:Michelle Visage
{{short description|American singer and television personality (born 1968)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Michelle Visage
| image = Dana Franks and Michelle Visage (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Visage in 2018
| birth_name = Michelle Lynn Shupack
| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|mf=yes|1968|09|20}}}}
| birth_place = Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.
| occupation = {{Flat list|
- Singer
- television personality
- broadcaster
- producer
- actress
}}
| yearsactive = 1988–present
| television = {{plainlist}}
- RuPaul's Drag Race
- Celebrity Big Brother
- Ireland's Got Talent
- Strictly Come Dancing
- Queen of the Universe
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK
- Drag Race Down Under
{{endplainlist}}
| spouse = {{marriage|David Case|1997}}
| children = 2
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| genre = {{Flat list|
}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals}}
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
}}
| associated_acts = {{Flat list|
| website = {{URL|michellevisage.com}}
}}
}}
Michelle Visage (born Michelle Lynn Shupack, September 20, 1968) is an American television personality, singer, broadcaster, producer, and actress. She gained recognition as a member of the dance-pop group Seduction, who charted five singles on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1989 and 1990. She later served as lead vocalist of the R&B and dance group The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M., who reached the top of the dance charts with the single "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day" in 1993.
In 2011, Visage joined the American reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race, and has served as a permanent judge since season three. She is also a permanent judge on its spin-off series RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, RuPaul's Drag Race UK, RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World, and Drag Race Down Under, also hosting the latter. Visage has won 3 Primetime Emmy Awards as a producer of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Visage was a contestant on the British reality shows Celebrity Big Brother (2015) and Strictly Come Dancing (2019), and was a judge on the talent competition show Ireland's Got Talent (2018–2019).
Early life
Visage grew up in New Jersey. She was adopted and was aware of this from an early age.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8239697/michelle-visage-vulture-interview|title=5 Things We Learned from Michelle Visage's 'Vulture' Interview|magazine=Billboard|date=March 9, 2018|access-date=April 8, 2019}} Visage, adopted by two Jewish parents, was raised Jewish.{{cite web |title=Michelle Visage on her Jewish roots |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEI_YIm5LgQ |website=YouTube | date=September 18, 2017 |publisher=Jewish Journal |access-date=10 January 2023}} Her biological father was also Jewish, while her biological mother was Irish and Italian Catholic. Despite living in a lower middle class town without many Jewish people, her parents worked to make sure she could attend Hebrew school and have a bat mitzvah, as well as having a Catholic confirmation. She attended South Plainfield High School in South Plainfield, New Jersey, graduating in 1986.{{Cite web|url=https://www.classmates.com/people/Michelle-Shupack/7375847761|title=Michelle Shupack, Class of 1986 – South Plainfield High School – Classmates|website=www.classmates.com|access-date=April 8, 2019}}
When Visage was 16, she won a Madonna lookalike competition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/michelle-visage-is-tough-because-she-loves-you.html|title=Michelle Visage Is To==ugh Because She Loves You|date=2018|website=www.vulture.com|access-date=April 8, 2019}} She then moved to New York and attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Manhattan for two years.{{Cite book|title=The Diva Rules: Ditch the Drama, Find Your Strength, and Sparkle Your Way to the Top|last=Visage|first=Michelle|publisher=Chronicle Books|year=2015|isbn=978-1452146850|pages=22, 41, 89–91, 153, 191–193}} Growing up, Visage looked up to Madonna, Belinda Carlisle, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, Cyndi Lauper and Dale Bozzio. After finishing her studies she stayed in New York City to pursue a career as an actress.{{cite web | url = http://michellevisage.com/bio/ | title = Bio | publisher = Michelle Visage (official site) | access-date = August 22, 2013}}
