Unique Drag Queen Artists

A male character dressing up and act with exaggerated female outfit is known as a drag queen, and also part of the Western gay culture. There are various possible purposes to drag, personal reasons for doing drag, often done for the purpose of self-expression, performing for entertainment, or creative outlet by means of exploration, way of making cultural work of arts, that will differ for individual drag queens. There are several kinds of drag artists and worked hard which vary greatly in dedication, from amateurs to becoming professionals with their chosen filed, and some who have starred in films to male person who just try it once, and drag queens vary by class and culture and can vary within the same cities. Although drag is associated with men who belong to the gay men culture, there are drag artists of all genders and sexualities who perform drag acts for many reasons or purposes. In general terms drag queens are gay men who dress and act in a female role which most often in an  exaggerating make-up with long eyelashes performing a certain character for comic, dramatic or satirical effect. In the entertainment industry, there are other drag performers known as drag kings (women who perform in male roles), faux queen or bio queen is a female performance artist who performs and adopts the typical style of male drag queens. A faux queen sometimes described humorously as a drag queen trapped in a woman’s body, a woman who dress and wear make-up in an exaggerated style to emulate drag queens, and faux kings, men who dress to impersonate drag kings. The drag queen term commonly refers to people who dress in drag for the purpose of performing, singing or lip synching, dancing, participating in gay pageants, gay parades or at night show’s venues such as cabarets and discotheques. Most traditional drag queens performances during the shows in the United Kingdom, many drag queens engage in mix-and-mingle or hosting work at private parties, night clubs and other events.

1) RuPaul Andre Charles

RuPaul Andre Charles, simply called as RuPaul, born November 17, 1960 in San Diego, California, is an American actor, model, drag queen, author, and recording artist, who first came to popularity in the 1990s when he appeared in several television programs, films, and musical albums. RuPaul was formerly a personality performer on the club scene in Atlanta and New York City. Commonly called as RuPaul Charles, and  has played men in several number of roles. RuPaul is popular among drag queens for his indifference approach towards the gender-specific pronouns used to address him as he and she have been deemed acceptable. His name RuPaul, was given to him by his mother, a native of Louisiana, which the Ru came from roux, an ingredient used in cooking gumbo dish that originated in southern Louisiana during the 18th century. RuPaul has also performed as a backup singer to Glen Meadmore is a Canadian musician, actor and performance artist known as gay Christian punk  sometimes referred to as Cowpunk or Country punk along with drag queen Vaginal Davis. RuPaul and RevoLucian (Lucian Piane), an American composer and producer, confirmed that they have been working on an upcoming sixth studio album, Born Naked which is scheduled for release on February 24, 2014 to coincide with the premiere of the 6th Season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Before RuPaul’s album’s cover songs premiere, performed by the cast of the RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 was released on January 28, 2014. The album covers is titled RuPaul Presents The CoverGurlz and contains his songs from 2009 to 2013. RuPaul began producing RuPaul’s Drag Race in the mid-2008, a reality television game show which aired in February 2009 on Logo TV. The format of the program has several drag queens competing which will be chosen by RuPaul and a panel of judges as America’s next drag superstar. The RuPaul’s Drag Race first season’s winner was Bebe Zahara Benet and first runner-up Nina Flowers who was chosen as Miss Congeniality by fans through voting via the show’s official website.

Vaginal Davis

Vaginal Davis born Clarence Dennis Williams on February 23, 1969 in California, is an American intersex-born, genderqueer (having gender identity crisis or having two genders ( bigender, trigender,pangender) performing artist, painter, independent curator, composer, and writer. Davis’ name is derived and a homage to American activist Angela Davis.  In 2007, Vaginal Davis moved from Los Angeles to Berlin, Germany. She’s famous for her shocking mostly a night time activity routine.

Alexis Mateo

Alexis Mateo born Alexis Mateo Pacheco on July 24, 1979, Mateo was born and raised in Florida, in north central Puerto Rico town, is a Puerto Rican drag queen, performer, and reality television actor, who began his his drag career in circuit of gay nightclubs in Puerto Rico, before relocating in Orlando, Florida in 2001, where he worked as a dancer and performer at Disney World. Alexis Mateo is a winning fashion designer and has won the Inter Fashion Award for Best Fashion Designer in 2001. Alexis Mateo has been featured in a Gilead Sciences ad titled Red Ribbon Runway with Manila Luzon, Delta Work, Shangela Laquifa Wadley and Carmen Carrera, his fellow Drag Race co-stars. Mateo is currently residing in Saint Petersburg, Florida where he performs at gay venues locally and throughout the United States. Alexis Mateo along with fellow contestant Yara Sofia (Gabriel Burgos Ortiz a Puerto Rican drag queen, professional make-up artist and reality television personality) launched a boycott of a Tampa beauty supply shop after both drag queens  claimed they were ask to leave the store because of their sexual orientation in April 2011.

