Before she was the "Trantasy" herself, before she was saving the souls of her Season 14 sisters with a single look, and way before she became the face of a new generation of trans excellence, Kerri Colby was just a kid in Dallas trying to survive. Honestly, if you only know her from RuPaul's Drag Race, you're missing the most intense part of the story.
The Kerri Colby pre transition era isn't just a "before" picture. It’s a gritty, high-stakes survival story that sounds like something out of a movie.
The Pentecostal Pressure Cooker
Kerri was born Elyse Alessandra Anderson in July 1996. She grew up in North Dallas, specifically near Highland Village. It wasn't exactly a playground for self-expression. Her household was strictly Pentecostal and evangelical. We aren't just talking "go to church on Sundays" vibes—we're talking "home-schooled, sheltered, and monitored" levels of intense.
Her father wasn't a fan of her feminine mannerisms. He actually called her "gross" and "disgusting" for them. Imagine being a kid and hearing that from the person who’s supposed to protect you.
She was essentially forced into a box that didn't fit. To cope with the chaos at home, Kerri turned to an unlikely outlet: jump rope. She didn't just hop around in the driveway, either. She became a national-level competitive jump roper. It was her escape, a way to channel all that pent-up energy into something physical where she could control the outcome.
Leaving Everything Behind at 15
Most kids are worried about biology exams or who to take to prom at fifteen. Kerri was worried about where she was going to sleep.
The environment at home became so toxic that she left. Or, more accurately, she was disowned. At 15 years old, she was out on the streets of Dallas. She ended up in Oak Lawn, which is basically the "gayborhood" of Dallas. For a while, it was pure survival. She was couch-surfing and, unfortunately, ending up in some pretty sketchy, abusive situations because she was young and had zero resources.
Then came the "Angel" moment.
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One day, Kerri was sitting at a train station, probably looking as lost as she felt. A stranger named Emanuel recognized her. He’d seen her posts on Instagram and realized this was the same girl he'd seen online. He didn't just offer a "good luck"; he took her in. He provided a roof over her head until she turned 18. Without that one person, the Kerri Colby we know today might not even exist.
The Los Angeles Shift and the "Quickening"
As soon as she hit 18, Kerri took a leap of faith. A guy she met on an app offered to fly her to Los Angeles. She ended up in West Hollywood, and that's where the seeds of her transition really started to sprout.
But it wasn't an overnight thing. She didn't just hop off the plane and start HRT.
A major turning point happened when her half-brother passed away. He was only 38. He was the only other biracial child in the family, and they looked a lot alike. His death shook Kerri to her core. It gave her what she calls a "quickening"—a sudden, sharp realization that life is way too short to spend it pretending to be someone else. She realized she couldn't leave this earth without knowing who she actually was.
The 2020 Lockdown Transformation
Even with that realization, there was still fear. Transitioning is a massive, life-altering step. Kerri admitted she ran from it for a long time.
Then 2020 happened.
The pandemic forced everyone inside. For Kerri, it meant she couldn't run anymore. She was stuck in a room with herself, her thoughts, and her truth. That's when she finally decided to start hormone replacement therapy (HRT). By the time she auditioned for Drag Race the second time (she'd been rejected once before), she wasn't just doing drag; she was living as her authentic self.
Why This Matters for Fans
When you see Kerri on screen, you see this polished, ethereal goddess. But that confidence? It’s forged in fire. She’s very open about the fact that her "churchy" energy on the show—the way she "ministers" to the other queens—comes directly from her upbringing. She took the tools of the environment that rejected her and repurposed them to build up her community.
Basically, Kerri Colby is the ultimate example of taking your own "ugly" history and turning it into something beautiful.
Actionable Insights from Kerri's Journey:
- Audit your environment: If you’re in a space that actively suppresses your identity, your priority should be safety and a transition plan (whether that's moving or finding chosen family).
- Find your "Emanuel": Networking in your local community (like Oak Lawn for Kerri) can lead to unexpected mentors or "angels" who provide the stability you need to grow.
- Use the tools you have: Kerri used her evangelical upbringing to become a "mother" and a leader. You can take the skills from your past—even the painful parts—and use them for your own empowerment.
- Don't wait for a "quickening": You don't need a tragedy to start being authentic. Use Kerri’s story as the nudge you need to stop running from your own truth.
The road from a Pentecostal home in Dallas to a global stage in LA was anything but smooth. It was messy, scary, and often dangerous. But by understanding the Kerri Colby pre transition years, you see that her beauty isn't just skin deep—it's the result of a girl who refused to be erased.