In New York she was active in the club scene. Her mother Arlene gave her a fake ID so she could make connections to help further her career.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/05/rupaul-michelle-visage-drag-race-finale-interview/|title='A Bitch I Have to Know': A Q&A With RuPaul's BFF Michelle Visage|date=May 6, 2013|website=Spin|access-date=April 8, 2019}} Visage's mother died when she was 30. Visage became prominent in the New York drag ball scene and learned voguing from various people including Willi Ninja. She also became involved with Cesar Valentino and the pair appeared voguing together on the television show The Latin Connection in 1988, which they said was the first time voguing had appeared on national TV.{{Cite web|url=https://www.alvinailey.org/ailey-extension/cesar-valentino|title=Cesar Valentino|date=October 23, 2014|website=Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater|language=en|access-date=April 8, 2019}}
Michelle adopted her surname, Visage, after gaining the nickname "cara" ("face" in Spanish) from walking the face category while in the New York ball scene. However, because people pronounced it incorrectly she decided to change it to "visage" ("face" in French).{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=February 27, 2014|title=RuPaul Drives... Michelle Visage|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c3GLSxl03k?t=236|access-date=|website=YouTube}} She has kept the name since that time.{{cite web|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/michelle-visage-talks-diva-rules-drag-race-145610341.html|title=Michelle Visage Talks 'Diva Rules,' 'Drag Race,' and Friendship with RuPaul: 'I'm a Very Lucky Gal'|date=November 10, 2015|website=Yahoo}} Visage also met her future friend and co-star RuPaul for the first time in the late 1980s, when she attended club nights and parties hosted by Susanne Bartsch.{{Cite web|url=https://worldofwonder.net/michelle-visage-on-meeting-mama-ru-btch-ive-been-watching-you-for-years-her-fave-drag-race-lip-syncs-more/|title=Michelle Visage on Meeting Mama Ru – "B*tch, I've Been Watching You for Years" – Her Fave "Drag Race" Lip Syncs & More|date=March 9, 2018|website=The WOW Report|language=en-US|access-date=April 8, 2019}} In 1989, Visage performed at "The Love Ball", which was organized by Bartsch as a benefit for the Design Industries Foundation For AIDS. It is said that The Love Ball is where Madonna first witnessed voguing, the inspiration for her song "Vogue".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/12/nyregion/vogueing-against-aids-a-quest-for-overness.html|title=Vogueing Against AIDS: A Quest for 'Overness'|last=Hochswender|first=Woody|date=May 12, 1989|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 8, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.them.us/story/ballroom-culture-rupaul-madonna-paris-is-burning|title=The Historic, Mainstream Appropriation of Ballroom Culture|website=them.|date=April 25, 2018|language=en|access-date=April 8, 2019}} During the day she worked as a receptionist at the shop Casablanca and Fundamental Things in the New York garment district.
Career
=Music recording and music videos=
Visage auditioned and won a place for Seduction, an R&B and dance vocal trio assembled by Robert Clivilles and David Cole that signed with A&M Records in 1990.{{Cite web |last=Henry |first=Grace |date=2019-08-05 |title=Strictly's Michelle Visage looks completely different in young photos |url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/1161909/michelle-visage-young-strictly-come-dancing-pictures |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Daily Express |language=en}} The group had several hits, the most famous being "Two to Make It Right". After the group's breakup, Visage collaborated with the freestyle dance act TKA as a guest vocalist on the song "Crash (Have Some Fun)".{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/TKA-Featuring-Michelle-Visage-Crash-Have-Some-Fun/release/2274527|title=Discogs TKA|website=Discogs|year=1990 }} Visage provided lead vocals and was the recording artist of another dance act assembled by Clivilles and Cole, The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M. The song "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day", which was a cover version of the Bill Withers song "Lovely Day", was included on the soundtrack to The Bodyguard. "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day" became a number-one dance single and peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1993.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/277377/soul-system/chart|title=Billboard Charts 1993|magazine=Billboard}}
