RuPaul honors Sasha Colby for EW’s 2023 Entertainers of the Year: ‘Trans Advocate? Check. Sex Goddess? Check’

Winning season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race would be reason enough to land on EW’s list of Entertainers of the Year. But Sasha Colby didn’t just win the reality competition, she dominated it, snatching the crown after a near-naked finale lip-sync.

“It was a specific choice to be naked in these times. I wanted them to see what they’re trying to eradicate,” the drag superstar told EW after her win in April, criticizing the recent onslaught of anti-transgender legislation. “I get the reward of having my life goal accomplished, but this has been bigger than me at this point, in this political climate. I told myself, while doing the finale, that this wasn’t trying to win, this was me showing these people that want to silence us and put us down and — for lack of better words — say ‘f— you’ to all of them.”

And her advocacy didn’t stop there. Drag Race’s first Native Hawaiian contestant and first winner of Polynesian descent has seized her moment in the sun and made it so much bigger than herself.

“Grateful beyond words for the incredible honor of speaking at [Vice President] Kamala Harris annual Pride Month celebration at the White House,” she posted on Instagram after Harris invited her to speak at an event in June. “A heartfelt thank you to Vice President Harris and [GLAAD] for providing this platform to amplify LGBTQ+ voices. Together, we’re forging a path towards equality, acceptance, and love.”

To honor Colby as one of EW’s 2023 Entertainers of the Year, we asked Drag Race mastermind star and host RuPaul to reflect on the winner’s remarkable year.

Sasha Colby; RuPaul.

Colby: Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for MTV; RuPaul: Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images

Sasha Colby is every woman.

Performer Extraordinaire? Check. Trans Advocate? Check. Drag Mother? Check. Spiritual Warrior? Check. Sex Goddess? Check.

Even before she was crowned America’s Next Drag Superstar, Sasha’s talents and achievements were legendary. 

But when I first met Sasha, I was most impressed with her spiritual presence. Influenced by her indigenous Hawaiian heritage, she exudes a positivity, strength, and kindness that welcomes you into her universe. A place of dazzling beauty where you feel safe, warm, and loved. 

Like the journey of all heroes, Sasha has battled her demons — both internal and external — to emerge as an inspiration to all who are fortunate enough to experience her.  

Forged by fire, Sasha has emerged as a world-class entertainer, and the first drag performer to win both the legendary Miss Continental pageant and RuPaul’s Drag Race. But, what truly sets her apart is her gift to infuse vulnerability into her art and her life. It is that quality that makes Sasha “a drag queen’s favorite drag queen,” and turned season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race into “a Sasha Colby meet-and-greet.” Everyone wants to be where Sasha Colby is.

Beyoncé, Pedro Pascal, Ayo Edeberi, Ronald Gladden on ‘Jury Duty,’ Taylor Swift, Sasha Colby, M3GAN, Cillian Murphy in ‘Oppenheimer,’ Margot Robbie in ‘Barbie,’ Kelsea Ballerini, Ariana Madix on ‘Vanderpump Rules.’.

More EW Entertainers of the Year 2023: