Life in Lashes: The Story of a Drag Superstar

by Kita Mean

The hilarious tell-all memoir by the season one winner of Ru Paul's Drag Race Down Under

Hailing from a sleepy eastern suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, Nick Nash grew up feeling like he stood out for all the wrong reasons. It wasn't until he experimented with the art of drag that he found freedom in his fierce and confident alter-ego, Kita Mean. From wild nights partying like there was no tomorrow, to scrounging together delightfully camp costumes on a shoestring budget, buying an iconic cabaret bar with bestie Anita Wigl'it, and competing on the global stage alongside Kiwi and Aussie drag legends in the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, Kita shares behind-the-scenes goss and important life lessons - many learned the hard way - about fighting your demons and being proud of your most authentic self.

Bursting with outrageous style and cheek, Life in Lashes is a memoir of a lost boy who found salvation as a drag queen, learned to love herself, and went on to share her fabulousness with the world.

Featuring a color insert of Kita's life.

Genres: Memoir, LGBT, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2022

Reviews

[Kristin Sledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this look behind the drag scene curtain in New Zealand. A nice mix of werking it and fierce fishy fun.

Kita Mean brings us back in time to her world before Ru Paul's Drag Race to show all the bits that lead to her success. She's not afraid to throw the shade where it is due and read the competition while building up others in the industry. While it's important to remember that many of us are villains in someone else's narrative, Kita comes with receipts to back up her claims.

Fans of Drag Race will enjoy this chronicle in the epic tale of Kita Mean. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kita Mean I love you and this was amazing.
As a huge drag race fan and loving every second of Drag Race Down Under when I saw this on NetGalley I needed it quickly!

Other than what I had seen on Drag Race I knew next to nothing about Kita. It was a really amazing experience to learn more about her as a person and a performer! I felt like the writing was easy to read and had a lot of jokes. Kita brought the jokes people!!

I think anyone who is a drag race fan should read this!

4 stars!

[Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this camp Kiwi queen, and it was fabulous to read the tea!

Congratulations @kitamean (sorry it took me so long to read it!!).

[Michelle T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful writing and a perfect amount of humour to a memoir and recount and behind the scenes of Drag Race Down Under.
I attended Drag Wars a number of times and it’s awesome, always enjoyed Kita’s energy.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think I say enough how generous it is of people to open up their lives (and I guess life choices) and put it in a memoir for me to judge. Anyway thanks Kita.

Love the first half. Fascinating stories of growing up and then BTS of Auckland drag. And even tho drag race is the reason this book exists it’s kinda the least interesting part. The other thing is I reckon it is difficult to write about weight loss surgery without sounding fat phobic and as this was written presumably by the ghost writer (if you’re reading this review Eli you should actually be recording more episodes of your podcast plz) I think maybe that’s why this section is so grating.

Anyway I bought kita’s drag con loot bag and it’s about to arrive any day so I’m still a super fan.

[Aneila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this. I love Kita Mean, and was so excited for her Drag Race win. To read the life story has really warmed my heart even more. Thank you for sharing part of yourself with us.

[Layla (badlandsbooks_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was so, so excited to read this, as I have been such a huge fan of drag since I discovered what it was, I go to many drag shows, draw drag queens (see my art here: @sketches.by.layla 🥰) and I loved Kita Mean on her season of Drag Race and was rooting for her at the time, so reading about her life was so interesting to me!

I’m not always a lover of non-fiction, I find that I can get bored quickly, but this memoir is absolutely bursting with personality. I felt like a friend was telling me about their life, which made for a lovely reading experience.

I loved reading about Kita’s childhood, what got her into drag, and hearing about how she turned from a “busted queen” into a drag superstar was super entertaining.

Reading about all of the moments that we didn’t get to see on Drag Race Down Under was really eye opening too! (Who knew that some queens get comedians to write their jokes and reads?! I was in SHOCK.)

This was a super fun, quick, humorous read, that I recommend for anyone who loves drag!

*Thank you so much to @pridebooktours for the gifted copy!

