“It’s An Epidemic!” Drag Race Star Bimini on The Dark Side of Drag, Addiction And Queer Shame

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

FlightStory

Leisure, Relationships, Society & Culture

4.8 • 652 Ratings

🗓️ 29 April 2025

⏱️ 105 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of We Need To Talk, Drag Race UK star Bimini shares the defining moments that shaped them - from losing their best friend in a tragic car accident to surviving the dark side of fame. Bimini opens up about battling shame and addiction, reflects on the highs and lows of their Drag Race journey, why they spoke out about the darker side of the industry, and how they rebuilt their life on their own terms. This is an empowering conversation about grief, identity, survival – and finding strength in living beyond the binary. Support charities: Terrence Higgins Trust - https://g2ul0.app.link/2wfkTStrWSb Mermaids - https://g2ul0.app.link/g3id7izrWSb MIND - https://g2ul0.app.link/w5vNMYwowQb We Need To Talk LIVE at Crossed Wires - https://g2ul0.app.link/VOjDM0icWSb Follow me here: https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod Support Bimini here: Instagram - https://g2ul0.app.link/GBxGzljXVSb TikTok - https://g2ul0.app.link/a8VFvilXVSb Pieces Podcast: https://g2ul0.app.link/BPCLZ4fXVSb (0:00) Intro (1:57) Bimini Talks About Their Pronouns (5:05) Bimini and Great Yarmouth (6:07) Bimini's Childhood (10:00) What Was the Reaction to Bimini's Personality as a Child? (12:42) How Did Bimini Conform When They Were a Teenager? (14:26) Who Was Bimini's Support System as a Teenager? (16:29) Bimini's Friend Ellie and Their Experience of Her Tragic Death (23:01) How Did Bimini Identify Sexually at 18? (24:56) Shame and Societal Scripts Around Sexual Identity (32:58) Bimini's Experience of Drug Abuse (35:24) The Epidemic Facing The Queer Community (40:22) How Can LGBTQ+ Allies Provide Meaningful Support? (43:58) Tinder Ad (45:15) Crossed Wires Live Pod Ad (46:17) Bimini's Academic Credentials (46:53) Bimini's Thoughts on Drag as an Art Form and Way of Life (59:17) Bimini's First Drag Competition in 2017 (1:02:23) How Does the RuPaul's Drag Race Casting Process Work? (1:06:19) Bimini on Coming Out as Pansexual on RPDR and Thoughts on Gender Stereotypes (1:12:15) 'UK Hun?' (1:16:55) The Aftermath of Drag Race UK (1:30:02) Bimini's New Music (1:38:00) Most Memorable Conversation (1:43:10) Paul's Takeaways Sponsored by: Tinder: https://tinder.com/en-GB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I piqued on Donald Trump in my performance.
0:02.1	I love drag.
0:03.0	Rupol's Drag Race UK.
0:04.5	You're casted.
0:05.2	I didn't expect to get the call.
0:06.5	I wasn't ready, but I just threw myself into it.
0:09.0	Bimini, darling, have a seat.
0:10.4	I came off the show and I had a wealth of opportunity.
0:16.7	Five-star hotels, shooting magazine covers.
0:19.3	My dream is coming true.
0:22.5	It went sour with my manager.
0:25.6	I was like so alone, crying out for help.
0:28.9	And that's when I first used drugs to numb how I was feeling.
0:32.4	Abusing drugs is definitely a real big issue that's happening.
0:34.7	Within the queer community, for example, like chemsex.
0:39.4	Yes, in the past decade, 1,000 deaths have been linked to chem sex-related causes.
0:40.4	Just so sad.
0:44.7	What I'm trying to learn now is allowing myself to feel low.
0:46.8	But the drug use isn't part of my life.
0:50.6	So when you think back to the lowest point, when was it?
0:52.0	I got a phone call.
0:53.0	There's been a car accident.
	...

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