Kade Gottlieb (born on August 19, 1996),[1] better known as Gottmik, is an American drag performer and make-up artist. Gottmik was the first trans man to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race, coming in shared 3rd/4th place on the thirteenth season with fellow contestant Rosé. Gottmik later returned to compete in the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[2][3] Gottmik co-hosts the podcast No Gorge alongside Violet Chachki.

Gottmik
Gottmik at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2023
Born (1996-08-19) August 19, 1996 (age 28)
Other namesKade Gottlieb
EducationFashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Occupations
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race (season 13)
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 9)
Websitegottmik.com Edit this at Wikidata

Early life

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Kade Gottlieb was born in Arizona and later adopted by a conservative family in Scottsdale, and attended Notre Dame Preparatory High School.[4][5] He began experimenting with drag at the age of eighteen.[6] After high school, he pursued a career in the fashion industry by relocating to Los Angeles, where he transitioned and developed his cosmetics and drag skills.[7] He earned a degree in product development from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.[6]

Career

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Make-up artistry

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As a make-up artist, Gottmik has done makeup for Cindy Crawford, Todrick Hall, Paris Hilton, Heidi Klum, Adam Lambert, French Montana,[6] and Tinashe,[5] as well as Drag Race contestants Alaska Thunderfuck, Detox Icunt, Gia Gunn,[8] Shangela, Violet Chachki, and Willam Belli.[7] His work, described by Out's Rose Dommu as "[ranging] from highly conceptual to urbane", has appeared in the magazines Flaunt, Nylon, and Paper.[6] He did makeup for Amanda Lepore and Pabllo Vittar for their covers on Gay Times.[8] In 2020, Gottlieb did Lil Nas X's makeup for Halloween, when he dressed as Nicki Minaj.[9] He also did the makeup for the celebrities who were featured in the music video for Taylor Swift's 2019 song "You Need to Calm Down".

RuPaul's Drag Race and subsequent tours

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In 2021, Gottmik became the first trans man to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race, appearing on the thirteenth season.[10] Gottmik performed well in the competition, winning two challenges (the ball and the Snatch Game, performing as Paris Hilton),[11] and ultimately reaching the top four alongside Kandy Muse, Symone, and Rosé.[12] Gottmik was eliminated during the finale episode in a lip sync for your life to the song "Gimme More" against the season's eventual winner, Symone, ultimately tying with Rosé as second/third runner up.[13]

 
Gottmik at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2022

After competing on Drag Race, Gottmik signed with Voss Events talent management,[14] and traveled the United States with Voss' COVID-19 pandemic-compliant drive-in drag show, Drive 'N Drag Saves 2021.[15][16] Gottmik also joined Voss' 2022 European tour, RuPaul's Drag Race Werq the World tour.[17] In October 2021, Gottmik performed alongside fellow drag race alumni Violet Chachki, Alyssa Edwards, Aquaria, Jaida Essence Hall, Kandy Muse, Plastique Tiara, Rosé, and Kim Chi on Voss Event's Night of the Living Drag Halloween tour.[18] On April 23, 2024, Gottmik was announced as one of the eight contestants competing on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[19] During the season’s comedy roast, Gottmik used multiple sets from comedian Nikki Glaser’s standup without attribution, resulting in criticism from some social media users.[20] Gottmik responded they had “reworked” the material.[21]

Media

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Gottmik launched a YouTube channel in January 2021. Gottlieb has also appeared on the Gigi Gorgeous, Pearl, James Charles and World of Wonder channels.[5] Gottlieb was featured on the cover of Attitude for its April Style issue in 2021.[22] Cosmopolitan invited Gottlieb to demonstrate how he transforms into Gottmik.[5] In a July 2021 interview with Entertainment Weekly, it was revealed that the producers of the 2022 remake of Hellraiser auditioned Gottlieb for the role of the film's most iconic character, Pinhead. Gottlieb had previously worn a black-and-white-themed runway look inspired by Pinhead in the season 13 finale of RuPaul's Drag Race.[23][24]

 
Gottmik performing on the RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars tour, 2024

In September 2021, Gottlieb started the YouTube and podcast series No Gorge with fellow drag race alum Violet Chachki, where they discuss "all things fashion, life, and artistry".[25] Gottmik is one of the most-followed queens of Drag Race, with more than 1.3 million Instagram followers as of October 2021.[26] In September 2022, Gottmik appeared in the music video for Sam Smith and Kim Petras' song "Unholy" alongside Violet Chachki.[27] Gottmik and Violet Chachki also performed alongside Smith and Petras to "Unholy" at the 2023 Grammy Awards.[28]

Gottlieb will release his debut book The T Guide on May 16, 2023, through Penguin Random House. Co-written with Canadian beauty influencer Gigi Gorgeous, The T Guide will talk about the duo's "trans experiences and a celebration of gender expression – man, woman, nonbinary, and beyond".[29]

