Katya Zamolodchikova

Brian Joseph McCook (born May 1, 1982), better known as drag persona Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova or Katya, is an American drag queen, actor, author, recording artist, podcaster, and comedian. Katya is best known for placing fifth on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race, and she placed as a runner-up on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2016). She is also known for appearing in the World of Wonder web series UNHhhh (2016–2023) and the Viceland series The Trixie & Katya Show (2017–2018) with co-host and fellow season 7 alum Trixie Mattel. Trixie and Katya often appear together as a popular comedy duo. Katya is a Daytime Emmy Award nominee. to Pat ( Moran) and Dan McCook. His father bought him a cheerleader outfit as a child, sparking his interest in dressing up. He described his parents as "accepting" and his father also bought him his first wig. He has two siblings.

Career

Early drag career McCook created the Russian drag character in 2006, taking the stage name from a combination of Russian names and one of his favorite gymnasts. When creating his drag character, McCook stated that he was inspired by "female comedians and just funny interesting women like Tracy Ullman, Maria Bamford, Lana Del Rey [and] Amy Sedaris." McCook stated on Drag Race that the Russian-based aspect of his persona was inspired by a professor he had while studying at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, who "never left the house without a full face of makeup [with] six inch stilettos in the snow." McCook is not of Russian descent, but took several Russian language courses and used a cassette tape called "Pronounce It Perfectly" to master the accent.

As Katya, McCook hosted a monthly drag show called "Perestroika" at Jacques Cabaret. Katya became known on the local drag scene in Boston for performing songs by popular Russian artists such as Alla Pugacheva, t.A.T.u. and Glukoza.

RuPaul's Drag Race Katya auditioned for RuPaul's Drag Race on Logo TV four times before being chosen to participate in season 7. She was first seen auditioning for the show back in Season 3's Casting Extravaganza. She won two challenges before being eliminated in episode 11, finishing in fifth place after losing a lip-sync against Kennedy Davenport. The decision to eliminate her was controversial, as she was popular among viewers. During the Season 7 reunion, she was voted Miss Congeniality by fans. On May 16, 2016, Katya appeared at the finale of RuPaul's Drag Race season 8 to crown the next Miss Congeniality: Cynthia Lee Fontaine. On June 17, 2016, Katya was announced as one of the cast members on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars. She placed in the top three times throughout the season, and eventually finished as a runner-up along with fellow contestant Detox.

Other projects

Web series and digital media

McCook launched the YouTube channel welovekatya, where he created several original web series, including RuGRETs, RuFLECTIONS, Drag 101, Total RuCall, and Irregardlessly Trish, an improvised comedy about a Boston hairdresser who lives in a dumpster. He improvises some material and also writes with creative partner Avi Paul Weinstein.

In March 2016, McCook and fellow RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Trixie Mattel debuted UNHhhh, a comedy web series on World of Wonder's YouTube channel. In late 2018, they revived UNHhhh on WOW Presents Plus as well as YouTube. In November 2019, they launched I Like to Watch on Netflix's YouTube channel, in which they react to films and television series available on Netflix.

Television and film

In August 2017, Viceland announced The Trixie & Katya Show, starring McCook and Mattel, which premiered on November 15, 2017.

The following year, McCook appeared in the comedy film Hurricane Bianca 2: From Russia with Hate, directed by Matt Kugelman and starring fellow drag performer Bianca Del Rio.

In 2026, McCook guest-starred as himself in the eighth episode of the fifth season of Hacks, where he appeared opposite the fictional comedian Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart.

Music

In November 2015, McCook appeared on the Christmas Queens album, performing a parody of "The Twelve Days of Christmas". He later appeared on Mattel's album Homemade Christmas, performing on the song "The Night Before Contact".

In October 2020, McCook announced his debut extended play (EP), Vampire Fitness, which was released on November 13.

Live performances

In spring 2019, McCook announced the comedy tour Help Me, I'm Dying. The tour was filmed during its run and released as a comedy special of the same name. It premiered on OutTV in Canada in October 2019, became available on demand four months later in February 2020, and aired on Logo TV the following month, on March 4, 2020.

Podcasts

In 2018, McCook and filmmaker Craig MacNeil launched the podcast Whimsically Volatile. In November 2019, McCook announced on the podcast that he would be leaving the show.

In 2020, McCook and Mattel launched the weekly podcast The Bald and The Beautiful.

In 2024, McCook began hosting the sex-positive podcast Who's the Asshole? for Grindr. Early guests included Orville Peck, Jordan Firstman, Trace Lysette, and Saucy Santana.

Writing and publishing

On July 14, 2020, McCook and Mattel released their first book together, Trixie and Katya's Guide to Modern Womanhood. Published by Plume Books, it debuted at number two on The New York Times Best Seller list in the "Advice, How-To, and Miscellaneous" category.

The following year, in August 2021, the pair launched the Substack advice newsletter Gooped, which ran for nearly a year before ending in July 2022.

Personal life McCook was raised Catholic. He has attempted suicide and said, "I think about suicide every day. ... I've spent a ton of my life extremely suicidal."

McCook has spoken openly about his experiences with substance abuse, including addiction to alcohol, cocaine, and crystal meth. In January 2018, McCook announced a hiatus from drag for mental health reasons, and his comedy tour as , "Help Me, I'm Dying", was postponed until spring 2019. In the first episode of Whimsically Volatile in March 2018, McCook discussed the hiatus in detail. He described suffering a psychotic break after a methamphetamine relapse and briefly returning to live with his family in Massachusetts before entering a rehabilitation center in Arizona. As Katya in a 2022 episode of UNHhhh, McCook shared that he had gotten his tattoos during a manic episode while on drugs but that he did not regret getting them. In April 2024, McCook announced that he would be returning to rehab, postponing upcoming "The Bald and The Beautiful" tour dates.

