Sasha Colby

Sasha Kekauoha (born July 26, 1984), best known by the stage name Sasha Colby, is an American drag performer and beauty pageant competitor. In 2012, she won the Miss Continental competition.[2][3] In 2023, she was crowned the winner of season 15 of RuPaul's Drag Race.[4][5][6]

Sasha Colby
Colby at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2023
Born
Sasha Kekauoha

(1984-07-26) July 26, 1984
Waimānalo, Hawaii, U.S.
OccupationDrag queen
Years active2003–present[1]
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race (season 15)
PredecessorWillow Pill

Early life

Sasha Colby was born in Waimānalo, Hawaii.[7][8] She was raised in a conservative, Jehovah's Witness household.[9] As a teenager, she secretly did drag, locking herself in the bathroom and wearing her sister's clothes.[10] The first transgender woman she met was her mother’s hairdresser, Tammy.[1]

Career

Sasha Colby has been described as a "beauty queen", a "drag legend",[11] and a "pageant legend".[12] She won the Miss Continental competition in 2012.[7][13]

In 2018, Sasha Colby was cast in Sasha Velour's drag showcase NightGowns[14] and appeared in the stage show's 2020 docu-series.[15] Alongside other drag queens, Sasha Colby walked the runway before Jennifer Lopez's performance at the iHeartRadio Music Awards wearing a look inspired by Lopez.[16][17] Chrissy Callahan of NBC News said Sasha Colby's look "channeled" the "Jenny from the Block" music video.[18][19]

Sasha Colby is also known as a trans model and activist.[20] In 2020, she represented Hawaii in GLAAD's video, which featured drag queens from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and sought to mobilize voters in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.[21] Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she organized a monthly trans-inclusive event at The Chapel, a gay bar in West Hollywood, California.[22]

Sasha Colby at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2023

In 2023, Sasha Colby was cast on the fifteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. She is the first ever Native Hawaiian to be cast on Drag Race and the first winner of Polynesian descent.[23][24] She was crowned the winner of the season, earning the title of America's Next Drag Superstar.[25][26]

RuPaul was opposed to casting openly transgender women on the show until late 2018, despite casting closeted transgender women in previous seasons.[27][28][29] Colby waited until she felt it was her time to audition for the show and told Vogue winning during a year of vehement anti-transgender legislation was important to her.[30][2] She is the fourth consecutive transgender person to win a Drag Race US season,[24] following Kylie Sonique Love (All Stars 6),[31] Willow Pill (Season 14),[32] and Jinkx Monsoon (All Stars All Winners).[33]

Personal life

Sasha Colby is a trans woman.[20] She is based in Los Angeles.[34][35] She is the "drag mother" of season 14 contestant Kerri Colby.[36]

Colby has Native Hawaiian and Irish heritage. While on Drag Race, Colby performed a lip-sync to "Zombie" by The Cranberries to honor her Irish heritage and the trauma of seeing the Warrington bombings on the news as a child. Additionally, the performance was a tribute to how "Zombie" helped her cope with witnessing her parents' struggles with mental illness, especially her mother who had bipolar disorder.[37][38]

Colby is passionate about learning history. She is particularly inspired by the gender transition of Chevalier d’Éon during the 1700s.[1]

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2018 Hawaii Five-0 Malie Episode: "A'ohe Kio Pohaku Nalo i Ke Alo Pali" [2]
2022 Boss'd Up Herself Episode: "No I in Team"
2023 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 15) Winner [7]
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
The Daily Show Guest [39]

Web series
Year Title Notes Ref.
2020 NightGowns Docu-series [40]
2023 Meet the Queens Stand-alone special
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15		 [41]
2023 EW News Flash Guest [42][43]
2023 Pride Today Guest [44]
2023 BuzzFeed Celeb Guest [45]
2023 MTV News Guest [46]
2023 Today with Hoda and Jenna Guest [47]
2023 Drip or Drop Guest [48]
2023 Whatcha Packin’ Guest [49]
2023 Logo Spill Guest [50]
2023 Squirrel Friends Guest; Podcast [51]
2023 Self-Care / Don’t Care Guest [52]
2023 Drag Makeup with Allure Guest [53]

