If you ever see someone with a Dunkin’ cup, shaking that ice, they’re either ready for more coffee or summoning RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17’s Kori King. Known for references on references, the Boston-based drag artist took over the Werk Room. With a big personality and a vicious tongue, Kori brought hilarity to the show as one of the confessional queens of the season.
Even doing immense homework prior to the season, the formula didn’t quite work. Kori did what has worked in the past, but something didn’t connect with the judging panel. Despite an earlier than expected exit, Kori King certainly made a mark on the competition, and the show at large. She may not have left with a crown, but she left with a lover! What may have started as a showmance with Lydia B Kollins has developed into a real-life romance. “I am very like a love at first sight type of girl. So, as soon as we all de-drag, I was like, ‘wait, that is so good,'” she said.
Kori King Is Big
COLLIDER: America may run on Dunkin’, but Drag Race runs on Kori King. Good morning, Kingdom! How are you?
KORI KING: Good! Good morning, how are you?
Listen. Where’s the sponsorship? When are we getting the Kori King x Dunkin’ collaboration?
KORI: Girl, tell me about it. Okay, the money I have made these people. Where is my check?
What is your go-to order at Dunkin?
KORI: Oh, this is so big bag. Okay, I want no judgment. I get, always, a large Mango Pineapple Refresher with green tea.
I’m here for it.
KORI: And I get a snackin’ bacon and hash browns. And if I’m feeling really big bag, I get a maple sugar bacon sandwich on a croissant. But if I’m feeling extra skinny, I get the everything bagel minis instead of the sandwich.
Oh, I love that. Well, congratulations on a fantastic run on Drag Race. If you could describe your journey in three words, what would they be?
KORI: Meta, unserious, and irreverent
That checks out. Listen, I’m here for it. I have a couple friends from the Boston drag scene, like Just JP, Patty Bourree. I’ve known many, many others, and it’s truly one of the most underrated drag scenes in the country. How proud of Boston were you to be able to represent Beantown?
KORI: Oh, I was, I was so happy to do that. I feel like this is what I need to do. I need to show them how insane we are for another year. You know what I mean? Like Plane [Jane] opened the door, and now it’s just all downhill from here.
Absolutely. How would you describe your drag style and aesthetic?
KORI: Big. Big! The big, bright colors, very cartoony. I studied animation, so I really do love clean lines and color blocking and really bright colors, so like that, Yeah, big and loud.
Speaking of big and loud, are you still wearing the mesh heels that RuPaul called out and pulled straight from your station?
KORI: HA! Girl, you know what? I’ve actually just packed them. I will be wearing them tomorrow.
Listen, as you should. Whenever you go to a gig, people are gonna expect it now.
KORI: Oh, now they want it. It’s like Sapphira [Cristal]‘s character shoe. Like if you don’t wear it, they’ll be pissed.
Kori Spills the Tea on Her ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Romance
Now, before we get to the obvious Kori, we gotta spill some other tea. What was it about Hormona Lisa that you just didn’t like? Why do you have it out for her?
KORI: Why does everyone think I hate her? I love.
Just because of the confessionals.
KORI: No, no. That’s my way of showing love. That’s my way of showing love. I mean, I also bullied Suzie [Toot] at every confessional, but no one talks about that.
That’s true. That is very true.
KORI: That’s just how I am. honestly, if I don’t like someone, I’m silent. I feel like, in my opinion, silence is the meanest thing you could do to somebody.
All right, so when’s the wedding? Will it be a destination affair, and am I invited?
KORI: To whose wedding?
You and Lydia!
KORI: Oh, my God, it’ll be a very private wedding. I don’t know if you’re on the list. I have to check with Lydia.
What was it about Lydia that caught your eye in the Werk Room?
KORI: You know what’s so funny, I don’t know. It was like a calling. And then as soon as she started hitting on me, I was like, oh, so the feeling is mutual. I love that. I am very like a love at first sight type of girl. So, as soon as we all de-drag, I was like, “wait, that is so good.”
