Tia Kofi
Kofi performing at Heaven, London in June 2022
Born
Lawrence John Bolton

(1990-09-27) 27 September 1990
Essex, England, UK
OccupationDrag queen
Years active2014–present
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 2)

Lawrence John Bolton[1] (born 27 September 1990), better known by the stage name Tia Kofi, is a British drag queen from Clapham, South London.[2] They are best known for competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK[3] and the upcoming second season of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World.[4]

Career

Tia Kofi began their career as a drag queen in 2014, when they started drag on the same day and at the same venue as series 1 contestant Sum Ting Wong. Their name is a play on the phrase "tea or coffee?", and as part of their initial entrance confessional, Tia Kofi joked that they'd named themself after Tia Mowry from American sitcom Sister Sister and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.[5] Prior to competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Kofi frequently performed in venues across South London, predominantly in Clapham.

Kofi is a part of a drag girl-group called The Vixens consisting of Kofi, Pixie Polite and Woe Addams.[6]

In December 2020, Tia Kofi was announced as one of twelve contestants competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.[3] After lip synching three times, Tia Kofi ultimately placed seventh overall.[7][8]

In February 2021, shortly after their elimination from Drag Race, Tia Kofi released their debut single "Outside In" (co-written by Little Boots, Tom Aspaul and Gil Lewis), as well as a music video on 24 February 2021.[9] In May 2021, Tia Kofi performed alongside series 1 winner The Vivienne, and fellow series 2 contestant Veronica Green at the Vaudeville Theatre in "Drag Queens of Pop", which was one of the first performances on the West End after the third national COVID-19 lockdown in England.[10]

In February 2022, Tia Kofi embarked on RuPaul's Drag Race UK: The Official Tour alongside the entire cast of series 2, in association with World of Wonder and promoter Voss Events.[11] Their set consisted of "Outside In" followed by "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa and "No Way" from the musical Six.

In May 2023, Tia Kofi released their third EP, Pride. Power. Pop. and single "Standing Up for the Lonely"[12]

They played the digital assistant ALGO in the second series of "Olga Koch: OK Computer" on BBC Radio 4 from May 2023.[13]

Personal life

Tia Kofi identifies as queer. They are the drag mother of Victoria Scone.[14] Kofi uses they/she pronouns.[15]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Hufflepuff student Background actor [16]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2021 RuPaul's Drag Race UK Contestant Series 2 [3]
2021 Celebrity Gogglebox Themself Black to Front Special (alongside Tayce) [17]
2021 Children in Need 2021 Themself Guest appearance [18]
2021 Be Here, Be Queer Themself Netflix special [19]
2022 Eating with My Ex Themself Celebrity special [20]
2022 Celebrity Catchpoint Themself Special guest [21]
2022 Celebrity Lingo Themself Guest [22]
2022 Bring Back My Girls Themself Guest [23]
2024 RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World Contestant Series 2 [24]

Music videos

Year Title Artist Ref
2017 "Gotta Get a Grip" Mick Jagger
2021 "My House" Jodie Harsh [25]
"Outside In" Tia Kofi [26]
"Look What You've Done" Tia Kofi × Cahill [27]
"Loving Me Like That" Tia Kofi [28]
"Jingle Bell Rock" The Vivienne & Tia Kofi [29]
2022 "Get Better" Tia Kofi [30]
"So Good" [31]

Discography

Extended plays

Title Details
Part 1: The Damage
Part 2: The Antidote[32]
Pride. Power. Pop.
  • Released: May 26, 2023[12]
  • Label: Intention
  • Format: digital download, streaming

Singles

Title Year Album
"Outside In"[33] 2021 Part 1: The Damage
"Look What You've Done"[34]

(with Cahill)

"Loving Me Like That"[35]
"I Want It All"
"Jingle Bell Rock"

(with The Vivienne)

 Non-album single
"Get Better" 2022 Part 2: The Antidote
"Heart Beating" [36]

with MRSHLL

"I Specialise in Love" Non-album single
"So Good" Pride. Power. Pop.
"Standing Up for the Lonely"[12] 2023
"Guest List"[37] Non-album single
Title Year Album
"UK Hun?"[38]

The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (Bananadrama Version)

