'Should've kept me': Nikita Iman on her Drag Race Down Under exit and what really happened at the Comedy Roast

It was a bittersweet moment on Drag Race Down Under Season 4 as Nikita Iman sashayed away following an emotional lip sync battle in Episode 7.

Stream Drag Race Down Under only on Stan.

Following her exit, the Samoan beauty has since reflected on her journey in an exclusive interview with 9Entertainment.

Watch Nikita Iman's exit interview in the video above.

Known for her roots in the ballroom scene where she famously won her first "FACE" category, Nikita's journey to the Drag Race main stage was years in the making.

"Season 4 was my first time applying, and I was so excited," Nikita shared.

"When I got the call, it was like, 'Wow, it's happening!' It felt surreal preparing for challenges like Snatch Game and putting my drag package together in such a short time."

Exclusive: Max Drag Queen details her devastating personal struggle while filming Drag Race Down Under

What happened at the Comedy Roast?

While Nikita's performances brought laughter and glamour, her final challenge – a comedy roast for Drag Race judge Rhys Nicholson – proved to be her undoing.

"I was confident going in, but interacting with the judges made me nervous," she admitted.

"Sitting down to write jokes was hard. I'm more of a witty, off-the-cuff queen, so scripting comedy was a challenge. But the roast was a highlight for me, watching all the girls bring their A-game. It was just comedy gold."

On the lip sync...

Her departure came after a lip sync to Young Divas' Searchin'.

"Lip-syncing to that song was such a nostalgic moment," she said. "It felt like reliving a childhood memory, but I knew it was my third time in the bottom. Looking at track records, it was understandable that I was next to go."

Still, Nikita left the competition with her head held high.

"I didn't feel defeated. I felt proud," she said, adding: "If they wanted an interesting Top 4, though, they should've kept me!"

READ MORE: Brenda Bressed reveals her big future plans as she opens up about her exit from Drag Race Down Under

Reflecting on her time in the competition, Nikita shared how transformative the experience was: "I didn't expect to grow so much.

"Moments like the makeover challenge taught me so much about myself. Watching it back was overwhelming but beautiful, especially seeing how my openness to learning resonated with people."

READ MORE: Drag Race Down Under star Olivia Dreams reacts to being the first eliminated queen

What's next?

Now based in Sydney, Nikita has big plans for the future. "I'm slowly integrating into the Sydney drag scene, and the girls here have been amazing," she revealed.

"In 2025, I want to take Nikita on tour around Australia and New Zealand, pushing the ballroom scene further. There's so much crossover between Drag Race fans and ballroom culture, but many don't feel welcomed at balls. I want to change that."

As for her performances, Nikita teased, "People know I'm beautiful and talented, but I want them to experience the full Nikita show. Nikita After Dark is coming soon!"

Follow Nikita Iman on Instagram.

Stream Drag Race Down Under only on Stan.

The Stan Original Series Drag Race Down Under is available to watch now on Stan. A new episode will drop each Friday from 5pm (ADST).

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