Tomara Thomas

Tomara Thomas (born Tom Adams; c. 1998) is an English drag performer, professional dancer, and television personality from Hartlepool, County Durham, best known for her third-place finish on the fifth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2023.^[1][2][3] Thomas began performing in drag at the age of 14 while attending dance school in the North East of England, later pursuing a career as a professional dancer that included gigs on cruise ships.^[3][4] During the COVID-19 lockdown, she revisited drag through makeup tutorials and performances, eventually relocating to London to build her career with regular brunches and evening shows noted for high-energy routines featuring splits, high kicks, and comedic flair.^[3] Her breakthrough came with RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 on BBC Three, where she competed as one of 10 contestants, earning a maxi challenge win in the "Girl Groups" episode and two mini challenge victories for read and photoshoot tasks, before reaching the finale alongside winner Ginger Johnson and runner-up Michael Marouli.^[1][2] Post-show, Thomas has expanded her profile through live tours, including the 2024 sell-out run and the 2025 Angels of the North production with Johnson and Marouli across eight UK cities, as well as television appearances like Channel 4's campy game show The Inheritance in 2025, where she and Marouli portrayed extravagantly wealthy heirs in a satirical inheritance competition.^[5][6] She continues to perform at events such as Durham Pride and high-profile premieres, maintaining her reputation as a "dancing diva" with a humorous, fierce persona.^[7][4]

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Tomara Thomas, born Tom Adams to mother Sharon Adams, grew up in Hartlepool, County Durham, England, a coastal town in the North East known for its tight-knit community.^[8][9] Hartlepool's supportive environment played a key role in shaping Adams's early personality, as the town is described as one that rallies behind locals who stand out or pursue unique paths, fostering a sense of encouragement for those who are different.^[8] Adams first experimented with drag at the age of 14 while attending dance school in Hartlepool, drawing inspiration from personal curiosity and the vibrant local performance scene.^[10] His dance teacher, Debbie Barrass, recognized his flair for performance and encouraged him to explore drag, suggesting the stage name "Tomara" to capture his bold potential as a drag artist.^[10] Adams adopted the full moniker "Tomara Thomas," incorporating his birth surname to complete the persona that would define his early forays into the art form.^[10]

Education and early interests

Tom Adams, known professionally as Tomara Thomas, attended Manor College in Hartlepool, where he developed his initial interests in performing arts. Following secondary school, he relocated to London to pursue studies in musical theatre, honing skills that would later inform his dynamic stage presence.^[10] During his teenage years, Adams immersed himself in dance training at a local dance school under instructor Debbie Barrass, beginning formal classes that sparked his passion for performance. At age 14, he made his first forays into drag, collaborating with Barrass on a bold, spicy routine that marked his early experimentation with the art form. Barrass also assisted in crafting his drag name, "Tomara," evolving it into the full persona "Tomara Thomas" as he refined his fierce, high-energy style through initial performances at the school.^[10][11] After completing his education, Adams gained early professional experience as a dancer, performing on cruise ships around the world, where he admired female entertainers and aspired to embody similar roles. These voyages provided practical training in high-kicks, splits, and audience engagement, laying the groundwork for his drag career while temporarily setting aside his teenage drag pursuits.^[3]

Career

Pre-Drag Race career

Tom Adams, known in drag as Tomara Thomas, began performing in drag at the age of 14 while attending dance school in Hartlepool, England, where his instructor Debbie Barrass helped him select the name "Tomara."^[10] Initially incorporating drag elements into dance routines for local competitions, Adams developed an early performance style blending high-energy movement with glamorous aesthetics, despite facing occasional negativity in his hometown.^[12] Following this, he pursued formal training in musical theatre at the Urdang Academy in London before transitioning to professional dance work.^[13] After graduating, Adams worked as a professional dancer on cruise ships, touring internationally and performing in live shows that honed his stage presence and adaptability to diverse audiences.^[3] These experiences, which included admiring and emulating the elaborate costumes and roles of female performers aboard, further shaped his drag persona, though he paused regular drag during this period to focus on dance.^[3] The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his cruise ship career, leading to a return to Hartlepool where work opportunities were limited; during lockdown, Adams revived his drag practice through personal makeup experiments, marking a pivotal shift toward prioritizing drag performances.^[10][3] Relocating to London post-lockdown, Adams secured initial drag gigs in the local UK scene, building his reputation through club performances and gradually establishing Tomara Thomas as a fierce, manic entertainer known for wild energy and bold looks.^[3] This groundwork culminated in a notable appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 semi-finals in Liverpool, where he performed as part of a drag trio—alongside Miss Demeanour and Mercedes Bends—in the interval act "Be Who You Wanna Be," a medley celebrating drag transformation that drew widespread acclaim from audiences.^[14][15]

RuPaul's Drag Race UK appearance

Tomara Thomas competed as one of ten contestants on the fifth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, which premiered on 28 September 2023 and aired weekly on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.^[16] Hailing from Hartlepool, she entered the werkroom with a bold persona, declaring herself the season's "femme fatale" in her introductory verse during the premiere episode. Throughout the competition, Thomas demonstrated versatility in various challenges, leveraging her comedic timing and performance skills to advance to the finale. A standout moment came in episode six's Snatch Game, where Thomas impersonated Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire, incorporating multiple accents as suggested by RuPaul during preparations.^[17] RuPaul praised her portrayal as "gut-bustingly hilarious," securing a safe placement and highlighting her ability to adapt feedback into entertaining delivery.^[17] She also contributed to a team win in the episode four "DisasterClass" seminar challenge, earning her sole maxi challenge victory of the season. On the runway, Thomas consistently embodied her femme fatale aesthetic with seductive, glamorous ensembles featuring bold silhouettes, high drama, and luxurious details, such as her finale "Dripping in Jewels" look that emphasized elegance and allure.^[9] In the season finale, she reached the top three alongside Ginger Johnson and Michael Marouli, performing in the Queen of the North music video and lip-syncing for the crown.^[9] Despite strong entertainment value, judges critiqued her drag as less dynamic compared to her competitors, leading to her elimination and third-place finish.^[9] Her run on the show amplified her presence in the UK drag community, establishing her as a charismatic entertainer with widespread appeal.^[2]

