You see the white face paint, the sharp black lines, and the high-fashion clown aesthetic that has basically redefined modern drag. But behind the "Gottmik" persona—the one that crashed the "cis-tem" on RuPaul’s Drag Race—is a guy named Kade Gottlieb.
Honestly, seeing Gottmik out of drag for the first time was a bit of a trip for fans who were used to the ultra-feminine, avant-garde mask. Kade is a trans man. He’s also a high-end celebrity makeup artist who was already painting the faces of Hollywood’s elite long before he ever stepped into the Werk Room.
There’s this weird misconception that drag is only for cisgender men or that trans men wouldn't want to perform "femininity." Kade basically looked at those rules and threw them in the trash.
Who Is Kade Gottlieb?
Kade was born in August 1996 and grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona. If you know anything about Scottsdale, you know it’s not exactly the most radical, boundary-pushing environment for a trans kid. He was raised Catholic and went to a conservative private high school.
Think about that for a second.
You’re growing up in a space where gender roles are strictly enforced, but you know deep down things don't line up. Kade has talked about this a lot in interviews—how he didn't even have the words for what he was feeling because he didn't see anyone like him on TV. He saw trans women, sure. But feminine trans men? That was a concept that basically didn't exist in the mainstream media back then.
He eventually moved to Los Angeles to attend the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). That’s where everything changed. He came out, started his medical transition, and began working as a makeup artist.
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The Celebrity Makeup Life Before the Fame
Before anyone knew him as Gottmik, they knew him as the artist behind the looks. Kade’s client list is actually insane. We’re talking:
- Paris Hilton (who he eventually played in Snatch Game)
- Heidi Klum
- Lil Nas X
- Cindy Crawford
- Tinashe
- Adam Lambert
He even worked on RuPaul once for a Todrick Hall music video. Imagine doing Ru's makeup and then, a few years later, standing in front of her on a runway.
The Transition That Defined a Career
Transitioning while working in the beauty industry is a unique experience. For Kade, Gottmik out of drag represents the person he fought to become. He uses he/him pronouns in his daily life and she/her when he’s in the full Gottmik fantasy.
He’s been very open about his top surgery. In fact, on All Stars 9, he walked the runway with his scars fully exposed, encrusted in red crystals. It was a "A Tail and Two Titties" theme, and he turned it into a high-fashion statement about gender-affirming care.
It sparked a massive conversation. Some people loved it; some people (mostly conservative pundits on X) lost their minds. Kade’s response? He basically said that gender-affirming surgery saved his life and he wouldn’t be here without it.
That’s the thing about Kade—he’s not just "doing drag." He’s using his platform to show that trans men can be feminine, masculine, or whatever they want. There isn't just one way to be a man.
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Why the "Femme Trans Man" Label Matters
For a long time, there was this unspoken rule in the trans community (and society at large) that if you’re a trans man, you have to be the most "masc" guy in the room to be valid. You have to overcompensate.
Kade hated that.
He loves makeup. He loves fashion. He loves the "geish." He realized that if cisgender men can be drag queens, then a trans man can definitely be a drag queen.
Life Beyond the Main Stage
When he’s not in the white face paint, Kade is usually working on his podcast, No Gorge, which he co-hosts with his best friend and Season 7 winner, Violet Chachki. If you haven't watched it, it’s basically two fashion-obsessed friends roasting each other and talking about high-end couture.
It’s also where you see the real Kade. He’s funny, he’s a bit of a "chaos demon" (his words), and he’s incredibly knowledgeable about the technical side of the industry.
He also released a book called The T Guide with Gigi Gorgeous. It’s a mix of their personal stories and a guide for people navigating their own gender journeys.
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Common Questions About Gottmik Out of Drag
People often ask if he still does makeup for other celebrities. The answer is: sometimes. While he’s focused more on his own brand now, he still has deep ties to the industry.
Another big one is about his name. "Gottmik" is actually a combination of his last name, Gottlieb, and his "deadname" (the name he was given at birth). He took something from his past and transformed it into a brand that represents his future. That's a pretty powerful way to reclaim your narrative.
What You Can Learn from Kade's Journey
If you’re looking at Kade Gottlieb’s life and wondering what the takeaway is, it’s basically this: The boxes people try to put you in are fake.
- Identity is Fluid: You don't have to choose between being "masculine" or "feminine." You can be both.
- Professional Skills Matter: Kade’s success on Drag Race wasn't just about his personality; it was about the years he spent perfecting his craft as a makeup artist.
- Visibility Saves Lives: By being the first trans man on the show, he gave thousands of kids a roadmap that didn't exist before.
The next time you see Gottmik on your screen, remember that the person under all that paint is a guy who had the guts to redefine what an entire art form looks like. Whether he's Kade or Mik, he’s consistently proving that the most "punk rock" thing you can do is just be yourself.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to support Kade's work beyond the screen, check out The T Guide for a deeper look at his transition journey, or tune into No Gorge to see his "out of drag" personality in action. Supporting trans-led media like Trans Lifeline—the charity Kade competed for on All Stars—is also a great way to put that fan energy toward a meaningful cause.