Personal life

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Out described Gottmik as "someone transmasculine who does high femme drag".[6] Gottlieb uses she/her pronouns when portraying Gottmik, and he/him pronouns out of drag. Gottmik is pansexual.[30][31][32]

Gigi Gorgeous is one of Gottmik’s closest friends; the two have appeared on magazine covers and launched merchandise together. Gigi also helped to fund Gottmik’s chest reconstruction surgery.[7]

Awards and nominations

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2021 RuPaul's Drag Race People's Choice Award for The Competition Contestant of 2021[33] Nominated
2022 Himself The Queerty Groundbreaker Award[34] Won
2024 Queerty Award for Future All-Star[35] Pending

Discography

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Title Year Notes
"ConDragulations (Cast Version)" 2021 RuPaul featuring the Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 13
"Lucky" 2021 RuPaul featuring the Top 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 13

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2018 Dido's Lament Short [36]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2021 RuPaul's Drag Race Contestant Season 13 (3rd/4th Place)
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Season 13
RuPaul's Drag Race: Corona Can't Keep a Good Queen Down Himself Stand-alone special [37]
Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 Amazon Prime Exclusive [38]
The Bitch Who Stole Christmas Tristian [39]
2022 Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Himself Guest [40]
RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race Guest [41]
The Book of Queer Episode: "Kings & Queens" [42]
2024 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 9) Contestant (8th Place) [43]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked

Music videos

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Year Title Artist Ref.
2022 Unholy Sam Smith & Kim Petras [44]

