You see her now as the ultimate "Tranos"—the goddess-tier trans icon who literally walked into RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 wearing Jennifer Lopez’s actual Versace dress. She’s the mother of the House of Colby, a fashion powerhouse, and a woman who radiates such a specific, ethereal confidence that she basically "transed" half the Season 14 cast just by existing near them.
But the road to that Versace dress wasn't paved with glitter. Honestly, it was paved with a lot of Texas dirt and some heavy religious trauma. To understand Kerri Colby before transition, you have to look at a kid named Elyse Alessandra Anderson, born in Dallas back in 1996, trying to survive a world that had absolutely no room for her.
The Pentecostal Pressure Cooker in Dallas
Kerri wasn't just raised "religious." She was raised United Pentecostal. If you aren't familiar with that world, basically think: no secular music, no TV, and a lot of very strict rules about how you present yourself to the world. Her dad was a big deal in the church, part of the "Praise Team" (the core choir).
She spent her childhood trying to be what they wanted. She sang in the youth choir. She even performed in sign language for special church services. Can you imagine? This future drag superstar was literally on a pulpit using her hands to praise a god her family told her would never accept the person she actually was.
Living in North Dallas, Kerri felt like an anomaly. She was biracial, which already made her stand out in her specific family dynamic—she’s mentioned that she and her half-brother were the only biracial kids on her dad's side. That feeling of being "different" was a constant hum in the background of her life.
The 15-Year-Old Runaway
Things got toxic. There’s really no other way to put it. By the time she was 15, the friction between her identity and her family's expectations hit a breaking point. Her parents eventually kicked her out.
Imagine being 15 and homeless in Texas.
She ended up in Oak Lawn, which is Dallas’s "gayborhood," but it wasn't some magical sanctuary at first. It was survival. She was couch-surfing, often relying on people much older than her, which she’s since admitted led to some pretty abusive and scary situations.
But then, a literal stranger named Emanuel changed everything. Emanuel saw Kerri—who was already posting on Instagram and trying to find her voice online—resting at a train station. He recognized her. He didn't just ask for a selfie; he took her in. He gave her a place to stay until she turned 18. That’s the kind of "chosen family" story that sounds like a movie script, but for Kerri, it was the only reason she made it out of Dallas alive.
The "Boy" Drag Era
Before the hormones, before the surgery, and before the "Colby" name, Kerri was experimenting. She actually found RuPaul’s Drag Race during Season 5 (the Alyssa Edwards season, which makes total sense given the Texas connection). Seeing Alyssa was a lightbulb moment.
"I felt so seen," she once told the Dallas Voice. "It was like, these people are queer... they are making themselves feel like their very own superheroes."
She didn't start doing "drag" in the traditional sense until about 2018 after moving to Los Angeles. But before she started her medical transition in 2020, her drag was a way of "projecting" the woman she wanted to be. It was a rehearsal. She was doing high-glam, hyper-feminine drag while still living as a "boy" in her daily life, though "boy" is a loose term for someone who has always radiated this much feminine energy.
What Finally Pushed the Transition?
Two things happened that changed everything.
First, her half-brother passed away unexpectedly at age 38. He was the one person she felt she shared a physical and cultural connection with. His death was a "quickening" for her. She realized life was too short to live as a version of herself that didn't feel real.
Then came the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020.
Being stuck alone meant she couldn't run from herself anymore. The distractions were gone. No clubs, no gigs, just Kerri and the mirror. That’s when she started Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). By the time she walked onto the set of Drag Race a year later, she wasn't just a queen in a wig. She was a woman.
Key Facts: The "Before" Timeline
- Birth Name: Elyse Alessandra Anderson.
- Hometown: North Dallas/Mesquite area.
- The Escape: Kicked out at 15; lived in Oak Lawn.
- The Talent: National-level competitive jump-roper (seriously, look up the videos).
- The Move: Left Texas for LA at age 18.
- The Shift: Started HRT in 2020 during the pandemic.
Why Kerri’s "Before" Story Matters Now
A lot of people look at Kerri Colby and see a "body goals" Barbie. They think she had it easy because she’s beautiful. But the reality is that Kerri Colby before transition was a homeless teenager who had to navigate the predatory side of the queer scene just to find a bed.
She carries that history with her. It’s why she was so protective of girls like Jasmine Kennedie and Kornbread on their season. She knows what it’s like when the world (and your own family) tries to snuff out your light.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Allies
If you’re inspired by Kerri’s journey from a strict Pentecostal upbringing to a trans trailblazer, here is how you can actually apply her "main character energy" to your own life or advocacy:
- Prioritize Your Safety First: Kerri has been very vocal about the fact that she had to leave a toxic environment to thrive. If you are in a situation where your identity puts you at risk, seek out local resources like the Trevor Project or local LGBTQ+ shelters before making major life changes.
- Document Your Growth: Kerri’s early Instagram posts are what actually led her "angel" Emanuel to find her. Don't be afraid to document your journey, even when it feels messy. Your "before" is just as important as your "after."
- Choose Your Family Wisely: The House of Colby (led by Sasha Colby) gave Kerri the stability her birth family wouldn't. If your biological roots don't nourish you, find people who do.
- Stay Authentic to Your Timeline: Kerri didn't transition until she felt safe and ready, despite knowing who she was since she was a child. There is no "right" age to start your truth.
Kerri Colby didn't just "become" a goddess on TV. She survived a childhood designed to break her, and that’s exactly why she’s so unbreakable now.