" Thinking about our royalty and our queer intensity level as Polynesians really loan well to [ helping ] me put on that Sasha Colby , impregnable , kick - a * * personality that I need . It ’s all there in the Hawaiian bloodline . "
It ’s your favorite drag queen ’s preferent drag queer ! In 2023,Sasha Colbycaptured hearts around the earthly concern when she made account as the first openly trans woman of colour and the first Pacific Islander to winRuPaul ’s Drag Race . IDK about you , but I ’m still think about all those looks inspired by her Native Hawaiian culture !
Since then , the puff performing artist has stayed booked and busy . She headline her first Stripped Tour across 22 cities in North America last year , and she ’ll be kicking off her exciting 28 - cityStripped IITourin the fall .
“Thinking about our royalty and our queer strength as Polynesians really lends well to [helping] me put on that Sasha Colby, strong, kick-a* personality that I need. It’s all there in the Hawaiian blood."*
For BuzzFeed’sVoices of the Pacificseries , I sat down with Sasha to chat about her favorite memory withRuPaul , Native Hawaiian mythology , and more .
BuzzFeed: How does it feel to be not only the first Native Hawaiian to compete onRuPaul’s Drag Racebut also the first Pacific Islander to win the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar?
Sasha Colby : It ’s been amazing . It ’s been such a welcoming , like a homecoming , especially when I talk to other Hawaiians , other Pacific Islanders . the great unwashed from all over Polynesia , they can connect and concern and see someone that looks like them and has the same culture , the same upbringing as them , really makes them experience like they ’re part of a community . That ’s what drag has been able-bodied to make , and whatDrag Racehas been able to globalize , is wee a lot more space for community building .
Do you have a favorite behind-the-scenes memory withRuPaul?
Just watching RuPaul study , motion-picture show , and dribble little hints to us , small pieces of Wisdom of Solomon or advice . It ’s always adorable to watch Ru in action . Really encouraging us to understand that it ’s a television show , and even though we ’re there for a competition and to make headway , really getting on the TV show is such a big accomplishment already . So , it ’s really her telling us , while we ’re in genuine time , how we ’re going to use this opportunity . What can we make ? How can we show the audience a dissimilar side of us ? Or how can we tell stories about our upbringing ? When she fetch that , we get to personalize ourselves , which really helps you put that paries down , like , " Oh my gosh , I ’m lecture to RuPaul . " [ Laughs ] It can be a small surrealistic , but she really is welcoming and allows you to connect in volley with her , which is always great .
Throughout the show, you served some serious looks. Many of them were nods to your culture, from your first, tattoo-inspired one to your intergalactic glamour headpiece to your crystalized eleganza costume. Why was it important to continually platform your Native Hawaiian identity through fashion?
I think it ’s always important for me to comprise my culture , being Native Hawaiian . It ’s such a braggy part of me and part of my fosterage that it always come second nature . And I ’m a pretty grownup dweeb . I love Hawaiian history , and I love Hawaiian mythology and really taking from the idol and goddesses . take a look inspired by Pele for my conclusion ; it was an all - lava look . Thinking about our royalty and our queer durability as Polynesians really impart well to [ help ] me put on that Sasha Colby , strong , bitch - ass personality that I need . It ’s all there in the Hawaiian rip .
BuzzFeed : I did n’t know you were extremely interested in the mythology as well ! Do you have a favorite myth or caption ?
I just love the idea of Pele and her sister , Poliʻahu , who is the goddess of Charles Percy Snow . She sleeps on Mauna Kea and their vernal sis , Hiʻiaka . And then there is Nāmaka , who is the goddess of the ocean or of the sea . How we explain nature and things is through our mythology , and it ’s just bringing it down to a science base and history base , which is where our mythology springs off from .
Have you ever faced challenges in your career as a Pacific Islander? If so, how did you overcome them?
One of the big challenges I ’ve face as a Pacific Islander is being hapa [ mixed ] , Pacific Islander and also Caucasian . Growing up looking the elbow room I do with green eyes , and being the wanton hide of my seven sib , I was always call in haole [ foreigner ] or not Hawaiian enough . So , that was always a challenge . Being othered already on top of my queerness or my transness , but really being othered as I was n’t Hawaiian enough . And then when I came to the continental US , I was n’t really white - looking — it was like , " Oh , there ’s some sort of ethnicity in you . " That was always the strong part in express , or maybe trying to find comradeship with citizenry that felt the same as me . But always being hapa , never really belonging to a mathematical group … You never really feel like you ’re part of any community . So , it ’s really kind of full - circle to be able to represent a whole island nation that at one point in time did n’t even consider me as one of theirs , but now is so proud to have me constitute .
