Shangela
{{Short description|American drag queen}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Shangela Laquifa Wadley
| image = Shangela at Rupaul's Dragcon 2017 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Shangela at RuPaul's DragCon NYC, 2017
| birth_name = Chantaize Darius Jeremy Pierce
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|11|22}}{{Cite tweet |user=itsSHANGELA |number=1065485313928249344 |title=I said it first …. Happy Birthday to Me! ❤️}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/13317858:8781 |title= Darius Jeremy Pierce |website=Ancestry Institute |publisher=Ancestry |access-date=November 12, 2022}}
| birth_place = Lamar County, Texas, U.S.
| other_names = D.J. Pierce
| education = Southern Methodist University (BA)
| occupation = {{hlist|Drag queen|television personality|actor}}
| known for = {{plainlist|
- RuPaul's Drag Race (season 2)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (season 3)
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 3)
- Dancing With The Stars (season 31)
}}
| website =
}}
Chantaize Darius Jeremy Pierce,{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/884907801 |title=WERQIN GIRL |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=June 3, 2023}} better known by the stage name Shangela Laquifa Wadley or simply as Shangela (born November 22, 1981),{{cite news| url= http://www.out.com/entertainment/interviews/2011/11/17/catching-shangela| title= Catching Up With Shangela| first= Jordan| last= Shavarebi| date= November 17, 2011| access-date= March 23, 2017| work= Out| archive-date= March 4, 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054826/http://www.out.com/entertainment/interviews/2011/11/17/catching-shangela| url-status= live}} is an American drag queen, reality television personality, TV producer, and actor best known for competing on RuPaul's Drag Race. Shangela was the first contestant eliminated in season two, and returned as a surprise contestant in the series' third season, placing sixth. She returned once again for the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars where she finished in joint-third/fourth place alongside winner of the first season, BeBe Zahara Benet. Shangela has also made several television appearances and regularly performs across the United States and Canada.[http://www.shangela.com/pages.php?PID=events "On The Move – See Shangela Live!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108171509/http://shangela.com/pages.php?PID=events |date=November 8, 2017}}, Shangela.com; accessed February 19, 2012.
After Drag Race, Shangela appeared in numerous television series, including Community (2011), 2 Broke Girls (2012), Glee (2012), Bones (2014), The X-Files (2016), and Broad City (2019). She also appeared in the comedy film Hurricane Bianca (2016), its sequel Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate (2018), and the musical drama film A Star is Born (2018). In 2019, representing A Star Is Born at the 91st Academy Awards, she became the first drag queen to walk the Oscars red carpet in drag.{{cite web|url=https://www.out.com/fashion/2019/2/25/shangela-talks-being-first-drag-queen-oscars |title=Shangela Talks Being the First Drag Queen at the Oscars|first=Mikelle|last=Street |date=February 25, 2019|publisher=Out.com |access-date=December 12, 2019}} Since 2020, Shangela has co-hosted the HBO reality series We're Here, alongside fellow Drag Race contestants Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka O'Hara.{{Cite web|last=Rudolph|first=Christopher|date=November 5, 2019|title=Drag Race Legends Invade Small Town USA in New HBO Reality Series|url=http://www.newnownext.com/drag-race-legends-invade-small-town-usa-in-new-hbo-reality-series/11/2019/|access-date=April 23, 2020|work=NewNowNext}} The series has received acclaim from critics.{{Cite web|date=April 23, 2020|title=Stream It or Skip It: 'We're Here' on HBO, a Fierce Docuseries about the Power of Drag|url=https://decider.com/2020/04/23/were-here-on-hbo-stream-it-or-skip-it/|access-date=December 31, 2021|website=Decider|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Mary Elizabeth|date=April 22, 2020|title=HBO's heartfelt "We're Here" is the drag show America needs now|url=https://www.salon.com/2020/04/22/were-here-hbo-drag-review/|access-date=December 31, 2021|website=Salon|language=en}}
