Kerri Colby — The Anomaly
Whether you know her from her recent run of the Emmy-Nominated 14th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, becoming a viral sensation on social media, or from taking this years MTV VMAs red carpet by storm as a vixen in red, dripping from head to toe in Mugler, Kerri Colby is here to stay and ready to take on anything that comes her way.
I sat down with Kerri to talk a little bit about her life, giving back, and where she sees herself next. This budding star has all of the right stuff when it comes to a star in the making: Talent, tenacity, beauty and hunger. “I think from a very young age I’ve always been hungry for more and I knew in my heart that I was meant for more,” Kerri says with a strong sense of self when asked about her early childhood.
“I think from a very young age I’ve always been hungry for more and I knew in my heart that I was meant for more.”
“I was raised heavily in the church,” via northern Texas, “and I was always involved in different aspects of performing. My father was part of the Praise Team in my church,” which is what they called their core choir, she explains, “so I naturally followed my fathers example and was in the youth choir, singing as well as performing in sign language for special church services.” “Maybe this is foreshadowing a little bit,” Kerri says with an emphatic laugh, “but I would always try to figure out a way to be in the high pitched categories with the sopranos! I think for my family and church leaders around me I seemed very chaotic since I could always be seen doing musical things or dancing around, being very exuberant and loud.”
Kerri was raised United Pentecostal, a strict branch of Christianity where she wasn’t exposed to much secular concepts, pop culture, or music. “Anytime I could watch TV or hear the radio I would be amazing by award shows or the sounds of certain music artists. I found myself extremely curious about regular life outside of the church and what it was like for my normal peers. I would go to my friends’ houses and see and hear all of these new sights and sounds filling me with both fascination and shame.”
“I would go to my friends’ houses and see and hear all of these new sights and sounds filling me with both fascination and shame.”
Performance and music would continue to shape Kerri’s life over the years not only for herself but as a way to connect with her family. “I felt like I was just different from everyone around me, and the only way that I could live up to my family’s expectations was to push my talents further.”
“Growing up in a biracial household,” Kerri elaborates, “You could tell that my father was predominantly able to connect to his culture through music and the church, so in turn I wanted to connect because I had a longing to connect to something as well.”
With that need for connection, a series of several events within her family along with the will to live her life on her own terms, she found a way to Los Angeles, and hasn’t looked back — Eventually taking her to another stage of her life — RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Dominating several award seasons and currently nominated for not one but eleven Emmy Awards, this year, RuPaul’s Drag Race continues to break boundaries and spread messages of love and hope to its viewers. Being the most trans-visible season of the show’s franchise, Kerri is proud to have been able to live her truth as a trans woman, and compete in the season with pride. When asked about how it feels to forever be part of this show’s history she replies, “It feels… correct. My initial reaction after filming and not placing exactly where I wanted, made me feel like I had taken a big swing and missed. Now looking back, there were so many unpredictable things that happened and I listened to my inner-saboteur instead of trusting myself. All in all, I’m proud that it became such a unique part of my story. It feels really good to see and feel the love and acceptance from everyone involved with
this show as well as my fans, The KerBears. It’s all I’ve ever hoped for and feels like the ultimate victory, in hindsight. So.. it feels correct.”
We agree — Beyond having been deemed a fashion queen of her season, giving show-stopping performances all over the world, and even performing with Jennifer Lopez on the iHeartRadio stage , she has, time after time, shown up for her cast mates as well as her fans by being a rock in supporting their journeys, as many have since come out publicly as trans. “It is important for me to be there for my peers and fans because growing up, I wish that I had somewhere to look to or someone to talk to about how I was feeling inside, and the more I accomplish, the more I prove that I can change things. I want others to know they have that same power.”
“…the more I accomplish, the more I prove that I can change things. I want others to know they have that same power.”
From the trials of her upbringing and her rocky journey to catapulting herself to stardom, Kerri feels like she is on a mission that the universe was always calling her to embark on. “It’s not about me anymore. When I went on Drag Race, I wanted to tell my story and share myself, and now it’s no longer just my story. This has been one big adventure full of ups and downs to get here and I’m very grateful.
Since the show’s premiere, Kerri has begun performing all around the world on a different scale than ever before. From a small church to stadiums, she continues to enjoy the rush from performing. “I like to explore. I’ve always wanted to go everywhere, see new things, and all of this has provided a platform for me to be able to do that. I’m loving meeting people. I love that people actually show up, care, and listen. They are excited to share their own experiences and it brings me a lot of joy to know that they feel touched by something that I did.”
Wrapping up this interview, I asked one last question: “What’s next for Kerri Colby?” Without missing a beat she replied, “Absolute domination,” with a cheeky smile. “We need more proud transgender stars and I think we’re ready for another one. I want to become a household name. There is so much in the works right now, but I will leave you with this: Music is coming and I can’t wait to share my sound with the world.
“I think from a very young age I’ve always been hungry for more and I knew in my heart that I was meant for more.”
