Tia Kofi has won the BBC’s The Festive Finish Line in what has been described as “one of the greatest comebacks” in the show’s history.
The episode, which aired on 16 December, saw the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK icon compete against Tim Vine, Cheryl Baker, Kéllé Bryan and Will Best, as the celebrities raced on moving treadmills for a chance to win £5,000 for their chosen charity.
The final came down to Kofi and Best, with the former narrowly defeating the Big Brother host in what he described as an “epic clash”. Co-host Sarah Greene, who presents alongside Roman Kemp, added: “We have never had a finish of a race like that, ever before.”
As the last player standing, Kofi played solo and ultimately secured the prize money for Rainbow Migration, a charity providing “practical and emotional support for LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum to help improve their confidence and self-esteem and reduce isolation”.
Following her win, Kofi wrote on Twitter: “Gosh the right-wingers are really mad that I was in drag on BBC’s The Finish Line… so annoyed that they haven’t even noticed I won the £5k prize money for @rainbowmigrants.”
In an Instagram Story, Rainbow Migration gave Kofi a “massive shoutout” for the “comeback of the century”, adding: “And for turning that win (£5k!) into support for LGBTQI+ [people] seeking safety in the UK!”
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Kofi, who competed on the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and went on to win the second season of UK vs the World, previously collaborated with a number of POC drag artists — including Vanity Milan, Asttina Mandella, Kiki Snatch, Sum Ting Wong and Don One — to raise money for Rainbow Migration.
“This is England,” she wrote in an Instagram carousel of the campaign in September, adding that she and her “beautiful friends represent the true faces of modern Britain”.
Kofi explained that the campaign came to fruition following weeks of “racism and anti-migrant sentiment,” which had led to dangerous rhetoric putting the lives of people who migrated to the UK at risk.
“We’ve also seen the St George’s Cross and the Union Jack, a symbol that should represent belonging for everyone, misused as a banner of hate. It’s time to reclaim it as a symbol of shared community, solidarity and welcome,” she continued.
“It’s time to come together and say enough. We won’t fall for that hate. We welcome everyone and have the moral obligation to support people seeking to rebuild their lives in our communities.
“Wherever we come from, whatever our race, gender identity or sexual orientation, we all have the right to safety. With our voice we can demand an end to the sowing of division and perpetuating harmful stereotypes.”
Explore the campaign below, and visit Rainbow Migration’s website to learn how you can get involved or donate.
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