Early life
Pierce was born in Lamar County, Texas, and grew up in Paris, Texas, the only child of Debra Sue Pierce (born 1959),{{Cite tweet |user=itsSHANGELA |number=1199592238730362880 |title=Happy Birthday MOM! Made it home at exactly 12:08am just in time to surprise my Mom with balloons and some late night cheesecake for her 60th birthday. Of course ... classic Deb ... she is awake prepping food}} a worker in the United States Army who traveled frequently for her work. He is biracial, and is of half-Saudi descent.{{Cite tweet |user=itsSHANGELA |number=955927862539829248 |title=Yes it is. My dad is, so I'm half Saudi. My dad was never around tho as my parents separated when I was a baby and he returned to his home region. But I am proud to be biracial and to be part Saudi.}} His parents split when he was at a young age,{{Cite tweet |user=itsSHANGELA |number=1140735893482983427 |title=So I'm late on the whole Father's Day post, but I really wanted to share this so here ya go. My parents split when I was super young so I never had a true relationship with my Dad, but my Grandpa was VERY MUCH a DAD…}} after which his father returned to Saudi Arabia. As a result, Pierce was raised by his single mother and her large Southern Baptist family,{{Cite web|date=May 11, 2020|title=Shangela, the Texan Drag Superstar, Draws From Her Paris Upbringing in a New HBO Series|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/shangela-drag-queen-hbo-show/|access-date=September 5, 2021|website=Texas Monthly|language=en}} including a grandfather who worked as a cowboy on a cattle ranch.{{cite web|url=http://www.afterelton.com/people/2012/01/shangela-interview-dj-pierce-halleloo |title='Halleloo' for D.J. Pierce! Getting to Know the Man Behind Drag Sensation Shangela|first=Dennis|last=Ayers|date=January 9, 2012|publisher=EfterElton.com| access-date= February 19, 2012|archive-date= January 12, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120112034410/http://www.afterelton.com/people/2012/01/shangela-interview-dj-pierce-halleloo}} His grandfather died in 2000.{{Cite tweet |user=itsSHANGELA |number=82538783911841792 |title=My parents separated when I was really young, so my grandpa was like my Dad. I loved him very much. He passed away in 2000. Luv ya Gramps!}} He was a cheerleader in high school, and began dressing in drag for creative projects for English classes.
Career
= Early career =
Shangela emerged as Pierce's drag persona in January 2009. Pierce had choreographed a three-person drag act to "Single Ladies" for a sober charity event in Los Angeles, and when one of the performers cancelled, the other two asked her to fill in.[http://www.shangela.com/about.php "'Bout Me": Shangela – Debutantess Of The Deep South] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917235616/http://www.shangela.com/about.php |date=September 17, 2017}}, shangela.com; accessed February 19, 2012. The club's promoter was so impressed with Shangela's performance that he offered to book her for the following week. In 2010, Shangela was crowned in the first California Entertainer of the Year pageant;{{cite web |author=Calpernia Addams |url=http://www.calpernia.com/2010/01/california-eoy-2010-the-recap |title=California EOY 2010 – The Recap |website=Calpernia.com |date=January 16, 2010 |access-date=September 24, 2016 |archive-date=April 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404030012/http://www.calpernia.com/2010/01/california-eoy-2010-the-recap/ |url-status=dead }} the first alternate was Chad Michaels.
= ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' =
After five months of performing in Los Angeles, Shangela was selected to join the cast for season two of RuPaul's Drag Race, but was eliminated in the first episode. She later reauditioned and was invited back for season three, where she made it to the top five (although she placed sixth overall due to the return of Carmen Carrera one episode later). She also made cameo appearances in the show's fourth-season premiere and the "Snatch Game" episode of All Stars season two.
