Sasha Colby

From the moment Sasha Colby sashayed into the Werk Room of RuPaul’s Drag Race dressed like a Hawaiian warrior, it was clear that the reality drag competition would never be the same. The former Miss Continental winner raised the bar for season 15, slaying challenge after challenge with charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. And today, she is the first America’s Drag Superstar of Polynesian descent (and the second trans woman of color in the franchise) to wear the crown.

Colby called winning Drag Race her “biggest blessing this year.” And there have been many blessings, including the privilege of emceeing Vice President Kamala Harris’s Pride reception. Colby, who electrifies sold-out crowds in her live shows, also draws a line between “the work I do” and “what I do for work.” She explains, “What I do for work is I’m an entertainer, a creative, and a performer. The work I do is, through my art, I allow people to find empowerment in themselves.”

Through it all, Colby is proud to have slain her inner saboteur. “I’ve overcome this by getting out of my own way, being kinder to myself,” she notes.

Beyond Drag Race, Colby has emerged as a prominent voice for trans rights in a time of aggressive political attacks from the far right. Her message to the world is simple: “Our similarities outnumber our differences as human beings. With compassion, education, action, and practice on a daily basis, we can achieve equality.”

What’s next for the self-identifying Native Hawaiian witch and goddess? “The freedom to create art and immerse myself in what I love to do.” @sashacolby