Visage has also been featured on several of RuPaul's music albums, and appears in the music videos for "New York City Beat"{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoTRQgMOVQo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/PoTRQgMOVQo |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=RuPaul and Michelle Visage New York City Beat Official Music Video|date=January 26, 2015|via=YouTube|access-date=November 4, 2016}}{{cbignore}} and "From Your Heart", which originally premiered on RuPaul's Green Screen Christmas Special (2015), and were later uploaded to World of Wonder's YouTube channel.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihADOqVV2no |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ihADOqVV2no |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=RuPaul – "From Your Heart (feat. Michelle Visage)"|date=January 1, 2016|via=YouTube|access-date=November 4, 2016}}{{cbignore}} Visage has also made guest appearances in the videos for RuPaul's songs "Glamazon",{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v_3oTrclIQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/3v_3oTrclIQ |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=RuPaul Glamazon music video (feat. Sharon Needles, Chad Michaels and Phi Phi O'Hara)|date=October 7, 2012|via=YouTube|access-date=November 4, 2016}}{{cbignore}} "Responsitrannity",{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnXqE34gOW4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/WnXqE34gOW4 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=RuPaul Responsitrannity music video|date=October 25, 2012|via=YouTube|access-date=November 4, 2016}}{{cbignore}} "The Beginning"{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUHykqmwe1U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/dUHykqmwe1U |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=RuPaul's "The Beginning" music video (feat. Alaska, Jinkx Monsoon, Roxxxy Andrews)|date=June 5, 2013|via=YouTube|access-date=November 4, 2016}}{{cbignore}} and "Nothing for Christmas".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeVklZM6_k0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/XeVklZM6_k0 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=RuPaul – "Nothing for Christmas" Official Music Video|date=December 10, 2015|via=YouTube|access-date=November 4, 2016}}{{cbignore}}
In February 2021, it was confirmed that Visage had teamed up with Steps on a reworked version of "Heartbreak in This City".{{cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/17/michelle-visage-steps-single-heartbreak-in-this-city/|title=Michelle Visage joins pop legends Steps as 'unofficial sixth member' for boptastic musical comeback|date=February 17, 2021|access-date=February 20, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/OfficialSteps/status/1362371638013091840|title=One week to go! FIRST PLAY of #HeartbreakInThisCity with @MichelleVisage on @bbcradio2 February 25th at 7:50am then available to download/stream that morning|access-date=February 22, 2021}}
=Radio and podcasts=
File:Michelle Visage 2012 - vimeo - Copy.png
Visage was the co-host of the morning show on WKTU in NYC from 1996 to 2002 where she and co-host RuPaul started working together professionally. When RuPaul left radio, Visage continued on to many morning shows including: Hot 92 Jamz (KHHT) in Los Angeles between 2002 and 2005.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/who-is-michelle-visage-from-rupauls-drag-race-and-what-is-her-net-worth.html/|title=Who is Michelle Visage From 'RuPaul's Drag Race' and What Is Her Net Worth?|last1=Williams|first1=Bre|website=The Cheat Sheet|language=en-US|access-date=April 8, 2019|date=December 15, 2018}} In 2005, Visage returned to New York City, where she served as co-host of The Morning Mix on WNEW-FM until December 2006. She also hosted on Sirius Satellite Radio's The Beat 66 from 2003 to 2006{{Cite web|url=https://michellevisage.com/radio-resume|title=Radio Resume Michelle Visage}} On March 12, 2007, she became a co-host of the morning show on SUNNY 104.3 in West Palm Beach, Florida.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com|title=Radio Industry News, New Music, Music Promotion, Radio Station Song Charts - AllAccess.com|work=All Access}} On January 10, 2011, she joined 93.9 MIA in Miami as the host of the new MIA Morning Show. She left Miami and MIA in December 2011, moving back to Los Angeles.{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.gopride.com/news/interview.cfm/articleid/341001|title=Michelle Visage: Chicago is definitely represented with Phi Phi, The Princess, and DiDa.|last=Nunn|first=Jerry|website=ChicagoPride.com|language=EN|access-date=April 8, 2019}}
