Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness discusses new season: 'It’s kind of like how Britney felt after her first album'

The grooming expert never thought 'Queer Eye' would become a 'cultural phenomenon'

'Queer Eye' grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness talks about the heartwarming Netflix revival. (Credit: Amy Sussman)

If you tuned into Queer Eye’s first season and were hooked, you certainly weren’t alone. It’s impossible to not feel uplifted by the Fab Five, and in particular the show’s resident grooming expert full of beautiful wisdom, Jonathan Van Ness. Every word is full of gusto and every sentence breathes empowerment: Van Ness has mastered the art of giving encouragement and advice thoughtfully. Van Ness - who began as a hair stylist working between Los Angeles and New York - has managed to turn his beauty expertise and talent for humour into a booming career. Before the success of Queer Eye, the 31-year-old rising star had already been spearheading a hilarious Game of Thrones recap series called Gay of Thrones on Funny or Die and his podcast Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness.

Now, as one of the Fab Five on the newly rebooted Queer Eye, Van Ness helps each episode’s subject look and feel like their best selves in and out of his salon chair. When he's not focused on one of his many projects, you can even catch him doing the occasional stand-up comedy show.

Today, Van Ness and the Fab Five - Antoni Porowski (Food & Wine), Bobby Berk (Interior Design), Karamo Brown (Culture) and Tan France (Fashion) - return for the second season of the series.

Ahead of the premiere, we spoke with Jonathan about his relationships with the guys, promoting positive dialogue and if he was surprised by Tom and Abby’s wedding.

How has your life changed since Queer Eye started?

It’s kind of like how Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera felt after their first albums. People know who I am now when I walk on the street. I was in a parade yesterday for Pride. It’s like, what is this life? Who am I? I feel like I have daily, “is this me?” moments.

Did you expect the show to take off the way it did?

No! I was really hoping people would like it and that we would be able to make more of it. I don’t think I ever thought it would be a cultural phenomenon - I was just hoping people would like it. I was prepared for people to really not like it for some reason. I was doing that whole “prepare for the worst and hope for the best” thing so nothing takes you by surprise. But I’m still surprised because I don’t think my hoping for the best was strong enough.

What’s your favourite moment of the new season?

There’s a lot of really moving moments from this season - I think Tammye’s episode - the first one - has so many moving moments. There are so many moments people can relate to in that episode. My personal favourite episode - and the funniest one - is in season two. There’s a lot of laughter, a lot of crying and soul in season two, so I hope people will like it.

I grew up watching the original version of Queer Eye, which was really popular, but also a bit more about aesthetics. Why do you think the reboot is really resonating with people?

Wherever you fall politically on the spectrum, there aren’t that many times that anyone is feeling that great. Everything feels really attack-y and angry and, I feel you! I feel like that too. It’s nice to have a subject matter that covers some of those same things that people are really not feeling good about, so you can have a conversation where you don’t feel like want to throw your TV or phone out the window. It’s nice to have a safe place to have a conversation going; whether it’s a friend or family member, you can use Queer Eye as an entry point to have a conversation that’s meaningful. I don’t think there are that many conversations where you can lean in and really talk about an uncomfortable subject matter. Bringing up news stories with friends or family members may not have ended well because it has a different charge, but something about Queer Eye is that it has a different charge that people can feel good about it and connect with.

Tom really became the star subject of season one. Were you just as surprised by Tom and Abby’s wedding as the rest of us?

I was! I think partly it’s about Tom caring about himself and investing in himself that made it work. For me personally - as the single one - I’m just very aware of that culture of wanting to be in a relationship being the goal. For me, that was never the goal with Tom or anyone we work with. I want people to fall in love with themselves and to be really proud and full of joy for the space they take up. If someone else appreciates the space you take up, then that’s icing on the cake. I’m way more intrigued by Tom’s story where he can see beauty in himself. I think that’s a way richer story. But I was really into their marriage, and I’m super happy for him.

(Credit: Amy Sussman (Credit: Amy Sussman)

How close are you guys outside of the show?

I hate all of them equally. Every moment with them is teeth-pulling. I think at some point Netflix told me to do a certain number of social posts a day. I was like, “Netflix can you please stop making me force this fake relationship?” I hate them. I’m obviously kidding! I hope it’s not one of those context Sarah Palin moments. No, I love them all! They’re very real. I also feel like it’s not lost on me how lucky I am for that. Maybe we’re all in the honeymoon phase because I’ve only known them for a year and a half. These are not typical experiences for anyone, so to get to go through it with people I actually care for and have a positive relationship with is very lucky. I love hanging out with Karamo when we go out of town - he’s someone I always know I can always spend a gorgeous Sunday with. Bobby is such a brother - he’s so good to bounce ideas off of when it comes to finances or money. Tan and Antoni - I FaceTime them like 17,000 times a day. They’re like family. Family goes both ways: sometimes it’s like “I can’t get close enough to you” and other times you’re like “we’ve been on top of each other for 24 hours. Let me have this moment.” Karamo was a therapist for 12 years. Bobby ran his own business - actually all of us have. We’re all really good about communicating with each other about things.

You do Queer Eye, Gay of Thrones, your podcast and stand-up. Do you have any other project plans?

My podcast Getting Curious keeps me really busy, which I love. It’s something I really like because I really get to be in the driver’s seat as far as what I’m going to cover. It’s really fun to creatively be in the driver’s seat. Also, the stand-up keeps me busy. I’m really excited for season two to come out. I’m just excited to keep on doing what I’m doing.

What can we expect on Gay of Thrones for the final season?

Well we definitely have a year to get that together. Who knows? It’s only six episodes from what I’m hearing. I’m hoping we can make it bigger and badder than we have before.

What is one universal grooming tip that you tell everyone?

It’s so anticlimactic, but it’s flossing. You gotta floss! Also, nails. Just the normal stuff. It’s the obvious stuff people can clock you on for not taking care of yourself as much as you should be. Like hardcore gross breath and nasty nails: we’ve gotta get it together!