Shangela returned to compete on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, making her the first queen to compete on three separate seasons of the show. She made it to the season's finale and was considered a frontrunner for the crown, but was controversially eliminated after only receiving one vote from Thorgy Thor among the jury of previously eliminated queens. She subsequently tied third/fourth place with season-one winner Bebe Zahara Benet.{{Cite news|url=http://ew.com/tv/2018/03/16/rupauls-drag-race-all-stars-3-finale-eliminated-queens-vote/|title='RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' eliminated queens' shocking vote tallies revealed|work=EW.com|access-date=March 20, 2018|language=en}}
Shangela competed in the television special RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8482663/rupauls-drag-race-holiday-spectacular-trixie-shangela|title=Kim Chi, Shangela, Trixie Mattel & More to Compete in 'RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 2, 2018}} In June 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine placed Shangela second on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former RuPaul's Drag Race contestants.{{cite news |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/06/most-powerful-drag-queens-in-america-ranked.html# |title=The Most Powerful Drag Queens in America: Ranking the new establishment. |date=June 10, 2019 |access-date=June 10, 2019 |magazine=New York |archive-date=June 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610184458/https://www.vulture.com/2019/06/most-powerful-drag-queens-in-america-ranked.html |url-status=live}}
= Other television and film appearances =
File:Shangela DQOC.jpg in 2014]]
Shangela appeared in Toddlers & Tiaras, in which she coached her 9-year-old goddaughter to compete in a beauty pageant. Other appearances include episodes of Glee, Bones, Community, Terriers, Dance Moms, 2 Broke Girls, Detroit 187 and The Mentalist, as well as a commercial for Orbitz with fellow Drag Race contestants Manila Luzon and Carmen Carrera.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mODHx9YYyQE Orbitz Commercial – Rupaul's Drag Race Cast] from YouTube Shangela and other RuPaul's Drag race contestants including Trixie Mattel, Tammie Brown, and Manila Luzon, appeared in a Food and Drug Administration campaign against smoking.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8GwWzZChno Be Known for Your Flawless | This Free Life] from YouTube
Pierce had a non-drag role in a short film, Body of a Barbie (2011), which aired on BET and was a Top 7 National Finalist on the network's Lens on Talent series.[http://www.bet.com/video/lensontalent/season2shortfilms/body-of-a-barbie-11-02-10-230629.html "Lens On Talent"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019084826/http://www.bet.com/video/lensontalent/season2shortfilms/body-of-a-barbie-11-02-10-230629.html |date=October 19, 2011}}, BET.com; accessed February 19, 2012.[http://www.outviewonline.com/2011/03/outscene-pre-view-le-faux-welcomes-drag.html Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230115240/http://www.outviewonline.com/2011/03/outscene-pre-view-le-faux-welcomes-drag.html |date=2017-12-30 }}, outviewonline.com, March 2011. In 2013, Shangela was featured in an ad for Facebook Home.{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57578273-71/the-new-facebook-home-ad-complete-with-drag-queen|title=The new Facebook Home ad, complete with drag queen|last=Matyszczyk|first=Chris|work=CNET|date=6 April 2013 |access-date=April 7, 2013}}
She was one of thirty drag queens featured in Miley Cyrus's 2015 VMA performance.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2256541/meet-miley-vma-dancers-drag-queens/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831110139/http://www.mtv.com/news/2256541/meet-miley-vma-dancers-drag-queens/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 31, 2015|title=Meet All 30 Of Miley's Day-Glo Dancers From Her Insane VMA Performance|last=Lamour|first=Joseph|website=MTV News|language=en|access-date=June 12, 2019}}
Shangela had a role in the 2016 comedy film Hurricane Bianca, directed by Matt Kugelman and starring fellow Drag Race contestants Bianca Del Rio and Willam Belli. She returned to reprise this role in the 2018 sequel, Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate.{{Cite news|url=https://www.out.com/entertainment/2018/4/19/bianca-katya-shangela-and-more-are-new-hurricane-bianca-2-trailer|title=Bianca, Katya, Shangela, and More Are in the New 'Hurricane Bianca 2' Trailer|date=April 19, 2018|access-date=December 1, 2018|language=en}}
In 2018, she was the commentator for the U.S. for the Eurovision Song Contest held in Lisbon, Portugal with Ross Mathews for Logo TV.[https://eurovision.tv/story/logo-air-eurovision-2018-grand-final-live-united-states Logo to air Eurovision 2018 Grand Final live in the United States – Eurovision Song Contest Tel Aviv 2019] The same year, she had a supporting role as a drag queen emcee in the film A Star Is Born, alongside Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, and Willam Belli.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/10/star-is-born-drag-queens-willam-shangela-1202011727/|title=A Star Is Born: How Drag Queens Shangela and Willam Got Involved {{!}} IndieWire|date=October 12, 2018|publisher=IndieWire}}