BuzzFeed : What you ’re saying really resonates with me . In Samoan , we say afakasi instead of hapa , but you’re able to plausibly tell I ’m also interracial [ laugh ] . I ’m curious what was the moment that allow you to be sure-footed in your background then . Just like , " This is who I am . "
For Pacific Islanders, there are so many aspects of our cultures that we hold close to our hearts, from our foods to our dances to ourtattoos. What’s your favorite part of your culture?
Oh , I have so many pet aspects . The food alone [ laughs ] that ’s definitely habitation base for me . But I love the music and the Hawaiian dancing , the dancing . As a professional dancer , I do it the idea that we came up with mythology to explain natural occurrent in nature , and then to remember it , we would write it into a poem , and then to think back it and snuff it it on , we would make it into a mele or a song . And to pass it along again and to reiterate it more into our culture , we would make a hula out of it . So , it was all these thing that by nature combined . But that ’s what I really sleep with because I love learning about our chronicle , through that flow .
Do you have a favorite Hawaiian food?
My go - to traditional Hawaiian plate would be lau lau , kalua pig , some rice , lomi salmon , and I ’m honorable . Ooh and some poi .
Last year, you toured across 22 cities in North America. What was it like headlining a tour for the first time?
Oh my good . It was amazing to headline my very first one - woman show turn last year . It was so unbelievable because I get to mould with all my friend , and pretty much everybody on my squad is from Hawaiʻi that I arise up with . So , it had that sense of kin and secretiveness and refuge that I necessitate to recount my taradiddle to the great deal , and we got to have a really peachy time . We love it so much that we ’re doing another round of Stripped II this year . We will be doing a lot more cities , and we ’ll be hand a lot more people . It ’ll be along the same vein of the storytelling that I did in the first Stripped , but with some new number , some different stories to evidence , some different points of view . I ’m really excited .
You’ve previouslyspokenabout the competition you held for up-and-coming drag queens to join you on the tour. You credited the drag community for helping you in the past and said this was a way to afford opportunities to others in return. What did it feel like to have this full-circle moment and realize you’re now the one helping other people’s dreams come true?
This contest where I could have citizenry open or perform with me and typify their metropolis in every city that I was exit to was really authoritative because that ’s really where I got my opportunities . Someone reckon at me and being like , " Oh , wow . Give her a spot on stage and give her a duet of minutes . " It really does so much for your ego - esteem , for how you present yourself on degree . And I noticed , not to beep my own saddle horn but [ laughs ] a wad of the young woman that are on this season ofRuPaul ’s Drag Race , Season 17 , like Kori King , Lana Ja’Rae , there ’s a lot that actually were picked in their city to open for me . So it ’s like a short foreshadowing I imagine you could say , that the ones that I got to showcase terminate up getting also on the show — not saying it ’s a line or anything [ express joy ] . But it ’s more so just being able to have that eye for new , sweet talent .
You concluded your tour in Honolulu. Why was it important to end at home?
Because I want to outride [ laughs ] and hang out at the beach with my family and friends and eat all the food for thought I wanted . It ’s a perfect way to end the spell in Eden , and for all the people that were with me on go to amount home and see their menage , and then the one that are n’t from Hawaiʻi , for them to live what makes Hawaiʻi so special . I got the opportunity to have this big pāʻina , just a big barbecue with all the elder māhū that are on O‘ahu that I consider like my aunts and all the people that have really paved the way of life for me to glint . We always have these enceinte barbeque . I got to have my whole roll and my whole crew with me , and they get to see why I love it , where I come from . I guess [ it ] makes you put a little opus of the puzzler together , of what ciao spirit is . And that it ’s not just me — it ’s a whole community that shares this , many subspecies , many ethnicity that portion out that same feeling .
If you could work with any Pacific Islander, who would it be and why?
Oh , wow . There ’s so many great people , but for me , it ’s in reality a estimable booster of mine , Rena Owen . She was inOnce Were Warriors . She ’s a Pasifika film legend . She ’s an icon in the film - progress to industry , and that ’s where I really see myself going . I would have it away to just be on coiffure with her and soak up all her noesis , and her , I ’m certain , have sex energy that she institute to the set . I cerebrate she ’s just an incredible someone to take notes [ from ] , if ever I could .
BuzzFeed : You mentioned wanting to move more into the film . What would be your dream role ?
