Oh Pit Crew! 'Drag Race' heartthrobs Bruno & Bryce model the season's hottest swimwear

Oh Pit Crew!

With the help of photographer Easton Schirra, RuPaul’s Drag Race models Bruno and Bryce show off swimwear at Los Angeles' Hotel Ziggy and talk all things All Stars 9.

Bruno Alcantara

Bruno Alcantara has been a member of the Pit Crew since Season 11 (2019). Follow him on Instagram, @brunocalcantara.

What essentials do you bring to a pool party?
Lip balm is very important. As I get older, sunscreen is essential…and joy of life! To have fun all day.

What does it mean for you to be on RuPaul’s Drag Race?
I love what the show stands for. I think it’s a very important message, not only for [the U.S.]. Recently, I had the opportunity to do Drag Race Brasil as well. It’s my country. I love Brazil. I think in general the show brings this beautiful message of love and acceptance. It’s very important everywhere, inside and outside of our community. I feel very happy to be there. And I get to see the talents very close, and I think that’s a privilege as well.

Do you have a favorite in the new All Stars season?
I do have a really special thing for the Latina Valentina… I know she was growing so much when I was just starting the show, so to see her there was very inspiring and beautiful, just because I’m a Latino as well. But now we have so many other Latinas! So I think it’s just nice to appreciate the diversity and the talent that each one brings.

How has being in the Pit Crew changed your life?
I have a lot more people who know who I am right now — they know a piece of who I am. Because I feel like I’m much more than that. It’s been amazing to receive love from everywhere, from so many people. I get surprised sometimes when people just stop me…and I just receive a lot of love. I feel really grateful for that. So it’s very special.

What should fans know about you that they don’t see on the show?
This is a very special moment for me because it’s gonna be 10 years [living] in the U.S., and it was a big change in my life. Being here definitely has changed my life. Thinking through those 10 years, I have amazing experiences that I wouldn’t have if I was back in Brazil. So what I would say is, if there’s something you wanna do in your life, just go for it, try. You’re gonna make mistakes, but so what? That’s how we make things happen. And I’m very grateful that I had the courage to come all this way here.

Bryce Eilenberg

Bryce Eilenberg has been a member of the Pit Crew since Season 7 (2015). Follow him on Instagram, @bryceeilenberg.

What makes you proud this Pride season?
I just love seeing the love. I’ve been to multiple Prides throughout the year, ever since being on Drag Race, especially. I’ve gone to Indianapolis, LA, pretty much all over. It’s fun to see the families and everyone supporting each other. I feel proud when people are happy and loving. That’s what I’m happy for. I just love the love.

How has Drag Race made you a better ally?
I like the world where ally isn’t even a term because it’s the de facto. That’s kind of how I frame the world in my mind. That’s what I try to live like…. I know there’s social challenges everywhere. So I do get that…. And for me, it’s interesting that the show has such a worldwide reach. So when you go to [the fan covention] DragCon, you see people from Brazil, or Holland, or everywhere going, hey! Their situation may be different in their country, but they can look to us [and] see me…get along completely normal with everyone else on the show. I love the worldwide reach and seeing people happy.

What’s a highlight of being on the new All Stars?
I just love the high caliber of talent [that] stays the whole time. So that’s kind of the highlight for me. I know the comedy skits are just gonna be gold, 99.9 percent of the time. And I just love the laughter of seeing all the talented queens. So for me, I love the comedy folks. Anytime they’re making me laugh, that’s a great day in my book. And All Stars generally keeps that level of laughter pretty high consistently.

Is there an All Star in particular that you love?
I’m nostalgic for the early days of when I was on the show, so my general go-to pick of an All Star that I love is Trixie Mattel. [She’s] been my favorite, and I’m a stubborn old curmudgeon, and I’m not gonna change my ways about my fan favorite. I love all the new queens, but Trixie is forever gonna be my number one.

What essentials do you bring to a pool party?
A little less skimpy than what I’m wearing right now, I can tell you that. I can honestly go to Walmart, pick out a pair of blue, navy swimwear. I’m not terribly stylish, but in my day-to-day life, I let people dress me if they want to…. As long as it covers, it’s good, honestly. And sunscreen, that’s the number-one thing. Skin cancer is bad…. Prevent is as much as you can. Stay in the shade. Don’t burn! I have red hair, I don’t need red anywhere else.

What would you say to the Pit Crew fans?
Although the Pit Crew has changed throughout the years, we do genuinely get a friendship and a bond over the years, and there’s no rivalries or anything like that. It’s like seeing old friends every time you show up to set. I love the bond that we have, from all walks of life coming onto the Pit Crew. It’s such a joy to show up to set every year and see old friends…. We’re friends, and we love each other.

Scroll through to see more pictures from the Pit Crew shoot! And pick up Out's May/June issue, which hits newsstands on May 28. Support queer media and subscribe — or download the issue through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader.

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 9 premieres May 17 on Paramount+. Hotel Ziggy has a splashy season of LGBTQ+ pool parties and events planned ahead! Learn more at @pearlpartyla, @hotelziggy, & hotelziggy.com. Find many featured accessories and apparel at The Pride Store, thepridestore.com. Special thanks to TEAMM8 and House of Love!

Photographer: EASTON SCHIRRA (@eastonschirra) of THE ONLY AGENCY (@theonly.agency)

Photographer’s assistant: ALEX POLCYN (@apzander)

Stylist: DAVID GRANADOS (@davidgranados)

Grooming: JOSÉ FIGUEROA (@josefigz)

Videographer: MIGUEL TORRES

Location: HOTEL ZIGGY LOS ANGELES

This article is part of the Out May/June issue, which hits newsstands on May 28. Support queer media and subscribe— or download the issue through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader starting May 14.