The Vivienne was a British drag performer best known as the 2019 winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” and competitor on the 2022 season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.”
- Died: January 5, 2024 (Who else died on January 5?)
- Details of death: Died in Backford, England at the age of 32.
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The Vivienne’s legacy
When James Williams began to dive into the world of drag performance, the North Wales native took on the moniker The Vivienne, named after their love for Vivienne Westwood (1941–2022) fashion. Working in the UK, they caught the attention of drag icon RuPaul in 2015 when they won a single-day competition in London, a break that led to stardom in the drag world.
The next few years saw The Vivienne’s star rise, as they were named a UK ambassador for “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” appeared on the eighth season of the show, and in 2019 won the first season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.” In 2020, they had their own series on BBC Three, “The Vivienne Takes on Hollywood,” then competed in the 2022 season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” among their many TV appearances.
In addition to television work and drag performances, The Vivienne was a music artist, releasing several singles from 2020 to 2022 and an EP, “Bitch on Heels.” On stage, they played the Wicked Witch of the West in the 2023-24 UK tour of “The Wizard of Oz” and The Childcatcher in a production of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” last year.
Tributes to The Vivienne
Full obituary: BBC
