For the first time in her career, Trisha Paytas—YouTuber, mother, pop provocateur, and unexpected queer icon— is stepping onto the global stage at WorldPride, delivering a performance that can only be described as pure, unfiltered queer euphoria.
“I’ve never even been to a festival, not even Coachella,” Paytas confessed exclusively to Gayety. “And now I’m performing for 35,000 people at WorldPride? It’s surreal.” And surreal it was—equal parts drag fantasy, glittered gospel, and internet meme made flesh.
A Pop Culture Icon Steps Into the Queer Spotlight
Paytas, 37, has been an omnipresent figure in online pop culture for over a decade, bouncing between viral memes, YouTube vlogs, podcast appearances, and TikTok transformations. But her appearance at WorldPride DC 2025 marks something different: a real-world affirmation of her place in LGBTQ+ culture—not as an outsider peering in, but as someone celebrated by the community she’s long adored.
“I’ve always felt chosen by the queer community,” she shared. “You can’t just call yourself a gay icon—they choose you. And I’ve always felt that love, even when the rest of the world didn’t get me.”
Pride, Identity, and Becoming “Just Me”
While Paytas has weathered criticism and confusion over the years for her fluid approach to identity and expression, her evolving relationship with herself has resonated with many LGBTQ+ fans. “Pride means being your authentic self—even if you don’t fully know what that is yet,” she said. “I used to feel like I was cosplaying life, doing what I thought I was supposed to do. Now, I just try to live authentically and stay open.”
Paytas, who identifies as sexually fluid and continues to explore her gender identity, emphasized how important it is to offer space for questioning and growth. “Whether you’re confident, questioning, or struggling—Pride is for you,” she said. “It’s about being accepted exactly where you are.”
The WorldPride Set: Glitter, Gyrations, and Gospel
Paytas’ performance was tailor-made for the queer community—deliberately over-the-top, deeply camp, and full of heart. Her set was a 15-minute mega-mix of her cult hits like “I Love You Jesus,” “Freaky,” and new unreleased material, backed by six professional dancers who’ve graced the stages with Beyoncé and Britney Spears.
“You’re not going to need poppers,” she joked. “There’s going to be so much stimulation—you’ll be gagged and gorged and widened by the visuals alone.”
Wearing three separate costumes in just 15 minutes—including pink sequins and retro diva wigs—Paytas embodied a queer fantasia built for the TikTok generation. From belly jiggling to full-on sex kitten choreography, she gave it her all.
“This show is for the gays. No filter. No holding back,” she said. “I went full pop star fantasy for the crowd that gets me the most.”
A Community That Reflects Her
Despite the glitz and spectacle, the emotional core of Paytas’ relationship with the LGBTQ+ community remains earnest. “They were the first to accept me when no one else did,” she said. “The memes, the videos, the edits—those weren’t just jokes, they were love letters. And they helped me love myself too.”
From iconic kitchen-floor breakdowns to viral audio clips like “Huh? What?” and “No no no thank you,” Paytas has unintentionally supplied the queer community with a decade’s worth of shareable, relatable content. And she sees it all. “How they find some of this stuff—I don’t even know where it came from,” she laughed. “But the captions? The remixing? Genius. It’s like performance art at this point.”
From YouTube Chaos to Safe Space Celebration
For Paytas, Pride is about joy, acceptance, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen—something she strives for not just in her online presence, but in her live shows as well. “My concerts are safe spaces. They’re full of laughter, camp, body positivity, weirdness, whatever you’re into,” she explained. “It’s like a Pink Pony Club—but for everyone.”
Her message to fans is simple: “Just be yourself in whatever stage of the journey you’re on. That’s enough.”
The Legacy of Love
While Paytas admits she doesn’t know what the future holds for her identity—or even her career—she’s clear about one thing: this moment at WorldPride is among the most meaningful of her life.
“It hasn’t even sunk in yet,” she said, glowing with excitement. “My mom, my sister—they can’t believe it. I was always told I couldn’t sing or dance, and now I’m on the main stage of WorldPride. It’s everything.”
And even though she’s currently pregnant and couldn’t bring her husband or child to the show due to limited passes, she smiled while saying, “Technically, my baby is coming with me.”
Whether it’s through laughs, live performances, or late-night meme material, Trisha Paytas has carved a unique—and cherished—place within queer culture. And now, with WorldPride behind her and a baby on the way, she’s redefining what it means to be a pop icon: unapologetically chaotic, endlessly expressive, and, most of all, deeply loved by the LGBTQ+ community.
“I’m honored to be part of this,” she said. “And I hope I make the gays proud.”