Post-Drag Race activities and tours

Following her appearance as a finalist on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Tomara Thomas leveraged her rising profile to embark on a sold-out UK tour in 2024 alongside fellow Drag Race alumni Ginger Johnson and Michael Marouli, titled Angels of the North.^[7] The production, which featured high-energy performances across multiple cities, achieved such success that it prompted an extension into 2025, with dates scheduled from April 9 to 17, including stops in London, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, and Bristol.^[7] In 2024, Thomas expanded her media presence with a guest appearance on BBC Three's digital series Ranked, where she joined other reality TV personalities in a comedic ranking challenge hosted by Joel Dommett.^[18] That November, she participated in a promotional event for ASOS on Oxford Circus, strutting a live catwalk that culminated in her being doused with buckets of glitter as part of the brand's party-wear showcase titled People Will Talk.^[19] She also began co-hosting the podcast One Mic, Double the T with Michael Marouli, discussing drag, life, and pop culture.^[13] By September 2025, Thomas collaborated with Michael Marouli on promotional content for Channel 4's game show The Inheritance, portraying exaggeratedly opulent heirs in a campy interview series that highlighted the program's themes of sudden wealth and chaos.^[6] This partnership extended to a joint cover feature in Gay Times magazine's September issue, where the duo discussed their "fabulously chaotic" lives in the context of the show's narrative.^[6] Thomas continued her live performance commitments into early 2025 with a role in the adult pantomime Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens, part of a nationwide UK tour produced by North East Adult Panto, opening at Newcastle City Hall on January 4 and including a one-night stand at The Brighton Centre on January 5.^[20] Represented by On The Box Talent agency, she maintains an active schedule of live bookings, encompassing additional tour dates and events throughout the year.^[13]

Personal life

Family and upbringing

Tomara Thomas maintains strong ties to her hometown of Hartlepool in County Durham, where her upbringing continues to shape her personal and professional identity. She has expressed concern about her regional accent being understood during public appearances, indicating her embrace of it.^[21] Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Thomas returned to Hartlepool after her career as a professional dancer on cruise ships was disrupted. Unable to work during lockdown, she spent this time back home experimenting with makeup transformations, which reignited her passion for drag and led her to pursue it full-time upon relocating to London.^[3][10][11] Thomas has expressed affection for coming home, highlighting the ongoing positive influence of Hartlepool's community on her life and work.^[10]

Relationships and identity

Tomara Thomas uses she/her pronouns while in drag and he/him pronouns out of drag.^[22] This distinction aligns with her public presentation as a drag performer, where drag serves as a key form of self-expression. In a 2023 interview, Thomas described her drag aesthetic as that of a "posh slut" – emphasizing a blend of high-class elegance and bold sensuality that allows her to channel fierce, manic energy on stage.^[11] She has highlighted how drag enables her to explore and amplify aspects of her queer identity, particularly through high-energy performances that celebrate unapologetic femininity and wild creativity, a style she developed from starting drag at age 14 and intensifying during the COVID-19 lockdown.^[11] In her personal relationships, Thomas has been open about her romantic life. On January 7, 2025, she celebrated her one-year anniversary with her partner via an Instagram post, writing, "One year of loving you and many more to come, happy anniversary my lover boy," accompanied by photos of the couple.^[23]

Works

Discography

Tomara Thomas's discography consists primarily of featured contributions to musical numbers from her appearance on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, released as part of the show's official soundtracks. These include group performances and ensemble tracks that highlight her vocal style and lyrical contributions within the drag competition format.

Featured singles

These releases received positive reception for their campy, theatrical energy, aligning with Thomas's femme fatale persona established on the show, though none achieved significant commercial success beyond the UK chart entry for "Don't Ick My Yum."

Filmography and television appearances

Tomara Thomas's television career began with her prominent role as a contestant on the fifth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2023, where she finished in third place.^[28] In November 2023, Thomas appeared as a guest on ITV's morning show Lorraine, joining fellow Drag Race UK finalists Ginger Johnson and Michael Marouli to discuss the season's finale and the cultural impact of the competition shortly after its airing.^[29] Earlier that year, in May 2023, Thomas performed as part of a drag trio—alongside Miss Demeanour and Miss Mercedes Bends—in the interval act "Be Who You Wanna Be" during the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, impersonating Ukrainian performer Julia Sanina and captivating an audience of millions with a high-energy routine featuring the Podilya dance ensemble.^[30] In 2024, Thomas competed as a contestant on the BBC Three YouTube mini-series Ranked, a six-part reality format where participants, including other reality TV stars like Jacques O'Neill and Connie Talbot, ranked themselves against various challenges to win a cash prize, showcasing her competitive edge in a non-drag context.^[31] Thomas expanded her reality television presence in 2025 with her participation in Channel 4's The Inheritance, a campy competition series where 13 strangers vied for a substantial cash prize simulating an unexpected inheritance, during which she formed alliances and navigated strategic gameplay alongside co-contestant Michael Marouli.^[6] Promotional efforts for the show included on-air interviews and appearances highlighting her experiences, further elevating her profile in British television.^[6] Since September 2024, Thomas has co-hosted the podcast One Mike, Double The T with Michael Marouli, offering weekly discussions on drag culture, personal experiences, and RuPaul's Drag Race UK episodes.^[32]