Tia Kofi
{{Short description|British drag performer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tia Kofi
| image = DragCon 2024 @ DVSROSS Photgraphy -28 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Tia Kofi at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2024
| birth_name = Lawrence John Bolton
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Essex, England, UK
| occupation = Drag queen, singer
| years_active = 2014–present
| education =
| television = RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 2)
RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (series 2)
}}
Lawrence John Bolton,{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/912780241 |title=ANTIDOTE |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=July 15, 2023}} better known by the stage name Tia Kofi, is a British drag queen and singer from Clapham, South London.{{Cite web |title=Who is Tia Kofi? Meet the RuPaul's Drag Race UK "queen of Clapham" |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/tia-kofi-rupauls-drag-race-uk-contestant/|access-date=2021-03-29 |website=Radio Times |language=en |archive-date=17 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017135048/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/tia-kofi-rupauls-drag-race-uk-contestant/ |url-status=live }} They are best known for competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2021),{{Cite web |title=RuPaul's Drag Race UK series two {{!}} Meet The Queens |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/rpdr2-queens |url-status=live |access-date=2021-03-29 |website=BBC |archive-date=16 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216115708/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/rpdr2-queens }} and winning the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2024).{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/rupauls-drag-race-uk-vs-the-world-season-2-cast-promo-looks-8425319 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs. the World season 2 reveals cast competing for first UK cash prize |last=Nolfi |first=Joey |website=ew.com |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 13, 2024}}
Early life
Kofi was born in Essex to a Nigerian mother (d. 2022) and a British father who met at university.{{Cite journal|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/23/drag-races-tia-kofi-warns-progress-still-needs-to-be-made-for-lgbt-14812077/|title=RuPaul's Drag Race UK's Tia Kofi insists 'progress still needs to be made' for LGBT community's rights|journal=Metro|first=Simon|last=Gage|date=23 June 2021|accessdate=9 February 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf_E1cjKaRO/?ref=PRHF3F90ADEAE9B&hl=af&img_index=2|title=Today is my mother's funeral...|author=Tia Kofi|via=Instagram|date=14 July 2022|accessdate=9 February 2024}} Kofi attended the University of Nottingham, but did not graduate.{{Cite journal|url=https://thetab.com/uk/nottingham/2021/01/20/we-spoke-to-tia-kofi-about-notts-uni-life-and-all-things-drag-race-uk-season-two-52718|title=We spoke to Tia Kofi about Notts Uni life and all things Drag Race UK season two|journal=The Tab|first=Olivia|last=Fletcher|date=20 January 2021|accessdate=9 February 2024}}
Career
Kofi began their career as a drag queen in 2014, when they started drag on the same day and at the same venue as series 1 contestant Sum Ting Wong. Their name is a play on the phrase "tea or coffee?", and as part of their initial entrance confessional, Kofi confirmed that they'd named themself after Tia Mowry from American sitcom Sister Sister and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.{{Cite web |title=RuPaul's Drag Race UK (S2 E1) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p091prm3/rupauls-drag-race-uk-series-2-episode-1?seriesId=p091pr8j |url-status=live |website=BBC iPlayer |access-date=29 March 2021 |archive-date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017135051/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p091prm3/rupauls-drag-race-uk-series-2-episode-1?seriesId=p091pr8j }} Prior to competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Kofi frequently performed in venues across South London, predominantly in Clapham.
Kofi is a part of a drag girl-group called The Vixens consisting of Kofi, Pixie Polite and Woe Addams.{{cite news |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/exclusive-tia-kofi-exit-interview/
|title=Exclusive: Drag Race UK star spills the Tia (Kofi) on the "twists and turns" of season 2 |date=February 19, 2021 |first=Sam |last=Damshenas |work=Gay Times |access-date=March 30, 2021 }}
In December 2020, Kofi was announced as one of twelve contestants competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. After lip synching three times, Kofi ultimately placed seventh overall.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-20 |title=Drag Race UK{{'}}s Tia Kofi tears up following elimination as she recalls lockdown struggle |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/drag-race-uks-tia-kofi-tears-up-following-elimination-as-she-recalls-lockdown-struggle-302464/ |access-date=2021-05-14 |website=Attitude |language=en |archive-date=15 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615065702/https://attitude.co.uk/article/drag-race-uks-tia-kofi-tears-up-following-elimination-as-she-recalls-lockdown-struggle/24539/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|date=2021-02-21 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Tia Mowry Reaches Out To Tia Kofi After Elimination |url=https://screenrant.com/rupauls-drag-race-uk-tia-mowry-kofi-elimination/ |access-date=2021-05-14 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US|archive-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514083242/https://screenrant.com/rupauls-drag-race-uk-tia-mowry-kofi-elimination/ |url-status=live }}
In February 2021, shortly after their elimination from Drag Race, Kofi released their debut single "Outside In" (co-written by Little Boots, Tom Aspaul and Gil Lewis), as well as a music video on 24 February 2021.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-24 |title=Drag Race UK{{'}}s Tia Kofi stuns in video for debut single 'Outside In' |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/drag-race-uks-tia-kofi-stuns-in-video-for-debut-single-outside-in-302479/ |access-date=2021-03-29 |website=Attitude |language=en}} In May 2021, Tia Kofi performed alongside series 1 winner The Vivienne, and fellow series 2 contestant Veronica Green at the Vaudeville Theatre in "Drag Queens of Pop", which was one of the first performances on the West End after the third national COVID-19 lockdown in England.{{Cite web
|title=Drag Queens of Pop |url=https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/drag-queens-of-pop/ |access-date=2021-03-29 |website=Nimax Theatres |archive-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401094924/https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/drag-queens-of-pop/ |url-status=live }}
