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.^[3][4] In 2023, she was crowned the winner of season 15 of RuPaul's Drag Race.^[5][6][7]

Sasha Colby
Colby in 2023
Born	(1984-07-26) July 26, 1984 (age 40) Waimānalo, Hawaii, U.S.
Other names	Sasha Kekauoha
Education	Kailua High School[1]
Occupation	Drag queen
Years active	2001–present[2]
Television	RuPaul's Drag Race (season 15)
Predecessor	Willow Pill
Successor	Nymphia Wind
Website	sashacolby.net

Early life

Sasha Colby was born in Waimānalo, Hawaii, as the youngest of seven children.^[8][9][10] She was raised in a conservative Jehovah's Witness household.^[11] As a teenager, she secretly did drag, locking herself in the bathroom and wearing her sister's clothes.^[12] The first transgender woman she met was her mother’s hairdresser, Tammy.^[2] Her father died by suicide in 2016.^[13]

Career

Sasha Colby has been described as a "beauty queen", a "drag legend",^[14] and a "pageant legend".^[15] She won the Miss Continental competition in 2012.^[8][16]

In 2018, Sasha Colby was cast in Sasha Velour's drag showcase NightGowns^[17] and appeared in the stage show's 2020 docu-series.^[18] 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.^[19][20] Chrissy Callahan of NBC News said Sasha Colby's look "channeled" the "Jenny from the Block" music video.^[21][22]

Sasha Colby is also known as a model and activist.^[23] 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.^[24] Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she organized a monthly trans-inclusive event at The Chapel, a gay bar in West Hollywood, California.^[25]

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. She was crowned the winner of the season, earning the title of America's Next Drag Superstar and becoming the first winner of Polynesian descent.^[26][27][28] Later that year, Colby spoke at the annual Pride Month celebration hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris.^[29]

RuPaul was opposed to casting openly transgender women on the show until late 2018, despite casting closeted transgender women in previous seasons.^[30][31][32] Colby waited until she felt it was her time to audition for the show and told Vogue that winning during a year of vehement anti-transgender legislation was important to her.^[33][3] She is the first trans woman to win RuPaul's Drag Race and fourth to win Drag Race globally, following Angele Anang on Drag Race Thailand (Season 2), Kylie Sonique Love on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (Season 6),^[34] and Vanessa Van Cartier on Drag Race Holland (Season 2), and preceding Captivating Katkat on Drag Race Philippines (Season 2). Following Van Cartier, Colby is the second Miss Continental winner to win a Drag Race season.

Personal life

Sasha Colby is a trans woman.^[23] She is based in Los Angeles.^[35][36] She is the "drag mother" of season 14 contestant Kerri Colby as well as performer Chappell Roan.^[37][38]

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.^[39][40]

Colby is passionate about learning history. She is particularly inspired by the gender transition of Chevalier d’Éon during the 1700s.^[2]

Colby is polyamorous and has three partners, including, Ben Koenigsberg, a queer gym owner based in Seattle.^[41]

Titles

• America’s Next Drag Superstar, RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15, 2023, Winner^[42]
• Miss Continental 2012, Winner^[42]
• Miss Pennsylvania Premiere Continental 2012, Winner^[42]
• Miss Continental 2008, First Alternate^[42]
• Miss West Virginia Continental 2008, Winner^[42]
• Miss Continental 2005, Fourth Alternate^[42]

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref
2018	Hawaii Five-0	Malie	Episode: "A'ohe Kio Pohaku Nalo i Ke Alo Pali"	[3]
2022	Boss'd Up	Herself	Episode: "No I in Team"
2023	RuPaul's Drag Race (season 15)		Winner	[8]
	RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
	The Daily Show		Guest	[43]
	Soul of a Nation		Guest; Documentary series	[44]
	KTLA5 News		Guest	[45]

Web series

Year	Title	Notes	Ref.
2020	NightGowns	Docu-series	[46]
2023	Meet the Queens	Stand-alone special RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15	[47]
	EW News Flash	Guest	[48][49]
	Pride Today	Guest	[50]
	BuzzFeed Celeb	Guest	[51]
	MTV News	Guest	[52]
	Today with Hoda and Jenna	Guest	[53]
	Drip or Drop	Guest	[54]
	Whatcha Packin'	Guest	[55]
	Logo Spill	Guest	[56]
	Squirrel Friends	Guest; Podcast	[57]
	Self-Care / Don’t Care	Guest	[58]
	Drag Makeup with Allure	Guest	[59]
	Billboard Cover	Guest	[60]
	Can’t Cancel Pride	Guest	[61]
	Shut Up Evan	Guest; Podcast	[62]
	The Awardist	Guest	[63]
2024	The Pit Stop	Guest	[64]