Visage started co-hosting the weekly podcast RuPaul: What's the Tee? on April 9, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://eqview.com/2014/07/01/michelle-visage-interview/|title=Michelle Visage – Interview|website=EQView.com|access-date=November 1, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101222738/http://eqview.com/2014/07/01/michelle-visage-interview/|archive-date=November 1, 2014}} The pair interview celebrities and discuss many topics ranging from their personal lives to RuPaul's Drag Race.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rupaulpodcast.com/episodes/|title=Episodes|website=RuPaul: What's The Tee?|access-date=September 24, 2017}} The podcast won a 2018 Webby Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2018/04/rupauls-whats-the-tee-podcast-wins-2018-webby-award/|title=RuPaul's "What's the Tee" podcast wins 2018 Webby Award|date=April 27, 2018|website=Metro Weekly|access-date=June 10, 2018}} Visage also presented Michelle Visage's Fabulous Divas on BBC Radio 2, with episodes broadcast in December 2019 and August 2020.{{cite web |title=Michelle Visage's Fabulous Divas |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2019/52/michelle-visages-fabulous-divas |website=BBC Media Centre |access-date=August 31, 2020}} In October and November 2020, she covered for Rylan Clark on his BBC Radio 2 show and in February 2022 she covered for Dermot O'Leary on his Saturday weekend breakfast show. As of 15 July 2022, she has begun presenting her own show each Friday night from 7 until 9pm on BBC Radio 2.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-08 |title=Major weekend schedule changes at BBC Radio 2 this summer |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2022/06/major-weekend-schedule-changes-at-bbc-radio-2-this-summer/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}} In February and March 2025 Michelle covered for Elaine Paige on Sunday.
=Television=
File:Rupaul Dragcon 2018-223 (28203478058).jpg 2018]]
Visage has worked with RuPaul on a variety of television shows throughout her career. In 1996, she became the co-host of RuPaul's VH1 talk show The RuPaul Show.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/04/11/who-is-michelle-visage-is-she-gay-rupauls-drag-race-judge-lgbt-ally/|title=Who is Michelle Visage? Is she gay? RuPaul's Drag Race judge and longtime LGBT+ ally – PinkNews · PinkNews|website=www.pinknews.co.uk|date=April 11, 2018|access-date=April 8, 2019}} She also co-hosted WKTU's morning show with RuPaul from 1996 to 2002. When RuPaul began casting judges for season one of RuPaul's Drag Race, he invited Visage to become a permanent member of the show. At the time she was on a five-year contract with a CBS radio station in West Palm Beach; after asking her boss if she could join the show he said no, which Visage put down to the show's links with the LGBTQ community.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/an-interview-with-the-one-and-only-michelle-visage_b_597b6b6ce4b09982b737640f|title=An Interview with the one and only Michelle Visage|website=Huffington Post|date=July 28, 2017}}
== ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' ==
Two years later, Visage was contacted again by RuPaul and invited to appear on season three of the show. After her boss once again said she was not able to appear, she was persuaded by her friend Leah Remini to contact CBS officials who allowed her to join the show as a judge.{{Cite web|url=https://tonyortega.org/2013/07/20/leah-reminis-tv-friend-michelle-visage-says-scientologists-are-scattering-like-roaches/|title=Leah Remini's Friend, TV's Michelle Visage, Says Scientologists Are "Scattering Like Roaches" {{!}} The Underground Bunker|website=tonyortega.org|access-date=April 8, 2019}} On January 24, 2011, Visage debuted as a permanent judge, along with Santino Rice and Billy B, on season three of RuPaul's Drag Race, replacing Merle Ginsberg. She has also appeared on all nine seasons of the spin-off show, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
In 2019, she received her first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Competition Program, having been a producer of Drag Race since its eleventh season.{{cite web|title=Michelle Visage|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/michelle-visage|access-date=July 21, 2019|website=Emmys.com|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences}} That same year, she became a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, which airs on BBC Three.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a26141095/rupauls-drag-race-uk-judges-guests-michelle-visage/|title=RuPaul's Drag Race UK confirms Michelle Visage as judge|first=Catherine|last=Earp|date=February 5, 2019|website=Digital Spy}} In 2021, Visage served as a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under.{{Cite web|date=January 18, 2021|title='I cannot wait': RuPaul and Michelle Visage to judge Drag Race Down Under – in New Zealand|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jan/19/i-cannot-wait-rupaul-and-michelle-visage-to-judge-drag-race-down-under-in-new-zealand|access-date=February 19, 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}
