Banksie
Born
Jonathan Banks

Wigan, England, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
Alma materManchester School of Art
OccupationDrag queen
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 5)

Banksie is the stage name of Jonathan Banks, a British drag performer and a contestant on series 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

Early life and education

Banksie was born in Wigan and studied at the Manchester School of Art (Manchester Metropolitan University).[1] She began performing in drag after watching early seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race.[2]

Career

Banksie is a drag performer. BBC has said, "This particular seven-foot supermodel is obsessed with all things burlesque, and loves to channel the 'dark, horrible women' of the 1930s and 1940s with a modern twist."[3] Banksie has said, "My inspirations originate from fashion in the early 90s to the 2000s. I love Thierry Mugler, Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier and Paul Galliano. I love researching fashion and then finding a way to make it work on my body."[4] She is artistic director for the venue Firehouse on Swan Street.[5]

Banksie competed on series 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.[1] She was eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two of the Rusical challenge and losing a lip sync against DeDeLicious to "I Dreamed a Dream" by Susan Boyle.[6]

Personal life

Banksie lives in Manchester.[1] She is part of the "drag family" of Cheddar Gorgeous.[7][8] Banksie is non-binary and approximately seven feet tall in heels, making her one of the tallest contestants on Drag Race.[2][4]

Discography

Featured singles

Title Year Album
"Don't Ick My Yum (The M-52s Version)"[9]
(RuPaul featuring Kate Butch, Ginger Johnson, & Miss Naomi Carter) 		2023 non-album single
"Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical"[10] 2023 Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical Album

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2023 RuPaul's Drag Race UK Herself Contestant [11]
2023 The After Shave with Danny Beard Herself Guest

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Fedeczko, Sofia. "Ru Paul's Drag Race UK: Meet Manchester's 'seven-foot supermodel' Banksie hoping to wow the judges". Manchester World. Archived from the original on 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  2. ^ a b "Meet the fierce queens of Drag Race UK season 5". Yahoo News. 2023-09-12. Archived from the original on 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  3. ^ Spencer, Samuel (2023-09-11). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 cast: Meet the queens battling it out for the crown". BBC Three. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  4. ^ a b "Ru Paul's Drag Race UK: Meet Manchester's 'seven-foot supermodel' Banksie hoping to wow the judges". Yahoo News. 2023-09-13. Archived from the original on 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  5. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Meet the "pretty damn tall" Mancunian queen on the new series". Mancunian Matters. 2023-09-27. Archived from the original on 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  6. ^ ""Avenge me!": Drag Race UK star Banskie on exit and "heated" Untucked". Gay Times. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  7. ^ "'DRUK's Ginger Johnson & Banksie Tease An Epic 'Talented' Season Five". www.pride.com. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  8. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 5 cast – meet the new queens". Digital Spy. 2023-09-11. Archived from the original on 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  9. ^ "Don't Ick My Yum (The M-52s Version) - Single". music.apple.com.
  10. ^ "Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical". music.apple.com.
  11. ^ Spencer, Samuel (September 11, 2023). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 cast: Meet the queens battling it out for the crown". BBC Three. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.

External links

RuPaul's Drag Race UK
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