BOA (an abbreviation for Bitch on Arrival) is the stage name of Ryan William Boa (born May 9, 1995), a drag performer most known for competing on season 1 of Canada's Drag Race.
Early life Boa was born in Windsor, Ontario.Kaitie Fraser and Stacey Janzer, "Local queens vying for top spot on RuPaul's Drag Race Canadian edition" . CBC News Windsor, June 26, 2020.
Career Boa's drag persona is BOA. BOA worked as a drag queen for six years before competing on season 1 of Canada's Drag Race, where she placed seventh. In 2021, she released the debut single "Gettin' It Done". In July 2021, she performed alongside Juice Boxx, Anastarzia Anaquway and others at the inaugural Drag Starz at the Manor, a new drag event in Guelph, Ontario.Lauren Scott, "Queens at the castle: Guelph strip club the Manor to host first drag event in July" . Toronto Star, July 16, 2021.
Personal life Boa lives in Toronto.
In May 2015, Boa was physically attacked after a show by a man he had brought home to hang out with following a performance, after the attacker pressured Boa to have sex and Boa declined.Adrian Ghobrial, "Toronto drag queen attacked, robbed after bringing man home" . CityNews, May 15, 2015. The attacker broke Boa's nose, and stole his wallet, laptop and cellphone. He was arrested two weeks later in Vancouver, British Columbia, following another unrelated crime, and was identified as Boa's attacker;HG Watson, "Suspect in alleged attack on Toronto drag queen arrested in BC" . Xtra!, June 9, 2015. in September 2016 he pled guilty to the robbery and a breach of probation charge from prior crimes, although the physical assault charge was dropped.Eternity Martis, "Man sentenced after last year’s attack on Toronto drag queen" . Xtra!, September 30, 2016. Boa has since continued to speak out about the issue of violence in the LGBTQ+ community,"Toronto drag queen brutally attacked last year says community is a target" . Global News, June 14, 2016. including speaking about the incident in a Canada's Drag Race episode."Windsor drag queen opens up on Canada's Drag Race about 2015 assault" . CBC News Windsor, August 8, 2020.
Boa proposed to his boyfriend in 2020. Boa revealed in an episode of the reality television series Slaycation that he was diagnosed as HIV-positive when he went to rehab.
Discography Singles Gettin' It Done (2020)
Filmography Television Canada's Drag Race (season 1) Slaycation (2024)Joey Nolfi, "See the 6 returning Drag Race queens set to be dropped into the wilderness on new Slaycation series". Entertainment Weekly, June 6, 2024.
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