In February 2022, Kofi embarked on RuPaul's Drag Race UK: The Official Tour alongside the entire cast of series 2, in association with World of Wonder and promoter Voss Events.{{Cite web |title=RuPaul's Drag Race UK Tour |url=https://vossevents.com/rupauls-drag-race-uk-tour/ |access-date=2021-03-26 |publisher=Voss Events |language=en |archive-date=1 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501032451/https://vossevents.com/rupauls-drag-race-uk-tour/ |url-status=dead }} Their set consisted of "Outside In" followed by "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa and "No Way" from the musical Six. In May 2023, Kofi released their third EP, Pride. Power. Pop. and single "Standing Up for the Lonely" They played the digital assistant ALGO in the second series of "Olga Koch: OK Computer" on BBC Radio 4 from May 2023.{{Cite web |title=Olga Koch: OK Computer - Series 2 - 1. Fun - BBC Sounds |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001m4sf |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}
In January 2024, Kofi was announced as one of the contestants competing on series 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World.{{Cite web |title='RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs. the World' season 2 cast announced |url=https://ew.com/rupauls-drag-race-uk-vs-the-world-season-2-cast-promo-looks-8425319 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=EW.com |language=en}} They later went on to win the series and be crowned "Queen of the Mothertucking World". Subsequently, they took home the first-ever cash prize in the shows history: £50,000.{{Cite web |title=RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World series 2 winner crowned |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/rupauls-drag-race-uk-vs-the-world-series-2-winner/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}
On 5 May 2024, Kofi co-hosted the opening "Turquoise Carpet" event of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 alongside Swedish drag queen Elecktra.{{Cite web |date=3 May 2024 |title=Drag superstars Elecktra and Tia Kofi to host Eurovision Turquoise Carpet |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/elecktra-tia-kofi-turquoise-carpet |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Eurovision.tv |publisher=EBU}}
On 12 Dec 2024, Kofi was a co-presenter and backstage interviewer of acts at the 2024 Het Grote Songfestivalfeest concert in Amsterdam.
Personal life
Kofi identifies as queer. They dated their fellow The Vixens member Pixie Polite for approximately five years.{{Cite web |title=Pixie Polite Reveals She Dated This Drag Race Queen For 5 Years |url=https://www.out.com/television/2022/10/07/pixie-polite-reveals-she-dated-drag-race-queen-5-years |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Out |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208095125/https://www.out.com/television/2022/10/07/pixie-polite-reveals-she-dated-drag-race-queen-5-years |url-status=live }} Kofi is the "drag mother" of Victoria Scone{{Cite web |date=2 September 2021 |title=Tia Kofi on her 80s inspired EP and Drag Race UK season 3 making herstory |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/tia-kofi-on-her-80s-inspired-ep-and-drag-race-uk-season-3-making-herstory/ |access-date=26 November 2021 |author=Sam Damshenas |website=Gay Times |archive-date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017135052/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/tia-kofi-on-her-80s-inspired-ep-and-drag-race-uk-season-3-making-herstory/ |url-status=live}} and uses they/she pronouns.{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/tiakofi/ |title=Tia Kofi |publisher=Instagram |access-date=18 March 2023 }}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Notes ! style="text-align: center;" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}} |
| 2004
|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban |Hufflepuff student |Background actor |
= Television =
= Music videos =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Artist !Ref |
| 2017
|"Gotta Get a Grip" | |
| rowspan="5" |2021
|"My House" |
| "Outside In"
|Tia Kofi |{{Cite web |date=2021-02-24 |title=Drag Race UK's Tia Kofi stuns in video for debut single 'Outside In' |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/drag-race-uks-tia-kofi-stuns-in-video-for-debut-single-outside-in-302479/ |access-date=2021-03-29 |work=Attitude |language=en}} |
| "Look What You've Done"
|Tia Kofi & Cahill |
| "Loving Me Like That"
|Tia Kofi |
| "Jingle Bell Rock"
|The Vivienne & Tia Kofi |
| rowspan="2" |2022
|"Get Better" | rowspan="2" |Tia Kofi |
| "So Good" |
= Internet series =
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1"
! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Details |
| scope="row" |Read My Lips
|
|
|---|
=Extended plays=
=Singles=
= As featured artist =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Title !Year !Album |
| "UK Hun?"{{Citation |title=UK Hun? (Bananadrama Version) - Single by The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Season 2 |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/uk-hun-bananadrama-version-single/1552817322 |language=en-gb |access-date=15 February 2021 |archive-date=11 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211222838/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/uk-hun-bananadrama-version-single/1552817322 |url-status=live }}
The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (Bananadrama Version) |2021 | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| "Heart Beating"
with MRSHLL |2022 | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
Stage
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Promoter ! scope="col" |Locations ! class="unsortable" |{{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}} |
| 2021
|Drag Queens of Pop |Nimax Theatres |
| 2022
|RuPaul's Drag Race UK: The Official Tour |Voss Events / World of Wonder |Ipswich, Oxford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Southend, Manchester, Sheffield, Blackpool, Llandudno, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Basingstoke, Portsmouth, Plymouth, London, Derby, Bristol, Bradford, Aberdeen, Southampton, Stockton, Brighton and Newport |
| 2024
|RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World: The Official Tour |Voss Events / World of Wonder |Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Bristol, London and Bournemouth |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Tia Kofi}}
- {{Instagram}}
- {{Twitter}}
{{RuPaul's Drag Race UK}}
{{RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kofi, Tia}}
Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people
Category:Alumni of the University of Nottingham
Category:Black British LGBTQ people
Category:Drag performers from London
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:English gay entertainers
Category:RuPaul's Drag Race UK contestants