Cheers echoed throughout Minto Centre as local drag queen Karamilk debuted in the Werk Room on Canada’s Drag Race. In a matter of years, the Carleton University alum went from organizing a drag show in residence to making her national debut on the series’ sixth season.
The Gender & Sexuality Research Centre (GSRC) hosted a viewing party to root for Karamilk — whose real name is Jaden Slawter — in November 2025.
Although Karamilk’s time on the series ended in a lip-sync battle in Episode 8 which aired earlier this month, she is still inspiring people on the campus where she first helped create events for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
“I think seeing a Carleton alum, and knowing Karamilk is a queer person as well, is a way to see that you’re not alone,” said Cass Geddes, vice president (student life) at the Carleton University Students’ Association.
“A lot of queer people are pushed to the sides of conversations, or used as a fringe example, [so] seeing people who are out as queer and loud, especially from Carleton, is super important.”
Originally from Halifax, Karamilk moved to Ottawa to attend Carleton’s communication and media studies program, where she became involved in campus life. After becoming president of the Rideau River Residence Association, Karamilk sought to bring more queer events to Carleton.
“I wanted to be able to provide spaces for people similar to me, within my community,” Karamilk told the Charlatan ahead of the season’s initial release.
One of these events was Carleton’s first on-campus drag show. There, she met drag queens who invited her to watch their shows across Ottawa, where she “fell in love with it from afar.”
Initially, Karamilk never imagined herself doing drag — a performance art where people exaggerate gender expression through makeup, fashion and persona, regardless of the performer’s gender identity.
Originally it was just “an appreciation,” until she began working for Capital Pride through a summer internship in 2020 and found herself surrounded by drag performers. When they asked her to start backup dancing for them, she agreed, and eventually they suggested she start performing drag herself.
“I was always hesitant, I think because of my family and religious background, but it got to the point where I just went, ‘You know what? Let’s try it,’ and in 2022, I got in drag for the first time.
“From then on, I was obsessed.”
A few months later, she won the title of Ottawa’s Next Drag Superstar in Season 1 and became the drag daughter of Season 3 Canada’s Drag Race queen Kimmy Couture.
Karamilk worked for the Student Experience Office for a year before graduating in 2022, and helped them with coordinating Carleton’s first-ever Pride Festival in 2023 — now an annual October tradition.
“It was definitely a huge part of my journey in recognizing and understanding my queer identity,” Karamilk said. “I think that’s what also brought me to a point where I could accept myself and become Karamilk.
“Being a Raven is just such a huge part of my life, and really developed me as a person today.”
Contestants on Canada’s Drag Race participate in challenges like dramatic and comedic acting performances, dancing and lip-syncing. Contestants bring unique twists and personalities to their performances.
Over the course of the season, Karamilk used her background in acting and dance to her advantage, avoiding two threats of elimination by winning lip-sync performance battles.
In the eighth episode, she performed against drag queen Sami Landri for a place in the top four, but was eliminated — just shy of making it to the finale.
The Charlatan reached out to Karamilk for comment after her elimination aired, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
“I’m grateful overall for the journey. I’ve seen people who inspired me, and now I’m in a position where people have reached out and want to try drag, or they’re just so excited to see someone who went to Carleton,” Karamilk told the Charlatan in her initial interview.
“I think that’s just so cool to be that representation for people.”
Karamilk now lives in Toronto, but continues to do shows in Ottawa. She is currently hosting the Crews & Tangos Next Drag Super Star competition in Toronto over the course of ten weeks.
Joey Sims, GSRC’s programming co-ordinator, echoed that feeling at the premiere.
“I have always been a fan of Drag Race. I grew up with it, and it was my first real exposure to gender and sexual diversity and self-expression,” Sims said, sharing how lucky they feel to have Karamilk as an influence through the university connection. They met Karamilk by attending an on-campus drag performance in 2024.
“I see her as a huge inspiration, but also such an icon, especially because she’s done so much with the queer community.”
Although rooting for Karamilk was the main focus of GSRC’s November premiere event, Sims noted that it fell on the Transgender Day of Remembrance.
“We need to show up for our trans siblings, ancestors and community – presence means so much, but also getting to celebrate every little success,” Sims said. “I hope [attendees] take away that our community has so many different representations, but we’re always stronger together.”
After Karamilk’s elimination, Sims added they were “enamoured” with the drag queen’s creativity.
“I hope the school knows how amazing she is and how grateful we are to have her as a former student and as someone to look up to, too.”
Featured image provided by Karamilk.
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