‘Drag saved me,’ Kyran Thrax says as she finds confidence after getting groomed

“It sounds so cliche,” says performer Kellan Peet, “but drag saved me.”

Kyran (who uses “they/them” pronouns) proudly performed for the first time as drag character Kyran Thrax at an open mic night at London’s Vauxhall in 2019, surrounded by friends.

But, as the drag artist explains, the character of Kyran Thrax wasn’t born that night: “I feel like this part of me has been with me ever since everything that happened when I was 13.”

As a teenager, Kellan fondly remembers wearing platform shoes, black eyeliner, purple hair and “the most orange foundation” to school, saying it felt like an early manifestation of their drag persona .

Kyran, 26, now prides himself on his confidence and uplifting others through drag, but says “it really started as a defense mechanism because it was a way for me to try and survive.” .

At the age of 13, Kellan had just come out as gay. and started talking to a 23-year-old man. After meeting a man who claimed to be a teenager on social media.

“I convinced myself that I was ready for a romantic relationship, which was ridiculous,” Kellan said, adding that the two met and had an emotional and sexual relationship for seven months.

“It’s horrible,” Kellan added, “I gave this man everything, my whole childhood.”

Grooming is when someone forms a relationship with a vulnerable person so that they can abuse and manipulate them. The abuse is often sexual or financial.

Kyran waived her legal right to anonymity to speak about the experience, eventually confiding in her mother and reporting the incident to police together. Kellan was still in middle school when they took legal action against the beautician.

“In general, it’s a very strange experience to have this happen in school because obviously everyone is talking about everything,” Kellan said.

Kellan’s abuser finally Admits to having sex with child and jailed.

Kellan isn’t the only one with this experience. the latest one Report from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animalsfound that more than 7,000 offenses of sexual communication with children were recorded across the UK in the year to March 2024.

Richard Collard, deputy director of policy and public affairs at the NSPCC, which runs Childline, said grooming could have “long-lasting effects” on children.

“It often leads to self-harm, eating disorders and can even affect them for the rest of their lives.”

After the experience of being groomed, Kellan said: “It was really hard, I hated myself, I really, really did it.

“One way I try to survive is to convince myself that I do love myself,” Kellan adds, explaining that daily affirmations and exploring drag became a way to rebuild confidence.

During this difficult time in their lives, Kellan said, “I think [my drag persona, Kyran Thrax] There, I think she has been my expression.

Kellan studied drama at university and continued to develop their drag act.

Encouraged by friends, Kellan began performing on stage, and by graduation they became “full-time drag queens.”

Now, Kyran is taking part in the UK version of the latest BBC series RuPaul’s Drag Race. Kellan said seeing herself on screen felt like a dream.

In episode five, Kellan tells fellow queen Lavoix about their experience of being groomed.

“I feel like this topic is still a taboo and a lot of people shy away from talking about it,” Kellan said.

Kellan shared their excitement for the future, hoping their drag can “provide a fun, surreal experience where people can come and forget about their problems and just escape reality.

“I feel like that’s why I’m here, to perform.”

If you or someone you know has been affected by child sexual abuse, BBC Mobile Details of organizations that may be able to help.