Instantly a larger than life personality from the moment she walked into the RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 Werk Room, Kori King brought tongue in cheek fashion to the runway and was the undisputed confessional queen during the season (taking a cue from her Boston sister, Drag Race Season 16 finalist Plane Jane). While King did not snag the crown this season, she has taken the heart of fellow Season 17 contestant Lydia B. Collins, who she shared a passionate kiss with during their final Lip Sync For Your Life against each other. I sat down to chat with Kori and we chatted about the challenge she liked the least, what she has learned from her new Drag Race love Lydia, and why being in on the joke is key to the Drag Race experience.
Michael Cook: Lita Ford’s 80’s anthem “Kiss Me Deadly” came roaring back into the pop culture lexicon with your Lip Sync For Your Life against Lydia B Kollins at the end of the last episode. What was it like being part of a moment that you knew would be going down in herstory?
Kori King: It was the most relaxing lip sync of the three that I did for sure; it was the most freeing one. I felt great!
MC: You made a splash on RuPaul’s Drag Race this season and you definitely kept your fellow queens, the judges, and the fans on their toes! What was it like for you?
KK: Oh I loved it, it was like a vacation! It was like, you don’t have to make mixes, you don’t have to send emails, you just show up, do your nine to five, and leave; I loved it! I absolutely loved every minute of it.
MC: What would you say are the rose and thorn of your Drag Race experience?
KK: For me, the fun one was RDR Live! RDR Live! was so funny because one, I knew that I wasn’t going home because there were so many people that were so bad. Two, it was so much fun to work with Lana and Arrietty, it was the funnest challenge of all of them. Thorn-the Rusical. Oh My God, I hate rehearsals , hate singing, hate music, hate hate! Hate is a strong word and that’s why I’m using it, I hate all of that. I was like “Girl, give me the Lip Sync song, let’s hurry this up” (laughs)!
MC: You got so many critiques, but you came into the show as a very confident and established performer. What was it like being critieuqed week after week on the Main Stage by the judges?
KK: I didn’t care (laughs)! Honestly, it’s like, what are you going to do now? You can’t feel a certain way because who really cares, at the end of the day everyone is going to be going home and you can’t take anything too seriously. Because that is when you get in your head and thats when you get stressed the fuck out. You have to take all of the critiques with a grain of salt and that’s what I did.
MC: You mentioned you Boston sisters Plane Jane and Big Atlas on the runway during one of the critiques you received about a garment they created. What was their reaction?
KK: Atlas, was like “smooch smooch”. Any clout she can get honey, she was not complaining. Granted, I didn’t put the outfit on right because they didn’t show me how to put the outfit on, so that was definitely a piece of it. They weren’t mad about that though.
MC: What do you think you have learned from drag and about life from your sister and Drag Race alumni Plane Jane?
KK: You can’t take it too seriously, that’s what I have learned. Nobody cares about that thing that you are worried about. Nobody cares that that costume is missing a rhinestone in the back corner. It’s not that serious and that is definitely what I have learned from my sisters like Plane.
MC: Was being part of arguably the biggest showmance in RuPaul’s Drag Race herstory on your bingo card?
KK: Jokingly yes, but you know what is so funny?-I had a feeling that it was going to happen. On my audition tape, I literally said on the tape that “I feel like when I get on set, I’m gonna to fall in love and meet someone”. And it actually happened-so that was kind of funny.
MC: Breaking news: You’ve fallen in love; that’s really an amazing thing to have happened during this experience.
KK: And I did. I really manifested that.
MC: Is there anything about meeting Lydia B. Kollins that has changed your perspective on drag or life itself in any way?
KK: I do appreciate the art of drag a little bit more because of her, that is what she loves the most about it. She loves making stuff and creating things and showcasing art. I particularly don’t, I like the business side of drag. If I get this costume and it costs this much, how much am I going to make off it? If I post this one picture, how many likes can I get? I love all of the math and the behind the scenes of drag. Being with her, I kind of learn to enjoy the art of it.
MC: To that point, everything down to your entrance look is carefully crafted to contribute to the image you’re creating. You walked in as a fully realized and branded performer until you even stepped foot on the runway.
KK: Yes! I used to be a store manager, so business I used to study and read up on it. I am a big fan of the behind the scenes of it all.
MC: I want to see more graphic design from you, the sketches we saw you create in the Werk Room were truly astounding with their attention to detail
KK: Thank you!
MC: What do you think you want to do now post Drag Race?
KK: Honestly I don’t know. I go where the paycheck takes me, so I’m up for anything baby. If they want me on Big Brother, if they want me on Chopped, if they want me on Worst Cooks of America, I am there!
MC: And if they want on All Stars teams season with Monét X Change, you’re down for that…
KK: Oh, DOWN! Me and Plane (Jane), Drag Race siblings (laughs)!
MC: What is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever received?
KK: Don’t read the comments; Don’t. Read. The. Comments. I do pick and choose, sometimes I read for them for fun. Honestly though, nobody cares .
MC: One through line about you as a performer is that I think you are truly in on the joke…
KK: Yes. I am in in on the joke and it makes them a little bit more mad because they can’t get to me (laughs)!
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