More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
On the surface Miles Pullman looks like your average 12-year-old boy. He lives with his mother in Broadstairs and attends The Charles Dickens School.
However, after school his life couldn't be more different to his peers. Make-up, dresses, wigs and body padding all contribute to a complete transformation into 'Miss Oatie T' – a drag persona which has quickly captured the hearts of industry leaders.
Miss Oatie T performs in front of thousands for the first time at Canterbury Pride.
While many young boys hold dreams of becoming professional football players or enjoy logging on to play video games when the school bell rings, Miles perfects his artistry in dance, make-up and mixing music tracks for future performances.
Before Miss Oatie T was revealed to the world, Miles would travel the length and breadth of the country competing in dance competitions. This is a skill which he now hopes will help him stand out from the crowd in his drag performances.
However, Miles said that in reality he has always been Miss Oatie T, but only recently has he built the confidence to take her out of the four walls of his Broadstairs home.
Backstage at his first major gig on Saturday, he said: "Miss Oatie T is my drag persona which has come across mainly in 2021. I've been her all my life, but I've started to see her coming out more in 2021."
The first time Miles went outside in full head-to-toe drag was on Friday, August 13.
In a pink wig and black dress, Miss Oatie T became an attraction of her own at Glitterbomb in the Park in Maidstone – a ticketed festival for the LGBTQ+ community.
Watching his favourite performers from RuPaul's Drag Race from the front row with his mum Nicola, he would never have believed that just four weeks later he would be sharing a stage with some of the UK's greatest drag artists.
From that first appearance as Miss Oatie T, Miles caught the attention of Thanet businessman Duncan Bayles, owner of Sundowners Bar in Margate.
He booked Miles for his first performance just a day later on Saturday, August 14. Miss Oatie T then made her debut to a small and exclusive crowd at the LGBTQ+ venue, but word soon started to spread on social media.
Mr Bayles said: "This little one is an absolute superstar. Mark my words he will take over in the future – winner of RuPaul's Drag Race 2028."
The Sundowners Bar has been one of Miles' biggest supporters, inviting him back to meet The Vivienne and Cheryl Hole at Netflix's live tour last week.
From there, Mr Bayles was able to persuade organisers at Canterbury Pride to give the newcomer a slot on the main bandstand. With Miss Oatie T sandwiched between drag race heavyweights Cheryl Hole and Baga Chipz, Dane John Gardens was filled with thousands of excited drag fans.
Before his performance Miles revealed that despite his calm exterior, he was nervous for the massive performance ahead of him.
However, no anxiety compared to that of Miles' mum.
Backstage in freshly designed 'Miss Oatie T' official merchandise, she said: "I'm an absolute wreck. He hates any input that I have with him at all.
"Any input from outside is fine, but anything from me is wrong – but usually mummy is right.
"I am his worst critic but I'm going in there blind. I have no idea what he is going to do on stage today."
For most parents, the nerves wouldn't stop there and fears of bullying and nasty comments online or at school would become a big worry. However, Nicola said that so far there haven't been any real problems.
Miles added: "Mostly everyone really likes Miss Oatie T, but then there are the odd couple of people who say no I don't like that at all."
Thinking back to not too long ago when Miles was a small child, his mum says a love for Michael Jackson may have been a catalyst in the creation of the tiny drag superstar.
She laughed: "He always had a Michael Jackson wig on his head and loved a lipstick. He started doing make-up properly when he was about five.
"I have no 'normal' baby pictures of Miles really. He has always been over the top."
With five sons in total, Nicola stressed that she chooses to support her children in whatever they decide to do.
She added: "I have five boys and I'm proud of each and every one of them. I just want to let them experience everything they want to experience – from footballers to drag queens!"
Nicola revealed that she always knew her son would go on to become a performer. She recalled that when Miles was a toddler he would often throw tantrums in supermarkets if he wasn't allowed to buy yet another lipstick for his growing collection.
Inspired by the queens before him, Miles' ambitions for the future include working in Primark during the day and then transforming into Miss Oatie T and performing every evening at sold-out shows.
At Glitterbomb in the Park, Miss Oatie T met fellow Kent drag star Sophia Stardust.
At just 20-years-old, Sophia can't believe she is already inspiring the next generation of talent in the county.
She said: "I've had loads of people his age tell me I've inspired them so much, but when it's over message you don't realise it as much."
Sophia continued: "When you see them in person it's so humbling. That's why we do it, we just want to inspire others."
As Miles grows older and his following continues to rise at an exponential rate, there are fears that he could begin to face hatred from others.
However, Sophia assures that the drag community will be a foundation upon which Miles will be able to rely on for the rest of his life.
She said: "I came out at 16, I knew no one and I was really scared. I've met so many people in London and Manchester, but I will say that Kent queens are the nicest in the UK.
"He is really lucky he has got us down here in Kent. We are like a family and we all support each other."
After sashaying and death-dropping his way to a huge roar of applause in Canterbury's Dane John Gardens, Miles hopes to continue sharing Miss Oatie T with the world.
Following the life-changing performance, he said: "I want to go on to even bigger stages like RuPaul's Drag Race UK."
Although, when asked if he thinks he could win, he remained humble – he'll settle for simply making the final four.
