The very first winner of a franchise sets the tone for a series. In 2000 when the world was about to learn the winner of the first season ofSurvivor, the debate became whether the right person won. In the end, the survival guide lost to thereality televisionpersonality.Richard Hatchbecame the face of the program and helped the longevity of the show. It proved right off the bat,Survivorwas more than the title. It was a reality show.
ForRuPaul’s Drag Race UK, the first season came down toThe VivienneandDivina De Campo. Both would have been ample winners, showcasing the glorious British drag scene. But with The Vivienne’s victory, it was more than just a typical reality show win. The Vivienne represented the evolution of drag and the future ofDrag Race. Had The Vivienne not been the winner, we might not have had the other international franchises that came after. Yet, her victory was bigger than just a reality show. It literally opened doors for drag queens in the reality realm in the UK, and beyond. Drag queens following the first season ofDrag Race UKwent on to become public figures and not just novelty acts you see in the pub. Thanks to the trailblazers like The Vivienne,a newfound respect and admiration was paid to queer artists.
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’ Brought Opportunity for The Vivienne
Until Season 6, the winner ofRuPaul’s Drag Race UKdidn’t earn a monetary prize. Instead they were given their own show produced by the minds behindDrag Race. When The Vivienne won, she created a show calledThe Vivienne Takes On Hollywood. Bringing a dash of camp and comedy, what she presented onDrag Racemade sense for a series of this nature. With her ability to act, proven during her iconic Snatch Game asDonald Trump, there was strong potential for her future outside of drag. And the opportunities came rolling in.
Even in the United States, once you pop off as a reality star, further reality show opportunities come to fruition. Unlike the UK, it took a very long time beforeShangelawas afforded the opportunity to compete onDancing with the StarsorPeppermintandBob the Drag Queencould battle the best in the genre onThe Traitors. In the UK,RuPaul’s Drag Racegave its contestants opportunities other reality stars in the country were already granted. The Vivienne’s resume beyondRuPaul’s Drag RaceincludedThe Great British Sewing Bee,The Weakest Link, andDancing on Ice, where she finished third. When Netflix needed some extra promotion for their shows,The Vivienne was on call to provide hilarious commentarywith some of her drag sisters.Whether it was getting etiquette training withMonet X Changeor reacting to theEurovision Song Contest: Story of Fire SagaalongsideTia Kofi, The Vivienne was willing and able to entertain.
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She even appeared on British staples like the long-running soapEmmerdaleandhelped debutAnt and Dec’s drag personasonSaturday Night Takeaway. These were not just passing moments. These appearances were impactful because of the magnitude these shows brought. Of course, as a queer individual,her success didn’t come without conservative pushback. Even with her most recent appearance on the Boxing Day special ofBlankety Blank. However, her ability to persevere and tune out the hate proved thatshe was a beacon of hope for the LGBTQ+ community.
Professionally known as The Vivienne, James Lee Williams used their name and talent to achieve theatrical dreams, including two prestigious UK theater tours. In drag, she took on The Wicked Witch of the West inThe Wizard of Oz. Out of drag, she portrayed The Childsnatcher inChitty Chitty Bang Bang. Drag is an artform that is rooted in theater, but a show likeDrag Racehas given drag artists the keys to hoof it out on the theatrical boards. Being able to portray drastically different characters opened up the potential that not all drag artists have to be pushed into only playing drag roles. Just look atMarcia Marcia MarciafromRuPaul’s Drag RaceSeason 15. She’s appearing on Broadway currently in the ensemble ofCabaret, understudying The Emcee. A drag reality star on Broadway? That would have been unheard of years ago. The Vivienne’s resume was boosted because of the visibility ofDrag Race, and has allowed the queens who followed after to have opportunities they may never have been able to achieve. There’s not a celebrity reality show or panto that doesn’t feature a star fromDrag Racenowadays.
As the first queen to be invited to participate on the American version ofRuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, her reach literally crossed the pond. Her presence brought new eyes over to her original franchise, as well as other international iterations of the flagship show.The Vivienne is a legend in the UK drag scene and beyond the screen.We should remember that her impact truly changed the course of queer visibility in media and how drag artists are viewed in media.
The Vivienne’s passing is not just about the loss of a reality star.This was a queer individual who had impacted the people in her life, whether they personally knew her or not. Since her passing, The Vivienne has received tributes from friends, colleagues, and fans because she was the kind of person who had that special impact. Her sudden passing has reminded the queer community that when we lose one of our own, it’s important to honor them and keep their legacy in our minds. Being a queer person anywhere in the world is not always the easiest. The Vivienne experienced this. In 2023,she was a victim of a homophobic attack.Her strength and perseverance at that moment should be a reminder of the type of person they were.As the tributes continue to roll in, that sentiment continues to ring true. The world will truly miss The Vivienne. She will be forever in our hearts.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
RuPaul’s Drag Race UKis available to stream on WOW Presents Plus.
Stream on WOW Presents Plus