Discography
Title Year Album Ref.
"One Night Only"
(with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race season 15)		 2023 Non-album singles [54]
"Golden Years (Rockin' Old Gs)"
(with Malaysia Babydoll Foxx, Aura Mayari & Spice)		 [55]
"Wigloose: The Rusical!"
(with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race season 15)		 Wigloose: The Rusical! Album [56]
"Blame It on the Edit"
(RuPaul ft. Anetra, Luxx Noir London & Mistress Isabelle Brooks)		 Non-album singles [57]
"Goddess"
 Non-album singles [58]

Music videos
Year Title Artist Ref.
2016 "Tongue Pop the Halls" Alyssa Edwards [59]
2017 "She's Gotta Habit" Detox feat. Ellis Miah & Keisha Henry [60]
2018 "Excuse the Beauty" Latrice Royale [61]
2021 "GAP" Heidi N Closet feat. Widow Von'Du [62]
2021 "Queen of the North" Brooke Lynn Hytes feat. Priyanka [63]
2023 "Blame It on the Edit" RuPaul ft. Anetra, Luxx Noir London & Mistress Isabelle Brooks [64]

References
  1. "'I Am the Embodiment of What They Want to Eradicate': RuPaul's Drag Race Winner Sasha Colby on Why Her Time Is Now". Vogue. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  2. Alonzo, Michelle Konopka (January 4, 2023). "Why Sasha Colby Is the One to Beat On RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  3. Duncan, Charlie (December 14, 2022). "The internet is going wild after Sasha Colby is announced for Drag Race season 15". PinkNews. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  4. Piña, Christy (April 15, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 15 Finale Crowns "America's Next Drag Superstar"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  5. Gregory, Drew Burnett (April 15, 2023). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" Episode 1516 Recap: Mother". Autostraddle. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  6. "'I Am the Embodiment of What They Want to Eradicate': 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Winner Sasha Colby on Why Her Time Is Now". Vogue. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  7. Tinoco, Armando (December 13, 2022). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 15: MTV Reveals The 16 Queens Vying To Be "America's Next Drag Superstar"". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  8. Ancheta, Dillon (January 19, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' has its first Native Hawaiian performer. Sasha Colby is her name". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  9. Nolfi, Joey (December 20, 2022). "Watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 15 cast tease 'Game of Thrones'-level twists and spicy drama". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  10. "What Were the 'Drag Race' Season 15 Queens Like at Age 15?". www.logotv.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  11. Holmes, Juwan J. "RuPaul's Drag Race will have two trans competitors & a cis straight queen for first time". LGBTQ Nation. Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  12. Nolfi, Joey. "'Drag Race' star Jasmine Kennedie comes out as trans". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  13. "New Miss and Mr. Continental chosen". Windy City Times. September 5, 2012. p. 25.
  14. Daw, Stephen (August 30, 2018). "Sasha Velour Casts Shea Couleé, Vander Von Odd & More for Her DragCon NYC 'Nightgowns' Show". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  15. Nolfi, Joey. "Exclusive: Watch Sasha Velour lead drag revolution in 'NightGowns' Quibi series teaser". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  16. Henderson, Taylor (March 23, 2022). "Here Are the Drag Queens Who Performed on Stage With Jennifer Lopez". Gay Pride - LGBT and Queer Voices. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  17. Nolfi, Joey. "Kerri Colby wore Jennifer Lopez's dress to perform with Jennifer Lopez". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  18. Callahan, Chrissy. "12 drag queens join Jennifer Lopez onstage dressed in her greatest looks". NBC News. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  19. Blackwelder, Carson. "'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 15 cast revealed: Meet the 16 new queens". ABC News. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  20. "10 LGBTQ-Themed Distractions, From 'Saved by the Bell' to Gay Vodka". The Advocate. February 21, 2020. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  21. Street, Mikelle (October 20, 2020). "Drag Performers Across the Nation Urge You to Vote in New PSA". Out. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  22. Spielberger, Daniel. "How a trans-inclusive strip night found a way to thrive during quarantine". Insider. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  23. "Sasha Colby of Waimānalo wins RuPaul's Drag Race". KHON2. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  24. "'Highly Trans, Highly Goddess': Sasha Colby on Her Historic 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Win". Rolling Stone. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  25. Betancourt, Manuel (May 5, 2022). "All hail the drag queens raising L.A.'s tight-knit families". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  26. Frank, Jason P. (April 18, 2023). "Sasha Colby Manifested This". Vulture. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  27. "RuPaul's Drag Race: All the Transgender Queens (Photos)". January 27, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  28. Eakin, Marah (April 14, 2023). "The Legend of Sasha Colby". Vulture. