RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Tayris Mongardi has revealed that she was subjected to sexual abuse at six-years-old while in the care system.
The 28-year-old drag performer from Brighton, who is currently appearing on Drag Race UK season seven, opened up about her devastating experience during a conversation in last night’s (16 October) episode.
The episode, entitled “Sweety Darlings!”, saw the remaining ten queens take part in a Jilly Cooper novel-inspired acting challenge. After filming their scenes, the queens headed back to the Werk Room to get ready for the runway.
While there, Tayris told fellow queen Sally
that her sister is one of the main reasons she does drag.
“There were parts of our childhood that were rough, girl. It was always my sister who was there to emotionally carry the pieces when my mum wasn’t really able to do so,” she said.
Tayris explained that her mother battled with her mental health, addiction and substance abuse, and she and her sister spent time in the care system.
“While we were in the care system, I was molested by my carer,” she tearfully shared.
“It’s been really hard to process so many things about myself as a result. When I was sexually assaulted, I was six-years-old, girl. It’s been really hard to heal some of the relationship with my mother.”
Speaking during her to-camera interview, Tayris said: “It’s so difficult because I know that my mum has so much love for me. But when you’re battling those demons it blindsides you and that’s when my dad stepped in.”
She confessed to sometimes feeling that her life “got better” once her mother stopped being her most active parent after her father stepped in.
“My dad moved down to Eastbourne and essentially our lives got way more stable,” she said.
“Now my dad has truly become my rock. Biggest supporter in the whole world. I’m so blessed to have a father figure in my life who really encourages everything that I am and everything that I want to be.”
Tayris went on to explain that she had made amends with her mother after wanting to fix their relationship.
“She is a really important person to me and I wouldn’t be able to do anything in this life, had she not given me this life in the first place,” she said.
Visibility emotional, the drag performer described her experience as a child as “a formative part of [her] personal strength”.
“I just really hope that my sister and my mother and everyone knows that no matter any of the hurdles that I’ve lived through in my life, I don’t think they define our relationships and they definitely don’t define me.”
Tayris was supported and praised by her fellow queens for the “awe-inspiring” way she had navigated and shared the experience.
In Drag Race UK season six, eventual winner Kyran Thrax revealed that she had been groomed as a young teenager by an older man.
“When I was younger, I came out as gay at 13. I felt I was ready for a relationship, which is insane, and it left me very vulnerable,” Kyran shared.
“Being online was escapism I guess and there was a man who added me as a friend and we were speaking. He told me he was 19 but he was actually 23.”
After the pair met, Kyran shared that they were “abused” for “a very long time”.
Drag Race UK continues on BBC iPlayer on Thursdays at 9pm BST and on WOW Presents Plus internationally.
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