‘Drag Race’ Star Katya Tells Fans She’s Taking A Break In The Name Of Self-Care

Beloved drag queen Katya speaks out on mental health and tells fans she’s taking “a little break” from drag…
 
Brian McCook, aka Katya Zamolodchikova (but your Dad just calls her Katya), took to Instagram on Monday night to tell fans that she’s taking “a little break” from drag in the name of self-care.
 
The Drag Race star addressed fans entirely in French and spoke about the fatigue that comes from working as a drag performer. Redditor Designerine translated the message for English fans.
 
“There is no emergency. But I needed to take a little break,” she said. “It was time to take a vacation, because my health, the drugs, my brain, that wasn’t good.”
 
McCook continued: “But I am not crazy, you understand of course. I’m a language student first, an artist second, a drag queen third. Health is the most important thing for me.”
 
“Right now, this is not a crisis. I’m taking a vacation for me. I need to take a vacation. The sun is there, I’m happy. My health is here, I’m happy.”
 
She reiterated to her fans: “I’m telling you this with a sense of urgency. I’m not dying. Let me tell you the truth. I’m not dying, I want to live. I’m a drug addict, but I’m sober. Today, and yesterday. And before. But I need to take a vacation, because I want to survive, like Gloria Gaynor.”
 
“I’m tired, I’m exhausted, my brain doesn’t work anymore, because of the drugs, because of all the gigs,” McCook said. “I need to take vacations, like a normal person. The people who are listening will understand, can understand. And that’s all I wanted to say, that’s all.”
 
McCook spoke openly about recovering from drug addiction when Drag Race fans fell in love with Katya in the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars. With fellow drag queen Trixie Mattel, McCook hosts the Trixie & Katya Show on Viceland, a comedy variety show where the two discuss topics ranging from porn to death.