid-back masculinity and fearless femininity. Ty plays with bold color with restraint in a way that reflects LaRico’s genderfuck roots. The look is completed by long-time MERDE contributor, Veridiana Teng’s Matadora Paris custom jewelry pieces. The pierced resin-coated earrings accentuate LaLa’s punk-meets-elegant attitude, through which he’s forging a path that is as bold as it is beautiful.
In an intimate conversation with MERDE and Matadora Paris designer Veridiana Teng, Lala opens up about his decision to de-drag, reconnecting with the androgynous energy he’s always carried, and how fashion and music in particular have become the canvas for his self-expression. The world of LaLa Ri is an eclectic fusion of sounds and styles—think Sylvester's disco soul meets Atlanta's underground hip-hop, a collision of pop, house, and unapologetic grit. This is LaLa Ri’s next chapter: a world where expression knows no limits, where gender is a fluid concept, and where every step is taken in full, unashamed authenticity.
LaLa Ri undergoes more than a rebrand—but a revolution. If you thought you knew LaLa, prepare to meet the real force behind the persona: a radical artist who’s always been ready to break free.
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Veridiana Teng: Recently you announced you’re stepping away from Drag, that takes a lot of courage, how did you make this decision and how does it impact your creative journey?
LaLa Ri: This decision has been years in the making, even during the filming of [RuPaul’s Drag Race] All Stars, I was having thoughts about stepping away from Drag at that time. I don’t like to use the word ‘quit,’ but rather ‘evolve’ in the context of my artistry. I don’t think leaving will impact my artistry, but it will affect my brand. Rather than introducing myself as a Drag queen, I’ll be introducing myself as an artist with this new persona, an artist stepping fully into his creative vision.
VT: Drag was your vessel to show your art.
LR: Exactly, it was a stepping stone to where I really want to go.
VT: Do you feel more free to try new things? What new adventures do you have on the horizon?
LR: I do. My big focus right now is music. I was in the recording studio last night, and I’m going after this interview. I’m playing around with new sounds. The music I did while I was doing Drag was more hip hop, and catered to the Drag audience. The new music I’m working on now is more pop, house, and disco. I’m very influenced by Sylvester, he’s a singer from the 70s and 80s who was huge during the disco era. He was very androgynous, and people thought he was a Drag queen. I think this new music is akin to a modern-day Sylvester, and I’m throwing in a little flavor of hip hop moments from Atlanta in there. I’m actually singing on these tracks, and in most of my previous music I rapped.
VT: Belt it out baby!
LR: I ain’t no Beyoncé or Whitney Houston, but…
VT: You've embraced fashion as a means of self-expression. How do androgyny, fluidity, and storytelling come into play in how you dress and present yourself?
LR: Even before getting into Drag, I was always playing with androgyny in my look. At the time, years ago, I was recording music, and my team didn’t know how to market me because there weren't a lot of queer figures within the music industry. Now I’m going back to that realm, now that we have artists like Saucy Santana, Lil Nas X, and Adam Lambert… all these amazing artists who have set the tone in the mass market. It’s also allowed me to become more free with my fashion sense. I feel that with Drag, I was stuck in a box. My looks were limited to leotards because of the types of performances I was doing in nightclubs. Now I feel that I can explore more looks. If I feel like putting on a dress, I can put on a dress. If I feel like putting on a pantsuit, I can put on a pantsuit, I can do an oversized moment, and I have the freedom to do anything and everything I want to do fashion-wise. I can ask myself, “How does LaRico want to express himself?”
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VT: I work a lot with Drag Queens, and I have the sensation that this world of Drag fashion can often be limiting when you’re put in a box with your peers, because there’s an expectation for you to embody a character through a physical manifestation that doesn’t stray from the expected.
LR: I agree with that.
VT: You’ve mentioned shifting focus from the expectations of Drag to creating a more personal, boundary-pushing aesthetic. How would you describe this new direction, and what kind of stories do you want your fashion to tell now?
LR: I don’t want people to think they’re going to be getting a different person or personality. All that’s changing is the look of what they’re used to. I want to shift their mindset from just seeing me as one thing. They’ll still be getting the full experience.