== ''Dancing with the Stars'' ==
On September 8, 2022, Shangela was announced as a contestant on season 31 of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with Gleb Savchenko.{{Cite web |title=Dancing with the Stars: Teresa Giudice, Wayne Brady, Selma Blair and More Celebs Join Season 31 |url=https://people.com/tv/dancing-with-the-stars-season-31-cast-reveal/ |access-date=September 8, 2022 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}} Shangela and Savchenko reached the finals of the show and finished in fourth place.{{Cite web |title=Find Out Who Won Season 31 of Dancing With the Stars |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1355523/find-out-who-won-season-31-of-dancing-with-the-stars |access-date=November 21, 2022 |website=E! News|language=en}}
| class="wikitable unsortable" style="text-align:center; width:80%" |
| scope="col" | Week
! scope="col" | Dance ! scope="col" | Music ! scope="col" colspan="4" | Judges' scores{{efn|Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.}} ! scope="col" | Total score ! scope="col" | Result |
|---|
| scope="row" | 1
| Salsa | "When I Grow Up" — The Pussycat Dolls | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| scope="row" | 2
| "Shake, Rattle and Roll" — Elvis Presley | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| scope="row" | 3
| Rumba | "GoldenEye" — Tina Turner | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| scope="row" | 4
| "Dig a Little Deeper" — Jenifer Lewis | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| scope="row" | 5 {{nowrap|{{small|(Night 1)}}}} | Foxtrot | "Roar (Acoustic)" — Katy Perry | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| rowspan="2" scope="row" | 5 {{nowrap|{{small|(Night 2)}}}} | "Waiting for Tonight" — Jennifer Lopez | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 35 | rowspan="2" | Safe |
| Hustle & Lindy Hop Marathon | "Hot Stuff" — Donna Summer & | colspan="4" {{NA}} | 10 |
| scope="row" | 6
| Tango | "Hollywood" — Michael Bublé | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 45{{efn|Shangela and Gleb also received a score of 9 from guest judge Michael Bublé.}} | Safe |
| rowspan="2" scope="row" | 7
| Jazz | "Look What You Made Me Do" — Taylor Swift | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | rowspan="2" | Safe |
| Freestyle (Team Wicked) | "The Witches Are Back" — Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker & Kathy Najimy | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 33 |
| rowspan="2" scope="row" | 8
| Samba | "Spice Up Your Life" — Spice Girls | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 37 | rowspan="2" | Safe |
| Cha-cha-cha (Dance relay) | "Ice Ice Baby" — Vanilla Ice | colspan="4" {{NA|Winner}} | 5{{efn|Shangela and Gleb received bonus points for winning this dance relay.}} |
| rowspan="2" scope="row" | 9
| "The Edge of Glory" — Lady Gaga | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | rowspan="2" bgcolor="lightblue" | Bottom three |
| Viennese waltz
| "I Have Nothing" — Whitney Houston | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 37 |
| rowspan="2" scope="row" | 10
| "Queen Bee" — Rochelle Diamante | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | rowspan="2" bgcolor="d1c571" | Fourth place |
| Freestyle
| "Survivor" — Destiny's Child | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 |
;Notes
{{notelist}}
== ''We're Here'' ==
Since 2020, Shangela has co-hosted We're Here on HBO alongside fellow Drag Race contestants Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka O'Hara. In the series, the trio of drag queens travel across the United States to recruit small-town residents to participate in one-night-only drag shows.{{Cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=November 5, 2019|title=HBO Orders Unscripted Drag Show Series We're Here|url=https://deadline.com/2019/11/hbo-orders-unscripted-drag-show-series-were-here-1202778063/|access-date=April 23, 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood}} After premiering on April 23, 2020, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 11, 2021.{{cite web|date=June 5, 2020|title=HBO Renews "We're Here" for a Second Season|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/06/05/hbo-renews-were-here-for-a-second-season-905114/20200605hbo02/|work=The Futon Critic}}{{cite web|date=September 9, 2021|title=HBO's Emmy-Nominated Unscripted Series "We're Here" Returns October 11|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2021/09/09/hbos-emmy-nominated-unscripted-series-were-here-returns-october-11-771412/20210909hbo01/|work=The Futon Critic}} In December 2021, the series was renewed for a third season.{{cite web|last=Cordero|first=Rosy|date=December 16, 2021|title='We're Here' Renewed For Season 3 At HBO|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/were-here-renewed-season-3-hbo-1234892329/|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood}} The series has received acclaim from critics. The series was renewed for a fourth season, but with a cast of new queens (Priyanka, Jaida Essence Hall, and Sasha Velour) replacing Eureka, Bob, and Shangela.
