Entertainment
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Bimini Bon Boulash thought about transitioning as they open up on gender identity
Bimini Bon Boulash opened up about their gender identity (Picture: Marcin Kempski / GQ Style)
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Bimini Bon Boulash has revealed they thought about transitioning but it was deciding against it that ultimately made them feel more comfortable in their own body.
The drag performer has been open about their non-binary identity, which they spoke about during a widely-praised moment on the show with co-star Ginny Lemon.
Speaking about whether they ever considered hormone therapy, Bimini explained: ‘There were times when I did think about it; where I did think a lot about whether I wanted to transition or not, if that was part of what I felt was my destiny.
‘But actually, it was when I started kind of rejecting that idea, [that] I was quite comfortable within myself to stay in my body and express both sides of my gender identity…Being able to be fluid, between both,’ they added to GQ.
Bimini also recently opened up to Metro.co.uk about the discussion they and Ginny had on the show, explaining: ‘It’s a real testament to living in the moment.
‘We were doing a design challenge, and I’m not very good at sewing, and I was focusing on that, but then we had that conversation. Obviously I’m always going to listen to someone that’s open to me, so we had that moment.
Bimini was widely praised after their appearance on Drag Race (Picture: Marcin Kempski)
‘We knew we had the conversation, but we didn’t know what they were going to show – it was a year later. So we got the phone call from the producers just to say, “Just to let you know, this conversation’s coming out, it’s really lovely, you cry, Ginny cries.” It was kind of a game-changing moment I think for a lot of people, especially maybe people that weren’t in the world of that.
‘Like I said, in the east, gender is very fluid and sexuality and people are very fluid, so I never felt like I had to come out, so I was just me. Whereas coming out on national television, I didn’t really think about it like that. But it did, it changed people.
They covered GQ (Picture: Marcin Kempski)
‘People messaged me in their 60s and 70s saying that’s how they feel. That’s incredible that that conversation has touched that many people. I’ve had teachers message me about it… it’s mind-blowing sometimes, because I’m like, I don’t know all the answers to everything.
‘That’s just my experience. But if my experience helps someone or resonates with someone, then that’s what the show’s there for.’
Bimini rose to fame on the second season of Drag Race UK, which Lawrence Chaney won.
More: RuPaul’s Drag Race
They’re also nominated for Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment at this year’s Bafta TV Awards for their verse in the viral song from the series, UK Hun?.
See the full feature in the GQ Style Spring/Summer 2022 issue now available on newsstands.
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