In 2024, it was confirmed that Visage would be the permanent host on the fourth season of Drag Race Down Under.{{Cite magazine |title=RuPaul steps down, Michelle Visage to host 'Drag Race Down Under' |url=https://ew.com/rupaul-leaving-drag-race-down-under-michelle-visage-8606508 |access-date=2024-03-11 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{Cite web |last=Tangcay |first=Jazz |date=2024-03-11 |title='Drag Race Down Under' Season 4 to Be Hosted by Michelle Visage |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/drag-race-down-under-season-4-michelle-visage-host-1235936803/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Variety |archive-date=2024-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311193604/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/drag-race-down-under-season-4-michelle-visage-host-1235936803/ |url-status=live }}
== Other appearances ==
On January 7, 2015, Visage became one of the contestants on the fifteenth series of the British reality series Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5. On February 6, 2015, Visage left the house in fifth place.{{cite web|title=Michelle Visage defeated by Katie Price in Celebrity Big Brother Final|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/02/06/michelle-visage-defeated-by-katie-price-in-celebrity-big-brother-final/|website=Pink News|date=February 6, 2015}} Since leaving the house she has appeared on some episodes of Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side, a companion show that airs straight after Celebrity Big Brother.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/8105/cbb-michelle-visage-bianca-del-rio-throw-shade/|title=CBB: Michelle Visage and Bianca Del Rio throw shade|date=September 18, 2015|website=Gay Times|language=en-GB|access-date=April 8, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308211604/http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/8105/cbb-michelle-visage-bianca-del-rio-throw-shade/|url-status=dead}}
Visage has made several other TV appearances including hosting VH1's red carpet coverage of the 1998 Grammys and in 2002, Grease{{'s}} 25th-anniversary re-release party.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/big-brother/11334808/Who-is-Michelle-Visage-Celebrity-Big-Brother-2015-contestants.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/big-brother/11334808/Who-is-Michelle-Visage-Celebrity-Big-Brother-2015-contestants.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Who is Michelle Visage? Meet the Celebrity Big Brother contestant|author= The Daily Telegraph Staff|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=January 9, 2015|access-date=April 8, 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}} On May 13, 2017, she and Ross Mathews were the commentators for Logo TV's coverage of the Live Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest.{{cite web|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2017-broadcast-us|title=Eurovision returns to the United States|website=eurovision.tv|date=April 27, 2017}} More recently she has appeared as a judge on the first two seasons of Ireland's Got Talent, the first of which began airing on TV3 in February 2018.{{Cite web|title=Michelle Visage signs up to judge Ireland's Got Talent | Attitude Magazine|url=http://attitude.co.uk/michelle-visage-irelands-got-talent/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903075146/http://attitude.co.uk/michelle-visage-irelands-got-talent/|archive-date=September 3, 2017|access-date=September 3, 2017}}{{Cite web|title=Michelle Visage asks Ireland's Got Talent viewers to vote for talent not just acts from their area for season 2|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/michelle-visage-asks-irelands-got-talent-viewers-to-vote-for-talent-not-just-acts-from-their-area-for-season-2-37285545.html|access-date=April 8, 2019|website=Independent.ie|date=September 5, 2018 |language=en}} And in 2020, Visage joined fellow Ireland's Got Talent judge Louis Walsh on the judging panel of teen recycled-fashion competition Junk Kouture.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/drag-races-michelle-visage-to-judge-irish-junk-couture-competition-alongside-louis-walsh-39610525.html|title=Drag Race's Michelle Visage to judge Irish Junk Couture competition alongside Louis Walsh|last=O'Loughlin|first=Ciara|date=October 11, 2020|website=Independent.ie|language=en|access-date=October 11, 2020}} She appeared on the televised Grand Final in February 2021, after the plans for the original live Grand Final were scuppered by COVID-19.
