A 27-year-old queen from Denver, Pill has been turning heads since the competitors first walked into the Drag Race “werk room”. A strategic player who keeps their cards close to their chest, they have won the hearts of the judges and fans alike with their unique formula of cute, absurd and a touch of ugly.

Here’s what you need to know about Pill, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14.

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Battling their disease with art

Throughout the season, Pill talked about their ongoing struggle with cystinosis. A disorder caused by the build-up of the amino acid cystine, cystinosis causes chronic pain and muscle atrophy. Opening up to their fellow competitors on the show, they confessed, “I’m supposed to be in my prime, but I feel like my body is disintegrating.”

Despite having the odds stacked against them, they have found a safe space in drag. Dedicating themselves to joy and self-expression amid the darkness, Pill’s experiences have equipped them with a unique approach to their art.

The inspiration behind their talent show performance

It would be impossible to discuss Pill’s work without mentioning their performance in the first episode of season 14. Tasked to come up with a talent show number, most of the contestants prepared comedy skits and lip-synch performances – but not Pill. Colouring outside the lines, they showcased a now iconic quarantine self-care routine involving a bathtub, spaghetti and a toaster oven – set to the sound of Enya’s Only Time.

At a season 14 viewing party, they explained the big idea that fuelled the performance. “I thought of that number because Enya was on the list of what we could do, and I was like, ‘How am I not gonna do Enya?’”

Coincidentally, Pill recorded a video of themselves throwing random objects into a bathtub to the same track in high school. All arrows pointed to an onstage revival – one that turned into one of the most memorable Drag Race performances thus far.

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Their gender identity

After opening up about their mixed feelings about gender on an episode of Untucked, Pill took to social media to discuss their identity at length.

“It’s taken me a long time to come to terms with my transness because so much space has been taken up by my illness,” they shared. “I’m still not sure where I fit on the spectrum. For now I just say trans femme, but I also don’t have to know now.”

Pill is allowing themselves the space to explore the fluidity of gender, going by they/she pronouns both in and out of drag. In their post, they also revealed that they had undergone surgery to feminise their features and minimise some of the visible effects that long-term use of medication has left.

Their bond with fellow Drag Race competitor Kornbread

Despite having to leave the competition early due to an ankle injury, Kornbread forged a strong connection with Pill during her time on the show. They have been proudly showcasing their sisterhood since the season began airing, with Kornbread even getting a large tattoo of Pill on her thigh. Kornbread also attended the season’s reunion episode in her own interpretation of Pill’s all-white entrance look.

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Their music video with drag sister, Yvie Oddly

Pill comes from the same drag family as season 11 winner Yvie Oddly. Oddly also suffers from a long-term disease, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. “They mean a whole lot to me as someone who understands how tough drag and life can be when your body is trying to fight against you,” Pill shared in an Instagram post.

Joining forces, Pill and Oddly collaborated on the track Sick B*tch on the latter’s debut album “Drag Trap” in 2020. Playfully dubbed by fans as the official anthem of the chronic illness community, the tongue-in-cheek track is an empowering reminder that queens can be both sick and sickening (or amazing, in drag speak).