 2021 Non-album single
"Heart Beating" [36]

with MRSHLL

 2022 Non-album single

Stage

Year Title Promoter Locations Ref
2021 Drag Queens of Pop Nimax Theatres Vaudeville Theatre [39]
2022 RuPaul's Drag Race UK: The Official Tour Voss Events / World of Wonder Ipswich, Oxford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Southend, Manchester, Sheffield, Blackpool, Llandudno, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Basingstoke, Portsmouth, Plymouth, London, Derby, Bristol, Bradford, Aberdeen, Southampton, Stockton, Brighton and Newport [40]

References

  1. ↑ "ANTIDOTE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "Who is Tia Kofi? Meet the RuPaul's Drag Race UK "queen of Clapham"". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "RuPaul's Drag Race UK series two | Meet The Queens". BBC. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  4. ↑ Nolfi, Joey. "RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs. the World season 2 reveals cast competing for first UK cash prize". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK (S2 E1)". BBC iPlayer. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  6. ↑ Damshenas, Sam (19 February 2021). "Exclusive: Drag Race UK star spills the Tia (Kofi) on the "twists and turns" of season 2". Gay Times. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Drag Race UK's Tia Kofi tears up following elimination as she recalls lockdown struggle". Attitude. 20 February 2021. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Tia Mowry Reaches Out To Tia Kofi After Elimination". ScreenRant. 21 February 2021. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  9. ↑ "Drag Race UK's Tia Kofi stuns in video for debut single 'Outside In'". Attitude. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Drag Queens of Pop". Nimax Theatres. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  11. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK Tour". Voss Events. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 "Tia Kofi releases new EP Pride. Power. Pop. featuring new single Standing Up For The Lonely". Retropop. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "Olga Koch: OK Computer - Series 2 - 1. Fun - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Sam Damshenas (2 September 2021). "Tia Kofi on her 80s inspired EP and Drag Race UK season 3 making herstory". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  15. ↑ "Tia Kofi". Instagram. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "Lawrence Bolton, Actor, London". Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  17. ↑ "Meet Tia Kofi and Tayce from Celebrity Gogglebox Black to Front". Reality Titbit. 10 September 2021. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  18. ↑ Justin Harp (19 November 2021). "BBC Children in Need telethon's 2021 grand total revealed". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  19. ↑ "Drag Race UK's The Vivienne, Tia Kofi and more discuss drag in the UK in new Netflix film". Attitude. 30 December 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  20. ↑ Darvill, Josh (19 January 2022). "Eating With My Ex start date and celebrity line up revealed for new specials". Telly Mix. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  21. ↑ Darling, Michael (21 April 2022). "Celebrity Catchpoint host Paddy McGuinness: 'It can get quite treacherous!'". What To Watch. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  22. ↑ "Celebrity Lingo Episode 7". itv.com. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  23. ↑ "Drag Race Reunion Show Bring Back My Girls Promises to Spill the Tea". www.pride.com. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  24. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs. the World' season 2 cast announced". EW.com. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  25. ↑ Jodie Harsh (5 March 2021), Jodie Harsh - My House (Official Video), archived from the original on 12 March 2021, retrieved 21 March 2021
  26. ↑ "Drag Race UK's Tia Kofi stuns in video for debut single 'Outside In'". Attitude. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  27. ↑ Tia Kofi, Tia Kofi x Cahill - Look What You've Done (Official Video), archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 2 June 2021
  28. ↑ Tia Kofi - Loving Me Like That (Official Music Video), archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 19 August 2021
  29. ↑ Jingle Bell Rock (Official Music Video), archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 16 October 2022
  30. ↑ Tia Kofi - Get Better (Official Video), archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 16 October 2022
  31. ↑ Tia Kofi - So Good (Official Video), archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 16 October 2022
  32. ↑ Logan, Phillip (3 July 2022). "Tia Kofi Drops Brand New EP, 'Part 2: The Antidote'". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  33. ↑ Outside In - Single by Tia Kofi, archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 29 March 2021
  34. ↑ Look What You've Done - Single by Tia Kofi & Cahill, archived from the original on 19 August 2021, retrieved 19 August 2021
  35. ↑ Loving Me Like That - Single by Tia Kofi, archived from the original on 20 August 2021, retrieved 19 August 2021
  36. 1 2 Tia Kofi X MRSHLL - HEARTBEATING, archived from the original on 17 October 2022, retrieved 17 October 2022
  37. ↑ "Tia Kofi - Guest List". slinky.to. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  38. ↑ UK Hun? (Bananadrama Version) - Single by The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Season 2, archived from the original on 11 February 2021, retrieved 15 February 2021
  39. ↑ "Drag Queens of Pop". Nimax Theatres. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  40. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK Tour". Voss Events. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
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