Honestly, if you’ve been scrolling through drag Twitter or horror Reddit lately, you’ve probably seen the name Lydia B Kollins linked to Smile 3. It sounds like one of those weird internet fever dreams, right? A RuPaul’s Drag Race standout and a psychological horror franchise usually don't occupy the same space unless someone is doing a really niche runway look.
But here’s the thing. This isn't just random fan casting or some "it's important to note" corporate marketing fluff. It actually started with Lydia herself. During an interview with Out Magazine late last year, while promoting her stunning photography book Lydia Lydia Lydia, she basically manifested this into existence. She looked right at the camera and told Parker Finn—the director of the Smile series—to put her in the third movie.
And you know what? People didn't just laugh it off. They obsessed over it.
The Viral Hook: Lydia B Kollins and the Smile 3 Mania
Why did the idea of Lydia B Kollins Smile 3 take off so fast? You’ve got to look at her aesthetic. Lydia isn’t your typical "beauty and glamour" queen, though she can pull that off too. Her drag is eerie. It’s "freshly reanimated," as she likes to call it.
The Smile movies are built on the most unsettling visual in horror: a wide, fixed, unnatural grin that signals you’re about to die. If you’ve seen Lydia’s work—especially her German Expressionist-inspired videos like "The Scissoring of Lydia Kollins"—you know she specialized in that uncanny valley look long before she ever stepped into the Werk Room.
She literally went to film school. This isn't just a drag queen wanting a cameo; this is a filmmaker who understands how to weaponize a camera angle.
Why the Fans Won’t Let This Go
- The Look: Lydia’s "Forehead Brows" and "vampy" makeup style already lean into the grotesque-yet-captivating vibe of the Smile universe.
- The Narrative: Fans of Drag Race Season 17 and All Stars 10 saw her as the "weirdo" (her words!) who pushed boundaries.
- The Connection: Parker Finn is known for liking bold, visual storytellers. Lydia’s background in DIY horror filmmaking makes her a weirdly perfect fit for a franchise that relies on practical effects and unsettling physical performances.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Cameo Rumors
Let’s get one thing straight: as of early 2026, there is no official confirmation from Paramount that Lydia has been cast in Smile 3. I know, I know. You saw a TikTok with a "leaked" poster. It was probably fake.
But the reason the Lydia B Kollins Smile 3 conversation matters isn't because of a signed contract. It’s because it represents a shift in how horror movies find their "monsters."
Think about the "Smile Entity" itself. It needs actors who can hold a terrifying expression for minutes at a time without blinking. In the first two movies, they used actors like Sosie Bacon and Naomi Scott, but they also used specialized performers for the entity's physical forms.
Lydia has spent years perfecting what she calls "eerie, grungy, and alternative" performances. In her "Nobody Loves Puppets" burlesque show, she combines gothic jazz with a literal puppet show that feels like it’s pulled straight from a David Lynch nightmare. Honestly, if you want someone to play a possessed version of a high-fashion model or a terrifying entity in a Pittsburgh alleyway, she's the first person you’d call.
The "Filmmaker" Edge: Why Lydia is Different
A lot of people think she’s just a "queen from TV." That’s a mistake.
Lydia B Kollins (and yes, she’s confirmed the B stands for what you think it does) is a director first. When she was preparing for her photography book with Ava Grace, she didn't just show up and pose. She created mood boards. She scouted locations in Pittsburgh that looked like L.A. skid row.
She told Out Magazine that film was her "first love."
"I went to school for film. My first love, creatively, is filmmaking." — Lydia B Kollins
This matters for the Lydia B Kollins Smile 3 buzz because she’s not looking for a "blink and you’ll miss it" background role. She wants to be part of the creative DNA of the project. Imagine a Smile movie where the entity takes the form of a drag performer mid-performance. The lights flicker, the music distorts, and suddenly that "freshly reanimated" Bride of Frankenstein look isn't a costume anymore.
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It’s terrifyingly real.
Parsing the Timeline
If Parker Finn is sticking to the usual horror franchise schedule, Smile 3 development should be well underway. Since Lydia finished her back-to-back seasons on Drag Race (making history as the first queen to film two seasons simultaneously), her schedule is surprisingly open for a feature film debut.
Actionable Insights: How to Follow the Lydia B Kollins Smile 3 Journey
If you’re as obsessed with this crossover as the rest of the horror-drag community, don’t just wait for a trailer. Here is how you can actually track the progress and support the movement:
- Watch the "Scissoring" Video: To understand why she’s perfect for Smile 3, watch her YouTube content. It’s a masterclass in low-budget, high-impact horror aesthetics.
- Support the Book: Lydia Lydia Lydia contains over 300 photos and sewing notes. It shows her process of building a character from the ground up—essential skills for any horror actor.
- Tag Parker Finn: Honestly, social media pressure works. The more people link Lydia B Kollins Smile 3 in a respectful, hype-building way, the more likely a casting director is to take notice.
- Check the All Stars 10 Re-runs: Look at her "Ugliest Dress Ever" or her "Is It Cake?" look. Pay attention to her facial control during the lip syncs. That’s her audition tape.
Whether she ends up as the lead victim, the entity itself, or just a legendary cameo, the connection between Lydia B Kollins and the Smile franchise isn't going away. It’s a match made in a very dark, very stylish heaven.
Keep an eye on her Instagram (@foreheadbrows) for any "hush-hush" trips to a film set. In the world of horror, a smile is never just a smile—and with Lydia involved, it's bound to be something much more sinister.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Follow Lydia B Kollins on TikTok and YouTube to catch her "horror-glam" tutorials.
- Pick up a copy of her book on Amazon to see the "mood boards" she uses to create her eerie characters.
- Stay tuned for official Smile 3 casting announcements from Paramount Pictures later this year.