Thomas White – famous as his drag persona Morgan McMichaels – shot to fame on reality show Ru Paul’s Drag Race.

The 33 year-old has since appeared music videos with Lady Gaga and Rihanna, and counts 1980s pop icon Boy George among his friends.

Thomas, who now lives in LA, spoke exclusively to the Reporter and credits his tough childhood in the Vale as the motivation behind his success.

He said: “I think growing up in the Vale, with the people I grew up with definitely hardened me. I’m not afraid of anything now. Being gay at Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School in the 1990s was no easy feat, but it does shape you for later life.

“One of my close friends Caroline Glachan, from Bonhill, was murdered when we were at school and it was devastating because she looked out for me. She hung around with hard tickets but always stopped people picking on me for being ‘the gay boy’. She was the best person, and I was devastated when she died.” He added: “You remember the little things people did for you, when I eventually came out, a nun called Sister Ann Jane told me that it was okay, and that God loved me, that’s always stayed with me. Mr Divers, who was an ex-Celtic player and a real man’s man, supported me and he was the best person to guide me. I was really sad to hear he passed away, he was a great man.

“I found that coming out actually made things better for me, once you accept who you are, other people follow suit.” Thomas – whose career has sky rocketed since Ru Paul’s Drag Race – works full time as a drag performer and stand up comedian around Califonia’s club circuit and lives with his Scots dad.

“I was 18 when I came out to LA, a friend took me to a drag club and I was mesmerised. The closest I’d ever seen to a drag queen before was watching Lily Savage on TV. I knew I wanted to perform so I became a go-go boy backing dancer and then when I was 21, created the character Morgan and it took off from there. I've definitely found my calling.

“When I was on set for the Rihanna video, she recognised me and said ‘I know you, you’re from that drag show’. That stunned me, that Rihanna knew who I was. She said she loved the show.

Lady Gaga played all the gay clubs before she was famous so naturally that’s where she picked to shoot her video. She’s really nice and down to earth.

“I do still get star struck, I met Elton John and Scary Spice on the red carpet and I was a bit gagged by it all.” Thomas says he stays grounded by staying in contact with friends and family in Balloch and Haldane, and always remembering where he came from. He said: “I went on OLSP’s Wikipedia page and it said the most famous people from the school are two Celtic players, a Cardinal, and then me. That was the funniest thing.

“In LA, a lot of people don’t know I’m Scottish. Americans all think they’re Scottish or Irish, so I have to tell them ‘I’m actually from there, I rode the D8 bus everyday to school and I went to Greggs.’ “I still have family there, my sister lives in Haldane and all my family live in Balloch and Bonhill, and I still have friends who come and visit. I’m still pally with my core group of school friends on Facebook.

“I love where I come from and wouldn’t forget it, a lot of my tattoos are Scottish, I have the lion from the King’s flag, my sister’s name, and my clan motto. I’m very proud to be Scottish. I haven’t been home in 7 years, and I miss it. There’s nothing like a good fry up. It’s so unhealthy but it’s brilliant. However I can get Irn Bru, my dad always makes sure we have Irn Bru.” Thomas says he plans on bringing his Morgan McMichael’s drag act, along with some others, to Glasgow in August for Gay Pride. “I’m really looking forward to it, I'm sure my homecoming will be interesting."