The Truth About RPDR's Tamisha Iman's Cancer Battle
Tamisha Iman was eliminated from the 13th season of RuPaul's Drag Race, in the sixth episode, after the judges spotlighted her lack of confidence and focus in the series' latest challenge, but it's safe to say that her powerful legacy will live on.
After revealing she had been competing on the show with an ostomy bag following an intense colon cancer treatment, Iman told EW in her exit interview that she was "at peace" with her RPDR elimination, before opening up about the health battle she faced amid production of the VH1 reality series.
"I had a lot of personal health issues going on," she admitted about the season and her performance overall. "To know my talents weren't up to par was difficult. People don't understand that I was there on adrenaline... Physically, should I have been there? Probably not." She says her cancer situation was life-or-death, and so when she got another chance to be on the show though, she went for it: "[Y]ou get a moment in your life where your whole existence will be recognized, it's not about validation, but you don't want it to be in vain." As EW notes, in her brief time on RuPaul's Drag Race, Iman managed to become a favorite with fans, thanks to her personality and charisma.
Tamisha Iman's cancer battle got in the way of season 12
While Iman was initially supposed to appear on the 12th season of RuPaul's Drag Race, she was unable to, due to her then-declining health. "When I made season 12, I could kick and split, but the radiation was so harsh on my muscles that a split was no longer possible," she said. And in explaining what had ultimately limited her in season 13, Iman explained. "I had an open portion of my body that I had no control over on my stomach. If you bend down the wrong way, you can push stuff out. So, I was always cautious about that. It wasn't the dancing ability; it was making sure I didn't have an accident or injure myself. That's what I was thinking."
Iman had kept quiet about her ostomy bag because she said she didn't want to be treated any differently; she was there to compete on RPDR, after all, though she could not help but be constantly aware and remain "cautious." Now with her exit, the question is what's next for Tamisha Iman. The answer is quite a lot, led by the launch of her own clothing line. She told EW, "I just didn't want to do the traditional merchandise. I have a ready-to-wear line, and I'm introducing that first. My couture line is coming!" Suffice to say, fans can't wait. In her final thoughts, Iman also shared one important update we can all feel good about: "I'm feeling really good. Everything is ok!"