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Tia Kofi
Tia Kofi at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2024
Born
Lawrence John Bolton

Essex, England, UK
Occupation(s)Drag queen, singer
Years active2014–present
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 2)
RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (series 2)

Lawrence John Bolton,[1] better known by the stage name Tia Kofi, is a British drag queen and singer from Clapham, South London.[2] They are best known for competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2021),[3] and winning the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2024).[4]

Early life

Kofi was born in Essex to a Nigerian mother (d. 2022) and a British father who met at university.[5][6] Kofi attended the University of Nottingham, but did not graduate.[7][8]

Career

Tia Kofi performing in 2022

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.[9] 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.[10]

In December 2020, Kofi was announced as one of twelve contestants competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.[3] After lip synching three times, Kofi ultimately placed seventh overall.[11][12]

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.[13] 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.[14]

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.[15] 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"[16] They played the digital assistant ALGO in the second series of "Olga Koch: OK Computer" on BBC Radio 4 from May 2023.[17]

In January 2024, Kofi was announced as one of the contestants competing on series 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World.[18] 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.[19]

On 5 May 2024, Kofi co-hosted the opening "Turquoise Carpet" event of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 alongside Swedish drag queen Elecktra.[20]

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.[21] Kofi is the "drag mother" of Victoria Scone[22] and uses they/she pronouns.[23]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Hufflepuff student Background actor [24]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2021 RuPaul's Drag Race UK Contestant Series 2 [3]
2021 Celebrity Gogglebox Themself Black to Front Special (alongside Tayce) [25]
2021 Children in Need 2021 Themself Guest appearance [26]
2021 Be Here, Be Queer Themself Netflix special [8]
2022 Eating with My Ex Themself Celebrity special [27]
2022 Celebrity Catchpoint Themself Special guest [28]
2022 Celebrity Lingo Themself Guest [29]
2022 Bring Back My Girls Themself Guest [30]
2024 RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World Contestant/Winner Series 2 [31]

Music videos

Year Title Artist Ref
2017 "Gotta Get a Grip" Mick Jagger
2021 "My House" Jodie Harsh [32]
"Outside In" Tia Kofi [33]
"Look What You've Done" Tia Kofi & Cahill [34]
"Loving Me Like That" Tia Kofi [35]
"Jingle Bell Rock" The Vivienne & Tia Kofi [36]
2022 "Get Better" Tia Kofi [37]
"So Good" [38]

Internet series

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2021 I Like to Watch UK Guest Produced by Netflix [39]
2022 Eating with My Ex Produced by BBC Three [40]
Little Rants Produced by Funny Parts [41]
Tea Time Host Produced by Attitude Magazine [42]

Discography

Albums

Title Details
Read My Lips

Extended plays

Title Details
Part 1: The Damage
Part 2: The Antidote[43]
Pride. Power. Pop.

Singles

Title Year Album
"Outside In"[44] 2021 Part 1: The Damage
"Look What You've Done"[45]

(with Cahill)

"Loving Me Like That"[46]
"I Want It All"
"Jingle Bell Rock"

(with The Vivienne)

Non-album single
"Get Better" 2022 Part 2: The Antidote
"Heart Beating" [47]

with MRSHLL

"I Specialise in Love" Non-album single
"So Good" Pride. Power. Pop.
"Standing Up for the Lonely"[16] 2023
"Maybe It's You" Non-album single
"Guest List"[48] Non-album single
"Lonely This Christmas" Non-album single
"Read My Lips" 2024 Read My Lips
Title Year Album
"UK Hun?"[49]

The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (Bananadrama Version)

2021 Non-album single
"Heart Beating" [47]

with MRSHLL

2022 Non-album single

Stage

Year Title Promoter Locations Ref
2021 Drag Queens of Pop Nimax Theatres Vaudeville Theatre [50]
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 [51]
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 [52]

