Shangela Laquifa Wadley is the stage persona of D.J. Pierce, an American drag queen, comedian, and reality television personality who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race Seasons 2 and 3. She was the first contestant eliminated in season two, and returned as a surprise contestant in the series' third season. She was among the top five contestants before her elimination in the eleventh episode. Since RuPaul's Drag Race, Shangela has had several television appearances and continues to perform across the United States and Canada.
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Early life
Pierce grew up in Paris, Texas, and was raised primarily by his grandparents as his mother was in the military and relocated often. He has said he is of African-American and Saudi Arabian descent. Pierce was the first male cheerleader in his local high school since 1968. He began dressing in drag to get A's in creative projects for English classes in high school. After high school, Pierce attended Southern Methodist University and graduated with honors. He briefly worked in public relations before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment. RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 contestant Alyssa Edwards is Shangela's drag mother.
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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 him to fill in. The club's promoter was so impressed with Shangela's performance that he offered to book him for the following week. In 2010, Shangela was crowned in the first California Entertainer of the Year pageant; the first alternate was Chad Michaels.
After five months of performing in Los Angeles, Shangela was selected to join the cast for Season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Though he was eliminated in the first episode, he re-applied for the following season and made it to the top 5.
Shangela is known for the catchphrase, "halleloo", which the Los Angeles Times considered one of the "2010 Top Terms We Learned on Reality Television." Shangela's comedic persona is Laquifa, who entered the limelight during eighth episode of season three, in which he won the "Ru Ha Ha" competition. Since being on RuPaul's Drag Race, Laquifa 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.
Shangela has made several television appearances, including Toddlers & Tiaras, in which he coached his 9-year-old goddaughter to compete in a beauty pageant. Other appearances include episodes of Glee, 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. Shangela and Manila did an entertainment news segment for US Weekly in which they discuss current male celebrities and reimagine them as drag queens. Shangela was featured as one of OUT Magazine's "Most Compelling People of 2011". Shangela had a non-drag role in a short film, Body of a Barbie, which aired on BET and was a Top 7 National Finalist on the network's Lens on Talent series.
He 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, 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.
In 2013, Shangela was featured in an ad for Facebook Home.
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".
Music
On August 23, 2011, he released his first single "Call Me Laquifa", which is available for purchase via iTunes and other commercial music sites. His second single, "Werqin' Girl" was released on 7 August 2012. The music video for "Werqin' Girl" features appearances by Abby Lee Miller, Jenifer Lewis, RuPaul's Drag Race pit crew member Jason Carter, and Yara Sofia.
In 2013, Shangela appeared in the music video "Gone With the Wind Fabulous" by Kenya Moore.
Filmography
Film
Television
Discography
- "Call Me Laquifa" (2011)
- "Werqin' Girl (Professional)" (2012)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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