Drag Race UK: First trans woman contestant is from Sussex

Dakota Schiffer, 22, will join Pixie Polite, 29, also from Sussex, and ten other performers to compete for the title of the UK’s next drag superstar.

The fourth season of the BBC show will see drag queens face a range of challenges that test their skills and abilities as performers, from sewing and creating gowns, to impersonating celebrities, singing and performing choreography.

Dakota described her drag as being “Generation Z’s answer to Sharon Tate”.

She said: “My drag is a love letter to the 60s and the 90s. I’ve always been intrigued by the 60s and 90s supermodel era and my number one Hollywood icon is Sharon Tate in Valley of The Dolls and I worship everything she’s ever been in - she’s such a style icon to me.

“My drag aesthetic is always beautiful and fashion first.”

Dakota Schiffer is the first trans woman to compete on the show: credit - BBC/World of Wonder (Image: BBC/World of Wonder)

Dakota, the first trans woman to compete on the UK version of the show, said that growing up as trans was difficult.

“Sussex is not the best place for a 6ft 1in trans woman and drag queen to grow up,” she said.

“I always stood out but simultaneously felt invisible but I think certainly it’s made me the person who I am today.”

She will be competing against Brighton drag queen Pixie Polite, who describes herself as “big, bold and beautiful”.

Pixie Polite will be hoping she can break the 'curse of Brighton' and win the show: credit - BBC/World of Wonder (Image: BBC/World of Wonder)

Pixie, who has been doing drag for about eight years, said she can sing, dance and act, as well as do comedy and host.

She said: “I do a little bit of everything reasonably well. You’ve got to be versatile. 

“You can’t just be a one-trick pony. I am a many tricked cow of the camp variety. I am hoping that I can stand out from the crowd in this competition.”

Drag queens from Brighton have so far had a poor track record on the show, with the city’s two previous contestants - Joe Black and Anubis, both being knocked out in the first week.

After she was eliminated, Anubis claimed that the “curse of Brighton lives on”.

Pixie thinks she can break that curse and said: “I have been known to be very competitive in the past - I always want to win.

“My game plan coming into this competition is basically just to be the most talented, the most stunning and to win. I know I’m fabulous and I want the rest of the world to know how fabulous I am too.”

The fourth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will debut on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer on September 22.