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In “Lydia, Lydia, Lydia: A Collection of Photographs,” Pittsburgh’s drag superstar, Lydia B Kollins, who rose to stardom on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 10, delivers hot and sassy looks captured by QBurgh’s own Ava Grace of Ava Grace Studios.
Kollins and Grace share candid stories of their early days in drag in Pittsburgh, Lydia’s work as a performer, and Ava’s work as a photographer. The performer and the photographer split the writing duties on the glossy tome. Each chapter features a tale from Kollins and one from Grace, centered on the events of the same day or a series of days in the Steel City.
In the introduction, Lydia recounts the early days of their drag journey. Kollins drops in a bunch of familiar names to the Pittsburgh scene, such as JoeMyGosh, Indica, Indi Skies, Luna Skye, Scarlet Fairweather, Cindy Crotchford, Andi Whorehol, Bebe Beretta, Joey Young, and many others, a veritable who’s who of local queens.
Grace recalls their first meeting with the Butthole at an event at P Town Bar, where they were taking pictures for Another Party Pittsburgh, a popular drag night hosted by Indica. Grace describes Kollins as “a skinny creature in black and white ripped fabric, draped all over her body in the most haphazard ways.”
One night only!
The book comprises two distinct sections: Part 1, Season 17, and Part 2, All Stars 10. Season 17 fills the first twelve chapters. Kollins includes sketches of some of her more outlandish designs. There are both informal behind-the-scenes photographs and high-gloss portraits of the All-Star drag artist, both in full color and black & white.
Kollins wears some irreverent looks, including outerwear that resembles a fuzzy, pink phallus. Kollins and Grace recount a story in which they took the outfit to the fountain at Point State Park to create an illusion that made it appear as if the fountain stream was coming from the costume. The fountain, however, was turned off due to inclement weather.
The book includes stories from Season 17 and All Stars, as well as sincere, straightforward comments on a variety of photoshoots. In “Chapter 15: Little Shop of Whores,” the duo faced a “cacophony of adversities.” Kollins, dressed as Audrey II from “A Little Shop of Horrors,” and Grace chose an alley in downtown Pittsburgh to represent L.A.’s Skid Row, the setting for the famous stage and screen adaptations. Kollins slipped off an orthopedic boot to help heal a broken foot hidden under her green gown. After a few moments of shooting, Grace went to retrieve the boot, but it had disappeared. Apparently, the boot was stolen by an animated man hanging out in the alley. Despite the harrowing adventures of the day, the shoot produced glorious results. Kollins is a cross between the man-eating plant and the comic book villain Poison Ivy.
Of course, another drag diva and Drag Race contestant, Kori King, shows up in “Chapter 9: Heavens to Betsey.” Kollins and King met on the show and began dating. In the accompanying photoshoot, Kollins and King proved to be pretty in pink. Kollins wore a pastel cotton-candy, and King wore a hotter, brighter shade. Grace posed the two drag divas against an 80s prom backdrop featuring silver streamers and gold balloons, and photographed them with a soft pink filter to accentuate the queens’ flamingo shades.
King makes additional appearances in the book, most notably in “Chapter 16: Wild, Wild West,” where Kollins wears a crazy quilt of jean fabric, rope, and cowhide. In contrast, King wears fishnet and Daisy Dukes, delightfully displaying the two denim divas in wild poses.
Throughout the book, both the artist and the photographer share their stories in a relaxed, colloquial manner. It’s very conversational and easy to be charmed by their tales.
The photography is stunning. There are sizzling photos of the drag superstar wearing bright, bold costumes. It’s easy to see why Lydia B Kollins rose quickly through the annals of drag diva competitions to become an All-Star.
“Lydia, Lydia, Lydia: A Collection of Photographs” is available on Amazon.
Now, for the very first time, Lydia B Kollins and Ava Grace are appearing together for one night only to discuss this collaboration on January 24, 2026. The event will kick off with a drag show featuring Lydia’s drag daughters Gwendolyn Kollins and Zelda Kollins, as well as local favorite Indigo Sparks. Then Lydia and Ava Grace will share their favorite photos and memories of the year they worked together to document Pittsburgh’s latest Ru Girl. Moderated by Pittsburgh’s Drag Pop Star Joey Young, this is an event that any fan of drag won’t want to miss.
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