💙

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

2.75 stars

I am a long time fan of Drag Race. I have watched all of the American seasons, as well as the UK, Canada, Spain, and yes, Down Under versions. I was ready to be entertained by this memoir, to get to know more about the life of a drag queen who has worked so hard and done so much for her community. Instead, it felt like I was reading a sales pitch to let me know how absolutely perfect Kita Mean is at everything. As a sales pitch, it’s impressive, it’s slick, and it lists so many accomplishments without actually talking about those accomplishments. I had no sense of who Kita Mean was beyond a product.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[Thorn_n_thistle_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an autobiography about Nick Nash aka Kita Mean, a New Zealand Drag Queen and winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Down under, season 1.

I loved getting to know Kita more after seeing her appear and win Drag Race down under. This book had a dash of light-hearted Kita humour, while still being a raw and emotional account of Kita's life, up to now.

Some of my favourite parts were the early days when we saw glimpses into Nick's early life and how he became and formed Kita Mean, it wasn't always easy but it made her the superstar she is today! It was lovely to see other queens pop up in Kita's life; hearing who had a special place in her heart. Kita also opened up about her love life and weight loss journey; as well as the trials and tales from her childhood like bunking off school to early adult life on the drag scene.

Having never read any other books that featured drag race it was an interesting insight into the world of how Drag race is filmed and worked. Certainly an eye-opener too. I enjoyed these little snippets of tea Kita gave us, so much so that I went back and watched season one again.

Overall this was a beautiful and candid account of Kita Mean's life and reading this book made me appreciate where Kita is today even more and how she got there.

Kita is a hard-working Drag queen and I wish her lots more success in the future.

Thank you to @pridebooktours and @kitamean for the opportunity to read and review this autobiography.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

4.5 stars

Life in Lashes follows Kita Mean, a "Drag Race Down Under" winner. It is a lovely story from the start of young Kita's life through Drag Race and beyond. It is a long and twisty tale that is emotional, wild, and sometimes heartbreaking. It was fascinating to hear about the "tiny gay from Cockle Bay" and see them transform into the star they are today.

I also LOVED reading about the Drag Race behind the scenes. As a massive fan of the show is was a real treat to get the tea directly from the source. It was so engaging and a must read.

Kita Mean is only getting started and I cannot wait to see the fabulousness she shows the world!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC.

This was perfection in every way. I’m a huge RuPaul Drag Race fan and on top of loving memoirs, I went into this with high hopes and it did not disappoint. Kita’s personality radiates through every single page and had me laughing out loud in spots and crying along with her in others. There’s no greater story ending then that of someone finding their true self, embracing it, and being happy.

[Michael O'Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you love anything Drag Race it’s a good read, Kita seems like a great person… there just isn’t much here. Nothing juicy at least. And the parts that could be considered ‘semi juicy’, names are omitted which is annoying to no end.

It’s a fast, easy read but I’ve already forgotten most of it despite only finishing it yesterday.

[Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a few of the drag race girls books and thus far Keta’s was the best! I love how she doesn’t shy away from her past mistakes, emotions, and really walks the reader through her life thus far. Overall I thought it was clean concise pageant material with Keta’s signature whit and camp! Loved!!!

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love watching Rupaul ‘s drag race so I was excited to read about Kita mean book . How she was first win of drag race down under the book tell a story about her life and how she got started in drag and about her life but the book was kind of boring and did like it’s so much.

[Sophie Naylor-Demnyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Lisa Glanville · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Drag Race goss was interesting, but the rest was a lot of sentences ending in exclamation marks...

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it 👏👏

[Mikayla Ratcliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

An immersive Memoir of an incredible drag queens life and transformation.
Fell in love with Kita Mean more than i thought i already had

[Sami A Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it . Read it 2 days couldn’t put it down

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really easy to read. Was such an eye opener to read about how Kita Mean became who she is and even learning about the whole Ru Paul Drag race and going through each episode.

[Kellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confusing at times as it seemed to bounce all over the place until she started Drag Race.

[Kaila Jowsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

another plane read. a beautiful, raw, emotional account of a MOTHER. love u kita

[Rob Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart-warming, insightful read … a story of courage, hard work and ultimate success. I have huge admiration for this young person who I have had the privilege of meeting (best friend of my niece).