= Music =
On August 23, 2011, she released her first single "Call Me Laquifa". Her second single, "Werqin' Girl", was released on August 7, 2012. The music video for "Werqin' Girl" features appearances by Abby Lee Miller, Jenifer Lewis, and Yara Sofia.{{cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/shangela-music-video-werqin-girl/12/2012|title=Shangela 'Werqin' Girl' Has Arrived, And It Is Fearce|last=Spargo|first=Chris|date=December 5, 2012|work=New Now Next|access-date=March 11, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://popbytes.com/shangela_is_a_werkin_girl_music_video/|title=Shangela is a "WERQIN' GIRL"|last=Feist|first=Jeremy|work=PopBytes|date=December 3, 2012|access-date=March 11, 2013}} On March 15, 2018, the day of the All Stars 3 finale, Shangela released a new single titled "Pay Me" which features producer Ryan Skyy.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/itsSHANGELA/status/974350723918979074|title='Pay Me' Announcement|access-date=March 15, 2018}}
In 2013, Shangela appeared in the music video "Gone With the Wind Fabulous" by Kenya Moore.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newnownext.com/gone-with-the-wind-fabulous-music-video-shangela-kenya-moore/03/2013/|title='Gone With The Wind Fabulous' Video, With Shangela, Is Here|work=LOGO News|access-date=March 20, 2018}} In 2018, Shangela featured on both the vocals and in the music video for Doll Hairs, a single released by Todrick Hall as part of his Forbidden visual album.{{Citation|last=jasmine masters fan page|title=Doll Hairs (feat. Shangela) by TODRICK HALL|date=March 30, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uEu8lWAHDU|access-date=April 3, 2018}}
In 2019, singer Ariana Grande featured Shangela's voice on the song "NASA" from her fifth studio album Thank U, Next.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8497354/shangela-ariana-grande-album-nasa|title=Shangela 'Thrilled' to Be on Ariana Grande's {{'}}Thank U, Next{{'}} Album {{!}} Billboard|magazine=Billboard}}
= Other ventures =
File:Rupaul Dragcon 2018-303 (41377494134).jpg
Shangela is known for the catchphrase, "Halleloo", which the Los Angeles Times considered one of the "2010 Top Terms We Learned on Reality Television".Villarreal, Yvonne & Maria Elena Fernandez. [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com "2010 Top Terms We Learned on Reality TV], Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2010; accessed February 19, 2012. Shangela's comedic persona is Laquifa, who entered the limelight during the eighth episode of season three, in which he won the "Ru Ha Ha" competition. Since being on Drag Race, Shangela has performed comedy as Laquifa in Downelink.com's "One Night Stand Up!" on LOGO. Shangela has performed in the Drag Queens of Comedy showcase alongside legends Lady Bunny, Jackie Beat and Coco Peru,{{cite web |url=http://www.outviewonline.com/2011/03/outscene-pre-view-le-faux-welcomes-drag.html |title=OUTview online; NEWS and VIEWS, What's your VIEW?: OUTscene: (PRE-view) Le Faux welcomes Drag Race star, Shangela on 4/8-9! |website=Outviewonline.com |date=March 5, 2011 |access-date=September 24, 2016 |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230115240/http://www.outviewonline.com/2011/03/outscene-pre-view-le-faux-welcomes-drag.html |url-status=dead }} as well as the Werq the World tour alongside several fellow Drag Race alumni, of which she is also the creative director.{{cite news|url=https://www.out.com/print/2020/4/21/shangela-dragging-america-one-town-time-new-hbo-series|title=Shangela Is Dragging Up Small Town America|date=April 21, 2020|first=Desirée |last=Guerrero|website=Out|access-date=August 23, 2020}}
Since appearing on Drag Race, Shangela launched "Say What Entertainment", a talent and management agency, in 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianhonigman/2015/10/06/rupauls-drag-race-shangela-business-growth/#797a84c8698e|title=Shangela: RuPaul's Drag Race Star Builds Business From Show's Exposure|date=October 6, 2015|first=Brian|last=Honigman|website=Forbes|access-date=August 22, 2020}}
Shangela was featured as one of OUT Magazine
