Penny Tration is the stage name of Anthony "Tony" Cody,[1][2] an American drag queen. Penny Tration competed on season 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race, where she was the first to be eliminated.
Penny Tration has been described as a "premier" drag performer of Cincinnati.[4] Her original drag name was The Drag Queen Helga.[5] She founded The Cabaret above Below Zero Lounge,[6] and has performed in the annual K-State Drag Show many times.[7]
Penny Tration competed on season 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race. She was the season's oldest contestant, competing at the age of 39.[8] She was voted onto the show by fans[1][9] and was the first contestant eliminated, placing fourteenth overall. On the first episode ("RuPaullywood or Bust"), she placed in the bottom two of a design challenge and lost a lip sync against Serena ChaCha to "Party in the U.S.A." (2009) by Miley Cyrus, having not learnt the song's lyrics.[10] Penny Tration continues to perform, mostly in Ohio.[11][12]
Out of drag, Cody has been a waiter and he has made and sold wigs.[11][12] He was also a product manager for a design firm.[13]