Kade Gottlieb (born August 19, 1996), better known as Gottmik, is an American drag performer and make-up artist.
He became the first openly trans man to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race, coming in shared 3rd/4th place on the thirteenth season with fellow contestant Rosé.
Gottmik co-hosts the podcast "No Gorge" alongside fellow drag queen, Violet Chachki.
Gottmik was born in Arizona and later adopted by a conservative family in Scottsdale, and attended Notre Dame Preparatory High School.
He began experimenting with drag at the age of eighteen.
After high school, he pursued a career in the fashion industry by relocating to Los Angeles, where he transitioned and developed his cosmetics and drag skills.
He earned a degree in product development from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.
Gottmik is a drag performer and make-up artist.
He has done makeup for Cindy Crawford, Todrick Hall, Paris Hilton, Heidi Klum, Adam Lambert, French Montana, and Tinashe, as well as Drag Race contestants Alaska Thunderfuck, Detox Icunt, Gia Gunn, Shangela, Violet Chachki, and Willam Belli.
His work, described by Out Rose Dommu as "[ranging] from highly conceptual to urbane", has appeared in the magazines Flaunt, Nylon, and Paper.
He did makeup for Amanda Lepore and Pabllo Vittar for their covers on Gay Times.
2019
He also did the makeup for the celebrities who were featured in Taylor Swift's 2019 single "You Need to Calm Down".
In 2021, Gottmik became the first openly trans man to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race, appearing on the thirteenth season.
He performed well in the competition, winning two challenges (the ball and the Snatch Game, performing as Paris Hilton), and ultimately reaching the top four alongside Kandy Muse, Symone, and Rosé.
He was eliminated during the finale episode in a lip sync for your life to the song "Gimme More" against the season's eventual winner, Symone, ultimately tying with Rosé as second/third runner up.
After competing on Drag Race, Gottmik signed with Voss Events talent management, and traveled the United States with Voss' COVID-19 pandemic-compliant drive-in drag show, Drive 'N Drag Saves 2021.
Gottlieb also joined Voss' 2022 European tour, RuPaul's Drag Race Werq the World tour.
In October 2021, Gottmik performed alongside fellow drag race alumni Violet Chachki, Alyssa Edwards, Aquaria, Jaida Essence Hall, Kandy Muse, Plastique Tiara, Rosé, and Kim Chi on Voss Event's Night of the Living Drag Halloween tour.
Gottmik launched a YouTube channel in January 2021.
Gottlieb has also appeared on the Gigi Gorgeous, Pearl, James Charles and World of Wonder channels.
Gottlieb was featured on the cover of Attitude for its April Style issue in 2021.
Cosmopolitan invited Gottlieb to demonstrate how he transforms into Gottmik.
In a July 2021 interview with Entertainment Weekly, it was revealed that the producers of the 2022 remake of Hellraiser auditioned Gottlieb for the role of the film's most iconic character, Pinhead.
Gottlieb had previously worn a black-and-white-themed runway look inspired by Pinhead in the season 13 finale of RuPaul's Drag Race.
In September 2021, Gottlieb started the YouTube and Podcast series No Gorge with fellow drag race alum Violet Chachki, where they discuss "all things fashion, life, and artistry."
Gottmik is one of the most-followed queens of Drag Race, with more than 1.3 million Instagram followers as of October 2021.
In September 2022, Gottmik appeared in the music video for Sam Smith and Kim Petras' song "Unholy" alongside Violet Chachki.
Gottmik and Violet Chachki also performed alongside Smith and Petras to "Unholy" at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
Gottlieb will release his debut book The T Guide on May 16, 2023, through Penguin Random House.
Co-written with Canadian beauty influencer Gigi Gorgeous, The T Guide will talk about the duo's "trans experiences and a celebration of gender expression – man, woman, nonbinary, and beyond".
Out described Gottmik as "someone transmasculine who does high femme drag".
Gottlieb uses she/her pronouns when portraying Gottmik, and he/him pronouns out of drag.
Gottmik is pansexual.
Gigi Gorgeous is among Gottmik's best friends; the two have appeared on magazine covers and launched merchandise together.
Gigi also helped to fund Gottmik's chest reconstruction.
! scope="row" | 2021
! scope="row" | 2022
! scope="row" | 2024
2020
In 2020, Gottmik did Lil Nas X's makeup for Halloween, when he dressed as Nicki Minaj.