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  29. Duncan, Charlie (March 31, 2023). "How RuPaul's Drag Race went from trans-exclusionary to trans revolutionary". PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  30. Daw, Stephen (April 18, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race': Sasha Colby Is Ready to Reign as 'The Face' of What Transphobes Fear". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  31. Curto, Justin (September 8, 2021). "Kylie Sonique Love Returned to Drag Race All Stars to Show Her Full Self". Vulture. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  32. "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Winner Willow Pill on Historic Win: "This Is My Future and Reign, and It Goes How I Want It to Go"". The Hollywood Reporter. June 25, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  33. "Jinkx Monsoon Knows Drag Queens Are for Everyone". Teen Vogue. October 4, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  34. Henderson, Taylor. "Why Sasha Colby Being Cast on RPDR Season 15 Is *Such* A Big Deal". Pride.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  35. Scheetz, Cameron. "The strangest and most surprising things we've learned about the cast of 'Drag Race' season 15". Queerty. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  36. Cornish, Ricky. "Kerri Colby Spills on Sasha Colby's Legacy & Kim Petras Making History". Advocate. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  37. "Drag Race's Sasha Colby shares emotional meaning behind her talent show performance". Digital Spy. January 11, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  38. "Sasha Colby explains powerful meaning behind her Drag Race talent show". GAY TIMES. January 11, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  39. Sasha Colby - Winning "Drag Race" and Living Your Truth | The Daily Show. YouTube. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  40. Nolfi, Joey. "Exclusive: Watch Sasha Velour lead drag revolution in 'NightGowns' Quibi series teaser". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  41. MEET THE QUEENS OF SEASON 15! 🚘 | RuPaul’s Drag Race 👠✨. YouTube. December 13, 2022. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  42. ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 15 Cast Promise "Unhinged" Drama and Twists Ahead | Entertainment Weekly. YouTube. January 6, 2023. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  43. Sasha Colby Jokes That 'Drag Race' Was Her "Meet and Greet" | Entertainment Weekly. YouTube. December 20, 2022. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  44. Sasha Colby Opens Up on Kerri Colby’s 'Drag Race' Legacy. YouTube. January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  45. The Queens Of "RuPaul's Drag Race 15" Play Who's Who. YouTube. January 10, 2023. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  46. 15 Things That Could Use a Touch of Drag w/ RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 Cast | MTV News. YouTube. January 12, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  47. The cast of ‘Drag Race’ season 15 talk life as ‘Ru Girls’ and give their best impersonations. YouTube. January 28, 2023. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
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  49. Sasha Colby’s Whatcha Packin’ 🌺 | S15 TOP 4 | RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 👠✨. YouTube. April 11, 2023. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  50. Sasha Colby Spills on Drag Race, WitchTok & More | Logo Spill Season 2. YouTube. April 18, 2023. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
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  52. Does canceling plans count as self-care for Sasha Colby (@sashacolby)? Or passing out with makeup on? Ahead of walking away with the crown on "RuPaul’s Drag Race," the season 15 winner answered some rapid fire questions for the debut of SELF’s new social-only series, "Self-Care / Don’t Care.". Self Magazine. April 18, 2023. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  53. Sasha Colby's 10 Minute Out-of-Drag Makeup | Allure. YouTube. April 27, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  54. "One Night Only – Single". Spotify. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  55. "Golden Years (Rockin' Old Gs) – Single". Spotify. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  56. "Wigloose: The Rusical! – Album". Spotify. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  57. "Blame It On The Edit (feat. The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  58. "Goddess". Spotify. Retrieved April 17, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  59. Alyssa Edwards- "Tongue Pop the Halls!". YouTube. December 16, 2016. Archived from the original on July 6, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  60. Detox- She's Gotta Habit- (feat. Ellis Miah & Keisha Henry) [Official Music Video]. YouTube. November 28, 2017. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  61. Latrice Royale: Excuse the Beauty. YouTube. May 11, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  62. Heidi N Closet Ft Widow Von Du- G.A.P (Official Video). YouTube. February 17, 2021. Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  63. Brooke Lynn Hytes - Queen of the North (Official Video) ft. Priyanka. YouTube. March 26, 2021. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  64. "Blame It On The Edit" ft. Anetra, Luxx Noir London, Mistress Isabelle Brooks & Sasha Colby 🎵. YouTube. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
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