Discography

Featured singles

Title	Year	Album	Ref.
"MONSTER" (She & the Bandit ft. Sasha Colby)	2021	Non-album single	[65]
"One Night Only" (with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race season 15)	2023	Non-album singles	[66]
"Golden Years (Rockin' Old Gs)" (with Malaysia Babydoll Foxx, Aura Mayari & Spice)			[67]
"Wigloose: The Rusical!" (with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race season 15)		Wigloose: The Rusical! Album	[68]
"Blame It on the Edit" (RuPaul ft. Anetra, Luxx Noir London & Mistress Isabelle Brooks)		Non-album singles	[69]
"Goddess"		Non-album singles	[70]
"Feel the Power" (Luciana, Glovibes, Sasha Colby)	2023	Non-album single	[71]

Music videos

Year	Title	Artist	Ref.
2016	"Tongue Pop the Halls"	Alyssa Edwards	[72]
2017	"Divas Medley"	Justin Michael Williams feat. Nina Bo'Nina Brown, Aja, & Eureka O'Hara	[73]
	"She's Gotta Habit"	Detox feat. Ellis Miah & Keisha Henry	[74]
2018	"Excuse the Beauty"	Latrice Royale	[75]
2019	"Brown Cow Stunning (Mitch Ferrino Mix)"	Mo Heart	[76]
2021	"GAP"	Heidi N Closet feat. Widow Von'Du	[77]
	"Queen of the North"	Brooke Lynn Hytes feat. Priyanka	[78]
	"Do You Like to Party?"	TaylorXO feat. Gigi Gorgeous	[79]
2023	"Blame It on the Edit"	RuPaul ft. Anetra, Luxx Noir London & Mistress Isabelle Brooks	[80]
	"Feel the Power - Extended Club Mix"	Sasha Colby, Glovibes, Luciana	[81]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award ceremony	Category	Work	Results	Ref.
2023	2023 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards	The Drag Award	Herself	Honored	[82]
2023	2023 Variety’s Women of Reality TV	Breakthrough Stars of Reality TV	RuPaul's Drag Race	Honored	[83]

