Drag Race UK’s Bimini Bon Boulash on coming to terms with being non-binary
Exclusive: "I think it's important to hear it from people who actually experience it."
By Will Stroude
Since landing in the bottom two during week one, Bimini Bon Boulash has established themself as a force to be reckoned with during RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series two, serving out-of-the-box runway looks and inspiring conversations about their gender identity.
Now, in a special bonus moment from their recent appearance as part of the United Kingdolls on Tea Time in association with TAIMI, the LGBTQ Dating, Chat and Social Network App, Bimini is opening up about their journey to coming to terms with being non-binary.
“I think I’ve always kind of known that when I was growing up I always felt a bit different, or what I was told I had to do wasn’t working for me”, Bimini tells host Jodie Harsh.
“I was shit at football, I couldn’t do all of that stuff. I realised very early on that was not for me.”
The 27-year-old queen, who has won frequent praise from the judges for their jaw-dropping runway looks, goes on to explain that from a young age they found an outlet for their gender expression in clothing, and “seeing so much androgyny in fashion and thinking ‘that resonates with me a lot more than what I’m seeing on TV’.”
Bimini continues: “I think moving to London and living in east London, no one has those barriers up. Gender expression is so creative and free here that it’s not really an issue, so I didn’t really think about it too deeply.
Image: BBC/World of Wonder
“I heard the term ‘non-binary’ and I think it’s a good umbrella term for a lot of people that feel gender-queer or gender-neutral or anything that’s under that kind of umbrella. I think when I first heard it a few years ago I was like ‘OK, that makes sense to me’.
“My gender feels neither here nor there, it’s very much one day I feel more masculine, one day I might be more feminine. To me it’s not really an issue, but I know to a lot of people it’s a ‘new’ thing and it’s different to what they’ve always learnt.
“I respect that and I appreciate that but to be honest it’s something that I’ve never really thought too deeply about.”
Bimini was involved in a touching and widely praised conversation with fellow contestant Ginny Lemon about their non-binary identies in episode three of Drag Race UK, and as the media continues to fuel hostility towards trans and non-binary people, the performer urges people to listen to the lived experiences of those involved – not the hate and fear of others.
“I think it’s important to hear it from people who actually experience it rather than having a debate or a discussion from people that haven’t lived that or don’t understand it”, explains Bimini.
“And then also, coming from a place of authenticity. Like, me and Ginny [Lemon] got emotional, it was a heartfelt moment, and I think people resonate with that.
“People relate to it, because it’s not that thing of ‘Oh, you’re shoving it down my throat’, you’re actually listening to someone – a human being – talk about their feelings and their experience and seeing vulnerability. People relate to it. “
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RuPaul’s Drag Race UK lands on BBC Three from 7pm every Thursday, available exclusively on BBC iPlayer.