From the second she began singing Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go,” every The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fan knew exactly who Yorkie was. With her distinctive tone and magnetic energy, Erika Jayne tore up The Masked Singer like no celebrity had before. Playfully bantering with the panel each week, Yorkie tried to conceal her identity, but the clues and her signature gave it all away. “I was afraid they were going to know it based on everything! The clues. My voice. All of it, and I just kept I was like, ‘Jenny [McCarthy Wahlberg], be quiet,’ because she was so right on,”she joked.
Making it to the Group C finals, the artists formerly known as Yorkie gave a trio of fantastic performances that pushed her beyond her musical comfort zone. Now that everything has been revealed, Erika Jayne shares with Collider what’s coming down the music pipeline, her excitement to headline Mighty Hooplah, and just exactly what shocked her about Season 14 of RHOBH.
Erika Jayne Knew She’d Be Discovered on ‘The Masked Singer’

image via FOX

COLLIDER: Yorkie has been unmasked. It’s the incomparable Erika Jayne! Congratulations, how does it feel?
ERIKA JAYNE: I had the best time on this show. I could not have had a better character than Yorkie. And I had an incredible time on The Masked Singer.
COLLIDER: The moment you came out and sang “Hot To Go,” I screamed because I knew it was you. I sent the clip to all my friends. Was it hard keeping it a secret once the first clip came out?
ERIKA: No, because you sign a contract that you’re going to be quiet. So that was great, but I was excited to be able to post today to just confirm, because my DMs were full with, “Hey girl, we know it’s you.”
COLLIDER: You had so much fun on that stage. The energy. What was it like being a part of this experience?
ERIKA: This is truly one of the most fun moments of my life. I really enjoyed being in the costume. There’s something about sort of being “anonymous,” and you can really lean into the character and have a good time. It really felt like, truly, my inner six-year-old was out there running around and having a good time.
COLLIDER: What inspired you to join The Masked Singer?
ERIKA: Well, this show’s a great show, and the production quality is insane, and it’s a fun show. And I’ve been told that everybody that went on had a great time, and they were right.
COLLIDER: What was your first reaction when you got to see your Yorkie costume?
ERIKA: Oh, it was perfect. I remember exactly where I was. I was like, “Do not change anything. This is insane. I cannot wait to put it on.”
COLLIDER: Did you have a favorite performance?
ERIKA: I mean, they’re all good, but I just can’t… Honestly, I kept wanting to go on. I will say this, though, it was nice to get out of my comfort zone and do something like a boy band, or even, when you do the Battle Royales, and you’re singing a Black Crowes song. That’s not my lane, but it was fun to do.
COLLIDER: You have a beautiful tribute to your mom. How proud of you is she?
ERIKA: She texted me last night. She was like, “Aw, Erika.” She didn’t know. I mean, she figured it out it was me, but she didn’t know this tribute was coming. So she was like, “Erika, that’s very sweet of you. There are tears in my eyes.” It was very nice moment.
COLLIDER: Whether you’re in a Yorkie costume or not, you have such magnetism and stage presence. Where does that confidence come from?
ERIKA: I think it’s just me. I mean, truthfully, I’d been wanting to be on stage since I was about three years old. I used to hide in the closet and demand people to introduce me, so I could jump out and perform. So I think it’s just something that I was kind of nurtured in childhood.
COLLIDER: The panel was kind of close with their guesses. They did say Kyle Richards. Were you afraid that they were going to know it based on the clues?
ERIKA: I was afraid they were going to know it based on everything! The clues. My voice. All of it, and I just kept I was like, “Jenny, be quiet,” because she was so right on. Look, you go on these shows, whenever you get unmasked is whenever you get unmasked. But I was having such a good time, I was like, “Damn it, I wanted to stay.”
Erika Jayne Reveals What Shocked Her About ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’

COLLIDER: You are a bona fide top-tier reality star. What does that mean to you?
ERIKA: Something I would have never guessed. I never thought about doing reality television, and I ended up doing, almost 10 years now on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. And it’s, it’s quite an experience. I mean, it’s full of great opportunities. And a lot of conflicts.
COLLIDER: Absolutely. Let’s talk about Real Housewives very quickly. What has been the most shocking thing for you this season?
ERIKA: This season shocking? I don’t think anything was very shocking for me. I’m glad that you know, you hope, when you finish this season, that things turn out…Well, actually, let me take that back. I did not expect Garcelle [Beauvais] to quit at the reunion. Yeah. So that would have to be my most shocking. Yeah.
COLLIDER: The friend group has gone through a lot this season. Do you think you all can pull through? Or may there be a friend shake-up coming soon?
ERIKA: Well, there’s always going to be, you know, look, it’s fragile. But I think if people are consistent in their choices of really wanting to move forward, it can be done.
COLLIDER: Recently, the name on everybody’s lips was Erika. You finally got to do your conclusion of your run on Broadway in Chicago. How much fun did you have?
ERIKA: I was great. There were 40 great, amazing shows. I just have a lot of fun when I’m on Broadway. It’s eight shows a week. It’s a grueling schedule, but somehow or another it’s where I’m my happiest.
COLLIDER: How hard was it learning all the Fosse choreography?
ERIKA: One more time? Well, I’d had a head start. So remember, I’d done 80 shows before, but like five years had passed. I grew up in a dance studio. I had a lot of reverence for Fosse, so a lot of the technique or choreography was not super foreign to me, and now it’s just down to perfecting the things, because there’s always another level.
COLLIDER: You were about to headline Mighty Hoopla alongside the likes of Kesha, Ciara, Jade, Jojo, and my Eurovision goddess Loreen. How excited are you for this?
ERIKA: I’m thrilled. What a great lineup, right, for me to be included with these wonderful acts, and to be able to go to London and blow it out. I mean, come on, this is gonna be a great time.
COLLIDER: What can the fans expect?
ERIKA: Glitz, glamor, and fun. We’re there to have a good time.
COLLIDER: You are known for giving the gays everything that we want. Can we expect new music and new tour dates?
ERIKA: Yes, you will definitely get some new music for sure.
COLLIDER: Oh, I cannot wait. Thank you so much for chatting. It is an honor speaking to you. You are my favorite housewife.
ERIKA: Hey, thank you so much. That’s really kind. It really means a lot. Thank you.