I screw a good menstruation motion-picture show , and I would have sex to see our Hawaiian monarchy story being told of all the tycoon and queens , and maybe have a slight part in there [ jape ] . I also would enjoy to do aBroad Citybut with two transbest booster . How do trans masses navigate a big urban center ? And a make out - of - age situation comedy would be screaming , and something that no one ’s ever seen on tv set yet .
You’re also well-known for your lifelong trans activism. You’ve organized for queer rights and inclusivity, served as Hawaiʻi’s drag queen in a GLAAD 50-state voting campaign, and even spoken at the White House. As far as activism goes, what’s your proudest moment?
unquestionably being able-bodied to go to [ former ] frailty chair Kamala Harris ’s menage and speak for GLAAD for Pride in 2023 . Being able to MC and meet our vice president was really , really particular , and it was a climax of all the hard work and not really intentionally trying to do activism , but as a drag performer and as a trans fair sex , activism is thrusted upon us , and we take that persona and that responsibility very in earnest . But for that to all culminate in being capable to represent Polynesians at the capital , and to actually show what trans excellence is and what drag is , was really , really cool . And to meet all the delegates that are really rummy or gay or LGBT ally , which unfortunately are n’t a draw in government activity right now . So , it was gracious to see the 1 that are still working hard and try their hard to ensure that we all are treated like mankind .
How do you maintain joy and hope in this difficult political climate?
Good intellectual nourishment , good booster . Your good origination , a sturdy grouping of people that you could speak to and vent to and cry [ with ] and get upset about and come up with a architectural plan [ with ] . That common sense of groundedness is really important right now .
How has your Native Hawaiian background informed your experience as a trans woman, and vice versa?
Just being born in Hawaiʻi , there ’s so many trans people that you follow into middleman with growing up that you do n’t even realize . Someone ’s aunt , someone ’s uncle , your aunt or uncle [ laughs ] , it ’s so common but not talked about . So I imagine for me , I want to push more spark through my drag on not being ashamed of being māhū in Hawaiʻi and bear proud and being like , " We can really be successful . " That was my thing . Because that was the form of matter that I would get twit at when we were younger , putting down the queer spokesperson . So , being able-bodied to use that and show a dissimilar side of our Hawaiianess on top of our queerness has been really invigorating .
Last year, you introducedChappell Roanat the VMAs as “your favorite drag queen’s favorite artist,” a play on your famous line. You also called her your daughter. I saw her live last year, so I know what an incredible performer she is, but what makes her so special as a person?
I think what makes Chappell special as a somebody is that she does n’t take celebrity and fame too severely . She ’s doing it for the prowess . She ’s a vocalizer - songwriter , and she has to make . And I understand what that need is , to involve to create even if no one ’s watching or listen . But to be able to have this chance , it ’s really special to watch her navigate and have her mom and dad , who really help educate and keep her grounded , which is really great . She still detect elbow room to keep her art hallowed .
What advice do you have for young Pacific Islander queer people?
Dream heavy . Do n’t let anybody take away your dream , your desires , your creative thinking , your drive to be whatever you desire to be , to go wherever you desire to go , and show the earth what it ’s like to be a Pacific Islander . Show the humans what it ’s like to be queer , and then show your family or your human race all the things that you ’ve learned from grow up in such a beautiful polish . It ’s really special to just not let anybody deter you from your dreams . Dream unapologetically and go for it . This is it . countenance ’s make it materialize .
What do you want your legacy to be, and how do you hope future generations will remember your contributions to Pacific Islander history?
Oh , wow , that ’s a moderately fierce question that I ’ve been asking myself , especially with — there ’s been the death of a sister , The Vivienne , and just watching her cultivation in the UK , so proud , these mass memorial for her . It ’s really quite heartwarming and breathtaking , and it makes someone like me reflective on what am I going to leave as an impact ? And I just hope that whatever I do leave here allows everyone to experience their own power and strength . I think that ’s my principal goal in life is to make everyone feel empower through my exposure , and if I could entrust a stain in the world to show that strength is n’t just through muscles . It ’s actually through vulnerability and being capable . And really being heart-to-heart about your struggles because there ’s so many people that can benefit from your story , and then need to hear it to mayhap save them . So , to try and be a heavy instance .
Finally, what does being Pacific Islander mean to you?
Being Pacific Islander , to me , means community , family . Pacific Islander mean creative and creative fibber . And Pacific Islander means really just always having that idea of geographic expedition and wanting to understand cultures or the world better . And I think that curiosity is what hold back us going .
Thank you for chatting with us, Sasha! Be sure to keep up with Sashahere.
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