== ''Strictly Come Dancing'' ==
On August 5, 2019, it was announced that Visage would be taking part in the seventeenth series of Strictly Come Dancing in the UK on BBC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1161861/Michelle-Visage-Strictly-Come-Dancing-2019-American-Age-job-dancing-experience-RuPaul|title=Michelle Visage: Who is Strictly Come Dancing 2019 star Michelle Visage?|last=Debnath|first=Neela|date=August 9, 2019|website=Express.co.uk|language=en|access-date=August 28, 2019}} On September 7, it was confirmed that she was partnered with Giovanni Pernice.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|rowspan="2" style="background:#CCCCCC;" align="Center" |Week No. | rowspan="2" style="background:#CCCCCC;" align="Center" |Dance/Song | colspan="4" style="background:#CCCCCC;" align="Center" |Judges' score | rowspan="2" style="background:#CCCCCC;" align="Center" |Total | rowspan="2" style="background:#CCCCCC;" align="Center" |Result |
| style="background:#CCCCCC;" width="10%" align="center" |Horwood
| style="background:#CCCCCC;" width="10%" align="center" |Mabuse | style="background:#CCCCCC;" width="10%" align="center" |Ballas | style="background:#CCCCCC;" width="10%" align="center" |Tonioli{{efn|In week 5 guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro replaced Tonioli}} |
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |1
|style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Cha-Cha-Cha / "So Emotional" |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |30 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |No Elimination |
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |2
|style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Viennese Waltz / "That's Amore" |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |{{green|32}} |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Safe |
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |3
|style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Quickstep / "Cabaret" |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |35 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Safe |
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |4
|style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Salsa / "Quimbara" |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |31 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Safe |
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |5
|style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Rumba / "Too Good at Goodbyes" |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |28 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Safe |
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |6
|style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Foxtrot / "The Addams Family Theme" |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |10 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |10 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |10 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |{{green|39}} |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Safe |
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7
|style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Paso Doble / "Another One Bites The Dust" |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |34 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Safe |
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8
|style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |American Smooth / "I Just Want to Make Love to You" |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |36 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Bottom two |
| style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9
|style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Street dance / "Vogue" |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |{{red|33}} |style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |Eliminated |
;*Green number indicates Michelle & Giovanni were at the top of the leaderboard.
;*Red number indicates Michelle & Giovanni were at the bottom of the leaderboard.
