A gender-neutral RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant revealed how an abusive relationship that started when they were just 19-years-old led the star to transition to a woman for years.
Eureka O’Hara – the drag stage name for David Huggard – is a performer from Johnson City, Tennessee, who is one of four contestants left on the 10th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
In an interview with Seventeen Magazine’s Here, the 27-year-old star – who prefers gender-neutral descriptors when out of drag – opened up about the difficulties with gender identity. ‘I lived as a trans woman for almost five years,’ Eureka confessed.
Queen: Eureka O’Hara, 27, is a drag performer from Johnson City, Tennessee
Stunning: The self-proclaimed elephant queen is competing to win the crown on the 10th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race
Back again: Eureka first competed on the 9th season of the show but had to leave after getting injured during a challenge. RuPaul invited the queen back for the 10th season
Eureka’s decision to live as a trans woman was sparked by a man they were dating at 19 years old.
‘He was just very supportive of my feminine side, and I never felt so supported. I decided to transition. I was like, “You know, if I feel this way, I need to explore it”,’ the star explained to the magazine.
But after dating for a period of time, Eureka realized it was an abusive relationship and ended all contact with the man.
‘I went through a year of self-discovery,’ Eureka said.
‘I did not feel like a man, and I did not feel like a woman. It was the most confusing, darkest time in my life. How do you express that you don’t know what you are?’
Eureka tried to go back to living like David to re-find an identity, but the queen never felt fully comfortable. To this day, Eureka’s family only uses D instead of David.
Since the dark period, Eureka has learned to accept being gender-neutral and embrace both the feminine and masculine sides.
‘There is such a thing as gender neutrality, and that’s okay to spiritually and mentally feel that way,’ Eureka said.
‘Some days I feel more feminine than others, some days maybe more masculine, but the only way to describe myself was gender-neutral.’
Self-discovery: During an interview, Eureka revealed how they transitioned to a woman at the age of 19 because of someone they were dating
Embracing oneself: But the drag queen realized the relationship was abusive and now considers to be gender neutral
Star power: Eureka, pictured with the season 9 cast, has learned to be happy with who they are
Eureka has struggled with identity since being a child because of how the other people treated the queen’s vivacious personality.
‘My whole life I was teased and tormented over being too feminine, and being overweight, and being different,’ Eureka said.
‘But my mom was always the one who told me I was a star, that I was smart, and I had a future, and she always pushed me to be the best I could be.’
The self-proclaimed ‘elephant queen’ – who believes it’s time for big girls to get their shot in the spotlight – has learned to be happy as the person they are today.
Performer: The queen said it is time for more big girls to take the spotlight
Beautiful: ‘I wake up in the morning and every single day I remind myself, “You’re worthy, you’re enough, think positively”,’ Eureka said.
This positive outlook has not always been easy, especially with internet trolls rooting for the queen to get voted off the drag show.
But Eureka has found a community of fans and supporters who stand by when the going gets tough, as well as finding self-worth within ones self.
‘I wake up in the morning and every single day I remind myself, “You’re worthy, you’re enough, think positively”,’ Eureka said.
‘It’s really about reminding yourself that you’re good enough, because nobody else is going to be able to love you or understand you better than you can.’
Eureka will compete this Thursday for the RuPaul’s Drag Race crown against three other queens during the highly anticipated finale.