Who is Kade Gottmik? Meet first trans male queen on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' who became the highest-paid influencer

It has been almost two years since he got his gender-confirming surgery done, a journey that has been documented on Gigi Gorgeous' YouTube Channel
UPDATED JAN 30, 2021
Gottmik (VH1)
Gottmik (VH1)

'RuPaul's Drag Race' sent shockwaves when it announced it had cast a trans male drag queen for Season 13. It's a first and quite the move. Kade Gottlieb, who now goes by the name Gottmik, has been a household name among the drag community and is now going big with his appearance on the reality TV show. 

It has been almost two years since he got his gender-confirming surgery done, a journey that has been documented on Gigi Gorgeous' YouTube Channel. Gottmik and Gigi share a thick friendship, which explains the sensitivity with which Gottmik's transition from F to M has been treated on Gigi's social media.

Gigi got the 'RuPaul's Drag Race' cast member to specially chat about his thoughts on the massive leap he took in the past few years. Even though losing both breasts in the surgery was painful the final results made him feel closer to himself. 



 

Gottmik is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist and at just 24, he has been able to establish himself as a force to reckon with. Even though coming out to his devout Christian family was a challenge, he has always known there was something "different". He would want the "boy toy" and would wear the "boy uniform" as a kid, but these choices that he made were shrugged off as just a phase. 

"Society told me I was just a tom-boy, but it wasn’t until I was 18 when I finally got the right group of friends around me that allowed me to be myself and come to terms with the fact that I was transgender," he told Gay Times.

Gotmik attends the premiere of Netflix's "AJ And The Queen" Season 1 at the Egyptian Theatre on January 09, 2020, in Hollywood, California (Presley Ann/Getty Images)

His style is androgynous and loud, which he usually mixes with clown makeup. At this point, his net worth cannot be confirmed, but according to Slotsup research, he is the highest-paid Instagrammer among the queens of this season. Apparently, he gets paid $1,075 per post, which is not surprising given the interesting bucket of content he has on his handle that enjoys over 200,000 followers.

Catch the premiere of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 13 on VH1 on January 1, 2021, at 8/7c. For more information, check your local listings.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Nicolas Cage’s ‘Spider-Noir’ teaser offers a gripping look at the hero’s dark powers, gritty world and high-stakes battles in 1930s New York.
11 hours ago
Apple TV+’s ‘Off Weeks’ adds four notable actors in recurring roles, expanding an already star-studded lineup led by Ben Stiller and Jessica Chastain.
11 hours ago
Andrew Bird debuts a new song in ‘The Pitt’ Season 2, adding emotional depth to the medical drama’s evolving soundtrack.
12 hours ago
'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' showrunner Ira Parker admitted a pivotal Dunk moment from the source novella was unintentionally left out.
14 hours ago
A high-profile romance, public pressure, and a final flight that changed everything now returns to the spotlight on Hulu
15 hours ago
TV veteran lands the iconic detective role as NBC revives ‘The Rockford Files’ for a modern primetime comeback
15 hours ago
The upcoming Prime Video series 'Off Campus' is a TV adaptation of Elle Kennedy's best-selling novels and will stream in May.
16 hours ago
Season 51 of ‘Saturday Night Live’ returns post-Olympics with a fresh wave of hosts and musical surprises
16 hours ago
'The Pitt' Season 2 shows a beloved patient’s storyline taking a devastating turn, delivering one of the season's most emotional and tragic developments.
16 hours ago
Netflix is developing a series based on the bestselling dark romance saga 'Lights Out', with a seasoned TV producer leading the adaptation.
17 hours ago