We Are England S2022E57 - Bimini Bon Boulash: Hometown Queen

Drag queen Bimini Bon Boulash rose to fame on series 2 of Rupaul's Drag Race UK. They didn't win the drag competition but the have since been walking the catwalk at London fashion week, publishing an autobiography, posing for high profile photo shoots and launching a music career. But their journey to success as an artist and LBGTQ+ icon has humble roots.

Starting at their mum's hair salon in Great Yarmouth, Bimini goes on a trip down memory lane of their childhood hometown, which takes them to some of Great Yarmouth's most historic and iconic venues such as St George's Theatre, The Hippodrome Circus and The Empire. Along the way Bimini meets the people and relives the events that have helped shape their identity and their career. There's fun and laughter with family and old friends but also poignant introspection as Bimini recounts the difficulties of growing up when social attitudes to LGBTQ+ issues and gender were vastly different to that of today.

Bimini was born in 1993. At that time 64% of British people took the view that same-sex relationships were wrong. The negative attitudes to homosexuality and strict social gender roles of Bimini's youth led to bullying which forced them give up the things they loved – acting and dancing. Bimini moved to London aged 18 to explore the LGBTQ+ scene and to lead an authentic life. It's a move that allowed Bimini to discover drag, discover their non-binary identity and eventually led to Bimini being cast on RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

Back in Great Yarmouth Bimini explores how the local gay scene has changed over the years which leads Bimini to undertake their most nerve-racking project to date – performing in drag, in their hometown, for the first time.