Gottmik, The Sickening Celebrity Makeup Artist, Is The First Trans Man To Compete on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’
The queens are coming! RuPaul’s Drag Race is ringing in the new year with a brand-new season, further cementing this new era we are in which can be summed up in the phrase “all Drag Race, all the time.” Twelve new queens will be sashaying into the workroom for the thirteenth season of the franchise’s flagship season. Among the new queens is one who is making history on the show in a very huge way.
Gottmik is the latest transgender drag queen on the show, but the first transgender man
Gottmik is the very first transgender man to compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Prior to this, Peppermint was the first out transgender person to compete on an American series in the franchise when she was the runner-up on season 9. Though several transgender queens have been in the franchise, Peppermint was the first to be openly transgender prior to her season’s airing.
Aside from this, Gia Gunn competed on season 4 of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Jiggly Caliente and Sonique will also get added to this tally when they appear on the upcoming fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.
Monica Beverly Hillz has the distinction of being was the very first transgender contestant to announce they were transgender while on the show.
Gottmik wants to show that everyone’s interpretation can be valid
In a preseason interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gottmik talked about being on the show and making history. The performer uses he/him out of drag and she/her in drag as Gottmik.
“I was always good at makeup, and if I went out in drag, it was the only time people thought I was a guy,” he said. “I was living for it, like, I love this! I wouldn’t go out unless I was in head to toe drag. “Even though I’m cinched and lashed and gorge, I’m feminine, but it’s this weird alien thing, I don’t want to look too pretty. Once I got more comfortable with myself out of drag, my drag character was able to actually be my art, and that’s when I started taking it seriously.”
“The trans guys I saw [in media before this] weren’t me,” he continued. Too masculine, too straight…. I looked around like, all of my guy friends are so feminine, that means I can be feminine, too! When I realized that, it was game over. I’m so excited and in such a good place and I’m ready to fight for my community and represent them down.”
All in all, Gottmik wants to prove that drag is not just one thing and everyone can be who they are and. do what they want to do.
“The main thing I want to make so clear is that the gender spectrum is really crazy, and I feel like me doing feminine drag is confusing to a lot of people,” the drag artist explained. “I want to show everyone that no matter what you transition to, boy or girl, there’s a whole gender spectrum in between that you can play with and have fun with, and it doesn’t mean that your identity is any less valid.”
