Last year, Sasha Colby began her RuPaul’s Drag Race journey by quipping: “I’m your favourite drag queens’ favourite drag queen.” It was a witty, slightly wicked way of telling us she was an influential queen who had yet to be given her full dues. This all changed during the course of the season, which saw Sasha snatch the crown in the Grand Finale with a flawless performance of her original song Goddess. In the process, she made history as the first openly trans woman to win the original US iteration of Drag Race.
Since then, she’s released her own line of hair extensions, spoken at a White House Pride Month celebration hosted by Kamala Harris, and joined Chappell Roan to perform Hot to Go! The latter was a cute full circle moment given that Roan had branded herself “your favourite pop star’s favourite pop star” in homage to Sasha.
Before Drag Race, Sasha was already a pageant winner, respected drag mother and seasoned queen who had worked her way to the top in several US cities. But now she’s going global with her first ever UK tour, which includes a show at London’s garrison of gaiety the Clapham Grand. Before she packs her suitcases, she’s found time to tackle 50 questions about everything from her upbringing in Hawaii to her thoughts on being polyamorous. Are you sitting comfortably? Because the goddess is in session.
1. Where are you right now? San Antonio, Texas. I’ve been performing here since the beginning of my career so it’s another place I call home.
2. What are you doing after this interview? Finding some great Mexican food.
3. What can we expect from your upcoming UK tour? A lot of Goddess energy. I’m excited to be finally coming over.
4. Clapham Grand has played host to a lot of drag legends. Will you be able to sense their collective energy? Oh for sure. I do my meet-and-greets before the show because I need to feel the energy in the room.
5. What is the first thing you do when you get off stage? Run to the nearest fire exit to smoke a joint.
6. What is on your rider? Bananas, water, towels and a large bottle of Grey Goose. I know British people are big drinkers so I’m gonna fit in perfectly.
7. What makes British audiences stand out? You’re more cool and reserved – you give a girl a little room. Whereas you know us Americans, we take up a lot of space.
8. What did you learn growing up in Hawaii? Ohana, which means family. Hawaii is such a small group of islands that we’re all kind of related and everyone has queer family members. There’s a level of community and acceptance that I was shocked to find isn’t the norm elsewhere.
9. What is the Hawaiian drag scene like? When I started out in the early 2000s, me being a trans woman who did drag wasn’t a big deal. There were trans queens and cis queens on the same bill and we’d all get the same treatment. Our queerness kept us together.
10. What did you learn when you moved to Chicago? Well, I was fortunate enough to win the Miss Continental pageant at Baton Show Lounge so I got a job performing there. It was like drag university: I learned how to be a trans showgirl from some of the best trans showgirls in history.
11. How did the LA scene compare when you moved there? At that time, there were probably two trans people in LA doing drag. So for the first year-and-a-half, I had to take bookings in other states to make my rent in LA. But then I started go-go dancing at The Abbey [in West Hollywood] and they asked me to do [drag] shows too, thank god.
12. Did you ever consider giving up? No. I hate to say it, but I always get my way.
13. Where does your urge to perform come from? It’s in my gut. That’s kind of a common thread as a Kānaka Maoli – native Hawaiian – because we’re storytellers and performers.
14. Who was your hero growing up? 90s supermodels like Linda Evangelista and Yasmeen Ghauri, and Y2K pop girlies like Britney, Christina and Janet.
15. How would you describe the Sasha Colby look? Goddess slut. And I mean that in the best way.
16. What does being a goddess mean to you? Being someone who understands the power of themselves and the energy they bring to the world.
17. What does being a slut mean to you? Being free sexually and politically – and a real badass.
18. When did you first realise you were our favourite drag queens’ favourite drag queen? When I saw everyone on TV doing my moves. I couldn’t say that nicely, so I came up with “your favourite drag queens’ favourite drag queen”.
19. What is the purpose of drag? In its conception, it was a safe haven for queer people to express themselves and find community. It’s kind of wild to see this art form that we had to create because we weren’t allowed in the mainstream become a part of the mainstream. We’re tastemakers now – we work with the same designers and dancers as pop stars.
20. What does RuPaul smell like? We’re not allowed within six feet of her, but I’m sure she smells of money.
What does being a goddess mean to you? Being someone who understands the power of themselves and the energy they bring to the world
21. In your experience, what is the hardest song to lip sync to? Her by Megan Thee Stallion. I’m a half-Hawaiian, half-white girl, so rapping is not my forte.
22. In your opinion, what is the greatest song ever written? She’s a Star by Shirley MacLaine. It paints such a vivid picture in your brain.
23. How did it feel performing with Chappell Roan? So great. Obviously she’s shouted me out a few times, which is wild, but I was so glad when our schedules finally matched up. She’s down-to-earth and a true artist as opposed to someone who wants fame and relationships with people for good PR.