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2018 Puff Puff Sessions Guest Produced by World of Wonder [45]
2019 Transformations Produced by World of Wonder [46]
2021 The X Change Rate Produced by BUILD Series [47]
Whatcha Packin' Produced by VH1 [48]
Ruvealing the Look Produced by VH1 [49]
Cooking with Paris Paris Hilton Produced by Netflix [50]
Cosmo Queens Guest Produced by Cosmopolitan [51]
Glamour Unfiltered Produced by Glamour UK [52]
The Must List Produced by Entertainment Weekly [53]
2022 The Pit Stop Produced by VH1 [54]
2022 Fashion Photo RuView Host Produced by World of Wonder [55]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "How old is Gottmik?". PopBuzz. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  2. ^ "Gottmik, the First Trans man on Drag Race, Is Already a Winner, Baby. Gottmik is also openly pansexual". Vogue. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  3. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: What Gottmik Has Been Up To Since Season 13". ScreenRant. 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  4. ^ "Gottmik's Whatcha Packin' 🌟 S13 TOP 4". YouTube. 13 April 2021. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d STREET, MIKELLE (January 8, 2021). "'Drag Race's Gottmik Launches YouTube Channel, Spills a Little Tea". Out. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e DOMMU, ROSE (July 28, 2020). "Cover Stars Gigi Gorgeous and Gottmik Are Destroying Your Expectations". Out. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Lipchik, Saul (January 29, 2021). "Meet Gottmik, the first transgender man on RuPaul's Drag Race – and a celebrity make-up artist to Paris Hilton, Heidi Klum and Cindy Crawford". South China Morning Post. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  8. ^ a b DAMSHENAS, SAM. "Gottmik opens up for the first time about being a trans male drag queen". Gay Times. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  9. ^ ARTAVIA, DAVID (November 3, 2020). "Lil Nas X Shuts Down 50 Cent, Dave East Over Homophobic Slurs, Remarks". Out. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  10. ^ Allaire, Christian (3 March 2021). "Gottmik, the First Trans Man on Drag Race, Is Already a Winner, Baby". Vogue. Archived from the original on 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  11. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: What Gottmik Has Been Up To Since Season 13". ScreenRant. 2021-04-24. Archived from the original on 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  12. ^ "Here's 'Drag Race' Season 13's Top 4 — and Who Should Win". www.out.com. 2021-04-07. Archived from the original on 2021-04-07. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  13. ^ McCallion, Paul (2021-04-23). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season-Finale Recap: And the Winner Is…". Vulture. Archived from the original on 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  14. ^ "Gottmik - Voss Events Talent Management". Voss Events. 29 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  15. ^ "Gottmik Tour Dates". Gottmik. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  16. ^ "Drive 'N Drag". Voss Events. 4 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  17. ^ "Werq The World Tour". Voss Events. 29 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  18. ^ "Night of the Living Drag". Voss Events. Archived from the original on 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  19. ^ Vary, Adam (2024-04-23). "'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Season 9 Queens Revealed, Will Compete for Charity for the First Time". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  20. ^ Sim, Bernardo (14 June 2024). "Fans accuse Gottmik of stealing Nikki Glaser's jokes—'All Stars 9' queen responds". Out. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  21. ^ Meacham, Donny (14 June 2024). "'Drag Race' Star Gottmik Admits to 'Reworking' Nikki Glaser's Jokes During Comedy Roast". Pop Crush. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  22. ^ "DRAG RACE TRAILBLAZER GOTTMIK LEADS THE ATTITUDE APRIL STYLE ISSUE". Attitude. February 24, 2021. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  23. ^ Nolfi, Joey (July 20, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race star Gottmik auditioned for Pinhead in new Hellraiser movie". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  24. ^ Ryan, Danielle (July 21, 2021). "'Hellraiser' Remake Auditioned 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star After Horror-Themed Runway Look". /Film. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  25. ^ "Nogorge - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  26. ^ Juengling, Konrad (October 15, 2021). "Here are the 25 Most-Followed "RuPaul's Drag Race" Queens on Instagram". IntoMore. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  27. ^ "Watch Sam Smith and Kim Petras in Underground Sex Club in 'Unholy' Video". Spin. 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  28. ^ Daw, Stephen (2023-02-06). "Sam Smith & Kim Petras' 'Unholy' Grammys Performance Deemed 'Satanic' & 'Evil' by Conservatives". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  29. ^ Sim, Bernardo (February 1, 2023). "Gottmik & Gigi Gorgeous To Release New Book Titled The T Guide". Pride Magazine. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  30. ^ "Gottmik Opens up About Being Pansexual: "I do Not Care About Gender at All"". 11 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  31. ^ "Drag Race icon Gottmik opens up about being pansexual". 11 June 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  32. ^ "Drag Race superstar Gottmik discusses being pansexual in new interview". 12 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  33. ^ "The Competition Contestant of 2021". People's Choice Awards. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  34. ^ "The 2022 Queerties". Cheat Sheet. February 24, 2022. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  35. ^ "@Queerty: "The #Queerties are here! Congrats to @gottmik , nominee for FUTURE ALL-STAR. Vote for all your #LGBTQ favorites once a day until voting closes on February 22nd! 🏳️‍🌈🏆🍿"". Twitter. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  36. ^ "Dido's Lament". andrewondrejcak.com. Andrew Ondrejcak. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  37. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray; Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta (February 17, 2021). "VH1 To Release 'RuPaul's Drag Race: Corona Can't Keep A Good Queen Down'; Docu Chronicles Shooting Reality Series During Pandemic". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  38. ^ Henderson, Taylor (September 13, 2021). "Rihanna Enlists LGBTQ Stars & Drag Queens for 3rd Savage X Fenty Show". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  39. ^ The Bitch Who Stole Christmas (TV Movie 2021) - IMDb, retrieved 2022-01-10
  40. ^ Nolfi, Joey (January 27, 2022). "Drag Race star Gottmik reunited with Paris Hilton in gorge Paris Hilton drag". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  41. ^ Nolfi, Joey (July 18, 2022). "RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race teases Masked Singer format for season 2 premiere". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  42. ^ ""The Book of Queer" Takes an Entertaining Look at LGBTQ History". glaad.org. GLAAD. June 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  43. ^ Nolfi, Joey (April 23, 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 9 cast announced: See all the returning queens with new charity twist". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  44. ^ Sim, Bernardo. "Sam Smith, Kim Petras, Gottmik & Violet Chachki Are Grammy Squad Goals". out.com. Out. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  45. ^ Unconventional Makeup - Puff Puff Sessions w/ Laganja Gott Mik. YouTube. April 17, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  46. ^ Gottmik: Transformations with James St. James 526. YouTube. January 29, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  47. ^ The X Change Rate: The Queens of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13, January 1, 2021, retrieved November 23, 2021
  48. ^ Gottmik's Whatcha Packin' 🌟 S13 TOP 4| RuPaul's Drag Race, April 13, 2021, retrieved November 25, 2021
  49. ^ Gottmik's Polka Dot Drag Excellence Look | Ruvealing the Look | RuPaul's Drag Race S13, April 12, 2021, retrieved November 25, 2021
  50. ^ How To Make The Paris Margarita, from Gottmik | Cooking With Paris | Netflix, August 8, 2021, retrieved November 25, 2021
  51. ^ Drag Race Season 13 Queen Gottmik's Rainbow Rockstar Transformation! | Cosmo Queens | Cosmopolitan, January 6, 2021, retrieved November 25, 2021
  52. ^ Kade Gottlieb Interviews His Drag Persona Gottmik | GLAMOUR UNFILTERED, June 10, 2021, retrieved November 25, 2021
  53. ^ Gottmik's Must List Includes Lady Gaga's Chromatic, 'Dreamgirls' & More | Entertainment Weekly, July 23, 2021, retrieved November 25, 2021
  54. ^ The Pit Stop S14 E02 | Monét X Change & Gottmik Get It | RuPaul's Drag Race, January 15, 2022, retrieved January 22, 2022
  55. ^ Fashion Photo RuView: Drag Race: All Stars Season 7 - Pleather Principle, May 25, 2022, retrieved June 4, 2022
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