2)  Jackie Beat

Jackie Beat born Kent Fuher, age 47, is the drag persona of actor, singer, songwriter and screenwriter. Jackie Beat has appeared in several independent films that feature both in and out of drag, such as Wigstock: The Movie, Flawless and Adam & Steve (for which Beat also wrote and performed the song Dance Off). In television, Beat has also appeared on television such as Sex and the City  and was a writer for the series Hype, a short-lived sketch comedy on The WB Television Network. Beat is a performer on the New York City cabaret scene and performs a sold-out Gay Pride and a annual sold-out Christmas run, in 2009 his Christmas dates took place at the Laurie Beechman Theater. Jackie Beat is the vocalist of the Electroclash band Dirty Sanchez. Jackie Beat is also a columnist for IN:LA magazine.

3)  The Lady Bunny

The Lady Bunny born Jon Ingle, August 14, 1962, age 51, is an American drag queen, DJ at nightclub, promoter and founder of the annual outdoor drag festival event, for the gay community that began in the East Village in New York in the 1980s that took place on Labor Day known as Wigstock. The Lady Bunny has also released disco singles such as Shame, Shame, Shame! and The Pussycat Song. Lady Bunny has appeared in films such as Party Girl, Wigstock: The Movie, Peoria Babylon, Starrbooty and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.She also works for magazines using humor for the Worst Dressed. She began her career together with Larry Tee a New York City-based DJ, club promoter and music producer and RuPaul who has long been associated with a place or activity on the Atlanta gay scene and appeared in a variety of low-budget films with them,which includes the series of Starbooty. In 1984, Lady Bunny moved to New York City, and organized Wigstock in 1985 but ends in 2005. Lady Bunny also performs frequently at XL Nightclub with another drag queen, Bianca del Rio. In 2010, Lady Bunny was featured in the Queens of Drag: NYC by gay.com web series, that also features other New York drag queens lik, Dallas DuBois, Bianca del Rio, Hedda Lettuce, Mimi Imfurst, Peppermint and Sherry Vine.

Peppermint

Peppermint born Kevin Moore is an American actor, singer, and drag queen, and often performs with Adam Joseph, Cazwell, Jonny McGovern and drag queen Sherry Vine. Kevin Moore started performing in drag as Peppermint at parties of Tunnel Kurfew a nightclub in New York City. Peppermint became popular and become an associated with a place or activity in New York City nightlife. In 2005, Peppermint began recording music for American stand-up comedian, musician and pod caster Jonny McGovern also known by his character name The Gay Pimp‘s mixtape Jonny McGovern Presents: This is NYC, Bitch! The East Village Mixtape. Peppermint contributed the song, Servin’ It Up, produced by American singer-songwriter and music producer, Adam Joseph. In 2006, this song was later released as debut single for Peppermint.

4) Bianca Del Rio

Bianca Del Rio born Roy Haylock, 39 yrs old, is an American actor, comedian, costume designer, and drag queen, and become a regular personality in the club scene in New Orleans and New York City, working often with fellow drag queen, Lady Bunny. Roy Haylock is of Cuban and Honduran descent and grew up in Gretna, Louisiana and is the fourth child of five children. Roy Haylock aka Bianca Del Rio, began acting and designing costumes for the West Jefferson High School plays. Roy Haylock moved to New York City after high school, and worked for nine months at Bloomingdale department store, but later returned to Louisiana. In New Orleans, Bianca Del Rio started doing drag in 1996 in New Orleans, for the play Pageant. Roy Haylock aka Bianca Del Rio won the New Orleans Gay Entertainer of the Year for three years as a drag queen. In 2010, Rio was featured in the web series Queens of Drag: NYC by gay.com series which featured with his  fellow New York drag queens Dallas DuBois, Hedda Lettuce, Lady Bunny, Mimi Imfurst, Peppermint and Sherry Vine. Bianca Del Rio and Lady Bunny released a parody of the song Let’s Have a Kiki by the Scissor Sisters, Let’s Have a Kai Kai! on September 4, 2012. Also in 2012, Bianca Del Rio appeared on the She’s Living For This variety show, hosted by fellow drag queen Sherry Vine. Logo TV announced that Bianca Del Rio was among 14 drag queens who would be competing on the RuPaul’s Drag Race sixth season in December 2013.

