Kim Chi Is Ready to Date Anyone With a Pulse

RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Kim Chi (born Sang-Young Shin) made a name for herself with her impressive makeup skills and ability to find inspiration anywhere—perfecting her signature style after just months of doing drag. The “Fat, Fem & Asian” singer made it all the way to the top three of the show and has solidified her status in the drag hall of fame with her ever-impressive looks, sheet mask and makeup collections, and collaborations with brands like Starbucks. (She also has 1.8 million Instagram followers to boot.) And since appearing on Drag Race, Kim Chi has performed around the world, sometimes with her fellow Drag Race sisters on the Werq the World Tour.

Talking to Cosmopolitan about her episode of a docuseries about the tour, Kim Chi explained what everyone gets wrong about her, the weirdest gift she’s received from a fan, and how she’ll date anything that moves at this point.

Cosmopolitan: I read that Kim Chi wasn’t your original drag name. What made you want to change it?

Kim Chi: It’s not that it wasn’t my original drag name, but the very first time I went out, I just had a different name because I wasn’t serious about doing drag. The name was Jizzney Princess. I know, it’s very saucy and it’s not who I am at all, but I thought I was being cheeky.

You got booked the same night you tried drag for the first time one Halloween. How did you learn how to do your makeup?

My inspiration was the high-fashion runway, especially the work of Pat McGrath. Every time I would get in drag, I would try to recreate the supermodels’ makeup on my face. That’s sort of how it got started.

Looking back now, I looked like a foot with, like, something smeared on it, but you couldn’t tell me I didn’t look like the most beautiful person. And I feel like I came into my own two or three months after I started doing drag.

Where else do you get inspiration?

Sometimes, I’ll see a silhouette on the runway that I love and I’ll try to find a way to spin that. Or sometimes, I can be inspired by watching a cartoon or walking on the street and I see a beautiful rock and I want a look inspired by that rock...seriously.

What’s something that people don’t understand about you or your drag in general?

All the people I throw “shade” at are actually my friends, and that’s how we talk to each other in real life. If it’s someone I don’t feel that comfortable with, I don’t throw any shade at them online. Also, I say a lot of nice things about other people on Twitter too. But it’s just the one occasional shady comment that gets noticed. And what I do onstage is all in good fun...it’s not meant as any harm.

You’ve mentioned you tried getting on dating apps but people would always recognize you. Would you ever date a fan?

I’ll date anything that moves. Like, I haven’t been on any dates. I haven’t met anyone. I even asked Twitter for someone to ask me on a date. I’m serious, and still no one did. Call me if you’re single and available.

Do your fans ever do anything weird when you meet them?

I appreciate everyone who stands in line to meet me. The only thing that I get weird about is when people ask me very personal questions at the meet-and-greets. You know, I have 30 seconds to a minute with each person and they’re like, “How’s your mom doing?” or “Have you told your mom that you do drag?” And I’m like, “Do we have all day?” I would never go up to random people and just ask them about their personal life.

What about gifts?

My fans know I love to eat and eat different things, so a lot of people bring me food. One time, this girl brought a huge bag of stuff, like of snacks, but when I looked at it, every single one of them was expired. And I’m like, Is she trying to kill me?

What can viewers expect from your Werq the World episode?

Of all the episodes you’ve seen so far, my episode is probably the most dramatic one yet. There’s a lot of drama and a lot of fights. I’m not kidding! However, I’m not involved in any of these fights or drama. I just happened to be in the vicinity of when the drama was happening. I just happen to, like, get near the drama a lot, but I personally don’t have any drama. Bring out the popcorn!

What are you working on next?

I do really want to go on Big Brother or The Amazing Race. That would be so much fun. I’m a reality-television junkie! Tragically, these shows aren’t on anymore, but back in the day, I was obsessed with the love shows on VH1: Flavor of Love, I Love New York, Daisy of Love, Rock of Love, Real Chance of Love, I Love Money.

I don’t want to give away too many details, but stay tuned this winter because I have some fun stuff coming.

You can catch Kim Chi’s Werq the World episode at 5 p.m. PST Thursday, June 20, on Wow Presents Plus.

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