Katya Zomolodchikova

Yekaterina Petrovna Zomolodchikova, also known as Katya, is a Russian drag character created by Brian McCook. He grew up in Massachusetts and came out as gay at the age of 15.   While in college, he became interested in drag and his Russian persona was inspired by one of his teachers.

Katya joined the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race for season seven and won Miss Congeniality. In 2016, she landed on the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars, finishing as runner-up.

Over the years, Katya has often teamed up with her fellow season seven alumna Trixie Mattel for a variety of projects, including a book titled Trixie and Katya’s Guide to Modern Womanhood.

Dating app Grindr, in partnership, supported an interview-based podcast called Who’s the Asshole? with Katya for a fourth season, which premiered last month and will conclude on March 19.

The Bald and The Beautiful with Trixie and Katya flies into the Windy City for one night at The Chicago Theatre. Katya talked about the upcoming gig and much more on a recent call.

JN: (Jerry Nunn) Hi, Katya. I am calling in from Chicago!

KZ: (Katya Zomolodchikova) I love Chicago. In the winter, it’s so cold there, but in the summer it is so lit.

JN: True. I interviewed you back in 2015 when you started at Drag Race.

KZ: I remember and I am not joking. Jerry, that night, I had not slept for two full nights when I walked that red carpet. I was sober at the time and it was a grueling tour rollout, but I had a blast there. I had fun talking to everyone there, you included.

JN: I appreciate you remembering me. Trixie remembered me from that event when I ran into her at Outfest in LA.

KZ: That’s surprising because with her memory, she dumps things out of her brain right away. [both laugh]

JN: When you first began performing in drag, did you ever imagine a career like you have today?

KZ: Not at all. I was about to pivot ot social work. I was getting credits at a community college to take the GRE for a graduate program. I thought drag was too much because it wasn’t paying well. I felt I needed to grow up and live a regular life.

I was cast on the show, and after that, I couldn’t believe I had considered being a social worker. I am very grateful and it was a modern Willy Wonka Golden Ticket.

JN: It doesn’t seem to matter how any of the contestants finish in the competition because even some of the first people voted off now have huge careers.

KZ: I know, Trixie did horribly on the show and now she’s so rich! [laughs]

JN: What advice would you give a new queen on RuPaul’s Drag Race to sustain a lengthy career?

KZ: There are two things: while on the show, make them howl during interviews. They need to be funny. Don’t do what they tell you to do and if you have shitty drag, just don’t worry about it and make it work. After the show is when the queen really needs to grab the public by the crotch with your stoleto nails and dig in until you draw blood.

It can be hard to stay relevant in a sea of faces wearing wigs. You have to either run naked through a major city on the news or do something spectacular consistently.

Trixie is a great model for this. She didn’t have a good track record on season seven of Drag Race, but since then, she has been one of the most successful drag queens after leaving the franchise. It is through hard work.

JN: How has it been working with Grindr for your podcast, I’m the Asshole?

KZ: It’s been a dream come true. I don’t have to wear drag, but I do have a little wiglet that I wear. I get to be comfortable and speak with many interesting guests on the show.

Lushious Massacr is the best drag queen in the world, well, other than Trixie. I encourage people to check out her YouTube Channel Dragvestigations.

JN: It’s a great name for a show.

KZ: She was in Brownsville, Texas, in a little pussycat wig to walk into the Ross Dress for Less store to criticize the prices. I had to turn off the episode because I was having abdominal cramping from laughing so much. She is such a revelation and I am so happy she came on my podcast. We tried for Gwyneth Paltrow, but we got Lushious instead.

JN: Well, who cares about goop anyway? You also had singer Peaches on your podcast and she just recently performed in Chicago.

KZ: I was scared of her at first and then she was the most delightful, personable, lovely person. I can’t believe she knew who I was and she’s so cool.

JN: I interviewed her many years ago and I was scared like you were because she looks mean.

KZ: Yes, but it’s a great look to keep people guessing.

JN: I interviewed her at dinner in Germany, where she lives. I regret not asking to see her closet after we finished eating. Can you imagine what costumes would be in it?

KZ: It could be packed full of stuff or it could be the opposite, with nothing in it. What did you eat at dinner?

JN: It was Thai food, because she wanted to eat at a certain restaurant near her house. Do you have a dream guest for your podcast?

KZ: RuPaul. I would want to grill and saute her. I would also like to interview Julia Roberts. I am sure she has never used Grindr, but we can find out if she comes on the podcast.

JN: What about Tyra Banks? Is she the asshole?

KZ: With all due respect, that woman was a challenging host and I believe she would be a challenging guest. “As soon as something touches my tongue, I can taste it.” That’s a quote from Tyra and so crazy.

JN: What are you planning for season five of Who’s the Asshole?”

KZ: Once I get unchained from Trixie’s radiator, I will be free to plan. I want a guest for season five that will gag everyone and for me, that would be an A-list celebrity like Julia Roberts.

JN: Since you are chained to Trixie for the upcoming tour, what will the experience be like for your audiences?

KZ: It is going to be an unstoppable, unexpected and unforgettable experience that people will cherish for the rest of their lives.

JN: That sounds worth the ticket price…

KZ: Exactly. When people consider the glamor, the drama and the emotions straight from the heart of our souls, this show is worth millions of dollars.

JN: Being the gay Barbara Walters, I have an Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King question for you. Very few drag queens have a friendship like you and Trixie Mattel. Describe that friendship to me.

KZ: She’s the sister I never wanted and the mother I already have. She is the person who finishes her own sentences because she won’t let me speak. [laughs]

JN: Do you like all the travel associated with touring?

KZ: It’s difficult because of my old rickety bones and crotchety personality. Now that my condo is falling apart, I love to be on the road because I am basically upscale homeless.

JN: Where are you based these days?

KZ: Los Angeles.

JN: Do you have demands while you are on the road?

KZ: My demands are vicious, unreasonable and nonnegotiable. I want protein shakes and a decent bed in a five-star hotel.

JN: We will have to make that happen when you arrive in Chicago. What projects do you have right now, other than the tour?

KZ: I am doing One Night in Katya for FlipPhoneEvents.com in March and April. I also have some music that is unreleased and it is really good. I am trying to find funding from a sponsor to release my song “Black Diarrhea.”

JN: Sounds like a hit!

KZ: It is and it will be. It will be a tragedy if this song goes underground and isn’t released until after I die. The song will be found one day somehow, so I am focusing on it while I am living.

JN: You don’t want the song to come out from the vault like Prince after he died?

KZ: No. People don’t want to read my diaries about “Diarrhea” after I am dead.

JN: This is getting dark, but it was a treat to talk to you again after all of these years.

KZ: You, too. You haven’t aged a minute.

JN: Thanks and right back atcha. Are you going to hit the town while in Chicago?

KZ: RuPaul is doing a DJ set in Milwaukee on the same night as our show and that’s a crime against humanity. She should be on trial for competing against us.

JN: Ru is trying to steal your thunder.

KZ: Trixie and I would love to go to hear her set and I would sweat off my body weight. We can’t be in two places at the same time; instead, I will try to have sex through Grindr.

JN: I will see you at your show or otherwise, I will find you on Grindr and say hello there.

KZ: Okay, fabulous. I will ping you on Grindr!

To purchase tickets to The Bald and The Beautiful at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., on March 21, visit trixieandkatya.com.

For fresh episodes of Who’s the Asshole? skip over to welovekatya.com.