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provided some context on the new zealand drag scene and was entertaining.

[Carrie]

As a Drag Race fan, this was incredibly interesting. Kita Mean infused this book with so much humor and fun. Definitely a good little quick memoir.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

ドラッグレースの撮影仕方がめっちゃ面白いと思った。たくさん子供頃について書いてあったからキータの気持ちはわかった。いい自伝だよ。

[Rachel Nouvellon Maltas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fancied reading something gossipy - drag queen memoir: perfect :D

[Cody James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kita Mean is the winner of one of the most controversial seasons or Rupaul’s Drag Race to ever exist (and there’s many many seasons). As an American fan of the show and it’s international iterations, I’m not as familiar with the history of the queens. Getting a look into Kita Mean and their foundation and life as a prominent Drag artist in New Zealand was a delight, with a lot of personal, hard to read bits that really hit home for me as a person who spent a lot of time as a “bigger” gay man. Sections about her body image, abusive relationship, and bullying within the community spoke to me deeply. She also isn’t afraid to give her full account of her days on Drag Race Down Under, and how her insecurities played out in the filming process. For anyone watching, it was clear as day Kita was the one to beat, though. It was fun and enlightening to see her professional and personal relationship with Anita Wig’lit especially, as Anita’s time on the show was cut unceremoniously short. Kita mean Is as charming on page as she is on screen, and this was a delight to read

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should be reading Ungeschminkt—I've been making slow progress for well over a year—but you know what's easier than reading a drag-queen memoir in German? Reading a drag-queen memoir in English, that's what. Fortunately, Kita Mean is more than ready to step up and serve.

Kita Mean made an international name for herself with the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, but in New Zealand she was already a force to be reckoned with—established in the New Zealand drag scene, running multiple drag and performance venues, and having hosted her own drag show with Anita Wigl'it. (I haven't seen House of Drag, but it sounds like a riot, and I loved learning that it embraced drag kings and AFAB as well as AMAB drag queens.) Life in Lashes slips easily from Kita Mean's early days in drag—which is to say, young Nick tromping around the backyard in his sister's dresses—to learning about the Auckland drag scene to becoming a celebrated performer in her own right to competing in Rupaul's Drag Race Down Under.

Drag queens are known for their wit as well as for their style, but don't underestimate Kita Mean's deft ability to "read" between the lines, too. Not a bad word to say about RuPaul—just a glowing note that never seeing RuPaul offset made her even more inaccessible and elevated. And there's a point early on where she describes her first encounter with a drag queen she calls Peena Colada in the book. It's Peena Colada who first sees Kita Mean—who notices her and puts the idea of performing into her head. I highlighted the section, because for a few pages at least it seemed like a wonderful illustration of how much of a difference feeling seen can make. But that relationship gets complicated, and not long thereafter Kita Mean describes meeting another queen—one determined to lift other performers up, not cut them down. Now...it's not that Kita Mean is subtle in her opinions about Peena Colada. But the back-to-back introductions of Peena Colada (sweet at first, but no substance) and Tess Tickle (slow to warm up, but then a fierce supporter) are so telling, and a valuable reminder to anyone who might find themselves in a position of influence over someone younger—who do you want to be? The person knocking over another person's ladder, or the person helping to get that ladder securely in place?

A content note: there's a fair amount of what reads like internalized fatphobia. Kita Mean notes herself that, growing up big, it was easier/safer to be the first one to make jokes about weight, but it's something to be aware of if it's something you'd rather not read. And then a different kind of content note: I've watched a fair amount of Drag Race, but I haven't seen the Down Under version, and if possible, I'd recommend watching it before reading. You'll still be able to visualize the Drag Race situations Kita Mean describes without that background, but for obvious reasons you'll be able to visualize it better if you've, well, seen it already. Barring that, look for a compilation video of all her Drag Race looks after you read the book, and at the very least you'll get a more visceral sense of her style and energy.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a free review copy through NetGalley.

[Nadine Bargalló Riazantseva · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and appreciated Kita's honesty about her lived experiences. However, the writing could have been better.