Maya Rudolph can make anything funny. But periods are no laughing matter—until Rudolph gets involved, of course.
Maya Rudolph can make anything funny (just see her recent appearance on SNL‘s season finale for proof). But periods are no laughing matter—until Rudolph gets involved, of course. The actress-comedian is the new spokeswoman for Seventh Generation’s just-launched line of all-natural tampons and pads, and she’s bringing some fun back to that time of the month. We asked her to sound off on her monthly visit from Aunt Flo.
GLAMOUR: If you were going to write a sketch-comedy skit about tampons, what would you write?
MAYA RUDOLPH: I think we actually did exactly that. We wrote a vajingle [see below], a jingle for feminine care products. But I actually think that was the best of all possible worlds. I don’t have a lot of shame and so I don’t mind talking about tampons and things like that. To me it’s like once you’ve had a baby or you kind of went as far as you could possibly go in being coy and shy about your body. The vajingle, I think, is a really fun way to just blurt it out and make it into this fun, sort of retro-feeling feminine care commercials like,”flying high on the wings of a dove.” We turned it into a really fun modern take on it. Like, let’s sing about it!
GLAMOUR: Why do you use natural tampons?
MR:: I prefer things that are natural and not man-made. But it was really more about becoming a mother. I think when you become a parent you are hyper aware of what’s going into your baby’s body. [And then tampons were] kind of a no brainer. I was like, I’m sorry, you’re putting fragrance, which is bad for my body, on a tampon? Which is an actual item that goes inside of my body? Wait a minute.
GLAMOUR: What grosses you out the most about non-natural products?
MR: I can’t say a specific ingredient or anything like that, but I think the thing that really hit home for me was being told growing up that clean has an actual smell—whether it’s a mountain breeze or an Alpine freshness. Those things actually weren’t bottled in the Alpine!
GLAMOUR: Do you have a nickname for your ladyparts?
MR: Well, I learned that mine are outdated. I used the term “beaver” in front of my 22-year-old cousin, and she was like, “What’s that?” I was like, “Oh yeah. That shows that I was alive in the ’70s.” There’s quite a few. I’m enjoying “kuckoo” these days. Kuckoo with a K. I think that’s a nice one.
GLAMOUR: What’s your go-to move for sneaking a tampon with you to the bathroom?
MR: I think there’s nothing wrong with tucking it up your sleeve. It’s nice to have a little mystery instead of, “Hey, I’m going to go shove this up my body.” Honestly, it ain’t that much of a secret when you’re like, “I’ll be right back. I’m going to the bathroom,” and you bring your purse. Everybody knows what you’re doing.
GLAMOUR: After having kids, what goes through your mind now when you get your period?
MR: Good God. When will this end? You mean to tell all of this was to just have babies? Hey, let’s make this clear. I’m not having any more.
GLAMOUR: Have you ever used your period to get out of doing something?
MR: Of course.
GLAMOUR: Did it work? What was it?
MR: I don’t know. I’m trying to think. It’s been so many years I don’t even know where to begin. I can’t take this swimming test at camp today. Sorry. Honestly, I never think about it. I should use it more often than I do!