Tia Kofi

Lawrence John Bolton, better known by the stage name Tia Kofi, is a British drag queen and singer from Clapham, South London. They are best known for competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2021), and winning the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2024).

Early life
Kofi was born in Essex to a Nigerian mother (d. 2022) and a British father who met at university. Kofi attended the University of Nottingham, but did not graduate.

Career
Kofi began their career as a drag queen in 2014, when they started drag on the same day and at the same venue as series 1 contestant Sum Ting Wong. Their name is a play on the phrase "tea or coffee?", and as part of their initial entrance confessional, Kofi confirmed that they'd named themself after Tia Mowry from American sitcom Sister Sister and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. Prior to competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Kofi frequently performed in venues across South London, predominantly in Clapham.

Kofi is a part of a drag girl-group called The Vixens consisting of Kofi, Pixie Polite and Woe Addams.

In December 2020, Kofi was announced as one of twelve contestants competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. After lip synching three times, Kofi ultimately placed seventh overall.

In February 2021, shortly after their elimination from Drag Race, Kofi released their debut single "Outside In" (co-written by Little Boots, Tom Aspaul and Gil Lewis), as well as a music video on 24 February 2021. In May 2021, Tia Kofi performed alongside series 1 winner The Vivienne, and fellow series 2 contestant Veronica Green at the Vaudeville Theatre in "Drag Queens of Pop", which was one of the first performances on the West End after the third national COVID-19 lockdown in England.

In February 2022, Kofi embarked on RuPaul's Drag Race UK: The Official Tour alongside the entire cast of series 2, in association with World of Wonder and promoter Voss Events. Their set consisted of "Outside In" followed by "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa and "No Way" from the musical Six. In May 2023, Kofi released their third EP, ''Pride. Power. Pop.'' and single "Standing Up for the Lonely" They played the digital assistant ALGO in the second series of "Olga Koch: OK Computer" on BBC Radio 4 from May 2023.

In January 2024, Kofi was announced as one of the contestants competing on series 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World. They later went on to win the series and be crowned "Queen of the Mothertucking World". Subsequently, they took home the first-ever cash prize in the shows history: £50,000.

On 5 May 2024, Kofi co-hosted the opening "Turquoise Carpet" event of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 alongside Swedish drag queen Elecktra.

Personal life
Kofi identifies as queer. They dated their fellow The Vixens member Pixie Polite for approximately five years. Kofi is the "drag mother" of Victoria Scone and uses they/she pronouns.