5)  Sherry Vine

Sherry Vine born Keith Levy in Florida, but grew up in Maryland has performed in drag since the year 1992, as Sherry Vine, an American actor, drag queen, and musician. Keith Levy’s first time in drag was for a one-act play called Sorry,Wrong Number in Los Angeles, and she is a regular performer in the New York City drag circuit. Sherry Vine is the host and creator of a variety series She’s Living For This on here TV. Sherry Vine often performed in Theater Couture shows in the East Village in the 1990s, alongside fellow Jackie Beat and Mario Diaz. The Theater Couture was founded in 1992 by Sherry Vine, Joe Gross and Douglas Sanders. Sherry Vine primarily works in New York City and at the large center island of the outer barrier islands parallel to the south shore of Long Island, New York called the Fire Island  and has also performed across the United States and European countries. Sherry Vine has also performed at a lounge in the West Village known as Bar d’O, in a weekly shows with Joey Arias, Raven O and Sade Pendarvis. Vine is known for his parodies of popular songs and famous singers such as Madonna, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Adele and Lady Gaga. Sherry Vine impersonate Madonna in the video Give It To Me, looking for lovers in a night club to make up for the 8 years marriage to Guy Richie. While in the video 4 Minutes to Make You Cum, Sherry Vine portrayed a street prostitute.

6)  Joey Arias

Joey Arias born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, moved with his family to Los Angeles when he was six years old, and currently a New York City based performance artist, cabaret singer, and drag artist. Joey Arias, is openly gay, gradually became involved in the expanding New York performance art scene in the 1980s, appearing regularly at Club 57 and other venues in downtown areas. Joey Arias also worked at the Fiorucci designer clothing store, and other staffs of the store performed dance and modelling clothes in the shop windows. While Arias was working at the store he became friends with alternative musician Klaus Nomi, as backup singer and designing sets and costumes. Klaus Nomi and Joey Arias appeared on December 4, 1979 on Saturday Night Live for a live performance of TVC 15 accompanying David Bowie. Arias also performed with Ann Magnuson in Strange Party band which recorded and performed in various night clubs while in New York City. Klaus Nomi died in 1983 at the age of 39 from AIDS complications. After his death, Joey Arias became executor to the Klaus Nomi (Sperber) estate.

7) Dallas DuBois

Dallas DuBois born Daniel Logan, born in Long Island, New York, on June 9, 1986, he is an American actor and drag queen. In 2008, Logan first started doing drag act, and formerly using the drag name as Madonna Manson. Dallas DuBois is the founder of the Pure Imagination theater group and the nonprofit charity Broadway to Benefit. These groups aimed to educate about HIV/AIDS awareness. Daniel Logan aka Dallas DuBois is HIV-positive. In 2013, Dallas DuBois competed in the Miss’d America pageant, placing second runner-up, and the winner was Victoria “Porkchop” Parker a competitor of the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, later referred as The Lost Season, and the winner of this first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race was BeBe Zahara Benet. In 2011, Joey Arias had competed in the pageant previously.

Bebe Zahara Benet

BeBe Zahara Benet born Nea Marshall Kudi born March 20, 1981, is a former male model, a drag queen from Cameroon and America’s Next Drag Superstar title winner from the popular reality television series first season RuPaul’s Drag Race. Nea Kudi’s first experience with drag clothes was at a Paris fashion show, where Kudi was asked to wear a dress to walk the runway as a female at the last minute when a model did not show up. Nea Kudi describes Bebe as his drag persona as “a strong and beautiful illusion character created for entertainment and the feminine artistic expression. Bebe Benet won the America’s Next Drag Superstar title on the first season of Logo TV’s popular reality series, RuPaul’s Drag Race, which premiered in February 2009 on the network. Bebe Benet’s prizes included an l.a. eye works print ad campaign, a cash prize of US$20,000 from Absolut Vodka and MAC Cosmetics, a fashion spread in Paper magazine, and a spot on the national Absolut Pride tour. Bebe Benet appeared in two episodes of RuPaul’s Drag U in 2011, where he served as a drag professor. Nea Kudi aka Bebe Zahara Benet resides in New York City. Soon Benet, arrived from France, Kudi aka Benet first settled in Minneapolis to be closer to his family.

