Gottmik | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gottmik atRuPaul's DragCon LA, 2023 | |
| Born | (1996-08-19)August 19, 1996 (age 29) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. |
| Other names | Kade Gottlieb |
| Education | Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising |
| Occupations |
|
| Television | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 13) RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 9) |
| Website | gottmik |
Kade Gottlieb (born August 19, 1996),[1] better known asGottmik, is an Americandrag performer andmake-up artist. Gottmik was the firsttrans man to compete onRuPaul's Drag Race, coming in shared 3rd/4th place on thethirteenth season with fellow contestantRosé. Gottmik later returned to compete in theninth season ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[2][3] Gottmik co-hosts the podcastNo Gorge alongsideViolet Chachki.
Kade Gottlieb was born inScottsdale, Arizona and had been adopted.[4][5] He was raised Catholic and attended the CatholicNotre Dame Preparatory High School, where he first started wearing makeup.[5][6][7] He began experimenting withdrag at the age of eighteen.[8] After high school, he pursued a career in the fashion industry by relocating toLos Angeles, where he underwentgender transition and developed his cosmetics and drag skills.[9] He earned a degree in product development from theFashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.[8]
As amake-up artist, Gottmik has done makeup forCindy Crawford,Todrick Hall,Paris Hilton,Heidi Klum,Adam Lambert,French Montana,[8] andTinashe,[7] as well asDrag Race contestantsAlaska Thunderfuck,Detox Icunt,Gia Gunn,[10]Shangela,Violet Chachki, andWillam Belli.[9] His work, described byOut's Rose Dommu as "[ranging] from highly conceptual to urbane", has appeared in the magazinesFlaunt,Nylon, andPaper.[8] He did makeup forAmanda Lepore andPabllo Vittar for their covers onGay Times.[10] In 2020, Gottmik didLil Nas X's makeup forHalloween, when he dressed asNicki Minaj.[11] He also did the makeup for the celebrities who were featured in the music video forTaylor Swift's 2019 song "You Need to Calm Down".
In 2021, Gottmik became the firsttrans man to compete onRuPaul's Drag Race, appearing on thethirteenth season.[12] Gottmik performed well in the competition, winning two challenges (the ball and the Snatch Game, performing asParis Hilton),[13] and ultimately reaching the top four alongsideKandy Muse,Symone, andRosé.[14] Gottmik was eliminated during the finale episode in a lip sync for your life to the song "Gimme More" against the season's eventual winner,Symone, ultimately tying with Rosé as second/third runner up.[15]
_(cropped).jpg)
After competing onDrag Race, Gottmik signed with Voss Events talent management,[16] and traveled the United States with Voss'COVID-19 pandemic-compliantdrive-in drag show,Drive 'N Drag Saves 2021.[17][18] Gottmik also joined Voss' 2022 European tour, RuPaul's Drag RaceWerq the World tour.[19] In October 2021, Gottmik performed alongside fellow drag race alumniViolet Chachki,Alyssa Edwards,Aquaria,Jaida Essence Hall,Kandy Muse,Plastique Tiara,Rosé, andKim Chi on Voss Event'sNight of the Living Drag Halloween tour.[20] On April 23, 2024, Gottmik was announced as one of the eight contestants competing on theninth season ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[21] During the season’s comedy roast, Gottmik used multiple sets from comedianNikki Glaser’s standup without attribution, resulting in criticism from some social media users.[22] Gottmik responded they had “reworked” the material.[23]
Gottmik launched aYouTube channel in January 2021. Gottlieb has also appeared on theGigi Gorgeous,Pearl,James Charles andWorld of Wonder channels.[7] Gottlieb was featured on the cover ofAttitude for its April Style issue in 2021.[24]Cosmopolitan invited Gottlieb to demonstrate how he transforms into Gottmik.[7] In a July 2021 interview withEntertainment Weekly, it was revealed that the producers ofthe 2022remake ofHellraiser auditioned Gottlieb for the role of the film's most iconic character,Pinhead. Gottlieb had previously worn a black-and-white-themed runway look inspired by Pinhead in the season 13 finale ofRuPaul's Drag Race.[25][26]
In September 2021, Gottlieb started the YouTube and podcast seriesNo Gorge with fellow drag race alum Violet Chachki, where they discuss "all things fashion, life, and artistry".[27] Gottmik is one of the most-followed queens ofDrag Race, with more than 1.3 millionInstagram followers as of October 2021.[28] In September 2022, Gottmik appeared in the music video forSam Smith andKim Petras' song "Unholy" alongsideViolet Chachki.[29] Gottmik and Violet Chachki also performed alongside Smith and Petras to "Unholy" at the 2023 Grammy Awards.[30]
Gottlieb released his debut bookThe T Guide on May 16, 2023, throughPenguin Random House. Well received by fans, and co-written with Canadian beauty influencerGigi Gorgeous,The T Guide discusses the duo's "trans experiences and a celebration of gender expression – man, woman, nonbinary, and beyond".[31]
Out described Gottmik as "someonetransmasculine who does highfemme drag".[8] Gottlieb usesshe/her pronouns when portraying Gottmik, andhe/him pronouns out of drag. Gottmik ispansexual.[32][33][34]
Gigi Gorgeous is one of Gottmik’s closest friends; the two have appeared on magazine covers and launched merchandise together. Gigi also helped to fund Gottmik’schest reconstruction surgery.[9]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race | People's Choice Award for The Competition Contestant of 2021[35] | Nominated |
| 2022 | Himself | The Queerty Groundbreaker Award[36] | Won |
| 2024 | Queerty Award for Future All-Star[37] | Pending |
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| "ConDragulations (Cast Version)" | 2021 | RuPaul featuring theCast of RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 13 |
| "Lucky" | 2021 | RuPaul featuring theTop 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 13 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Dido's Lament | Short | [38] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Contestant | Season 13 (3rd Place) | |
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | Season 13 | |||
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Corona Can't Keep a Good Queen Down | Himself | Stand-alone special | [39] | |
| Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 | Amazon Prime Exclusive | [40] | ||
| The Bitch Who Stole Christmas | Tristian | [41] | ||
| 2022 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen | Himself | Guest | [42] |
| RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race | Guest | [43] | ||
| The Book of Queer | Episode: "Kings & Queens" | [44] | ||
| 2024 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 9) | Contestant | (4th Place) | [45] |
| RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked | ||||
| 2025 | King of Drag | Himself | Judge |
| Year | Title | Artist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | "Unholy" | Sam Smith &Kim Petras | [46] |
| 2024 | "Skullfucker" | Gottmik | [47] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Puff Puff Sessions | Guest | Produced byWorld of Wonder | [48] |
| 2019 | Transformations | Produced byWorld of Wonder | [49] | |
| 2021 | The X Change Rate | Produced by BUILD Series | [50] | |
| Whatcha Packin' | Produced byVH1 | [51] | ||
| Ruvealing the Look | Produced byVH1 | [52] | ||
| Cooking with Paris | Paris Hilton | Produced byNetflix | [53] | |
| Cosmo Queens | Guest | Produced byCosmopolitan | [54] | |
| Glamour Unfiltered | Produced byGlamour UK | [55] | ||
| The Must List | Produced byEntertainment Weekly | [56] | ||
| 2022 | The Pit Stop | Produced byVH1 | [57] | |
| 2022 | Fashion Photo RuView | Host | Produced byWorld of Wonder | [58] |
In high school, Gottmik first started playing around with makeup