24. Why do you think Chappell Roan is capturing the moment? Because as human beings, we’re drawn to talent and authenticity. She dresses how she wants, writes about queerness because that’s what she knows and has an incredible vocal instrument.
25. What’s the best gift a fan has given you at a meet-and-greet? Besides their trauma? A Russian doll containing seven versions of me in different outfits.
26. What occupation do you put on your passport? Entertainer.
27. Do you consider yourself an activist? I don’t wake up and say: “Today, I need to do the performative part of being an activist.” But I think if you’re trans and doing drag, if you’re not an activist, then you’re not really a drag queen either.
28. When do you feel most yourself? On stage. Not to get too metaphysical, but I feel like I can pull out of this avatar that is Sasha Colby and kind of observe and direct myself while I do my number.
29. How do you feel about social media? Love/hate. My ego can be very fragile, so one negative comment can ruin my day. I practise daily restraint with social media: I post what I like but try not to absorb other people’s energy.
30. When do you feel the most demure and mindful? Never, because I am neither!
31. How would you describe the concept of gender to an alien who just landed on earth? I would explain that gender is something that humans have to go through to get to a place where we can elevate our thinking and realise that we are not our gender – we are more than this skin suit we’ve been assigned. If an alien has made their way to earth, they’ve probably elevated their thinking beyond gender already.
32. What do most people misunderstand about polyamory? A lot of people think polyamory is a way to get out of the responsibility of having a one-on-one monogamous relationship, but it’s the complete opposite. If you’re practising it safely with people who all have the same intention, it’s a lot of hard work. It forces you to deal with your childhood trauma because the way you’re brought up affects how you receive love as an adult.
33. Do you think someone can really change? You can’t change someone else – you can only change yourself.
34. What do you put on to unwind? A history documentary because I’m obsessed with the British monarchy.
35. Who is your favourite British monarch? King James. He wrote a Bible, went witch-hunting and was gayer than a gander ...
36. What makes Janet Jackson Janet Jackson? They don’t make ’em like her anymore. My drag mom works for her so I’m always taking notes. She’s the blueprint for being a great artist who is also a kind person.
37. How would you describe your relationship with your drag sister Sasha Velour? She’s one of my dearest friends. She saw something in me before other people did and showcased me before Drag Race. I owe a lot of my success on the show to Sasha because I was working with her right up until filming and got to soak up her creative energy. But there’s also this artist feeling we share: we almost want to keep a little distance from one another as performers out of professional respect.
38. What keeps you up at night? This poor brain of mine. I’ve had a very hard time sleeping since I won Drag Race. It’s all the travel – knowing when to sleep and when to stay up.
39. What sends you to sleep? A good pill.
40. What do you spend your money on? Taking care of family and chosen family. I’m more into experiences than material things.
How do you view the role of a Drag Mother? It’s about mentoring and building a community. We bond based on our trauma, how we dealt with that trauma, and how we express our queer strength now
41. Where are you most likely to be recognised? At the airport. A random person I’d never expect to watch Drag Race will come up and say: “Please could we take a picture for my kid who’s non-binary?” Hearing them use the right pronouns always makes me so happy.
42. Of everyone you’ve met, who had the most star quality? My dancer friend Brandi Chun who choreographed my last tour. I met her at 24-VII Danceforce studio in Hawaii when I was growing up. She was incredible – like, a child prodigy.
43. How do you view the role of a Drag Mother? It’s about mentoring and building a community. We bond based on our trauma, how we dealt with that trauma, and how we express our queer strength now.
44. Can any drag performer become a Mother? Yes, if you have the right frame of mind. If you’re a nasty drag queen, I don’t want you making more nasty drag queens.
45. Do you think of yourself as a spiritual person? Yes, but not in a religious sense. I grew up in a Jehovah’s Witness family, but I got out of that sect pretty quickly because my queerness wasn’t really allowed. Since 2010 I’ve been on a spiritual self-awareness journey to really understand how I can be of use in this lifetime.
46. Do you think of yourself as a practical person? I value truth and being right over being happy – that’s the practical side of me.
47. What interview question do you dislike being asked? “What was it like winning Drag Race?” It was fucking amazing, what do you think it was like?!
48. What is the nicest compliment you’ve been given lately? My agent said that the queens in a certain city had loved hanging out with me backstage. It makes me happy that I’m bringing that kind of energy.
49. What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given? RuPaul said: “Don’t look at the comments and pay your taxes.” Those two things have helped me a lot this year.
50. Finally, have you enjoyed this interview? I actually have. You asked some questions that made me sit up straight!
Sasha Colby is live at the Clapham Grand on September 29 – final tickets are available here.
