Yahoo Lifestyle “RuPaul’s Drag Race ”queen Brita had heart attack 1 year after 'darkest thoughts' led to month-long psychiatric treatment
"I learned that true growth requires stepping back, prioritizing my well-being, and giving myself the grace to heal," the season 12 queen tells EW.
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'RuPaul's Drag Race' star BritaRuPaul's Drag Race season 12 star and New York City drag staple Brita opened up about her recent health struggles — including seeking psychiatric treatment in 2023, as well as medical help for a heart attack one year later.
The drag entertainer revealed specifics about her health Thursday on Instagram, telling her followers that she experienced two major health issues across the last couple of years.
"Two years ago, I spent a month in a psych ward, struggling with the darkest thoughts. A year ago, I was in the hospital after suffering an acute heart attack," Brita wrote on her Instagram Story. "Today, I stand here in gratitude, with a clearer mind and a healthier body."
Brita, who placed ninth on Drag Race season 12 in 2020, wrote that "the journey to this moment has been anything but easy," and that she's exerted "immense effort, vulnerability, and the courage to prioritize" herself in her recovery.
"Taking care of your mind and body is one of the most profound acts of self-love," the 39-year-old added. "I’m living proof that even in the face of overwhelming challenges, healing and growth are possible."
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When reached for comment, Brita tells Entertainment Weekly that, since her time on DragRace, she has "embarked on a profound journey of self-discovery" that has taken "longer" than she anticipated, since first seeking treatment.
"Along the way, I learned that true growth requires stepping back, prioritizing my well-being, and giving myself the grace to heal," Brita continues. "Creativity, once my driving force, had to take a temporary pause — but now, with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity, I am thrilled to pour my heart into creating meaningful and transformative work this year. The road has been winding, but it has shaped me into someone stronger, more authentic, and ready to embrace what’s next."
On season 12, Brita entered the competition as one to watch, as she'd built a name for herself outside the show prior to joining the cast, but eventually landed in the bottom three times before sashaying away following a lip-sync with Heidi N Closet to Madonna's "Burning Up."
"It's weird watching the show back, because I hold my breath waiting to see what comes out of my mouth. I don't necessarily like the person I saw. I was so driven that I lost sight of myself. In my daily life in New York, I truly try to lead with kindness on the daily and bring inspiration and joy, but that's definitely not the person I saw on TV," Brita told EW in her elimination interview. "I let my sadness and insecurities get the best of me instead of embracing my faults. There was a moment where I came for Aiden [Zhane], and there's no reason for me to bring someone down just because I'm feeling a certain way. Just like real sisters, we're all so close, but sometimes the claws come out, but that doesn't mean at the end of the day that we don't love each other or don't to apologize each other. I love Aiden…. At certain times, people can easily blame the edit, but not me. I definitely said that s—. Was I wrong? Yeah. Did I learn from it? Absolutely."
Outside of her work on RuPaul's Drag Race, Brita — who also performs under the full name Brita Filter — starred on Fusion TV's Shade: Queens of NYC docuseries before performing on Saturday Night Live as a backup dancer for Katy Perry.
She also danced on stage for Adele and Jennifer Lawrence at Manhattan drag bar Pieces in 2019, where the stars were filmed getting wild in the audience as Brita gave them a show.
"They said that they came to see me, and then Adele asked me to do her birthday party. She also asked me to do Jennifer's bachelorette party, but I couldn't because I was filming season 12!" Brita previously told EW of the moment. "Her next wedding, her next album release, I'm there, Adele!"
Brita has also appeared on Broad City, The Daily Show, and on Drag Race companion series Bring Back My Girls.
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