You’ve probably seen the Dunkin’ Donuts colors or the "Black Barbie of Boston" title floating around your feed lately. Honestly, if you follow any corner of the drag world, Kori King (often searched as Corey King) is basically inescapable right now. She didn't just walk into the Werk Room; she kind of took it over with a level of confidence that either makes you obsessed or has you side-eyeing your screen.
Let's get the name thing out of the way first. While plenty of people type "Corey King Drag Race" into Google, her name is spelled Kori King. She’s a 25-year-old powerhouse from Boston who took Season 17 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and turned it into her own personal playground. Born Rashawn King on March 13, 2000, she’s got a background that’s as colorful as her runways—Afro-Trinidadian, Portuguese, and Native American heritage all rolled into one.
Before the wigs and the lashes, Kori was actually an animator. She went to the Boston Arts Academy for visual arts, and you can really see that illustrator’s eye in how she paints. It’s calculated. It’s exaggerated. It’s 100% intentional.
The Plane Jane Connection and That "Bully" Edit
One of the biggest talking points during her run was her relationship with Season 16 finalist Plane Jane. They aren't just friends; they’re drag sisters. When Kori first appeared, the fans were basically holding their breath to see if she’d be as "evil" as Plane.
Honestly, the internet was divided. Some people on Reddit were calling her a "bully" because her confessionals were incredibly shady, especially toward queens like Suzie Toot. But here’s the thing: drag is a contact sport. Kori has a razor-sharp wit, and she isn’t afraid to use it. While she’d be hugging a girl in the Werk Room, she’d be absolutely dragging her outfit to filth in the confessional chair five minutes later.
Is it "snake behavior"? Or is it just great TV? Kori herself has said she does drag for "entertainment and payment." She’s a student of the game who knows that a quiet queen is a forgotten queen. She actually appeared on a YouTube series called Life’s a Drag with Plane Jane before they ever touched the Drag Race stage, so she knew exactly how to play to the cameras.
Let’s Talk About the Stats (The Real Numbers)
Kori King didn't win the crown—she placed 9th overall—but her impact on the charts is what really matters for her career. After she was eliminated in Episode 9, her popularity didn't dip; it skyrocketed in a way we haven't seen for a mid-season out in a while.
- Cameo Dominance: Post-elimination, Kori hit #1 overall on the Cameo platform. Not just #1 for drag queens, but #1 for creators on the whole site.
- The LaLaPaRuza: In the Season 17 "Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown," she was a beast. She beat Arrietty, Lana Ja’Rae, and even her own partner, Lydia B Kollins. She ended up as the runner-up for the tournament, losing only to Suzie Toot in the final round to the song "Apt." by Rosé and Bruno Mars.
- Bottom Two Battles: She’s a lip-sync survivor. She survived the bottom two three times, sending home Joella to "Buttons" and Acacia Forgot to "Wet Dream."
The "ButtTootKing" Romance
If you haven't heard of "ButtTootKing," you're missing the first real "showmance" that actually lasted after the cameras stopped rolling. Kori King and Lydia B Kollins are officially a thing. They confirmed it at a Roscoe’s Tavern viewing party in early 2025, and they’ve been inseparable since.
They even have a joint Cameo account and are touring together across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the UK in April and May of 2026. It’s sort of rare to see a Drag Race couple not just stay together for the "likes" but actually build a joint business empire. They’ve basically branded their relationship into a touring juggernaut.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Drag
People love to talk about Kori’s "manly" face or her "deranged" wig placement. Yeah, her entrance wig was famously way too far forward—even Raven commented on it on The Pit Stop. But Kori is autistic and has been very open about her neurodivergence online. She views drag through a lens of caricature.
She isn't trying to look like a "biological woman." She’s trying to look like a doll, a Shrek character, or Michael Jackson on the Emmy’s red carpet. Her parody characters, like "Kori Toot" (a hilarious dig at Suzie Toot) and her Michael Jackson impersonation, are her way of making herself laugh. If she’s laughing, she’s winning, regardless of what the judges’ scorecards say.
Why Kori King Still Matters in 2026
We’re currently seeing a shift in how Drag Race queens maintain their fame. You don’t need the $200,000 check to be the most successful girl of the season. Kori King proved that by leaning into her "villain" edit and turning it into a comedy brand.
She’s already released singles like "Shake That Ice" and "Cameo Christmas," and she’s a frequent guest on The Pit Stop and Whatcha Packin'. She’s basically become the go-to narrator for the drag scene.
If you're looking to follow her journey or see what the hype is about, here are the moves you should make:
- Watch the "Life’s a Drag" series on YouTube. It’s low-budget, messy, and shows Kori and Plane Jane before the fame. It’s the origin story you need.
- Check out her "Kori Toot" parodies on Cameo. Even if you don't buy one, the previews are comedy gold and show her range beyond just "pretty queen."
- Follow her TikTok. She was a "TikTok diva" before the show, and she still posts vlogs every Friday that give a behind-the-scenes look at the drag industry that most queens keep hidden.
- Look for the "ButtTootKing" tour dates. If you're in Europe or Australia this spring, seeing her and Lydia live is the best way to see if their chemistry is as chaotic in person as it was in the Untucked lounge.
Kori King is the perfect example of a queen who understood the assignment: give them something to talk about, give them something to laugh at, and make sure they remember your name (even if they spell it with a 'C' at first).