McCook became friends with Brian Firkus (Trixie Mattel) after they starred on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Reflecting on their first joint appearance on World of Wonder's Fashion Photo RuView web series, McCook said: "We weren't that close of friends in the beginning, we didn't know that much about each other. It was never pitched as 'two iconic best friends', it actually turned into a close friendship."

McCook can speak French. While he often performs Russian songs, he is not fluent in the language.

In June 2019, a panel assembled by New York magazine ranked McCook 13th on its list of the 100 most powerful drag queens in America, a ranking of former RuPaul's Drag Race contestants.

In December 2020, McCook and Mattel co-hosted the 10th Streamy Awards in Los Angeles.

McCook underwent hip replacement surgery in 2023.

In 2025, McCook spoke out against the mass deportations of immigrants and condemned ICE.

Filmography Television

Web series Year Title Role

RuFLECTIONS

RuGRETS Irregardlessly Trish Trish Series following one of her alter-egos, Trish Bestie$ for Ca$h Herself (in drag) 1 episode Transformations Herself (out of drag) 1 episode Fashion Photo RuView Herself (in drag) Guest co-host for one episode (with Trixie Mattel) 2015-2016 Whatcha Packin''' Herself (out of drag) 2 episodes

Produced by World of Wonder Drag 101| Total RuCall| Chronicling her time on RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race season 2 2016–2017 Hey Qween!| 2 episodes 2016–2023 UNHhhh|Herself (co-host in drag) Produced by World of Wonder, with Trixie Mattel 2017 Painted by Fame|Herself (out of drag) 1 episode 2017, 2019–2022

6 episodes 2018 Fashion Photo RuView| Guest co-host for four episodes (with Violet Chachki)

Exposed|1 episode Runway Rewind|Guest co-host for four episodes (with Violet Chachki) 2019–present

Produced by Netflix, with Trixie Mattel

Trixie and Katya Save the World|Produced by World of Wonder 10th Annual Streamy Awards|Co-host in drag with Trixie Mattel, aired on YouTube 2021 Out of the Closet|Herself (out of drag)

2022

Sissy That Talk Show| Sissy That Talk Show/The After Show Podcast|

Just Sayin'|

Very Delta| Tammie Talks|Herself (out of drag) Raw & Real: The Truth Be Told|Herself (in drag)

The Kelly Mantle Show| RnR with Courtney Act| Criterion Closet Picks| GymCastic| Amy's Dead-End Dreamhouse| Herself (in drag)

Monet Talks| 2026 Boyfriend Material with Harry Jowsey|

Film Year Title Role Notes 2016 Redmond Hand, Private Dick Informant Short film 2017 Sebastian Xenia 2018 Hurricane Bianca 2: From Russia with Hate Katya/Mitya The Quiet Room David Short film 2019Trixie Mattel: Moving PartsHerselfDocumentaryThe QueensHerself Ru's Angels The Wig Snatcher Short film

Podcast series Year Title Role 2018-2019 Whimsically Volatile Herself 2020–present The Bald and the Beautiful 2021 Hot White Heist Sorokin 2024–present Who's the A**hole? Host/Herself 2024 Hot White Heist 2 Sorokin

Music videos

Discography Extended plays Title Details Vampire Fitness Released: November 13, 2020 Label: Producer Entertainment Group Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming Vampire Fitness (Remixed) Released: April 23, 2021 Label: Producer Entertainment Group Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles As lead artist

As featured artist Title Year Peak chart positions Album USComedyDigital "Read U Wrote U" 2016 — "The Night Before Contact" 2017 5Homemade Christmas

Guest appearances Title Year Other artist(s) Album "Drag U" 2015 RuPaul RuPaul Presents: CoverGurlz 2 "12 Days of Christmas" Christmas Queens "Merry Christmas, It's Whateva"2016 Christmas Queens 2 "Bossa Nova Christmas in Outer Space"Jackie Beat "Random Ru Girl"Ginger Minj, Stacy Layne Matthews and Eureka O'HaraGummy Bear

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards Year Award Nominated workResultRef. 2020 Outstanding Makeup EastSiders

Queerty Awards Year Award Nominated workResultRef. 2020 Drag Royalty Herself 2021 Podcast The Bald and the Beautiful 2022 2023 Best Read Working Girls: Trixie and Katya's Guide to Professional Womanhood 2024 Web Series UNHhhh

Streamy Awards Year Award Nominated workResultRef. 2017 Show of the Year UNHhhh 2019 Unscripted Series 2020 2021 Unscripted Series 2022 Editing Show of the Year 2023

Webby Awards Year Award Nominated workResultRef. Webby Awards 2022 Podcasts, Best Podcast Ad The Bald and the Beautiful 2023 Social, Television & Film (Video) I Like To Watch 2024 Social, Television & Film Podcasts, Comedy The Bald and the Beautiful 2025 People's Voice 2022 Podcasts, Best Podcast Ad The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie and Katya Social, Arts & Entertainment (Video) I Like To Watch 2023 Social, Television & Film (Video)

WOWIE Awards Year Award Nominated workResultRef. 2018 Best Podcast Whimsically Volatile 2020 Outstanding Actor Love, Victor

Miscellaneous awards and honors Year Organization Award Nominated workResultRef. 2021 Canadian Podcast Awards Outstanding Foreign Series The Bald and the Beautiful 2023Signal Awards Best Video Podcast Best Co-Host Team Best "Stan" Podcast Best LGBTQ+ Podcast Shorty Awards Comedy Podcast GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Podcast 2026