VT: You’re very magnetic and charismatic, how do you see fashion as an extension of your presence and energy? And how do the looks in this shoot connect deeper to symbols of power, vulnerability and queerness?
LR: My energy is very energetic and over the top, and I want my style to represent this boldness. The look with the beautiful Matador Paris earrings you designed and the see through green dress with the black thong underneath represents my personality of not caring what people think. That particular look was a moment where I could be free, and I want my fashion to represent my freedom, my love of art, and that bold ‘in your face’ attitude of who I am.
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VT: I also started Matadora Paris with the intention to step out of a box. I wanted to do my own brand, rather than working for a Parisian house after college as what’s often expected. I’m so grateful and happy you love wearing them.
LR: I absolutely love your work. The scale and beauty of these earrings, in particular, really represent who I am as well. The jewelry is the superstar of the entire moment.
VT: No, your legs look amazing.
LR: Thank you, child. I’ve been in the gym and working out.
VT: This fits into the larger narrative of you breaking out of the box you described.
LR: Exactly, these photos represent who I am. The moment with the tree branches truly represents the evolution and growth of myself, and as an artist.
VT: You’ve been working on a one-person show and a music EP. How do you see these projects helping you connect with audiences in a way that’s more authentic to who you are right now?
LR: The one-person show will allow me to have a more intimate connection with the audience. I want to take them on a journey from the beginning of my childhood, to Drag Race, to the present rebrand, and to the future in order to get a better understanding of who LaLa Ri is in and outside of Drag. In the end, I like to put on a good show, honey! I’m still an entertainer. As far as the music, people will get to know me on an intimate level that way as well - I’m working on a love song. I’ve never sung about love in my music, and I’m in a relationship right now. They’ll get the tea.
VT: In what ways did being in Drag influence your relationship with music and your ability to express yourself as an artist? How does it feel now to explore music on your own terms?
LR: Drag Race was really the platform to get my music out there. I was recording music before doing Drag, but I was never putting it out. It feels so amazing to be the artist that I want to be now and talk about anything. That’s why I want to talk about love. I felt that in Drag, I could only talk about certain things, you know, that the Drag fans would understand. Drag queens don’t have time for love, they’re partying too much!
VT: What kind of advice do you have for other creatives and artists who want to break free from their respective expectations?
LR:The main piece of advice I have is to remember that as an artist, you are allowed to create art and share art the way that you want to create art and share it. You shouldn’t have to limit your work to please people. If you do what you want, the right people will gravitate to you.
VT: Touring is a big part of Drag. Are you hoping to perform on new stages as a musician? Do you plan on touring in the fashion sense, too? Is fashion week in your future?
LR: Yes to all of that! I love creating productions. I am big on lighting, costumes, choreography, visuals, and music arrangements. I love doing that, so with this new era, I want to be able to elevate my shows from what they were as LaLa Ri, the Drag Queen, to now LaLa Ri, the artist — and even deeper, as LaRico, the visionary behind it all. If they’ve already seen the LaLa Ri experience, this will be a whole new level. I’m very inspired by James Brown, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Beyonce, of course. I’m ready to take my audience there.
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VT: Who are some of your dream artist collaborators? And are you working on any music videos as a visual component to your new music?
LR: My ultimate dream is Beyonce, but let’s be serious, I can’t afford Beyonce. I would love to collaborate with Big Freedia. I think me and Big Freedia on a track together would be crazy energy. Also Rosé from Drag Race Season 13. She is my favorite singer from Drag Race of all time. Rosé’s voice is just phenomenal. Victoria Monet, too. I’ve always wanted to make a music video, but not in Drag. Now that I can do whatever I want, I’m ready to shoot all the music videos.
VT: Who is your dream fashion designer collaboration?
LR: Ohhhh, Louis Vuitton, Mugler, Theophilio, and Off-White.
VT: Let’s manifest that.
LR: I just want to manifest more art, more love, spread more love. I want to be able to give people some type of freedom and happiness.
Follow LaLa’s Journey into the New Year and New Persona
