Jamie Campbell felt ‘lost’ as drag persona Fifi la True but has found his ‘self-worth’ without her

He catapulted to stardom with the documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16 in 2011, which saw him wear a dress to his school prom after being banned from doing so.

But Jamie Campbell admitted he began to feel ‘lost’ after debuting his drag persona Fifi la True at the dance, and performing as her for five years, as he told MailOnline he has finally realised his ‘self-worth’ without her.

The 23-year-old, who is the inspiration for the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, is now trying his hand at fashion design, and is set to release his first range in collaboration with Snag Tights.

Speaking about his drag persona, Jamie explained that Fifi ‘will always be part of [his] life’ and he hasn’t retired the character, but is keen to focus on projects that he can do as himself.

He said: ‘As soon as she was born really, the first five years, I just put everything on Fifi, my self worth and stuff because obviously you get a lot of attention when you’re out in drag, I got lost in that character. 

‘Drag is who we are at the end of the day but it’s also a heightened version, drag is real in some aspects but then it’s completely not in others. 

‘So, I did have to learn that Jamie, under it all, was amazing as well. That’s where I’m at now, so I am focusing on mainly Jamie projects at the moment, and designing.

‘I’ve got a few other bits that I’m working on. But, Fifi will definitely come out, I’ve got ideas, there’s definitely an idea of Fifi coming back, just not right now especially with our current climate.’

Reflecting on how the coronavirus crisis has hit the arts, he went on: ‘Mostly drag is performance based, and people aren’t able to perform or go to venues now, I know there are a few things going on, but the whole industry’s been seriously affected.

‘These are people’s livelihoods. A lot of the big [RuPaul’s] Drag Race girls are like “alright they’ll be fine”, but the girls who are working the scenes and the circuits, they’re used to the clubs and their livelihood is gone, and there’s no help for them so it has been difficult.’

Jamie’s collaboration with Snag will be released in January 2021, and has seen him act as a guest designer for a special collection.

The brand launched in May 2018, and prides itself on making products for those of any size, shape, age, race, nationality, or gender, with tights ranging from sizes 4-36 and in a variety of body shapes.

Admitting it’s ‘important’ for him to promote being inclusive with a brand like Snag, Jamie said: ‘There are so many people out there and quite often fashion is just catered towards smaller sizes, and the bigger people like to be able to look fabulous and feel fabulous.

‘So, I want to be able to contribute my style to that market. It’s really exciting being able to do that.’

Despite his keen sense of fashion and desire to design, Jamie admitted he was ‘really nervous’ at first, but was delighted when the brand bosses loved his creations.

He reflected: ‘I was really nervous, I’ve not actually… I mean I’ve designed clothes my whole life but they were outfits that were just for myself, this is my first proper design job, I was really nervous. 

‘I wasn’t sure if they were even going to like it, but they said “oh my god we love it all” and it was surprising, it gave me a lot of confidence in my abilities.’

His range will feature designs that are inspired by his mother Margaret, as well as his grandmother and the Jamie musical, amongst other things.

‘I did try to design with the consumer in mind, so obviously there were certain things I wanted to do that would be really out there that weren’t possible… but still have a cheeky Jamie [style],’ he says of the range. 

Jamie is the inspiration for the character Jamie New in the hit West End musical, which chronicles his dreams of becoming a drag queen at 16, his struggles at school, and how he defied it all to follow his dreams.

Of how it feels to be immortalised on stage in such a way, Jamie admits: ‘It is very weird, and it doesn’t get any less weird! 

‘It is very surreal, seeing things that you’ve done portrayed on the stage and a whole audience of people watching it. 

‘I’ve seen it so many times now so I always look at the audience, one minute they’re laughing and then the next they’re crying and all the tissues are out. I go on that journey with them.’ 

But that’s not all, as the musical has also been adapted into a movie starring Richard E. Grant, Sharon Horgan, and newcomer Max Harwood in the role of Jamie.

Jamie admits he has been on set and thought it was ‘amazing’ to see what director Jonathan Butterell has done with the show, as he gushed: ‘It’s completely crazy, I just can’t believe it.’

He claimed Richard was ‘amazing’ as drag queen Loco Chanelle, and said of the film: ‘I love it, I think it was great casting, Sarah Lancashire as my mum and Shobna Gulati [from the original stage cast] is in it still, she’s done so much on stage.

‘Max as well, that’s what I’ve always wanted.. I want[ed] it to be someone who is not known just to give them that moment, I’m really proud of him and how he handles it all because its so much pressure, but he did really well.

‘You are not ready! I’m not ready, the world’s not ready,’ he gushed.