Dusty Ray Bottoms is best known for her appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season X on VH1.

Dustin Rayburn was born and raised in Louisville, KY, where he popped out of his mama and onto the stage. He spent his childhood performing in community theater, concentrated in theater at Floyd Central High School and ultimately attended Wright State University for Musical Theatre. After college, Dustin packed up a suitcase with just a few bucks in his pocket and set out for New York City.

Having spent years admiring the pageantry of Kentucky drag, Dustin was instantly taken with the out-of-the-box drag he found in NYC. The son of a preacher man with musical theater training and a punk rock soul, Dustin’s unique point of view and style of storytelling had finally found a home. And thus, Dusty Ray Bottoms was born!

Dusty grabbed the attention of NYC nightlife with her showstopping performances in competitions such as The Miss Look Queen Pageant hosted by Bob the Drag Queen and So You Think You Can Drag? Named “Who’s Next” by Next Magazine as “the kind of performer who just might have what it takes to rival major drag talents like RuPaul and Bianca Del Rio,” Dusty had become a resident drag queen in NYC.

Over the next four years, Dusty would go on to star in music videos, an international MAC Cosmetics ad campaign (the first drag queen to model for them since RuPaul), and several original theatrical productions — including a play inspired by Dusty herself. With weekly shows, Dusty achieved the dream of being a professional performer in NYC. Her signature wiggle and unparalleled aesthetic has solidified Dusty as a staple in NYC nightlife.