“I was raised heavily in the church,” via northern Texas, “and I was always involved in different aspects of performing. My father was part of the Praise Team in my church,” which is what they called their core choir, she explains, “so I naturally followed my fathers example and was in the youth choir, singing as well as performing in sign language for special church services.” “Maybe this is foreshadowing a little bit,” Kerri says with an emphatic laugh, “but I would always try to figure out a way to be in the high pitched categories with the sopranos! I think for my family and church leaders around me I seemed very chaotic since I could always be seen doing musical things or dancing around, being very exuberant and loud.”
Kerri was raised United Pentecostal, a strict branch of Christianity where she wasn’t exposed to much secular concepts, pop culture, or music. “Anytime I could watch TV or hear the radio I would be amazing by award shows or the sounds of certain music artists. I found myself extremely curious about regular life outside of the church and what it was like for my normal peers. I would go to my friends’ houses and see and hear all of these new sights and sounds filling me with both fascination and shame.”
“I would go to my friends’ houses and see and hear all of these new sights and sounds filling me with both fascination and shame.”
Performance and music would continue to shape Kerri’s life over the years not only for herself but as a way to connect with her family. “I felt like I was just different from everyone around me, and the only way that I could live up to my family’s expectations was to push my talents further.”
“Growing up in a biracial household,” Kerri elaborates, “You could tell that my father was predominantly able to connect to his culture through music and the church, so in turn I wanted to connect because I had a longing to connect to something as well.”
With that need for connection, a series of several events within her family along with the will to live her life on her own terms, she found a way to Los Angeles, and hasn’t looked back — Eventually taking her to another stage of her life — RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Dominating several award seasons and currently nominated for not one but eleven Emmy Awards, this year, RuPaul’s Drag Race continues to break boundaries and spread messages of love and hope to its viewers. Being the most trans-visible season of the show’s franchise, Kerri is proud to have been able to live her truth as a trans woman, and compete in the season with pride. When asked about how it feels to forever be part of this show’s history she replies, “It feels… correct. My initial reaction after filming and not placing exactly where I wanted, made me feel like I had taken a big swing and missed. Now looking back, there were so many unpredictable things that happened and I listened to my inner-saboteur instead of trusting myself. All in all, I’m proud that it became such a unique part of my story. It feels really good to see and feel the love and acceptance from everyone involved with
this show as well as my fans, The KerBears. It’s all I’ve ever hoped for and feels like the ultimate victory, in hindsight. So.. it feels correct.”
We agree — Beyond having been deemed a fashion queen of her season, giving show-stopping performances all over the world, and even performing with Jennifer Lopez on the iHeartRadio stage , she has, time after time, shown up for her cast mates as well as her fans by being a rock in supporting their journeys, as many have since come out publicly as trans. “It is important for me to be there for my peers and fans because growing up, I wish that I had somewhere to look to or someone to talk to about how I was feeling inside, and the more I accomplish, the more I prove that I can change things. I want others to know they have that same power.”
“…the more I accomplish, the more I prove that I can change things. I want others to know they have that same power.”
From the trials of her upbringing and her rocky journey to catapulting herself to stardom, Kerri feels like she is on a mission that the universe was always calling her to embark on. “It’s not about me anymore. When I went on Drag Race, I wanted to tell my story and share myself, and now it’s no longer just my story. This has been one big adventure full of ups and downs to get here and I’m very grateful.
Since the show’s premiere, Kerri has begun performing all around the world on a different scale than ever before. From a small church to stadiums, she continues to enjoy the rush from performing. “I like to explore. I’ve always wanted to go everywhere, see new things, and all of this has provided a platform for me to be able to do that. I’m loving meeting people. I love that people actually show up, care, and listen. They are excited to share their own experiences and it brings me a lot of joy to know that they feel touched by something that I did.”
Wrapping up this interview, I asked one last question: “What’s next for Kerri Colby?” Without missing a beat she replied, “Absolute domination,” with a cheeky smile. “We need more proud transgender stars and I think we’re ready for another one. I want to become a household name. There is so much in the works right now, but I will leave you with this: Music is coming and I can’t wait to share my sound with the world.
CREDITS
Creative Directors: Cierra Zacchaeus-Bachore x Kentö
Photographer: Martha Galvan @martymoes
Wardrobe: Cierra Zacchaeus-Bachore @cithevision
Make-Up: Eros Gomez @erosmua
Fashion Assistance: Terah Wilson @teraah
Interview: Kentö @kentoofficial
Videographer: Leslie Wiley @leslay_niicole
Color Body Suit: Mugler @muglerofficial
Christian Louboutin @louboutinworld
Earrings: Kairu Jewelry @kairujewelry
Silver Top: Bachore x Ethereal by T @bachoreofficial x @etherealbyt.co
Silver Pant: TLZ L’Femme @tlzlfemme
Black Hat: Sarah Sokol Millinery @sarahsokolmillinery
Leather Dress: Ritual @ritual_fashion
