So, you’ve seen the big hair, the pageant-perfect mug, and that "Supermodel of the South" swagger on Season 17 of RuPaul's Drag Race. But honestly, the conversation around Sam Star out of drag is where things get really interesting—and a little bit surprising for people who only know the stage persona.
Sam Star is essentially the drag daughter of Trinity the Tuck, and yeah, that "Southern Belle" polish is definitely there. But when the eyelashes come off and the wig is back on the styrofoam head, the person behind the paint, Sam Purkey, has a life story that reads a bit differently than your typical "glamour queen" narrative.
Who Exactly is the Person Behind the Star?
Basically, Sam Purkey is a 24-year-old from Leeds, Alabama.
Born in early 2000, Sam didn't just fall into drag. Before the heels, Sam was a competitive cheerleader and a gymnast. If you’ve wondered why Sam has such incredible control over their body on stage, there’s your answer. It’s that muscle memory from years of being on a cheer squad in high school.
Out of drag, Sam often looks like your typical Gen Z guy next door, but with a background rooted deeply in Alabama theatre. We're talking Red Mountain Theatre and Virginia Samford Theatre. It wasn't until after graduation that the makeup tutorials started and the drag evolution began.
That Surprise Connection to Charles Barkley
You've probably heard the rumors, and yeah, they’re true. Sam Star’s godfather is literally NBA legend Charles Barkley.
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It sounds like a weird "Mad Libs" sentence, right? But Barkley and Sam’s mother actually went to high school together in Leeds. To the rest of the world, he’s a basketball icon and a TNT analyst. To Sam out of drag, he’s just "Uncle Charles."
Sam has mentioned that watching Barkley's success showed them that coming from a tiny town in Alabama doesn't mean you have to stay small. It gave them the confidence to pursue something as niche as drag in a place that wasn't always the most supportive of queer art.
The Reality of Sam Star Out of Drag
When the cameras aren't rolling and the makeup is gone, Sam Purkey is surprisingly grounded.
A lot of fans on Reddit and Twitter have spent the last season debating Sam’s "pageant" attitude. Some people thought Sam was being a "villain" or too cutthroat. Honestly? It’s just that Alabama pageant training. When you grow up in that system—first with cheer, then theatre, then the Glamorous Pageantry System—you’re taught to be "on" at all times.
Out of drag, Sam has been pretty vocal about the struggle of staying in Alabama. People told Sam for years to move to a bigger city like New York or LA if they wanted to make it. But Sam stayed. There's a certain level of grit there that doesn't always translate when you're just looking at a pretty face in a gown.
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- Real Name: Sam Purkey
- Hometown: Leeds, Alabama
- Education: University of Alabama (Musical Theatre dropout—shoutout to expensive textbooks!)
- Height: 5'7" (Sam often joked that if they were taller, they might've been in the NBA like their godfather).
The "Southern Boy" Aesthetic
If you follow Sam on social media, the out-of-drag look is a sharp contrast to the 90s Linda Evangelista vibes they bring to the runway.
It’s very much "Alabama boy." We're talking hoodies, hats, and a very distinct Southern accent that some fans actually questioned if it was real (spoiler: it’s definitely real).
There was even a bit of a "controversy" or just general confusion online where some fans labeled Sam as the "second ever gay contestant" on the show as a joke, but it actually sparked a real conversation about how masculine-presenting queens are perceived when they aren't in their "costume." Sam just leans into it. They’re comfortable in their skin, whether it’s covered in glitter or a gym t-shirt.
Why the "Pageant" Label is Misleading
Most people see a pageant queen and think "robotic."
But Sam out of drag is a theatre nerd at heart. The reason the drag is so polished isn't because Sam is a perfectionist robot; it's because they were trained in musical theatre. They understand the "character" of Sam Star.
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When Sam left the University of Alabama, it wasn't because they couldn't cut it. It was literally a financial decision. Sam realized that spending $2,000 on textbooks wasn't as productive as honing the craft on the local stages of Birmingham. That’s a very practical, "real world" move that shows a lot of maturity for a 20-year-old.
Moving Beyond the "Trinity’s Daughter" Shadow
It’s easy to look at Sam and see a "mini-Trinity."
Trinity the Tuck definitely helped Sam find their footing, especially during the Love For The Arts online competition in 2020. But Sam out of drag is trying to carve out a different path. While Trinity is known for that "pageant-to-the-max" persona, Sam is trying to blend that with a more modern, Gen Z sensibility.
If you’re looking for actionable ways to support artists like Sam or just want to dive deeper into the Alabama drag scene, here is what you can actually do:
- Look into the Birmingham scene: Check out Al’s on 7th. That’s where Sam really cut their teeth as a member of the "DREAMCAST."
- Watch "Queens of Birmingham": It’s a documentary that features Sam and gives a much better look at the person behind the persona than a 45-minute reality TV edit ever could.
- Follow the Pageant Systems: If you like the polish, look up Miss National Apollo or the Entertainer of the Year pageants. It’s a whole world of talent that goes way beyond what's shown on MTV.
Ultimately, Sam Star out of drag is a reminder that the "character" we see on TV is only a fraction of the person. Between the cheerleading past, the NBA godparent, and the theatre-dropout-turned-superstar journey, Sam Purkey is proving that you don't have to leave the South to become a household name.