8)  Hedda Lettuce

Hedda Lettuce  was born Steven Polito in New York City, but was raised in Long Island and has earned a bachelor’s degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology, is an American drag queen, comedian and singer who lives and work in New York. Polito’s first performance in drag was with a friend at Sheridan Square to raise funds for Queer Nation, an LGBTQ activist organization. Steven Polito later became an assistant to American drag queen Lypsinka (born John Epperson). Steven Polito as a New York actor, he debuted his character Hedda Lettuce on the Manhattan Cable TV show in 1991, The Brenda and Glennda Show. Hedda Lettuce is recognized as one of the few drag queens who sings live using her own voice instead of lip syncing. Hedda Lettuce has various appearances in television shows such as MTV, Comedy Central, The People’s Court and on Sex and the City in a cameo role as Samantha’s ex-beau turned Bingo Drag impersonator. During the fifth season challenge of Project Runway, Heddy Lettuce also was a model and client of Suede. During the show, Hedda Lettuce and designer Suede had several disagreements, over his not designing sleeves for Hedda, which caused her to call Suede lazy. This lead to many of the other designers to use the name Hedda Lettuce as a term for a ‘model that is hard to work with’. In an episode of Ugly Betty, Hedda Lettuce appeared in cameo entitled Chica and the Man, in which Wilhelmina Slater discovered she had a drag impersonator named Wilhediva Hater. Hedda Lettuce can be seen in the majority of the scenes that take place in the drag bar though she had little dialogue.

9) Mimi Imfurst

Mimi Imfurst was born Braden Chapman in Hanson, Massachusetts, but was raised in Maine. Braden Chapman was kicked out of his house for being gay and he became homeless, and was later adopted by a lesbian couple and started doing drag at the age of 16. Braden Chapman aka Mimi Imfurst is an American drag performer, actor and recording artist before he appeared on the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race where she auditioned three times and RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race, also a founding member of the Xelle girl group. Mimi Imfurst formerly used the drag name Delilah, inspired by Hedy Lamarr’s character in Samson and Delilah. Imfurst was eliminated after lifting fellow contestant India Ferrah (Shane Richardson) over his head during their lip-sync show, however, Imfurst was among 12 former contestants brought back for RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race. Mimi Imfurst and fellow drag queen became partner with Pandora Boxx to form Team Mandora, but was eliminated in the first episode. During the fifth season’s show, Jinkx Monsoon impersonated Imfurst for the episode 2 main challenge, Lip Synch Extravaganza Eleganza. In 2011, Imfurst appeared in an Entertainment Weekly photo spread along with Pandora Boxx featuring American film and television actress Melissa McCarthy channeling drag queen Divine (Harris Glenn Milstead died at age 45 on March 7, 1988 due to cardiomegaly or heart enlargement). Mimi Imfurst appeared on the cover of Next with fellow drag queens Carmen Carrera and Manila Luzon, also has appeared on Celebrity Apprentice and The Howard Stern Show. Imfurst also performs as a stand-up comedian, having opened for American actress and comedian Kathy Griffin and American actress and comedian Mo’Nique. Xelle is an American pop girl group, that consists of members drag queen Mimi Imfurst, JC Cassis, and Rony G.  which they first met in 2010 when Mimi Imfurst hosted a karaoke bash. In 2013, Mimi Imfurst left the group, Xelle, with an official statement released in August 1, 2013, by the group on their web page.

10)  Pandora Boxx

Pandora Boxx born Michael Steck on May 2, 1972, is an American drag queen, comedian and reality television personality from Rochester, New York, best known as a second season contestant of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Michael Steck was inspired to do drag after watching the performance of the drag queen Darienne Lake in an outdoor festival in Rochester, New York.  Michael Steck choose his drag name, Pandora Boxx, as a play on words of Pandora’s box, an artifact found in Greek mythology, for his first show at the Infinity Gay bar in Rochester. Pandora Boxx auditioned two times before becoming a contestant on the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The highlights of Boxx’s performance on Drag Race is an impersonation of American singer, actress and comedian Carol Channing on Snatch Game, a Match Game parody challenge. In the eight episode ‘Golden Gals’, Boxx was eliminated. Sharon Needles won the online voting in 2012, to appear on RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race, though he was the reigning winner of the 4th season, and revealed he was not going to participate. Sharon Needles also confirmed that Pandora Boxx was going to replace him and would appear on the show. Pandora Boxx, along with team partner Mimi Imfurst formed Team Mandora, were both of them as contestants were eliminated on the All Stars. Pandora Boxx  announced that he will be engaged on the 2010 Christmas Day, via his Twitter account.