References

  1. ^ "ANTIDOTE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Who is Tia Kofi? Meet the RuPaul's Drag Race UK "queen of Clapham"". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "RuPaul's Drag Race UK series two | Meet The Queens". BBC. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  4. ^ Nolfi, Joey. "RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs. the World season 2 reveals cast competing for first UK cash prize". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  5. ^ Gage, Simon (23 June 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK's Tia Kofi insists 'progress still needs to be made' for LGBT community's rights". Metro. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  6. ^ Tia Kofi (14 July 2022). "Today is my mother's funeral..." Retrieved 9 February 2024 – via Instagram.
  7. ^ Fletcher, Olivia (20 January 2021). "We spoke to Tia Kofi about Notts Uni life and all things Drag Race UK season two". The Tab. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Drag Race UK's The Vivienne, Tia Kofi and more discuss drag in the UK in new Netflix film". Attitude. 30 December 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  9. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK (S2 E1)". BBC iPlayer. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  10. ^ Damshenas, Sam (19 February 2021). "Exclusive: Drag Race UK star spills the Tia (Kofi) on the "twists and turns" of season 2". Gay Times. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Drag Race UK's Tia Kofi tears up following elimination as she recalls lockdown struggle". Attitude. 20 February 2021. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  12. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Tia Mowry Reaches Out To Tia Kofi After Elimination". ScreenRant. 21 February 2021. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Drag Race UK's Tia Kofi stuns in video for debut single 'Outside In'". Attitude. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Drag Queens of Pop". Nimax Theatres. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  15. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK Tour". Voss Events. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  16. ^ a b c "Tia Kofi releases new EP Pride. Power. Pop. featuring new single Standing Up For The Lonely". Retropop. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Olga Koch: OK Computer - Series 2 - 1. Fun - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  18. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs. the World' season 2 cast announced". EW.com. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  19. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World series 2 winner crowned". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Drag superstars Elecktra and Tia Kofi to host Eurovision Turquoise Carpet". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Pixie Polite Reveals She Dated This Drag Race Queen For 5 Years". Out. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  22. ^ Sam Damshenas (2 September 2021). "Tia Kofi on her 80s inspired EP and Drag Race UK season 3 making herstory". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Tia Kofi". Instagram. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Lawrence Bolton, Actor, London". Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Meet Tia Kofi and Tayce from Celebrity Gogglebox Black to Front". Reality Titbit. 10 September 2021. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  26. ^ Justin Harp (19 November 2021). "BBC Children in Need telethon's 2021 grand total revealed". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  27. ^ Darvill, Josh (19 January 2022). "Eating With My Ex start date and celebrity line up revealed for new specials". Telly Mix. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  28. ^ Darling, Michael (21 April 2022). "Celebrity Catchpoint host Paddy McGuinness: 'It can get quite treacherous!'". What To Watch. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  29. ^ "Celebrity Lingo Episode 7". itv.com. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Drag Race Reunion Show Bring Back My Girls Promises to Spill the Tea". www.pride.com. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  31. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs. the World' season 2 cast announced". EW.com. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  32. ^ Jodie Harsh (5 March 2021), Jodie Harsh - My House (Official Video), archived from the original on 12 March 2021, retrieved 21 March 2021
  33. ^ "Drag Race UK's Tia Kofi stuns in video for debut single 'Outside In'". Attitude. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  34. ^ Tia Kofi (7 May 2021), Tia Kofi x Cahill - Look What You've Done (Official Video), archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 2 June 2021
  35. ^ Tia Kofi - Loving Me Like That (Official Music Video), 6 August 2021, archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 19 August 2021
  36. ^ Jingle Bell Rock (Official Music Video), 6 December 2021, archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 16 October 2022
  37. ^ Tia Kofi - Get Better (Official Video), 25 March 2022, archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 16 October 2022
  38. ^ Tia Kofi - So Good (Official Video), 26 September 2022, archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 16 October 2022
  39. ^ Drag Queens The Vivienne & Tia Kofi in the Eurovision Special! | I Like to Watch UK Ep 12. Still Watching Netflix. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2024 – via YouTube.
  40. ^ DRUK S2 Star Tia Kofi and Ex Hugh | Eating With My Ex | BBC Three. BBC Three. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2024 – via YouTube.
  41. ^ Tia Kofi Is 7 Foot Tall With A Wig On?! | Little Rants | Funny Parts. Funny Parts. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2024 – via YouTube.
  42. ^ Drag Race UK's Starlet reveals why sheleft without an exit line. Funny Parts. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2024 – via YouTube.
  43. ^ Logan, Phillip (3 July 2022). "Tia Kofi Drops Brand New EP, 'Part 2: The Antidote'". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  44. ^ Outside In - Single by Tia Kofi, archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 29 March 2021
  45. ^ Look What You've Done - Single by Tia Kofi & Cahill, archived from the original on 19 August 2021, retrieved 19 August 2021
  46. ^ Loving Me Like That - Single by Tia Kofi, archived from the original on 20 August 2021, retrieved 19 August 2021
  47. ^ a b Tia Kofi X MRSHLL - HEARTBEATING, 29 April 2022, archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 17 October 2022
  48. ^ "Tia Kofi - Guest List". slinky.to. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  49. ^ UK Hun? (Bananadrama Version) - Single by The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Season 2, archived from the original on 11 February 2021, retrieved 15 February 2021
  50. ^ "Drag Queens of Pop". Nimax Theatres. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  51. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK Tour". Voss Events. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  52. ^ Yates, Jonny (20 February 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs. The World queens announce tour dates". PinkNews. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
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