The Queen Who Refused to Quit: Kristi Waters on Cancer, Courage, and Stage Life episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 24, 2025 · 1H 25M

The Queen Who Refused to Quit: Kristi Waters on Cancer, Courage, and Stage Life

from Getting Real with Rueben · host Rueben Hernandez-Valdez

San Antonio’s own Kristi Waters — drag queen, performer, and community icon — sits down for her first full tell-all interview since announcing her Stage 3 cancer diagnosis.In this raw and powerful conversation, Kristi opens up about the moment she got the news, the hardest days of treatment, and the community that lifted her through it all. She reflects on how illness reshaped her relationship with her craft, her body, and her mental — and what it means to return to the stage as a new version of herself.Balancing humor and heartbreak, Kristi also shares stories from her legendary drag career, her favorite performances, and her renewed sense of purpose as she steps back into the spotlight.This episode isn’t just about survival — it’s about rediscovering your power when the lights go out, and the courage to shine again.Follow Kristi Waters:Instagram: @thekristiwatersTikTok: @thekristiwaters

San Antonio’s own Kristi Waters — drag queen, performer, and community icon — sits down for her first full tell-all interview since announcing her Stage 3 cancer diagnosis.In this raw and powerful conversation, Kristi opens up about the moment she got the news, the hardest days of treatment, and the community that lifted her through it all. She reflects on how illness reshaped her relationship with her craft, her body, and her mental — and what it means to return to the stage as a new version of herself.Balancing humor and heartbreak, Kristi also shares stories from her legendary drag career, her favorite performances, and her renewed sense of purpose as she steps back into the spotlight.This episode isn’t just about survival — it’s about rediscovering your power when the lights go out, and the courage to shine again.Follow Kristi Waters:Instagram: @thekristiwatersTikTok: @thekristiwaters

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This episode is 1 hour and 25 minutes long.

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This episode was published on October 24, 2025.

What is this episode about?

San Antonio’s own Kristi Waters — drag queen, performer, and community icon — sits down for her first full tell-all interview since announcing her Stage 3 cancer diagnosis.In this raw and powerful conversation, Kristi opens up about the moment she...

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