Katya Zamolodchikova

Katya Zamolodchikova, born Brian Joseph McCook on May 1, 1982, is an American drag queen, actor, author, recording artist, podcaster, and comedian. She is widely known for competing on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where she finished in fifth place and was voted Miss Congeniality, as well as finishing as a runner-up on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. She is also recognized for her ongoing creative partnership with fellow drag performer Trixie Mattel.

McCook was raised Catholic in Marlborough, Massachusetts, alongside two siblings. His interest in dressing up began when his father bought him a cheerleader outfit and later a wig. He came out as gay at age 15 and graduated from Marlborough High School in 2000. After attending Boston University for a year, he transferred to the Massachusetts College of Art and Design to study video and performance art with a minor in psychology, which inspired his initial interest in drag.

In 2006, McCook created his Russian drag persona, combining Russian names with that of gymnast Elena Zamolodchikova. The character was influenced by funny women such as Tracy Ullman, Maria Bamford, Lana Del Rey, and Amy Sedaris, as well as a college professor who wore stilettos and full makeup in winter. Although not of Russian heritage, McCook studied language courses to master the accent. He hosted a monthly show titled Perestroika at Jacques Cabaret in Boston, where he performed to tracks by Russian musical acts.

After auditioning four times, McCook joined season seven of RuPaul's Drag Race, winning two challenges before his elimination. He later returned for All Stars season two, placing in the top three times and finishing as a runner-up. Alongside Mattel, he co-hosted the comedy web series UNHhhh starting in 2016, which spawned the television series The Trixie and Katya Show on Viceland, as well as the Netflix series I Like to Watch.

McCook's additional projects include digital comedy series such as RuGRETs and Irregardlessly Trish on his YouTube channel. In 2019, he launched the stand-up tour Help Me, I'm Dying, which was later released as a television comedy special. His work with Mattel expanded to include the book Trixie and Katya's Guide to Modern Womanhood, the newsletter Gooped, and the weekly podcast The Bald and The Beautiful. McCook also released the music EP Vampire Fitness, hosted the podcast Who's the Asshole?, and appeared in the television series Hacks.

McCook has publicly discussed his experiences with mental health struggles, substance abuse, and periods of rehab. A Daytime Emmy Award nominee, McCook was ranked 13th on New York magazine's 2019 list of the most powerful drag queens in America.