11) Sharon Needles

Sharon Needles born Aaron Coady on November 28, 1981, is an American drag performer and recording artist, a self-described stupid genius, became popular on the fourth season of the Logo TV reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race, and immediately became a fan favorite and was crowned in April 2012 as America’s Next Drag Superstar. Sharon Needles experienced difficult time during his childhood years when he faced anti-gay, bullying and harassment that prompted him to drop out of school before completing high school education, which makes him very candid in discussing his childhood days. On the fourth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, it was announced in November 2011, that Needles had been chosen to compete as a contestant. Throughout the fourth season of Drag Race, Sharon Needles endeared himself to audiences and became a favorite of the media, judges, and viewers alike for his quick wit, confidence, and humility, as well as for his nature of art, beauty, and taste. Sharon Needles won the Facebook vote in June 2012 to appear as a contestant on RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race, but he declined to participate, as the reigning champion. Needles also confirmed that his replacement in the competition would be Pandora Boxx, his fellow RuPaul’s Drag U professor and the runner-up in the Facebook voting. Aaron Coady aka Sharon Needles, lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and in June 2012, the Pittsburgh City Council issued an official proclamation declared Sharon Needles Day on June 12, 2012. Aaron Coady aka Needles, had a relationship with Alaska Thunderfuck, a fellow contestant of the RuPaul’s Drag Race, however, after a four year relationship, they split in 2013.

12)  Alaska Thunderfuck 5000

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 better known as Alaska born Justin Andrew Honard in Erie, Pennsylvania and graduated in 2003 from Fort LeBoeuf High School. Alaska is an American drag performer and recording artist and joined the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race competition. Alaska performed in Palm Springs Gay Pride in 2009 with Tammie Brown and Jer Ber Jones. In December 2009, Justin Honard met future boyfriend drag queen Sharon Needles through MySpace and eventually moved back to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and live with him in 2010. Along with Sharon Needles and Cherri Baum, Alaska formed the band the Haus of Haunt, along with Sharon Needles and Cherri Baum which later developed into a drag troupe based out of the bar the Blue Moon. Alaska helped present in 2013 the Pittsburgh debut of fellow drag queen and recording artist Christeene Vale, as part of the Haus of Haunt. Alaska impersonated Christeene for the music video RuPaulogize by William Belli and Sharon Needles. Justin Honard’s drag name Alaskan Thunderfuck, is derived from high potency marijuana strain from the Matanuska Valley region of Alaska. His character as drag’s back story revolves around being an alien who crash-landed from the planet Glamtron.

13)  Tammie Brown

Tammie Brown born Keith Glen Schubert on September 15, 1980 in Corpus Christi, Texas, is an American drag performer and recording artist. Brown was a regular performer in the Southern California Drag scene, before he appeared on the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race. Keith Schubert first started dressing in drag during high school as Cha Cha in theater productions of Grease and as the Evil Stepmother in Into the Woods, and since high school, he has been openly gay.  Keith Schubert aka Tammie Brown also performed in the America’s Got Talent season 2 Los Angeles Auditions and he was among the 12 past contestants who were brought back for RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race. Tammie Brown and first season cast mates Nina Flowers was paired to form Team Brown, however, Nina Flowers was eliminated in the second episode RuPaul’s Gaff-In. Brown described his style as bohemian (who live unconventional, usually artistic, lives), citing the movies Tootsie and What’s Love Got To Do With It?  as major inspirations for his drag. Brown, along with Manila Luzon, Raven and Latrice Royale, All Stars contestants, appeared in a television commercial for travel website Orbitz’s new portal for LGBT leisure travel.

14) Nina Flowers

Nina Flowers born Jorge Luis Flores Sánchez on born February 22, 1974 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico,  is a Puerto Rican drag queen, DJ, activist, professional make-up artists and reality television personality who has been performing since 1993. Jorge Luis Flores Sánchez aka Nina Flowers, started his drag career and performed at a local San Juan gay venues such as Krash also called Eros and Club Lazer in March 1993. His drag name was derived and as a tribute to both one of his musical idols, Nina Hagen and for his last name Flowers is derived from his last name Flores (in Spanish) it means flowers. Nina Flores and his partner, Antonio Purcell de Ogenio, is currently residing in Denver, Colorado. Nina Flowers is one of the resident deejays at a largest gay nightclub in Denver known Track’s. John Hickenlooper, Denver’s mayor, issued a proclamation on May 29, 2009, declaring May 29 as Nina Flowers Day in recognition of Nina Flowers’s contributions to the LGBT community in the city. Nina Flowers along with season two contestant Jessica Wild has performed on the Objetivo Fama, a popular Puerto Rican television singing talent program, which airs throughout the United States and Latin America.

