Upon meeting Bimini Bon-Boulash—the name responsible for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist and non-binary trailblazer—their talent and cultural know-how comes to the fore in its full entirety. “Hello babes, I’m Bimini! Global fashion icon, badass and humble human,” they muse while speaking to Italian Vogue on the phone, right after one of the many international calls they will have made this year. In between playfully showing off their gleaming looks from the shoot to giggling over post-lockdown feels, we get onto the subject of growing up and childhood influences. “I grew up in a small town in Norfolk, and my mum was my biggest influence,” they say, without peacocking braggadocio on display. “We are working class, but my mum started her own hairdressing business and then opened a clothes shop. She hustled and I learnt to be inspired by her work ethic. What was also inspiring was that she always did everything in a pair of heels. I loved my mum's style growing up. She had great taste but also a slightly eccentric eye, which I adored. She’d always style weird things. It was cool!”
For the scene-stealing artist, who began performing in February 2017, drag acted as a freeing weapon against the damned constructs in our modern world. Diving deep in London’s club scene as Tommy Hibbitts—their real name, while Bou Lash derived from their family pet called Bonnie Boo Lash—I ask how venturing into this world looked back then and its impact. “It was a hot mess, and I got my absolute life on stage,” says Bimini. “It had been the first time since I was pre-teen that I performed. I used to be quite the show-off if you can imagine, but high school and peer pressure made me conform and I lost that desire to perform, or at least repressed it, until I had been living in London and felt confident enough to do what I wanted to do.”
With a wide and vivid array of culture references and personal experience used as catalysts for character mastery, Bimini’s vision goes from dealing with being a drag artist to dealing with notions of representation. “I always had an idea of what I thought drag was supposed to mean and that was evident when I first started performing,” explains Bimini. “I had been watching a lot of people on the scene and realised that, in East London, rules don’t apply. Drag is whatever you want it to be. When that clicked, it opened me up to the idea that I can do whatever I want to do. It was pretty liberating.”
The creative sensation honed their avant-garde style and contemporary-influenced gaze to craft a stunning, thought-provoking identity that transcends societal paradigms and delights the senses. “Gender identity is a personal preference. We’re conditioned into a certain idea of how we’re supposed to act and feel due to our assigned gender. I’ve learned over the years to deconstruct those ideas. What's between anyone’s legs is nobody's business, but we should love and respect others for their human experience, rather than what the media or other people are telling us. Everyone screams ‘love is love’ until it comes to topics they don’t accept.”
On Drag Race UK, Bimini explains, “it was an incredible opportunity to work with some of the UK’s best drag artists. I’m grateful for the show and what it’s done to elevate queer talent.” The success of the show is evident: from a micro set to an award-winning production, it’s done great things to push drag more into mainstream culture. “No matter how mainstream drag gets,” says Bimini, “it’s always going to be a political act. There are so many styles now that there is drag for everyone and that’s great, but to its core it’s an act of rebellion and that non-conformist nature should never be forgotten.” Pinch-me moments aside, it’s been a journey like no other. “I’ve grown in confidence and that shows in my drag and my style,” says Bimini. “I feed into the ‘no rules’ nature of the drag that I do, and I love the process of experimenting and playing with style. It’s ever evolving, changing and growing. I never want to be boring.”
They’re frank about the role of identity politics in the life of a drag artist. “Privilege aside, often drag artistry mocks and takes a satirical approach at society and what is happening in the zeitgeist,” says Bimini. “A lot of drag artists do it because they love it, but we’re not often taken seriously outside of a club or a bar. It’s difficult for freelance drag artists to get mortgages or loans because our jobs aren’t seen as viable in the system that’s created. Despite everyone enjoying drag when they’re watching it on stage, it’s a different approach day to day.”
Truth, with a defiant streak of courage. They reek of some culture trooper when I ask if queer representation has come a long way for aspiring drag artists over the years. “Totally!” they blithely exclaim, “and it’s only going to continue. Anyone can do drag. It doesn’t matter your sexuality, gender, race, religion...drag is for everyone and I’m so proud of the scene I’m from that champions diversity through and through.”
Following their eye-grabbing success stemming from looks in the show and public appearances, Bimini’s fashion has gone from strength to strength, and it isn’t one to be pigeonholed. Their stamp is bold and unapologetic, with a daring glamour that’s mood-changing, elaborate and otherworldly. (The skill to create something authentic in most of Bimini’s garments is that they’re custom-made and crafted in collaboration with Ella Lynch—their best friend—or East London designers). “I love working with designers and finding new talents,” they assert. “My best friend Ella Lynch is also my creative partner and we have truly grown together over the years. She has one of the best eyes for fashion and I always trust her vision. We get each other and that’s important. Vivienne Westwood, Mugler, Galliano and McQueen are my top four big designers.”
Bimini seems excited about upcoming prospects, and when I ask if they’re looking forward to heading to a better, perhaps brighter future, their reply suddenly sounds like it. “My long-term goal is to work towards a more open society with equal opportunities for everyone, particularly queers and those that are marginalised. I want more gender diversity across the workplace in every sector.” And just like Bimini, I very much hope the same.
