Kori King on Kissing Drag Race (and Lydia B Kollins) Good-bye

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Pay tribute to Kori King today by raising a drink and don’t forget to stir it well. In this week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the self-proclaimed Black Barbie from Boston was eliminated. Despite previously sending Joella to bed in a lip sync battle, and her wig falling off during elimination didn’t save her from going home. Her design in the Betsey Johnson challenge failed to impress the judges, ending a romantic relationship with Lydia B Kollins that had developed throughout the season. However, Kori maintains that she didn’t go into the competition expecting to find love or win the crown but is satisfied with both outcomes. “I knew I wasn’t making it to the finale,” King says, laughing. “My best was top five, so I have no complaints about my placement.

How did creating Barbie’s Doll Race as a teenager influence your understanding of what constitutes an engaging Drag Race narrative?

[Or]

What insights about constructing a compelling Drag Race storyline did you gain from producing Barbie’s Doll Race during your teenage years?

I didn’t bring it up during my audition, to be honest. I was just too shy about it, you see. After all, I’m an adult now, and my childhood hobby of playing with dolls might seem a bit unusual to some people.

Indeed, your confessional segments were quite captivating. If they played a role in helping me understand and appreciate the entire series better, then I’m truly grateful!

It’s amusing that you make that connection – both aspects emerged simultaneously for Kori as a character. The pink and orange color scheme was chosen because one of her regular haunts, Dani’s Queer Bar in Boston, is known for its unwavering support of the LGBTQ+ community. Since starting drag, she has been associated with them for years. Additionally, Dunkin’ Donuts’ colors were also pink and orange, which seemed fitting. The outfit design also resembled a Barbie doll, adding another layer of reference to the mix.

During the course of this series, you’ve been consistently generating content online, ranging from recreating Suzie Toot’s talent number to joking about my wig’s unexpected resurrection. Do you meticulously plan all these ideas in advance or do you come up with them spontaneously as the filming progresses? Were you jotting down potential social media content ideas while we were shooting? Absolutely, I’m known for being forward-thinking. Throughout the entire season, I was always considering, “What funny or engaging bits can I create to match each small detail?

So, if we’re talking about how much time I spend on various platforms these days, it’s approximately 12 hours and counting. I don’t engage in traditional forms of entertainment like watching TV or playing video games, nor do I meet up with friends face-to-face. Instead, I’m consistently active on social media throughout my wakeful hours.

It’s quite remarkable to see how you juggle everything with your busy schedule of social media management, traveling, and performances. In essence, it seems like you never stop working. You truly embody the spirit of a dedicated, hardworking individual.

In simpler terms, you correctly pointed out that winning isn’t everything in this season of the competition. For me, entering and participating in the show was primarily about building a personal brand and launching a successful career. While only one person can win, every contestant has the potential to build a career from their time on the show. I believe I have done well in achieving my goal.

Were you not anticipating it to turn into a romantic situation as part of the show? To be honest, it took me by surprise.

Speaking of Lydia, here’s what I adore about her: Her passion for the business side of drag truly resonates with me. The numbers, the likes, and seeing which posts catch on – it all fascinates me. As for her, she cherishes the artistic aspect of drag. Watching her brainstorm ideas, like the way her eyes light up when creating an outfit, is simply captivating to me. I find myself drawn to her unique perspective on drag.

Since we noticed your bond with Lydia growing stronger, many spectators may have foreseen a competition between the two of you, much like how Vanjie and Brooke Lynn Hytes faced off. However, was this past precedent of showmances on your mind at all?

My response: I knew it was possible, but honestly, it didn’t bother me. I felt, I care too much for Lydia to worry about having to lip sync.

It’s truly heartwarming to receive such an outpouring of affection as a couple. We can’t help but notice all the creative fan edits featuring us, and we make sure not to miss any. Whenever we’re tagged or mentioned, we’ll definitely check them out. We even share them with each other constantly throughout the day. Frankly, it brings us immense joy!

Had you and Lydia not yet established an official relationship during the lip sync, could you share what thoughts might have crossed your mind during that kiss? I’ll put it this way: In a sudden, spontaneous moment, we sensed the vibe of the situation – the song was “Kiss Me Deadly,” after all. It seemed like a natural reaction, and I wasn’t taken aback because it just felt right to me.

1. In the background, the other queens were getting quite emotional.

2. Who among the cast was the most ardent supporter of this relationship?

After you both became a couple, was it your decision to prevent others from confirming it? This question arises because it seems like Joella may have accidentally revealed it at a gathering back in January. 
Girl. We didn’t explicitly ask anyone not to, but I assumed everyone had picked up on the hint. Yet, it appears that Joella left so early she missed the hint! [Chuckles.]

Although the relationship between us felt rather understated, it eventually became quite apparent to viewers as they scrutinized social media and our weekly appearances together. When did you and Lydia decide it was time to make your relationship public?
We initially wanted to hold off until our latest episode aired. However, as we found ourselves appearing together every week, we began to realize that keeping it a secret was becoming increasingly challenging. [Laughs.] With both of us frequently traveling back and forth each week for gigs, one of us would often fly to Boston or Pittsburgh. So, we decided it was time to reveal our relationship status.

I must admit, I prefer our current situation where there’s no need for secrecy. It’s refreshingly simple now that we’re open about being a couple.

It’s more like, So what? These individuals might be unhappy or out of work. They don’t have companionship. This is the peak of their lives. Therefore, I enjoy it when people criticize us online. Lowering our spirits gives them happiness. Who am I to deprive them of such joy?

At times, you might not even be in disagreement, as you’ve jokingly participated in some of the comments about my appearance. Well, indeed, I may say, “This is awful,” but honestly, it doesn’t bother me much. [Laughs.] After all, these are just clothes. You know I can remove them, right? Fashion has never been my favorite aspect of drag. So, when people criticize it, I simply think, “Alright, sure.” However, if they criticized my business acumen, then I would have become upset.

As a devoted fan, I must say, it’s absolutely thrilling to witness fellow RuGirls reacting to me week after week! Whether they’re showering me with compliments or serving some well-deserved shade, I cherish every moment of our camaraderie and competition.

Well, I know you look up to Monét … 
Motherrrr! Ahhhhhh!

If you happen to come across this message, dear Mom, I’d be thrilled if you could follow me on Instagram for this season’s The Pit Stop and Sibling Rivalry. Could you do me a favor? [Laughs.] Please, with a smile on your face?

Since Drag Race inspired you to start doing drag and it took just a couple years to make it onto the show, what are your professional goals moving forward? Well, I like to say that as long as there’s a paycheck involved, I’ll go wherever life takes me. Who knows? Maybe I’ll end up on Chopped or Big Brother!

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2025-03-01 21:54