Jessica Wild

Jessica Wild born José David Sierra born June 10, 1980, in San Juan but raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico, is a Puerto Rican drag queen, professional make-up artist, and reality television personality. José Sierra aka Jessica Wild, started his drag career at Krash also known as Eros and Starz, a local San Juan gay venues. Jessica Wild won an on-line vote to become a cast member of the second season of Logo TV’s popular reality show series, RuPaul’s Drag Race, which premiered on the network in February 2010, however Wild was eliminated in the seventh episode of the season, which was first aired on March 22, 2010. Jessica Wild is residing in Boston, and performs at local gay venues and events and throughout the United States. Wild also works as a professional make-up artist when not performing as drag artist.

15)  Willam Belli

Willam Belli born June 30, 1982, is an American actor, drag queen, and recording artist, who is known for his recurring role as Cherry Peck the transsexual in American television drama series Nip/Tuck and for being a contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. In addition to acting, Belli found viral success with his music video parodies Chow Down also featuring Detox and Vicky Vox and a parody of Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys. William Belli is a member of the Los Angeles pop group DWV with fellow drag queens Detox Icunt and Vicky Vox ( is an American drag queen, based in California, and she is the drag daughter of drag queen Detox). William Belli’s first acting credit as the role of Darren Jacobs, a street hustler on two episodes of 2002′s The District and his first TV appearance was on an episode of the game show Street Smarts. In January 2011, William Belli was featured in S&M music video by Rihanna along with drag queen Detox and Morgan McMichaels, the female persona of drag performer Thomas White, as back-up dancers. William Belli released Boy is a Bottom, in January 2013, featuring Detox and Vicky Vox, to coincide with the premier of the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Belli was featured on August 14, 2013 along with Shangela, Detox, Raven, Morgan McMichaels, Shannel and Courtney Act, in Lady Gaga‘s lyric video for her single Applause.

16)  Detox

Detox Icunt, better known as Detox, is an American drag performer and recording artist, and a regular performer in the Southern California drag shows before he gained fame on the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Detox, beside a drag performer, he has appeared in music videos with Ke$ha and Rihanna and he is also a member of Dreamgirls Revue by Chad Michael, the longest-running California’s  female-impersonation show. Detox is also a member of the band Tranzkuntinental which was started by Charlie Paulson and Xander Smith featuring drag queens Kelly Mantle, Rhea Litré, Vicky Vox, and William Belli, who also released Chow Down in March 2012, a parody of Hold On by Wilson Phillips. This song which also features drag queens William Belli and was also co-written by Detox and Vicky Vox, and began performing under the name DWV, a dual reference that takes note of their first initials (Detox, Willam and Vicky) while also parodying the group SWV. The DWV released several other singles. The Logo TV announced in November 2012, that Detox was among 14 drag queens who would be competing on the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, where Detox finished the season in 4th place.

17)  Shangela Laquifa Wadley

Shangela Laquifa Wadley born D. J. Pierce on November 22, 1981 is an African American drag queen, comedian, reality personality and contestant in seasons 2 and 3 on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and was the season 2 first contestant eliminated and returned as a surprise contestant in the season 3 series, springing out of a box in the first episode. D.J. Pierce aka Shangela Lquifa Wadley, was among the top five contestants before his elimination in the episode eleven. Shangela has various television appearances and  performing across the United States and Canada since RuPauls’ Drag Race. D.J. Pierce grew up in Paris, Texas and was raised by his grandparents because his mother was in the military and been often relocated. In 1968, D.J.Pierce was the first male cheerleader in his local high school, and he began dressing in drag for his English classes creative projects to get A’s in high school. In January 2009, Shangela Laquifa Wadley emerged as Pierce’s drag persona. The name Shangela is known for his catchphrase, halleloo, which was considered one of the 2010 Top Terms We Learned on Reality Television by the Los Angeles Times. Shangela Laquifa has performed in the Drag Queens of Comedy showcase alongside drag performer legends Lady Bunny, Jackie Beat and Coco Peru. Shangela Laquifa was also featured in 2013, in a Facebook Home ad. On August 14, 2013 Shangela, along with fellow drag queens Detox, Shannel, Morgan McMichaels, Courtney Act, William Belli and Raven were featured in the Lady Gaga‘s lyric video for her single Applause.

Kelly Mantle

Kelly Mantle also known as Brandy Warhol, is an American actor, comedian, musician, and drag queen, best known for being a contestant on the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race hit reality TV show. Kelly Mantle was born in Oklahoma City, but grew up in Cordell, Oklahoma. Kelly Mantle is the nephew of professional baseball player Mickey Mantle, who played for the New York Yankees. Most recently, Mantle completed two movies, which will be released sometime in 2014 entitled, Confessions of a Womanizer (with Gary Busey) and American Dream (with Nick Stahl).

