# Makayla Couture

Makayla Walker (born July 3, 2002), known professionally as Makayla Couture, is a Canadian drag performer and television personality. She rose to prominence as a finalist for the second season of Call Me Mother (2022) and the fifth season of Canada's Drag Race (2024).

## Early life and education

Makayla Walker was born on July 3, 2002, and was raised in neighbourhood Jane and Finch, located in the northwest end of Toronto, Ontario. She attended public high school Earl Haig Secondary School, participating its musical theatre major in the Claude Watson program.

## Career
### 2021–2023: Drag beginnings and Call Me Mother

Walker initially began performing under the drag persona Makayla Walker Louboutin at some local drag shows in Toronto. She made her first television appearance as a special guest for competition series Canada's Drag Race (2021), where she partook in a makeover challenge alongside contestant (and now winner) Icesis Couture. She presented herself as Ruby Couture and wore a red Cher–inspired outfit symbolizing fire. Walker now performs as Makayla Couture.
The next year, Makayla Couture competed in the second season of Call Me Mother (2022). Over the course of the season, she was selected into the House of Dulcet formed by American drag queen Peppermint, won one challenge, and finished as a top four finalist.
As the drag panic rose throughout Canada in 2023, the drag performer protested with Violet Parks by hosting a Drag Queen Story Hour event at the McLaughlin Branch of the Oshawa Public Library on June 3. Makayla Couture later appeared in a Pride campaign for British cosmetics The Body Shop to involve customers to support the Equality Act for the United States. This promotional campaign featured two drag performers, Angel Au and Lana Ja'Rae.

### 2024–present: Canada's Drag Race and breakthrough

She has performed at various festivals and events highlighting the Ballroom scene, HIV awareness, and supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community. For three consecutive years, she performed at the Wilfrid Laurier University since 2022. Makayla Couture sooner made her first film appearance as the younger self of prominent singer Jackie Shane in rotoscoped footage, for documentary film Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (2024). Later on, the drag performer was included in the Lavender Wild lineup which featuted American singers Slayyyter and Rebecca Black; the festival occurred on August 24.
Makayla Couture competed and finished as a finalist on the fifth season of Canada's Drag Race (2024). She became the first makeover special guest to later compete as a contestant from the Drag Race franchise. During the season, she was placed in the top two for the premiere episode, after losing the lip-sync contest to The Virgo Queen, and won the 1990s–inspired girl group challenge on episode five; the song features singer and songwriter Simone Denny. For the Snatch Game challenge, Makayla Couture portrayed American media proprietor Oprah Winfrey; the characterization was later criticized for being "too simple and secretive."

## Personal life

Walker is a transgender woman and uses she/her pronouns; her drag persona is based in Toronto. After appearing on Canada's Drag Race, Walker joined the House of Couture led by her drag mother Icesis Couture along with drag sister Kimmy Couture.

## Filmography
### Film

List of film credits, with selected details :
| Title | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story | 2024 | Jackie Shane | | |

### Television

List of television credits, with selected details :
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
| Canada's Drag Race | 2021; 2024 | Guest | Episode 18 |
| Canada's Drag Race | 2021; 2024 | Contestant | Runner-up |
| Call Me Mother | 2022 | Contestant | Runner-up |

### Podcasts

List of podcast credits, with selected details :
| Title | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| Happy to See Me with Erika Casupanan | 2022 | Guest | Episode 10 | |