Sasha Colby is ‘Stripped’ – ‘Drag Race’ star shares her experiences in a new show

On September 19 “Drag Race” winner Sasha Colby will make a stop in San Francisco as part of her latest tour, “Stripped II.” In this show she will share stories about trans and queer experiences that are more universal, unlike her “Stripped” tour of last year in which she told stories about her own life experiences and how they brought her to where she is today.

Colby has come a long way since her childhood in Hawaii. A proud trans Hawaiian woman, she has been making history ever since she began doing drag many years ago. She is the former Miss Continental 2012, one of the most prestigious titles in the drag community. When she won “RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15” she was the first Hawaiian and trans contestant to be crowned.

Colby has enjoyed success in other arenas. She is the founder of Sasha Colby Hair, a line of hair extensions. She has also released “Feel the Power,” a single in which she performed with Glovibes and vocalist Luciana. The song captivated listeners with its intense dance beat, drawing many positive comments on YouTube.

She’ll be travelling the country for the next three months with her “Stripped II” tour, and was kind enough to take a break to chat with the Bay Area Reporter.

David-Elijah Nahmod: First, congratulations on winning “Drag Race.” Can you tell me about the experience of competing in that contest?
Sasha Colby: Being from a dance and pageant background, I love a good competition. It was a lot of fun because I got to show the world my drag and my art. It feels really good to be received on the show by a worldwide audience.

What was/is your impression of RuPaul?
Mother. She’s your favorite mother’s favorite mother.

Please describe your feelings at the moment you realized you were the winner?
When I realized that I was the winner it was a bit of a shock to be honest. I didn’t know anything until that moment happened. I probably thought, oh, thank goodness, I can pay everyone now. I can pay off my package.

How has winning changed your life?
Winning has changed my life in every possible way. The opportunities that I get to have now after being on a show in general, it’s amazing. I get to travel the world and share my love for drag with so many different people and so many more people. It’s been really fun.

In the light of recent political challenges, how have you stayed resilient and empowered as a trans person?
I think the most important thing for me when I feel out of control or useless in this crazy world is to create art. And that’s my form of protest. Drag is also a protest, so putting on “Stripped II” has really helped me to process what’s going on in the world. During the show, I really try to create a safe space to have a bit of a celebration in this fight we’re doing.

Please tell me about your first “Stripped” tour. What did you talk about? What were you trying to convey?
The first “Stripped” tour was pretty much a chronological journey of my life as a young queer kid all the way to winning “Drag Race.” I wanted to let the audience in on what made me who I am today. The message that I try to convey when I have a show is always aimed at helping people feel strength through my vulnerability. I think the key to strength is not being afraid to be vulnerable. I hope that my vulnerability on stage really inspires people to be courageous and powerful in their own lives.

How will this show differ from the first show?
Now that we’ve brought the world of my creative mind to life with the first “Stripped” tour, and unveiling all the imagination that fuels it, we’re really experimenting with a lot of fantasy and different worlds that we are creating with each number. We’re also experimenting with a lot of high femme, powerful archetypes like the siren, the femme fatale, the goddess and the showgirl. We have some great personal numbers that mean a lot to me. You get to see all the different sides of me and the different worlds that we can escape in when this world is really scary.

What do you hope audiences will take from “Stripped II?”
I hope the audience takes “Stripped II” as a call of action. In the first “Stripped” tour I wanted my vulnerability to allow the audience to feel powerful in their everyday life. Now, in our current state of the world, I want to inspire people to create art and create safe spaces for communities to come together. Creativity and community is what is going to keep us going so we can fight the good fight for everyone’s freedom and humanity.

Sasha Colby in “Stripped II”, Palace of Fine Arts Theater, September 19, 8pm, 3301 Lyon Street, $50-$63. www.sashacolby.net
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