18) Morgan McMichaels

Morgan McMichaels born May 28, 1981, is the female persona of drag performer Thomas White. A local regular performer in drag circuits in Southern California. Morgan McMichaels aka Thomas White became a reality television personality when he joined the second season cast of the RuPaul’s Drag Race popular cable television reality competition in 2010.Thomas White is born in Scotland to a Scottish father and an American mother, and moved at the age of 18 to the United States. McMichaels became close friends with fellow contestants  Sonique during his time on the show, and continued his friendship with Raven. McMichaels, appeared in summer 2010′s RuPaul’s Drag U spinoff Logo TV with fellow drag performers contestants Raven, Jujubee and Pandora Boxx.

Raven

Raven born David Petruschin on April 8, 1979, is an American drag queen and reality television personality from Riverside, California. Raven was a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race second season, and he won as first runner-up of season 2, followed that up with regular appearances on RuPaul’s Drag U all three seasons with fellow competitors Morgan McMichaels, Pandora Boxx and Jujubee. Raven’s career as drag performer is very hectic since RuPaul’s Drag Race, and became very busy touring the country’s hottest gay venues. Raven impersonates Paris Hilton, the socialite and billionaire heiress, in a Match Game-like episode of the show. Before becoming a full-time drag performer, Raven formerly worked as a cosmetics salesperson and as a make-up artist freelancer. Raven currently hosts several drag shows events at gay clubs through Southern California.

19)  Jujubee

Jujubee born Airline Inthyrath, June 21, 1984 is an American drag queen and reality television personality from Boston, Massachusetts. Jujubee is best known as a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race season two. Jujubee is of Lao ancestry,which he has shown with great pride during his time on Drag Race. Jujubee can talk in fluent Laotian and Thai language and utilized words from that language when he told fellow contestants about how his uncle called him kathoey, which means Lady boy. Jujubee is from Boston, where he lives with Christopher, his fiancé for 8 years. Since he joined Drag Race, Jujubee has been performing throughout the United States and Canada as part of the RuPaul’s Drag Race Tour.  Jujubee also appeared in the RuPaul‘s music video song entitled Jealous of My Boogie and in Queen, Xelle’s music video.

20)  Miss Coco Peru

Miss Coco Peru  born Clinton Leupp, is an American actor, comedian, drag performer, known for her role in the 1999 independent film Trick and for her series of live theater performances. Clinton Leupp was aware he was gay since his early age, and is a native of City Island, New York. Miss Coco Peru is best known for her unique trademark copper-toned flip hairdo. Coco Peru also starred in 2003′s  Girls be Girls by Richard Day and was one of six performers featured in the Logo TV, which originally as stand-up comedy series Wisecrack (2005). Coco Peru has starred in various “one-woman shows” across the US and other countries for 20 years, and hosted LGBT events. Miss Coco Peru met his partner Rafael, around 1995, a college professor originally from Spain.  Coco Peru and Rafael married in 2008 in Spain, where same-sex marriage was legal.

21)  Courtney Act

Courtney Act is the stage name and drag name of Shane Jenek, born in Brisbane, Australia, an Australian drag celebrity, pop singer and entertainer. Shane Jenek, as Courtney Act, was a semi-finalist in 2003′s Australian Idol, and was the third singer of the competition to release an official solo single, following Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll. In 2004, Courtney Act’s single, Rub Me Wrong, was released, which peaked at #29 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Courtney Act later moved at the age of 18 to Sydney. Logo TV announced that Courtney Act was among 14 drag queens who would be competing on the RuPaul’s Drag Race season six in December 2013.

22)  Manila Luzon

Manila Luzon  born Karl Philip Michael Westerberg on August 10, 1981, is an American drag queen and reality television personality, born in Minnesota but currently residing in New York City. Manila Luzon became the runner-up of the RuPaul’s Drag Race season three. Karl Westerberg’s drag name is a play on words of Manila the capital city and the largest island Luzon of the Philippines, his mother’s birthplace. His father is an American of German and Swedish ancestry. Manila Luzon received high marks from the judges throughout the competition’s third season because of his high sense of humor. The season’s highlights included Manila Luzon win for a controversial impersonation of a Japanese reporter and forming the Heathers clique (the group taking its name from the popular cult film, Heathers) with fellow contestants Raja, Carmen Carrera and Delta Work. Manila Luzon also won an emotionally charged lip sync against Delta Work. Other season’s memorable challenges he won were making over a heterosexual jock into his drag sister and making a couture dress out of paper money. Manila Luzon is a longtime resident of New York City, and lived in Harlem with his boyfriend Antoine Ashley best known for his drag name as Sahara Davenport, who was a contestant on the Drag Race second season. Antoine Ashley aka Sahara Davenport, died on October 1, 2012 of heart failure at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Sahara Davenport

