TV DRAG RACE

National treasure Lawrence Chaney on whirlwind year where they have won a Scots BAFTA, silenced doubters and become soft drink giant’s Christmas Fairy Godmaw

LAWRENCE Chaney felt winning a Scottish BAFTA was “such a two fingers up to anyone who has ever doubted me”. The 25-year old from Helensburgh has had an incredible year.

They won the second series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, flew in a plane for the first time to Los Angeles to make a new podcast show for 2022 and last month beat the likes of David Tennant and Martin Compston to win the audience award at the Scottish BAFTAs.

Currently on tour and announced this week as the face of Irn-Bru’s Christmas, Scotland’s best known drag queen is a national treasure. But it wasn’t always like this.

Bullied at school they were also targeted by internet trolls when Drag Race made them a star. Even arriving at BBC Scotland’s Pacific Quay building last month they felt people thought they were just part of the entertainment and something to look at.

Lawrence, who likes to use the they/them pronouns, explained: “I did feel some people thought I was a prop.

“It does happen people just think we are there as a box ticking prop.

“They don’t know your name. They don’t know your identity. Winning was such a two fingers up to anyone who has ever doubted me. It was also such a great testament to what drag can be.”

Lawrence revealed their mum Phyllis, who went with them to the ceremony was convinced they’d never win against such big stars.

The purple-loving drag queen laughed: “She didn’t think I was going to win so I didn’t prepare a speech.

She was like ‘you’re not going to win Lawrence, you’re up against David Tennant, Martin Compston and Kelly Macdonald’, these huge, well known Scots. She wasn’t being mean just realistic and didn’t want to gas me up.

“So we were both stunned when I won. She had a wee cry. It’s such a great landmark moment for drag. A queen beat some of the best actors and talent in Scotland.

“RuPaul doesn’t have a BAFTA and he’s the most amazing, famous drag queen in the world so I appreciate I’m a lucky, lucky besom. I pinch myself every day.”

Lawrence doesn’t think they’re more popular than the actors they beat but appreciates the love from Drag Race fans who came together to vote and got behind the Scot.

Lawrence was crowned the UK’s second