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  • Published: 29 November 2022
  • ISBN: 9780241543580
  • Imprint: Penguin General UK
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 256
  • RRP: $22.99

A Drag Queen's Guide to Life




A hilarious and inspiring guide to transforming your life through drag, from the UK's favourite drag queen and star of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Bimini Bon Boulash.

From being told she couldn't have dance lessons as a kid in Great Yarmouth to having to conform to the stereotypes of the gay scene in London's East End, people have always been trying to put Bimini Bon Boulash in a box. It was only through discovering the art of drag that she began to fight back against those preconceptions, and understand that she had the power to define herself.

In A Drag Queen's Guide to Life, Bimini tells the story of how drag took her from the brink of self-destruction to become a gag-inducing, death-dropping, plant-based superstar. Drawing on her own experience as a nonbinary person in a binary world, as well as inspirational stories from history, politics, pop culture and fashion, she uses all her wit, charm and kindness to show us how to lead the lives we wish we could lead, through the life-changing magic of dragging up.

  • Published: 29 November 2022
  • ISBN: 9780241543580
  • Imprint: Penguin General UK
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 256
  • RRP: $22.99

About the authors

Bimini Bon Boulash

Bimini Bon Boulash is a drag performer from east London and star of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 2. She invented veganism about seven years ago.

Jules Scheele

Jules Scheele is an illustrator, graphic facilitator and comic book artist. They have been making artwork and zines about identity and queerness for over a decade, and also illustrated Queer: A Graphic History and its follow-ups with author Meg-John Barker.

Praise for A Drag Queen's Guide to Life

'MAGIC! A fun, fierce, honest origin story of how to drag yourself up out of trouble and become an icon'

Katherine Ryan

'Eye-opening, intelligent, thoughtful as well as sassy and surprising - a must read'

Lorraine Kelly

'This book does many things, it educates, explains, describes and shares personal experiences, but all of that goodness is wrapped up in a beautiful layer of genuine kindness and care for the reader, who is possibly, young, coming out and in some way or another exploring gender. Full of wit, wisdom and warmth'

Juno Roche, author of Trans Power and Queer Sex

'Bimini has written a book that mixes the personal, political, humour and glamour that surrounds them. A triumph for UK queer culture, this book welcomes their new audience in to the queer present and past, with a clear argument for a gender fluid future. It felt like it was part diary entry, part history lecture and part recording from a real good chat in a smoking area in East London - the best combination for a book!'

Travis Alabanza, award winning writer, performer and theatre maker

'Seeing Bimini take the world by storm with her authenticity, power and brilliance is truly a delight. Release the Beast is quintessential Bimini, hitting the nail on the head with her irreverent wit and infectious personality. Ms Boulash, you're definitely in the history books now!'

Jamie Windust, author of In Their Shoes

'Bimini is absolutely brilliant in the way they are able to deliver such importantly crucial lessons about sexuality and gender in such a relatable and understanding way. RELEASE THE BEAST is a very important read for so many of us out there who struggle with sexuality, gender, and anything in between!'

Gottmik

'A beautifully vulnerable and heartfelt journey from this down-to-earth high femme them. Bimini's radically real personal story reminds me to stay in my truth. This is a friendly reminder of self-love, and that your greatest gift to this world is to be yourself'

Fox Fisher, artist, film-maker & campaigner, author of Trans Teen Survival Guide

'The Queen has spoken and here are their 10 Queer commandments. Radical, life-affirming, and utterly important for this time. Bimini's wisdom and fresh outlook on gender identity and societal constraints are tackled with humanity and hilarity. A must-read for all Queers and those who care about them'

Riyadh Khalaf

'With the generosity of spirit, wit and hilarity that we came to love from Bimini on Drag Race, their book is a triumphant celebration of living authentically - deftly combining the personal and the political, Bimini paints a picture of the world where we can all live freely. I enjoyed it immensely'

Amrou Al-Kadhi

'It's easy to see why Bimini inspires so many people, injecting positivity where we need it. This book is Ru Paul's mantra "If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?" updated and expanded upon for a new generation'

Amelia Abraham, author of Queer Intentions and We Can Do Better Than This

'...and the next literary superstar is... Bimini Bon Boulash!!! Like the queen herself- witty, hilarious, empowering, you will fall in love with Release the Beast!'

Charlie Craggs, author of To My Trans Sisters

'Always surprising, unfailingly original and a kind-hearted soul, Bimini Bon Boulash is modern-day, punk-fashion drag royalty'

British Vogue