HEADER BY YOSEF PHELAN
SPECIAL THANKS TO MARY JONES AND ELOISE LONGDEN AT THE BBC

The world’s supreme Anne Boleyn impersonator (and supporter of Natalie Cassidy’s trailblazing artistry) has just made herstory. As well as becoming the first queen to win four challenges on a vs the World season, Tia Kofi has injected some much-needed diversity into the Drag Race UK Hall of Fame as the franchise’s first-ever champion of colour. And, on the same day she became Queen of the Mothertucking World, Tia celebrated the release of her long-awaited debut studio album, Read My Lips, which immediately entered the top 20 of the UK iTunes charts. Not bad for a queen who was once labelled “Baroness Basic”, eh?

“To be the first person to do it and represent people of colour in the UK is incredible. I’ve had so many lovely comments from people who said they feel reflected and represented as a result of this, and I think it’s incredibly important,” Tia, who identifies as “Carol” over Zoom, tells GAY TIMES. Now, she has her eyes set on bringing her signature brand of “camp cow” over to the US for Drag Race’s much-rumoured second winners’ season. “Listen, all I’m saying is I was on UK season two, UK vs the World season two, so being on the second series of a Drag Race franchise is my thing,” she says. “If Ru calls, you come a-runnin’.”

Although Tia has consistently provided viewers with entertainment, laughter and joy, she has – sigh – been inundated with vile messages from “hideous” trolls masquerading as Drag Race ‘fans’, who are feeling the need to dispute her win. (Tia Kofi’s “Pushed by Production” t-shirts are available now!) Tia discusses all of the above in this interview, in addition to her favourite moments from UK vs the World, her wonderful homage to Cherry Valentine and the legendary queens she wants to compete against on the aforementioned winners’ season.

Tia, condragulations on winning Drag Race UK vs the World season two. How have you celebrated over these past few days?

I slept on Saturday and then had a roast on Sunday. I had dinner with my friends on Monday, and now it’s Tuesday. Now, I’m sitting.