References

1. Tokuda, Jill. "Congratulating Sasha Colby of Waimanalo, Rupaul's Drag Race Season 15 Winner". Congress.
2. "'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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Gregory, Drew Burnett (April 15, 2023). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" Episode 1516 Recap: Mother". Autostraddle. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
7. "'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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Tokuda, Jill. "Congratulating Sasha Colby of Waimanalo, Rupaul's Drag Race Season 15 Winner". Congress.
11. 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.
12. "What Were the 'Drag Race' Season 15 Queens Like at Age 15?". www.logotv.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
13. Spilde, Coleman (April 2023). "The 'Drag Race' Challenge That Needs to Be Eliminated Forever". The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast Company LLC. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
14. Holmes, Juwan J. (December 4, 2021). "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.
15. 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.
16. "New Miss and Mr. Continental chosen". Windy City Times. September 5, 2012. p. 25.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. Callahan, Chrissy (March 23, 2022). "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.
22. 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.
23. "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.
24. 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.
25. Spielberger, Daniel (June 21, 2020). "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.
26. 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.
27. Frank, Jason P. (April 18, 2023). "Sasha Colby Manifested This". Vulture. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
28. "'Highly Trans, Highly Goddess': Sasha Colby on Her Historic 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Win". Rolling Stone. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
29. Nolfi, Joey (July 7, 2023). "RuPaul's Drag Race winner Sasha Colby shares emotional post after White House speech: 'We're forging a path'". yahoo.com. Yahoo!. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
30. "RuPaul's Drag Race: All the Transgender Queens (Photos)". January 27, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
31. Eakin, Marah (April 14, 2023). "The Legend of Sasha Colby". Vulture. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
32. Duncan, Charlie (March 31, 2023). "How RuPaul's Drag Race went from trans-exclusionary to trans revolutionary". PinkNews. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
33. 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.
34. Curto, Justin (September 8, 2021). "Kylie Sonique Love Returned to Drag Race All Stars to Show Her Full Self". Vulture. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
35. 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.
36. Scheetz, Cameron (December 13, 2022). "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.
37. Cornish, Ricky. "Kerri Colby Spills on Sasha Colby's Legacy & Kim Petras Making History". Advocate. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
38. Henderson, Taylor. "Sasha Colby is the ultimate mother, calls Chappell Roan her daughter at the VMAs". Out. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
39. "Drag Race's Sasha Colby shares emotional meaning behind her talent show performance". Digital Spy. January 11, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
40. "Sasha Colby explains powerful meaning behind her Drag Race talent show". GAY TIMES. January 11, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
41. Cornish, Ricky (August 8, 2024). "Sasha Colby comes out as polyamorous & says she's dating multiple people (exclusive)". Out.
42. "Sasha Colby". Our Community Roots. September 3, 2023.
43. Sasha Colby - Winning "Drag Race" and Living Your Truth | The Daily Show. YouTube. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
44. "SOUL OF A NATION: THE FREEDOM TO EXIST WITH ELLIOT PAGE". TV Insider. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
45. "Sasha Colby slays in 'RuPaul's Drag Race' and in life". Ktla.com. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
46. 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.
47. 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.
48. '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.
49. 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.
50. Sasha Colby Opens Up on Kerri Colby's 'Drag Race' Legacy. YouTube. January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
51. 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.
52. 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.
53. 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 January 11, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
54. Ru Paul's Drag Race Queens Rate ICONIC Fits From Other Seasons | Drip or Drop | Cosmopolitan. YouTube. February 4, 2023. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
55. Sasha Colby's Whatcha Packin' 🌺 | S15 TOP 4 | RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 👠✨. YouTube. April 11, 2023. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
56. Sasha Colby Spills on Drag Race, WitchTok & More | Logo Spill Season 2. YouTube. April 18, 2023. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
57. The Queen of Season 15 with Sasha Colby. podcasts.apple.com. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
58. 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 January 11, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
59. Sasha Colby's 10 Minute Out-of-Drag Makeup | Allure. YouTube. April 27, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
60. Maren Morris Discusses Drag Bans & Trans Bills With Drag Queens & Kings | Billboard Cover. YouTube. June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
61. iHeartRadio and P&G's Can't Cancel Pride. YouTube. June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
62. Shut Up Evan: Sasha Colby. Apple Podcasts. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
63. 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Winners Reunite to Reflect On 9 Emmy Nominations | Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly. August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
64. The Pit Stop S16 E08 🏁 Trixie Mattel & Sasha Colby Serve and Snatch! | RuPaul's Drag Race S16, February 24, 2024, retrieved February 26, 2024
65. "Spotify". Spotify.
66. "One Night Only – Single". Spotify. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
67. "Golden Years (Rockin' Old Gs) – Single". Spotify. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
68. "Wigloose: The Rusical! – Album". Spotify. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
69. "Blame It On The Edit (feat. The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
70. "Goddess". Spotify. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
71. "Luciana, Glovibes, Sasha Colby - Feel the Power [Bonanza Records] | Music & Downloads on Beatport". Beatport.
72. Alyssa Edwards- "Tongue Pop the Halls!". YouTube. December 16, 2016. Archived from the original on July 6, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
73. "Divas Medley (feat. Sasha Colby, Nina Bonina, Aja, Eureka) with Justin Michael Williams". YouTube. June 29, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
74. 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.
75. Latrice Royale: Excuse the Beauty. YouTube. May 11, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
76. Monique Heart: Brown Cow Stunning (Mitch Ferrino Mix). YouTube. January 14, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
77. 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.
78. 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.
79. "TaylorXO - Do You Like To Party? (Official Music Video)". YouTube. January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
80. "Blame It On The Edit" ft. Anetra, Luxx Noir London, Mistress Isabelle Brooks & Sasha Colby 🎵. YouTube. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
81. "Feel The Power (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
82. Attitude Staff (October 12, 2023). "Here are all the winners from the 2023 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar". www.attitude.co.uk.
83. Woerner Meredith; Brew, Caroline & Aurthur, Kate (November 30, 2023). "Inside Variety's Women of Reality TV Celebration: Watch the Toasts, Tea and Tears". Variety.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

• Sasha Colby at IMDb

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Willow Pill	Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race US season 15	Succeeded by Nymphia Wind