Ramon: Morning, RuPaul. You sound tired.

RuPaul: I got up at 4 o'clock this morning.

I hate mornings. Are you a morning person?

Mmm, hmmm. I am, but at 49 years old I've been every kind of person.

I would imagine you've done your fair share of night life

Oh yeah... [laughs]

If I didn't Wiki you, I'd have no idea you were 49. I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't believe you're near 50?

It has less to do with me and more to do with people not accepting their own mortality.

When you see magazine articles and you go, 'Oh my God, that one looks so old or look how fat someone is' it has very little to do with the person in question and more to do with the person who's asking the question. People don't want to believe their own mortality.

Why do you think that is?

Because our ego never wants to die and it will do anything to prolong its life. But the truth is, we are both spirit and ego and you have to have a balance between the two. Your spirit never dies, but the ego is all about beginnings and ends.

Are these inspirations new for you?

No, and I didn't come up with them either. It's what I've learned from the Masters who've come before us. It's not new stuff; it's very old.

Pick any bar in any city and there's a magnetic attraction to female illusion. Why do we love drag so much and why are so few of us illusionists?

The truth is, we are all illusionists and that's why we are attracted to it. This whole world is an illusion. It's not real. The truth of who we are has nothing to do with religion or the type of car that we drive or the color of our skin.

We are spiritual beings having a human experience. And the human experience part is very temporary. So, things like the bar, love, magic, dancing, and colors are there to remind us to not take all of this stuff so seriously.

Drag is like breaking the fourth wall in theater where we're letting you know straight up that this is an illusion. People are attracted to that because they know it's the truth of who they are also. No one is who they think they are. That's why people are attracted to drag.

Speaking of illusion, there was very little drama in Drag Race Season One. I thought for sure the queens would tear each other and that house apart for the spotlight.

You spoke too soon. [laughs] The kids were very diplomatic in the first season. They knew they were representing a genre that had been missing for a long time. Not so much in Season Two. [laughs]

So, they were on their best behavior? I knew it!

They were. Not to say the kids on season two aren't lovely, but they've had the advantage of having seen the show and getting the lay of the land. So, they came in with a strategy having already seen the format of the show. There's a lot more ruthlessness.

However, people have asked me if my success in this business can be attributed to the non-threatening loveliness that I portray. I do sassiness; I don't do bitchy. I have gotten a lot more opportunities because people find me easy to work with. When you get the feeling that you're going to be around someone who is bitchy or moody you might not want to work with them.

What other things can we expect from Season Two?

The production value is one hundred times better. No more Vaseline on the lens. [laughs] The kids are feistier. We have incredible judges and all of the great drag from around the United States.

So, tell me, have you ever had to lip sync for your life?

Oh yeah. In '88 here in LA when I met Chi Chi LaRue for the first time. She was hosting a drag contest. I won. The prize was $25.

That's it? Okay, you started out in New York City making $18 a show and then LA making $25. What did you do when you first made three digits?

[laughs] I've never done this for the money. I've done it because it's interesting. It was a big fuck you to society and authority and I like it. I love the color and the creativity.

One of my best friends does shows in Detroit, so I've spent a lot of time backstage with the kids. I picked up a lot of tips. What's the one drag secret that no one knows?

Illusion starts between the ears. If the person doing illusion doesn't believe it, then the audience doesn't believe it. Seeing the picture in your head will allow the audience to see it in their heads.

Your new book, Workin' It! RuPaul's Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style, is coming out soon. Tell me about it.

It's the same message I've always given in everything I do, which is don't take life too seriously and have fun. Don't waste your time on things that your ego will try and convince you are important. Use all of the tickets in the coupon book.

Shy guy walks into a party. What's the first thing that he should do?

He has to have the confidence. If he's shy, he should know that that's not who he really is. It's part of his insecurity and fear. He has to decide: Am I going to walk in here with love or fear? He gets to choose which one. If he goes in there with love, nothing can hurt him. It's all an illusion.

RuPaul's Drag Race Season Two premieres Feb. 1st 9/8c on LOGO. RuPaul's book, Workin' It! RuPaul's Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style (HaperCollins), hits bookstores in February.