Listen when the twinks were compared to a remote. I heard that, because I also enjoy twinks as well. So I get it.
KORI: That was funny. I watched it back. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, that is top tier comedy.”
This week, to determine which collection you’d have to work with, it was a schoolyard pick for the order. Suzie picked Lydia, and Lydia did not pick you! What had happened?
KORI: Gag! Gag.
What was going through her mind?
KORI: I actually didn’t care. I was like, whatever. It is what it is. Lexi [Love]‘s crazy. I was like, girl. In my mind, at least pick someone that’s bad. Pick Onya [Nurve]. Let her get a leg up! But, no, yeah, I didn’t care.
What was it like to not only have to design a Betsey Johnson-inspired runway, present your idea in front of her in the workroom, and then walk the runway with her staring at you? Did you feel the pressure?
KORI: Oh, I hated it. I hated it. I hate sewing. I hate making outfits. I hate trying to follow rules. So, oh, I hated every single minute of it. Love Betsey though. Love Betsey Johnson.
She’s an icon.
KORI: Hate making outfits.
Related
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Breaks the Fourth Wall in a Drama-Packed Episode
Season 17’s third episode erupted with drama after an off-camera clash.
Kori King Is Ready For ‘Big Brother’
What really caught me about you this season is you are a true entertainer. No matter what, you are always on. During the confessionals, during the challenges, you are just such a great entertainer. Where does that come from?
KORI: I honestly don’t, I feel like it’s, I’m just such a big character. I love using the word big. I’m just like a big character out of drag. So it just, it honestly, just bled into all of my drag once I started doing it. You know what I mean?
Absolutely. So obviously, the lip sync we had the showmance romance lip sync we all were waiting for. What was going through your mind when you realized you had to take on Lydia?
KORI: Nothing much, mostly because I was drunk. I knew I was going home, so I was just here to lip sync to have a good time. For sure.
We’re gonna play around with Tea Time. I’m gonna give you a name of one of your Drag Race 17 sisters, and you’re gonna give me the first word or phrase that comes to mind. Are you ready to play?
KORI: Yes.
KORI: Bright
KORI: Wait a second. Slaysian.
Hormona Lisa.
KORI: Unique.
KORI: Plastic.
Jewels Sparkles.
KORI: Dumb.
KORI: Oh my God. I can’t. No, I’m gonna say it. Faggoty.
Fair enough! Lexi Love.
KORI: Pumped.
Onya Nurve.
KORI: Nerve.
Arrietty.
KORI: Weird
KORI: Who?
Suzie Toot.
KORI: I gotta think of a good one. I gotta think of a good one. Depression.
Lana Ja’Rae.
KORI: Oh, woman.
Lydia B Kollins.
KORI: Wife
And Kori King.
KORI: Icon.
You really did your Drag Race homework going into the season. You were not afraid to reference. You knew what Ru likes. You know what the audience likes. Now leaving Drag Race, what is Kori King’s legacy going to be?
KORI: Honestly, this should just be getting to the beginning. And honestly, I don’t know what the legacy is going to be. I go wherever a check will take me. So who knows? I might be an All Star. I might be an astronaut. I might be a scientist. I might be on Big Brother. We never know.
Listen, I’m here for Big Brother. I’m waiting for a full drag queen. I’m here for it. Do you think you’ll be getting eggs at all the meet and greets for the rest of your life?
KORI: No, oh, my God, thank God. Can you f–in’ imagine? Bananas is already crazy, but eggs, those will not travel well. I hope not.
Well, now that you’ve been on Drag Race, what is the next dream for Kori?
KORI: Hmm, I don’t know. I honestly don’t know yet.
Well, I am excited to see what happens next for you. You were so entertaining, and I can’t wait to see you in person one day.
KORI: Thank you.
