Banksie

Banksie
Born
Jonathan Banks

Wigan, England, United Kingdom
OccupationDrag queen
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 5)

Banksie is the stage name of Jonathan Banks, a British drag performer and a contestant on series 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

Early life and education

Banks was born in Wigan and studied at the Manchester School of Art (Manchester Metropolitan University).[1][2] Banks began performing in drag after watching early seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race.[3]

Career

Banks is a drag performer who began developing the persona Banksie at the age of fifteen.[4] BBC has said, "This particular seven-foot supermodel is obsessed with all things burlesque, and loves to channel the 'dark, horrible women' of the 1930s and 1940s with a modern twist."[5] Banksie has said, "My inspirations originate from fashion in the early 90s to the 2000s. I love Thierry Mugler, Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier and Paul Galliano. I love researching fashion and then finding a way to make it work on my body."[6] She is artistic director for the venue Firehouse on Swan Street.[7]

Banksie competed on series 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.[1][8][9] She was eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two of the Rusical challenge and losing a lip sync against DeDeLicious to "I Dreamed a Dream" by Susan Boyle.[10][11]

Personal life

Banks lived in Manchester,[1] before locating to Melbourne in 2026.[12] Their surname inspired the name Banksie.[13]

Banks is non-binary and 6'8", but approximately seven feet tall in heels, making them one of the tallest contestants on Drag Race.[3][6]

Banksie is part of the "drag family" of Cheddar Gorgeous.[14][15]

Discography

As lead artist

Title Year Album
"Get Fruity!"[16]
(with Monopoly Phonic)		 2024 non-album single
Title Year Album
"Don't Ick My Yum (The M-52s Version)"[17]
(RuPaul featuring Kate Butch, Ginger Johnson, & Miss Naomi Carter)		 2023 non-album single
"Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical"[18] 2023 Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical Album

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2023 RuPaul's Drag Race UK Herself Contestant [19]
2023 The After Shave with Danny Beard Herself Guest

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fedeczko, Sofia. "Ru Paul's Drag Race UK: Meet Manchester's 'seven-foot supermodel' Banksie hoping to wow the judges". Manchester World. Archived from the original on 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  2. ↑ Arnold, Ben (2024-08-21). "Manchester sensation Banksie on Bowie, getting personal with RuPaul and using drag as a superpower | mEats". Manchester’s Finest. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  3. 1 2 "Meet the fierce queens of Drag Race UK season 5". Yahoo News. 2023-09-12. Archived from the original on 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  4. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race: Banksie hails inspiration of northern women". www.bbc.com. 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  5. ↑ Spencer, Samuel (2023-09-11). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 cast: Meet the queens battling it out for the crown". BBC Three. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  6. 1 2 "Ru Paul's Drag Race UK: Meet Manchester's 'seven-foot supermodel' Banksie hoping to wow the judges". Yahoo News. 2023-09-13. Archived from the original on 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  7. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Meet the "pretty damn tall" Mancunian queen on the new series". Mancunian Matters. 2023-09-27. Archived from the original on 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  8. ↑ Guerra, Joey (2023-11-12). "'Drag Race UK' Q&A: Banksie talks being a fashion queen and her future as a techno-cabaret singer". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  9. ↑ Fox, Dale (2023-11-04). "Drag Race UK's Vicki Vivacious on Banksie: 'We don't speak'". Attitude. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  10. ↑ ""Avenge me!": Drag Race UK star Banskie on exit and "heated" Untucked". Gay Times. 2023-10-27. Archived from the original on 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  11. ↑ Wratten, Marcus (2023-10-27). "Drag Race UK's eliminated queen shares amazingly bizarre Snatch Game plan". PinkNews. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  12. ↑ Arcuri, Dean (2026-08-05). "Drag Race UK's Banksie is moving down under, and is ready to slay". QNews. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  13. ↑ Shatto, Rachel. "Banksie On Sharing Her Love Story & Drama In The Werk Room". Pride.com. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  14. ↑ "'DRUK's Ginger Johnson & Banksie Tease An Epic 'Talented' Season Five". www.pride.com. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  15. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 5 cast – meet the new queens". Digital Spy. 2023-09-11. Archived from the original on 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  16. ↑ "Get Fruity! - Single". Spotify.
  17. ↑ "Don't Ick My Yum (The M-52s Version) - Single". music.apple.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  18. ↑ "Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical". music.apple.com. Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  19. ↑ Spencer, Samuel (September 11, 2023). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 cast: Meet the queens battling it out for the crown". BBC Three. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
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