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 (2015), 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.
Early life and education Brian Joseph McCook was born on May 1, 1982, to Pat ( Moran) and Dan McCook. McCook is of Irish descent and was raised Catholic. 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 came out as gay at age 15. He has two siblings. McCook was raised in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and graduated from Marlborough High School in 2000. In a 2019 interview, McCook described growing up as "boring, nondescript, [and] a boiler-plate white suburb". He then attended Boston University for one year before transferring to Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where he studied video and performance art with a minor in psychology, and first became interested in drag.
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....
In September 2026, McCook and drag performer and fellow RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Tatianna released "The Same Parts (10th Anniversary Remix)", a remix of Tatianna's 2016 single "The Same Parts." Two additional remixes by Mattel were released, "Same Parts (feat. KATYA) [Trixie Remix] - Radio Version" and "Same Parts (feat. KATYA) [Trixie Remix] - Extended Version".
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." He is gay. He has been a sex worker where he was paid to have sex with men while dressed in drag.Sources
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 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 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 2026, McCook spoke out against the mass deportations of immigrants and condemned ICE.
In May 2026, McCook had an emergency abdominal surgery to repair a bowel obstruction. As of September 16, 2026, he has suspended all future projects and events due to recent 'medical complications'.
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2011RuPaul's Drag RaceHerself (in drag)Season 3 - Episode 1, audition clip 2015RuPaul's Drag Race Herself (in drag)Season 7 – placed 5th, won Miss CongenialityRuPaul's Drag Race: UntuckedHerself (in drag)Season 7 2016 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself (in drag) Season 8, Episode 10: "Grand Finale" Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul Herself (panelist) Season 1, Episode 2: "Featuring Amber Rose" RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Herself (in drag) Season 2 – Runner-upSeason 8 – Special Guest; Episode: "Carson Kressley, This Is Your Gay Life" 2017Playing HouseHerself (in drag)Season 3, Episode 8: "Reverse the Curse"Christmas QueensHerself (in drag)/TrishHoliday special@midnightHerself (in drag)Season 4, Episode 121 2017–2018The Trixie & Katya ShowHerself (co-host in and out of drag)Co-host, 9 episodes 2018America's Next Top ModelHerself (in drag)Cycle 24, Episode 6RuPaul's Drag RaceHerself (in drag)Season 10, Episode 1Room 104Ochin'priyatnaSeason 2, Episode 3: "Swipe Right"2019Tales of the CityWedding officiantEpisode 7: "Next Level Sh*t"RuPaul's Drag Race UKHerself (in drag)Season 1, Episode 6Help Me, I'm DyingHerself (in drag)/TrishTelevision comedy specialEastSidersSummer Clearance2 episodes2020AJ and the QueenMagdaEpisode 2: "Pittsburgh"Love, VictorHerself (in drag)Season 1, Episode 8: "Boys' Trip" 2021Full Frontal with Samantha BeeHerself (in drag)Season 6, Episode 2LuciferDrag QueenSeason 6, Episode 2: "Buckets of Baggage"The BrownsMatchmakaSeason 2, Episode 5: "Family Function" 2022 Ziwe Herself (in drag) Season 2, Episode 6: "Gay Pride!" Trixie Motel Herself (in drag) Episode 8: "Pride Grand Opening"RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag RaceHerself (in drag)Season 2, Episode 4: "Drag Duet"Dr. Jackie: Unlicensed PsychotherapistHerself (in drag)Episode 1Sketchy QueensHerself (out of drag)Episode 3: "Stage Moms Are People Too"The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: TitansHerself (in drag)Episode 6: "The Ugly Ladies of Wrestling Rematch!"From Katya with Love Herself (co-host)8 episode reality series on OutTV USA2023Dirty LaundryHerself (in drag)Season 3, Episode 3: "Who Came Out to Their High School Girlfriend Via Jesus Christ?"The Boulet Brothers' Halfway to Halloween TV SpecialHerself (in drag)Halloween specialTrixie & Katya Live: The Last ShowHerself (in drag)Veeps special2025After MidnightSelf (out of drag)Panelist, Season 2, Episode 51 2026 Very Important People Linda Elizabeth Marie Baintree Season 3, Episode 12: "Linda Elizabeth Marie Baintree"HacksHerself (in drag)Season 5, Episode 8: "The Cube"
Web series {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes ! |- | rowspan="6" |2015 | RuFLECTIONS | rowspan="2" |Herself (in drag) | rowspan="2" |Chronicling her time on RuPaul's Drag Race season 7
| 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)