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 of Survivor, the debate became whether the right person won. In the end, the survival guide lost to the reality television personality. Richard Hatch became the face of the program and helped the longevity of the show. It proved right off the bat, Survivor was more than the title. It was a reality show.
For RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, the first season came down to The Vivienne and Divina 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 of Drag 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 of Drag Race UK went 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 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK didn’t earn a monetary prize. Instead they were given their own show produced by the minds behind Drag Race. When The Vivienne won, she created a show called The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood. Bringing a dash of camp and comedy, what she presented on Drag Race made sense for a series of this nature. With her ability to act, proven during her iconic Snatch Game as Donald 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 before Shangela was afforded the opportunity to compete on Dancing with the Stars or Peppermint and Bob the Drag Queen could battle the best in the genre on The Traitors. In the UK, RuPaul’s Drag Race gave its contestants opportunities other reality stars in the country were already granted. The Vivienne’s resume beyond RuPaul’s Drag Race included The Great British Sewing Bee, The Weakest Link, and Dancing on Ice, where she finished third. When Netflix needed some extra promotion for their shows, The Vivienne was on call to provide hilarious commentary with some of her drag sisters. Whether it was getting etiquette training with Monet X Change or reacting to the Eurovision Song Contest: Story of Fire Saga alongside Tia Kofi, The Vivienne was willing and able to entertain.
She even appeared on British staples like the long-running soap Emmerdale and helped debut Ant and Dec’s drag personas on Saturday 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 of Blankety Blank. However, her ability to persevere and tune out the hate proved that she was a beacon of hope for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Vivienne Had an Impact On the World
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 in The Wizard of Oz. Out of drag, she portrayed The Childsnatcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Drag is an artform that is rooted in theater, but a show like Drag Race has 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 at Marcia Marcia Marcia from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15. She’s appearing on Broadway currently in the ensemble of Cabaret, 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 of Drag 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 from Drag Race nowadays.
As the first queen to be invited to participate on the American version of RuPaul’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.