ATL's Violet Chachki wins 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
From "shadiest queen" to the champ
- Jon Dean
- HAIL TO THE QUEEN: Violet Chachki won season 7 of "RuPaul's Drag Race"
She went from being voted "Shadiest Queen" to taking home the title. Atlanta's own Violet Chachki won the top prize of $100,000 in the seventh season of "RuPaul's Drag Race" on Logo TV. Sure, Chachki was our favorite. Hell, CL arts critic Andrew Alexander even created a cocktail in her honor. However, the competition was fierce, and the 22-year-old subject of our 2013 Arts Issue, was ultimately chosen by RuPaul herself.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Chachki said she wants to take the prize money, and attention that comes with the victory and use it for some good:
I really would like to be an advocate for LGBT youth or transgender youth, or transgender people in general. I really feel a connection more so to the trans community than the gay community as a really young person. Miley Cyrus just started her organization called Happy Hippy, which has been really amazing. She was actually at the finale taping. She seems really cool. I love questions like that. I get asked really dumb questions. I would love to talk more with people about issues. I feel like now with the whole Bruce Jenner* thing (*EW notes that this interview took place before Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair cover image was released), trans issues are becoming more and more relevant and public. There’s this controversy about Drag Race with trans issues and queer culture. It’s an amazing time to be a queer person, and I’d love to talk more about these issues and less about makeup tips.
Folks can celebrate the champ this Friday at the Herectic, where Chachki will host Legendary Children's show, Hogtied. Joining Chachki will be Brigitte Bidet, Cayenne Rouge, Ellisorous Rex, Hydrangea Heath, Kryean Kally, Lavonia Elberton, and Mo'Dest Volgare. In the meantime, check out Chachki's highlights from the show.
embed-1Hogtied. $5-$10. 9 p.m. Fri., June 5. The Heretic Atlanta, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd. N.E. 404-325-3061. hereticatlanta.com.