Pierce has also been active in AIDS awareness and activism. After being featured in a Gilead Sciences ad titled "Red Ribbon Runway" with fellow Drag Race co-stars Carmen Carrera, Delta Work, Manila Luzon and Alexis Mateo,{{cite video|date=July 26, 2011|title=Red Ribbon Runway|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b4UinLoySY|website=YouTube|time=0:39}} the dress he was featured wearing was auctioned off by Logo in commemoration of World AIDS Day. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the National Association of People with AIDS.{{cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/world-aids-day-red-ribbon-runway-auction/12/2011|title=NOW: Red Ribbon Runway Auction|access-date=December 2, 2011|last=Spargo|first=Chris|date=December 1, 2011|work=NewNowNext.com|publisher= Logo}} On August 14, 2013, Shangela, along with fellow drag queens Detox, Morgan McMichaels, Courtney Act, Willam Belli, and Raven, were featured in the lyric video for Lady Gaga's single "Applause".{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2305085/lady-gaga-applause-lyric-video-meaning/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313114214/http://www.mtv.com/news/2305085/lady-gaga-applause-lyric-video-meaning/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 13, 2016|title=Lady Gaga's 'Applause' Lyric Video: Here Are The Important, Drag-Related Findings|work=MTV News|access-date=March 20, 2018|language=en}}
In June 2020, Pierce partnered with Actors Fund of America to create "Feed the Queens", a charity dedicated to feeding struggling drag queens who lost work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news|url=https://people.com/tv/shangela-launches-charity-drive-to-help-out-of-work-performers/|title=RuPaul's Drag Race Star Shangela Launches Charity Drive to Help Out of Work Performers|date=June 14, 2020|first=Jason|last=Sheeler|website=People|access-date=March 11, 2021}}
She is one of the most followed queens from Drag Race, and has accumulated over 1.5 million Instagram followers as of October, 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.intomore.com/culture/25-followed-rupauls-drag-race-queens-instagram/|title=Here are the 25 Most-Followed "RuPaul's Drag Race" Queens on Instagram|date=October 15, 2021|first=Konrad|last=Juengling|website=IntoMore|access-date=October 12, 2021}}
Personal life
File:Shangela (Gay Club TV).jpg
Pierce is gay, and is of mixed African-American and Saudi Arabian descent.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/itsshangela/status/39911114414366720|title=Shangela on Twitter: "Black and saudi arabian (clock the cheekbones!) RT @lilboidancer: To my knowledge...Shangela is not black, hes Puerto Rican..."|date=February 21, 2011|publisher=Twitter|access-date=September 24, 2016}} He has lived in the basement of Jenifer Lewis' poolhouse for over a decade in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web |title=Part One: Shangela Opens Up About Iconic Drag Personality! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jSsyEC4Ptk |access-date=November 10, 2021 |website=YouTube | date=November 2021 |publisher=The Real Daytime}}
RuPaul's Drag Race season-five contestant Alyssa Edwards is Shangela's drag mother.{{cite web|title= Meet Alyssa Edwards, the fabulous drag queen from Mesquite who will appear on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'|url= http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2012/11/meet-alyssa-edwards-the-fabulous-drag-queen-from-mesquite-who-will-appear-on-rupauls-drag-race.html/|first=Rand|last=Duren|work=The Dallas Morning News|location=Texas|access-date=March 20, 2013|archive-date=December 4, 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121204190942/http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2012/11/meet-alyssa-edwards-the-fabulous-drag-queen-from-mesquite-who-will-appear-on-rupauls-drag-race.html/}}
= Rape allegations =
On May 3, 2023, Pierce was accused of rape in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Former We're Here production assistant Daniel McGarrigle accused Pierce of supplying him with alcohol and assaulting him.{{Cite web |title='Drag Race' star Shangela accused of rape in new lawsuit |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/drag-race-star-shangela-accused-rape-new-lawsuit-rcna82843 |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=NBC News |date=4 May 2023 |language=en}} Pierce denies the allegations in the lawsuit. Co-defendant Buckingham Television released a statement saying that they had conducted an investigation and concluded there was not sufficient evidence to support the allegations.{{Cite web |title=RuPaul's Drag Race Star Shangela Is 'Disgusted' by 'Damaging' Rape, Gender Violence Claims by Ex-Show Assistant |url=https://people.com/tv/rupauls-drag-race-star-shangela-disgusted-by-rape-gender-violence-claims-ex-assistant/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}
