Kori King: The Boston Drag Queen Who Made a Lasting Impression on RuPaul’s Drag Race
{ Grace Denney }
If you watched the most recent season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, there’s no doubt you know Kori King. In true Boston fashion, she strutted into the Werk Room with a sexy pink and orange bodycon dress inspired by Dunkin’ Donuts. This look instantly set the tone for her iconic “tacky” drag that she maintains all season. From that first moment, she was unforgettable, and quickly became a fan favorite for her style, memorable moments, and bold personality.
Before she became a household name in the LGBTQ+ community, King was already an artist in every sense of the word. Before Drag Race, she graduated from Boston Arts Academy and was a manga artist and animator. Her love of visual storytelling brought her to the world of drag, and though she has only been in the drag game since 2023, she has already made quite a name for herself, performing alongside Kesha in her Only Love tour and that same year, was named “Boston’s Best New Performer to Watch”. Her spot on season 17 of Drag Race was a natural next step in her creative evolution.
Though she ultimately placed ninth on the show, she made a fierce return for the Lip Sync LaLaPaRUZa Smackdown. There, she proved to everyone that she could lip sync to the top, earning her the title of runner up, losing only after an explosive battle with Suzie Toot. Though she may not have won the $50,000 cash prize that came with the LaLaPaRUZa crown, she harnessed her fame on social media, namely Cameo, where she ended up making over $50,000 in just one weekend after her elimination from the show and ranked #1 on the app.
On Cameo, she’s built a universe of characters that embody the kind of meme-aware, pop-culture-fueled humor that defines her brand. She dons all sorts of iconic pop culture characters such as The Lorax, Shrek, JoJo Siwa, Michael Jackson, and more. She even impersonates her fellow Drag Race cast member, Suzie Toot, adopting the persona of “Kori Toot”, poking fun at Suzie’s old-Hollywood aesthetic while also celebrating the camaraderie and shade that makes drag what it is. And if you thought this was bold, she turned even more heads at The Emmy’s when she arrived in full Michael Jackson drag, proving that she’s not afraid of what anybody thinks about her.
While her creativity and humor may make her unforgettable, her heart makes her beloved. In King’s Drag Race audition tape, she cheekily said that she was a romantic and that she wanted to find love in the Werk Room. And that she did. Enter Lydia B. Kollins, another contestant on the season, with whom King shared instant chemistry. It’s adorable to see their budding attraction on the show develop and how the cast lightheartedly jokes about the two of them together. They even made Drag Race history on episode nine when King was eliminated, lip syncing to Lita Ford’s “Kiss Me Deadly”. They suddenly locked eyes and then started making out on the stage. It’s a moment that leaves the cast, the audience, and even RuPaul gagging.
She may not have taken home the Drag Race Crown (yet), but Kori King is exactly the type of drag queen the LGBTQ+ community needs right now. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind, embrace her quirks, and to be authentic, reminding us that drag isn’t about perfection, but about humor and heart. I hope she comes back to dominate in an All Stars season like her partner Lydia, because clearly, she’s just getting started in her drag career. Her charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent is palpable onscreen and it is obvious that she’s a star who refuses to dim her light for anyone.