Cheddar Gorgeous

Cheddar Gorgeous
Cheddar Gorgeous at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2023
Born
Michael Atkins

(1984-06-17) June 17, 1984 (age 42)
Birmingham, England
EducationUniversity of Manchester (PhD)
OccupationsDrag performer, academic
Websitecheddar-gorgeous.co.uk

Cheddar Gorgeous is the stage name of Michael John Atkins, a British drag performer and academic who competed on series 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

Career

Atkins competed as Cheddar Gorgeous on the fourth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, where she finished as the runner-up. She had previously appeared on Drag SOS. In 2023, Cheddar Gorgeous was a guest celebrity on series 5 of Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star airing on BBC Three. She won Celebrity Mastermind in 2023.

Formerly known as "Sisters Gorgeous" with her "drag sister" Anna Phylactic, the two formed "The Family Gorgeous", a drag house akin to the drag family model seen in the United States. Other members of this house include fellow Drag Race UK contestants Banksie and Lill.

Personal life

Atkins was born in Birmingham and now lives in Manchester. His drag name comes from the landmark Cheddar Gorge.

Atkins holds a PhD in anthropology from the University of Manchester. In September 2023, Atkins began a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Manchester.

Discography

List of featured singles
Title Year Album
"Come Alive" (Queens of the Bone Age version)
(with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, series 4)		 2022 Non-album singles
"Lairy Poppins: The Rusical"
(with the cast RuPaul's Drag Race UK, series 4)
"UK Grand Finale Megamix"
(RuPaul featuring the cast RuPaul's Drag Race UK, series 4)
"Queen Bee"
(Max Auton feat. Cheddar Gorgeous)		 2024

Filmography

Film and television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2019 Drag SOS Herself Mentor
2022 RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 4 Contestant
2023 Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star series 5 Guest Judge
2023 The After Shave with Danny Beard Guest
2023 Celebrity Mastermind (series 22) Contestant (Winner)
2024 Bring Back My Girls Guest

Music videos

Year Title Artist Role
2020 "Nerves of Steel" Erasure Herself

References

  1. ↑ Baska, Maggie (1 June 2022). "'Disruptively gendered' drag icon Cheddar Gorgeous to lead Platinum Jubilee parade". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  2. ↑ "21 questions with 'Drag SOS' star Cheddar Gorgeous". Attitude.co.uk. 12 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  3. ↑ "Cheddar Gorgeous delivers out of this world lip-sync to David Bowie's 'Starman'". Attitude.co.uk. 27 June 2021. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  4. ↑ "Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star Series 5: Episode 6". www.bbc.co.uk. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  5. ↑ Noyce, Eleanor (5 December 2023). "Cheddar Gorgeous says Mastermind was 'the right throne' to win". PinkNews. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  6. ↑ James, Alastair (4 December 2023). "Drag Race UK's Cheddar Gorgeous wins Celebrity Mastermind". Attitude. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  7. ↑ Ryan, Gary (3 August 2017). "Big Issue North". Big Issue North. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  8. ↑ Sweeney, Michael (11 September 2023). "Meet the Queens interview... Banksie". Spill the Tea Magazine. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  9. ↑ Cook, Michael (21 December 2024). "Lill Spills On Latex, The Family Gorgeous & A Stunning "Drag Race UK" Run". Werrrk. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  10. ↑ "Who is Cheddar Gorgeous, Manchester contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race 2022?". www.manchesterworld.uk. 21 September 2022. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "StackPath". xtramagazine.com. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  12. ↑ Burgos, Joey (21 September 2022). "Meet RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 4's Queens". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  13. ↑ Owen, Christopher J. (16 July 2019). ""Outside of What is Human": An Interview with SFF Drag Queen Cheddar Gorgeous". Anglia Ruskin Centre for Science Fiction & Fantasy. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  14. ↑ Wratten, Marcus (18 September 2023). "Drag Race UK's Cheddar Gorgeous begins 'radical' career change". Pink News. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  15. ↑ Erasure (11 August 2020). "Erasure - Nerves of Steel (Official Video)" (YouTube video). Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.