During mediation on January 16, 2024, McGarrigle dropped the lawsuit against Pierce; the parties reached a settlement in February.{{Cite web |last=Villarreal |first=Daniel |date=2024-04-24 |title=Sexual assault accuser drops lawsuit against "Drag Race" star Shangela |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/04/sexual-assault-accuser-drops-lawsuit-against-drag-race-star-shangela/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=LGBTQ Nation}}{{Cite magazine |last=Shimkus |first=Ben |date=2024-03-18 |title=Actor and Drag Star Shangela Accused of Multiple Sexual Assaults |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/shangela-rupaul-drag-race-sexual-assault-1234974148/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}
On March 18, 2024, a Rolling Stone article was published that detailed five more alleged cases of sexual assault, spanning from 2012 to 2018. In February 2025, Pierce had another civil lawsuit filed against him by Eric Poff, a production assistant on Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate, claiming that Pierce and another unnamed defendant had drugged and raped Poff while working on the film in Manhattan, New York in October 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.out.com/news/shangela-sexual-assault-new-lawsuit|title=Drag star Shangela accused of sexual assault in new lawsuit |last=Henderson |first=Taylor |website=out.com |publisher=Out |access-date=February 25, 2025}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
= Music videos =
=Web series=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Notes ! style="text-align: center;" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| 2012
| Jennifer Lewis and Shangela | Herself | Produced by Lewis and The Collaboration Factory |
| 2014
| Girlfriend Intervention Recap | Herself | Produced by World of Wonder |style="text-align: center;" | {{cite news |url=https://www.queerty.com/shangela-debuts-new-web-series-girlfriend-intervention-recap-20140828|title=Shangela Debuts New Web Series 'Girlfriend Intervention #Recap'|author=Timothy Allen|date=August 28, 2014 |access-date=August 24, 2020 |magazine=Queerty}} |
| 2017
| Herself | Youtube Red original |
| 2019
| Herself | Produced by World of Wonder |
Discography
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:1em;" | Year ! colspan="3" style="width:20em;" | Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" style="width:5em;" | Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:2em;font-size:90%;"| US Dance
! scope="col" style="width:2em;font-size:90%;"| UK Sales ! scope="col" style="width:2em;font-size:90%;"| SCOT |
| scope="row"| "Call Me Laquifa"
| 2011 | — || — || — | rowspan="6" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "Werqin' Girl (Professional)"
| 2012 | — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Uptown Fish"
| 2015 | — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Deck A Ho (Mitch Ferrino Mix)" (Bob the Drag Queen feat. Shangela){{Cite news|url=http://www.newnownext.com/bob-the-drag-queen-deck-a-ho-shangela/12/2017/|title=Bob the Drag Queen And Shangela Are Here To "Deck A Ho" For The Holidays|work=LOGO News|access-date=June 14, 2018}} | 2017 | — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Pay Me"
| rowspan="2"| 2018 | — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Kitty Girl" (RuPaul feat. BeBe Zahara Benet, Kennedy Davenport, Shangela & Trixie Mattel) | 18 || 44 || 33 |
| colspan="10" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
=Guest appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Title
! Year ! Other artist(s) ! Album |
|---|
| "Doll Hairs"
| rowspan="2"| 2018 |
| "Fabulous French" (uncredited vocal) |
| "NASA" (uncredited vocal)
| 2019 |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" |
|
! Year ! Award Giving Body ! Category ! Work ! Results ! Ref |
| 2018
| Best Red Carpet Look | rowspan="4"|Herself | {{won}} |
| rowspan="2"|2019
| Drag Royalty | {{won}} |
| Shorty Awards
| Best LGBTQ+ Account | {{won}} |
| 2021
| Queerty Awards | Innovator | {{won}} |
| 2023
| Entertainment | {{won}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Shangela Laquifa Wadley}}
- {{official website|shangela.com}}
- {{IMDb name|3842784|D.J. 'Shangela' Pierce}}
{{RuPaul's Drag Race}}
{{authority control}}
Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:African-American drag queens
Category:African-American male actors
Category:African-American male comedians
Category:African-American comedians
Category:African-American male singers
Category:American comedians of Middle Eastern descent
Category:American drag queens of Asian descent
Category:American male comedians
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American people of Saudi Arabian descent
Category:American singers of Asian descent
Category:African-American LGBTQ people
Category:American LGBTQ people of Asian descent
Category:LGBTQ people from Texas
Category:People from Paris, Texas
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:RuPaul's Drag Race contestants
Category:Drag performers from Los Angeles