Sahara Davenport, born Antoine Ashley on December 17, 1984 a native of Dallas, was an American drag queen and reality TV personality and a classic trained dancer, and known as a contestant on the RuPaul’s Drag Race season two in 2010. Davenport was thought as The Dancer when in the first episode he had to lipsynch for your life against his former college classmate, Shangela Laquifa Wadley. Davenport lived in New York City, with his boyfriend Karl Westerberg aka Manila Luzon, who was a contestant and runner-up on the RuPaul’s Drag Race third season. Antoine Ashley aka Sahara Davenport died from heart failure at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on October 1, 2012. Davenport was featured in the pilot of television series Judge Karen as an angry Beyoncé impersonator who sues the paparazzi. Davenport made his art film debut in video-performance piece Melody Set Me Free by Kalup Linzy which was shown at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Davenport has also appeared in the music videos Gettin Over You by David Guetta and Chris Willis and Girl Problems music video by the Girl Problems group.

23) Chi Chi LaRue

Larry David Paciotti born November 8, 1959 is an American film director of gay, bisexual and straight pornography, better know for his drag persona as Chi Chi LaRue and has also directed under the names Lawrence David and Taylor Hudson. Director and DJ David Paciotti, acting mainly under his drag diva persona as Chi Chi LaRue, is one of the most famous names and faces in the adult film industry. Chi Chi LaRue‘s drag persona started upon moving to the Twin Cities area where he began as a drag performer as one-half of a hag drag revue of The Weather Gals. Paciotti aka LaRue later moved to California with a friend and was hired by Catalina Video because of his knowledge of porn, as an administrative assistant and publicist. LaRue directed the music video for Trouble in 2012, by William Belli, a drag performer contestant of the RuPaul’s Drag Race which premiered on Logo TV.

24) Chad Michaels

Chad Michaels born in Losa Angeles but grew up in San Diego, is an American drag performer commonly impersonates as Cher, before becoming famous as the runner up of the RuPaul’s Drag Race season four, and as the RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race winner. Chad Michaels former drag name was Brigitte Love, but later chose to perform under his own name after he worked in Las Vegas at An Evening at La Cage, which the drag queen performers were required to use male stage names. Chad Michaels competed in the first California Entertainer of the Year pageant in 2010, became the first alternate to winner Shangela. Chad Michaels produces and performs the longest running female impersonation show in California with the Dreamgirls Revue. Dreamgirls Revue’s performers include contestants of the  RuPaul’s Drag Race, Delta Work, Detox, Morgan McMichaels, Raja, Shannel, Sonique and Venus D-Lite. Morgan McMichaels is Chad Michaels’ drag daughter, from whom she took her last name.

25)  Raja Gemini

Sutan Amrull, also known as Raja and Raja Gemini, born June 14, 1974, is an American make-up artist and drag performer, best known for his reality television show America’s Next Top Model, serving as the make-up artist of the show for nine cycles (fourth through twelve), and as the RuPaul’s Drag Race Season three winner. Most of Sultan Amrull’s clients were Dita von Teese, Pamela Anderson, Paulina Porizkova, Iman, Tyra Banks and Twiggy. Sultan Amrull has been make-up artist to singer Adam Lambert since 2009, for his live U.S. appearances and Lambert’s international 2010 Glam Nation Tour, and print media. Sultan Amrull auditioned for the third season of the reality program, presenting his drag alter-ego as Raja, which included an endorsement from Adam Lambert on his audition video. When Raja entered the Drag Race workroom, he was dressed in club attire and wearing a unique beanie (seamed cap) that had a giant cyclops eye on it. The highlights include wins in the main challenge of the season, impersonating Tyra Banks, winning the cake couture challenge, winning the RuPaul-apalooza challenge, and lip synching for his life against contestant drag performer Carmen Carrera. Raja is the first Asian American winner, she is of Indonesian and Dutch ancestry, and the first non African American winner, and during that time,Raja was oldest winner crowned. Raja released his first single in May 2011, Diamond Crowned Queen, which is available for purchase via iTunes and other commercial music sites. The first single released reach at number fifty on the Billboard Songs, before peaking at number thirty-five.