=Theater=
Visage performed in her West End debut as "Miss Hedge" in Everybody's Talking About Jamie between October 18, 2018, and January 26, 2019.{{Cite web|date=September 19, 2018|title=Everybody's Talking About... Michelle Visage|url=https://www.everybodystalkingaboutjamie.co.uk/everybodys-talking-about-jamie-casting-announcement|access-date=April 26, 2019|website=Everybody's Talking About Jamie|language=en-GB|archive-date=August 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819060401/https://everybodystalkingaboutjamie.co.uk/everybodys-talking-about-jamie-casting-announcement/|url-status=dead}}
She played Morticia in the West End premiere of The Addams Family in concert opposite Ramin Karimloo as Gomez in February 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/michelle-visage-and-ramin-karimloo-to-star-in-the-addams-family-concert|title=Michelle Visage and Ramin Karimloo to Star in The Addams Family Concert | Playbill|access-date=December 29, 2023|archive-date=November 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104162622/https://playbill.com/article/michelle-visage-and-ramin-karimloo-to-star-in-the-addams-family-concert|url-status=live}}
Personal life
In her early years, Visage had anorexia, which she says began when she was around 13 years old and continued into her adult life.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/11/06/michelle-visage-wise-words-interview-drag-race_n_8491976.html|title=WISE WORDS: Michelle Visage On The Importance Of Loving Ourselves|date=November 6, 2015|website=HuffPost UK|language=en|access-date=April 8, 2019}} Visage is vegan.{{cite web|date=November 16, 2019|title=A guide to Strictly Come Dancing's Michelle Visage's tattoos: from a diamond on her hip to a top hat on her thigh|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/2019111680554/what-do-michelle-visages-tattoos-mean/|website=HELLO!}}
She lives in California with her husband, David Case, who she has been with for 28 years, and her two children.{{cite web|url=http://www.bestdaily.co.uk/television/news/a623124/introducing-celebrity-big-brother-star-michelle-visages-daughters.html|title=Introducing Celebrity Big Brother Star Michelle Visage|access-date=June 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929053307/http://www.bestdaily.co.uk/television/news/a623124/introducing-celebrity-big-brother-star-michelle-visages-daughters.html|archive-date=September 29, 2015|url-status=dead}} On November 10, 2015, she published her first book, The Diva Rules.{{cite web|url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24905392-the-diva-rules|title=The Diva Rules: Ditch the Drama, Find Your Strength, and Sparkle Your Way to the Top by Michelle Visage — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists|first=Michelle|last=Visage|publisher=Goodreads.com|access-date=November 4, 2016}}
On What's the Tee?, her podcast with RuPaul, Visage said that as an adult, she has had sex with men and women. "I've been with women; I've had sex with women... But I realized I never wanted to have a relationship [with them]."{{Cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/rupaul/episode-214-bridget-jones-diarrhea|title=Episode 214 - The L Word|via=soundcloud.com}}
In April 2019, Visage revealed she had Hashimoto's disease, and so had her breast implants removed.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/health/michelle-visage-breast-implants-removed-hashimotos-disease/|title=Michelle Visage Says She Had Her Breast Implants Removed Due to Her Hashimoto's Disease|website=People|first=Dave|last=Quinn|date=April 12, 2019|access-date=August 21, 2019}}
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable"
!Album !Year !Group !Notes |
| Nothing Matters Without Love
|1989 | |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable"
!Song !Year !Artist !Album |
| "Seduction Theme"
|1989 | rowspan="6" |Seduction | rowspan="6" |Nothing Matters Without Love |
| "(You're My One and Only) True Love"
| rowspan="5" |1990 |
| "Two to Make It Right" |
| "Heartbeat" |
| "Could This Be Love" |
| "Breakdown" |
| "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day"
|1992 |The Bodyguard soundtrack |
| "Heartbreak in This City"
|2021 |
=Guest appearances=
Filmography
Awards and nominations
=Notes=
{{notelist}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Wikiquote}}
- {{Official website|http://www.michellevisage.com/}}
- [http://michellevisage.com/radio-resume Radio Resume]
- {{IMDb name|0899513}}
- {{youTube|channel=UCCRBpyacv5-j1ongGV6dwyQ}}
- [http://www.rupaulpodcast.com/ RuPaul: What's The Tee? With Michelle Visage]
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001955m Michelle Visage] (BBC Radio 2)
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015dn0 Michelle Visage's Rule Breakers] (BBC Radio 2)
{{Seduction}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Visage, Michelle}}
Category:American women television personalities
Category:American expatriates in the United Kingdom
Category:American television personalities
Category:21st-century American Jews
Category:American contemporary R&B singers
Category:American radio personalities
Category:BBC Radio 2 presenters
Category:People from South Plainfield, New Jersey
Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners
Category:Singers from New Jersey
Category:South Plainfield High School alumni
Category:21st-century American women singers
Category:American Musical and Dramatic Academy alumni