Norfolk's answer to Gemma Collins: Bigg Taystee
- Katherine Nicholls
- Nov 8, 2023
- 3 min read
As St George's Park in Great Yarmouth was getting set up ready for the 2022 Out There festival, I was sat on a bench talking to Bigg Taystee, a popular and talented drag artist from Great Yarmouth.
I first met Bigg Taystee at the 2022 Yarmouth Pride celebrations in which she performed a splendid act just before Bimmini Bon Boulash.
Although Bigg Taystee has only been performing since 2021, she has already represented Norfolk as a Semi-Finalist in Drag Idol UK 2022, performed alongside iconic Drag stars, and booked sold-out gigs both in Norfolk and nationwide. As an example, Bigg Taystee has both appeared on and cohosted on Butlin stages!
Bigg Taystee is known as Norfolk's answer to Gemma Collins and incorporates singing with iconic moments from Gemma Collins's career so far, which always goes down a storm.
Bigg Taystee made her debut in October 2021 at the Duke's Head in Yarmouth and now hosts events all over East Norfolk and the UK.
Some of Taystee's main influences (other than Gemma Collins) are the late Divine( American Drag Queen, Actor, and Singer ) and Eureka O'Hara (an American Drag Queen and Reality Star). Divine especially had a big influence on the world of Drag and was referred to after his death as 'Drag Queen of the Century' by People Magazine.
Drag has of course become more mainstream in recent years and I asked Taystee how she felt the industry would change in the next five years. She hopes that the industry will become more inclusive when giving plus sized queens the same opportunities as queens that have a more 'mainstream' body type, as currently that is not the case.
Taystee also predicts that the industry will become 'more exciting' with more Drag Kings and Non Binary Drag Artists entering into the industry and also being given more opportunitites. RuPaul's Drag Race has recently been accused of leaving Drag Kings out as despite there being fifteen seasons of the show, no Drag Kings have yet been featured on the show (although female assigned Drag Queens have featured on the show).
As Season Five of Drag Race UK is back and playing on our screens, it is easy to forget the rise in anti-drag hostility in the UK. However, there is definitely still a way to go, especially considering the recent backlash against Drag performers in the UK with people protesting that drag is 'dangerous' for children.
Of course, some performances are a little naughty but they generally take place in nightclubs or during brunch events which are not suitable for under eighteens anyway.
Some Drag Queens actually host 'Drag Story Time' events which are quite frankly, wholesome as heck! I attended one at Gorleston Pride hosted by 'Auntie Titania' this year and it was lovely. 'Auntie Titania' was the victim of abuse last year at one of her storytimes but thankfully continued to perform, despite backlash.
Taystee spoke about her experiences of performing in difficult areas and admitted that 'sometimes she doesn't know how she does it', especially when travelling. Taystee confirms that 'Yarmouth has come a long way' in the last couple of years in regards to Drag shows and safe places for queer identity such as The Dukes Head, Blue Oyster and Tips, but that there is still room for improvement within people feeling safe enough to go out on the town as themselves and not feel they need to hide.
I asked Taystee if she had any advice for people wanting to get into Drag, she advises to just get started and not to immediately aim for paid work, to 'start it as a hobby' and to 'channel whatever you want to channel' and although easier said then done, try not to compare themselves to others. Taystee also remarked that when she started out, she was concerned that she needed the best of everything, but in the end she just used a cheap outfit and wig which worked just as well It is best to just get started and not worry too much about the outfit.
If looking for a Drag Queen for an event, I would certainly recommend booking Bigg Taystee, you will certainly not regret it!
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