From humble drag beginnings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Lydia B Kollins has kept fans enthralled since she scored a 7th place finish on Season 17 earlier this year. In a record-breaking turnaround, Lydia was officially announced to be joining the cast of “All Stars 10” less than a week after her original season aired its finale.
The competitor, known for her handmade runway look and out-of-the-box fashion sense, has already secured a spot in the semi-finals of the currently-airing “Tournament of All Stars,” winning two maxi challenges in the competition’s second preliminary round.
Clocking Lydia’s historic return to “Drag Race,” some fans have named Lydia as host RuPaul’s “new favorite” drag queen. Kollins responded to the title in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Lydia B Kollins on Being Crowned RuPaul’s ‘New Favorite’
“Drag Race” fans latched on to the idea that Lydia was RuPaul’s “new favorite” after “All Stars 10” contestant Jorgeous originated the claim on the show. Jorgeous, who similarly competed on back-to-back seasons (“All Stars 9” & “All Stars 10”), unofficially held the title prior to Kollins’ “Drag Race” debut earlier this year.
When asked how she feels about taking over the mantle, Lydia told THR, “I mean, listen, I would love to claim that title. I would love to be mother’s favorite, so if people are saying that, I’m going to run with it for sure. But I think that she has room in her heart for so many queens, and I mean, Jorgeous is really small, so she’ll always fit into one blood vessel one way or another.”
Fans have pointed to Lydia’s lip sync performance to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland” on Season 17 as the moment when Ru fell head over high heels for the 24 year-old queen. During the epic lip sync against Arriety, Lydia can be seen locking eyes with the long-time host and grinning, knowing she’d captured Ru’s undivided attention.
Lydia B Kollins Shares Update on ‘Drag Race’ Showmance
While her infectious personality and killer runways earned Lydia a spot on “All Stars 10,” it was her relationship with fellow competitor Kori King that truly defined her “Drag Race” story on Season 17.
GettyWhile showmances have happened before on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Lydia and Kori’s is certainly the most public. Since the couple wrapped filming for Season 17, they have gone viral for their presence online, namely on TikTok.
Lydia shared an update on the relationship during her chat with THR, reporting that Kori is adjusting well to her partner’s meteoric success.
“It’s fascinating. I think that Kori takes it like a champ, she is built for this, and her emotional standpoint is super strong,” Lydia gushed. “It’s the most amazing thing in the world. I love having someone who’s going through the same thing as me to ride with me during all this.”
Despite remaining booked, blessed and busy, Kori previously revealed that the couple make time to see each other. During an appearance on “The Pit Stop,” the official “RuPaul’s Drag Race” recap show, King told host Monet X Change, “We fly and see each other every week.”
Lydia B Kollins will return to “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 10” for the semi-finals of the “Tournament of All Stars” on Friday, July 4 on Paramount+.
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’Drag Race’ Star Reacts to Being Called RuPaul’s ‘New Favorite’ Queen