Honestly, if you ask Brian McCook who Katya the drag queen is, you’ll probably get a five-minute tangent about high-altitude mountain climbing, the psychological profile of a Soviet gymnast, or why a specific brand of wig glue tastes like regret. That’s the thing. Katya isn’t just a character; she’s a chaotic, biological experiment in what happens when you mix high-level intellect with a complete lack of a survival instinct.
She's huge. Like, "sold-out world tours and New York Times bestsellers" huge. But people still try to put her in a box. They call her a "comedy queen" or a "look queen."
Neither fits.
The Russian Hook That Hooked the World
The persona—Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova—started in the Boston drag scene back in 2006. She wasn't born in Russia. She’s from Massachusetts. But the accent is so good it feels like a fever dream. When she hit RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7, she wasn't the front-runner. She was the weirdo in the corner having a panic attack about a "Krisis Kontrol" commercial.
And that’s exactly why we loved her.
Katya was the first queen to make anxiety feel... relatable? Usually, drag is about invincibility. It's about being "the baddest bitch." Katya was just a girl from the dumpster who was pretty sure she was about to die. She didn't win that season, but she won the fans. By the time All Stars 2 rolled around, she wasn't just a contestant; she was a cultural phenomenon.
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Why We Are Still Obsessed in 2026
You’d think the novelty would wear off. It hasn't. As of early 2026, Katya and her platonic life partner Trixie Mattel are still dominating the charts. Their podcast, The Bald and the Beautiful, is basically the "Seinfeld" of the drag world—a show about nothing that somehow explains everything.
They just announced the 2026 "Very Bald, Very Beautiful" Spring Podcast Tour. It’s hitting massive venues like the Chicago Theatre and the Wang Theater in Boston. If you’ve ever seen them live, you know it’s just two people in $5,000 wigs talking about contact lens solutions for two hours. It shouldn't work. But it does because Katya is a master of the "non-sequitur."
She’s also been soft-launching a new look lately. Have you seen the "Machine Gun Katya" era? She’s rocking cutoff vests, tattooed arms, and unstyled blonde wigs. Fans on Reddit are calling it her "retired pro wrestler" phase. It’s a far cry from the Soviet gymnasts of 2015, but that's the point. She evolves. She doesn't give a damn about being "pretty" in the traditional sense.
The Truth About the 2024 Rehab Stint
Let’s be real for a second. Katya has been incredibly open about her struggles with addiction and mental health. In April 2024, she famously posted a video announcing she was heading back to rehab.
"For the active alcohol or drug addict, the trajectory of the life course has three possible outcomes: A. Jail, B. Institutions, or C. Death. Unfortunately, I find myself squarely, and firmly, and quite uncomfortably in the B camp right now."
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That's a real quote. It wasn't PR-speak. It was raw.
She’s had to postpone tours before—like the "Help Me, I'm Dying" tour back in 2018. But this transparency is her superpower. In a world of filtered Instagram perfection, Katya is the one saying, "Hey, my brain is broken and I need to go fix it." It makes her human. It makes the Katya the drag queen brand feel less like a product and more like a person we’re all rooting for.
The Business of Being Weird
Don't let the "dumpster fire" aesthetic fool you. Brian McCook is a savvy businessman. Between the UNHhhh web series (which is basically the blueprint for modern queer digital content), the Netflix series I Like to Watch, and the books like Working Girls, the empire is massive.
Recent estimates put her net worth around $1.1 million, though that feels low given the sheer volume of merch and ticket sales. Unlike Trixie, who has the motel and the makeup line, Katya’s business is her brain. People pay to hear her think.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think Katya is "random." They think she just says whatever pops into her head.
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Actually, she’s incredibly well-read. If you listen closely to her rants, she’s referencing French philosophy, obscure 80s horror films, and high-level linguistics. She’s a "language student first, artist second, drag queen third," as she once told Gay Times. The "randomness" is actually a very sophisticated form of absurdist comedy.
She’s also not "just" Trixie’s sidekick. While their chemistry is legendary, Katya’s solo work—like her EP Vampire Fitness—shows a much darker, more experimental side. She’s an avant-garde artist who happens to wear heels.
How to Support the Queen in 2026
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova, don't just stick to the Drag Race clips.
- Watch UNHhhh from the beginning. The evolution of their editing and banter is a masterclass in digital storytelling.
- Listen to the podcast. The Bald and the Beautiful is where you get the most unfiltered version of Brian/Katya.
- Buy the books. Trixie and Katya's Guide to Modern Womanhood is actually a great read, even if you aren't a woman.
- Catch the 2026 tour. Tickets for the "Very Bald, Very Beautiful" live shows go fast. If you’re in Kansas City, Toronto, or Seattle this spring, get on the presale lists early.
The lesson of Katya is pretty simple: you can be a total disaster and still be a total success. You just have to be honest about the mess. Whether she’s in a $2,000 gown or a white tank top with a crooked wig, she’s the most authentic person in the room. And in 2026, that’s the only currency that really matters.
Next Steps for Fans: Check the official Trixie and Katya website for the full list of 2026 tour dates and set reminders for the general on-sale dates in your city. If you're struggling with similar issues Katya has faced, look into the LGBTQ+ specific resources she often champions, such as The Trevor Project or local recovery networks.