Shannel | |
---|---|
![]() Shannel lip syncing live in 2018 | |
Born | Bryan Watkins July 3, 1979 |
Occupation | Drag queen |
Years active | 1994–present |
Known for | |
Website | theofficialshannel |
Bryan Watkins, known by his stage name Shannel,[1] is an American drag queen and television personality, best known for competing on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race and later the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars. He placed in the top four on both seasons.
Early life
Watkins was born on July 3, 1979,[citation needed] in Orange County, California.[2] He started doing drag at fifteen years old when he entered a Halloween drag contest and won. He worked as a beauty advisor for the cosmetics company Chanel. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2000.[3]
RuPaul's Drag Race
Shannel was announced as one of nine contestants for the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2009).[4] In the third episode, he was in the bottom two with fellow competitor Akashia, and won a lip sync against him to "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston. He famously did the first "wig reveal" on the show during the lip sync.[5] He was later eliminated in the sixth episode after losing a lip sync to "Shackles (Praise You)" by Mary Mary against Rebecca Glasscock.[6]
Shannel was announced as being among twelve returning contestants for the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars in 2012.[7] Due to the team twist for the season, Shannel teamed with eventual winner Chad Michaels as the team Shad.[8] They won the third, fourth and fifth episode challenges, until Shannel was eliminated in third place with Jujubee.[9]
Shannel also was a drag professor for three seasons of the spin-off show RuPaul's Drag U in 2010 to 2012.[10]
He appeared as a guest star on the first episode of Drag Race's eighth season.[11] He appeared with his fellow season one cast on the Drag Race season ten finale, lip syncing next to Mayhem Miller.[12][13]
Shannel was credited as a Creative Consultant for the premiere episode of RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race. He also made an appearance making over celebrity Nico Tortorella, though it was ultimately cut from the episode.[14]
Career
Outside of Drag Race, Shannel appeared in an episode of The Arrangement in 2010.[15] He appeared in the music video for Lady Gaga's "Applause" with Raven, Morgan McMichaels, Shangela Laquifa Wadley and Detox.[16] He was also in the video for Xelle's "Queen" in 2012.[17] He was part of Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas show in 2017.[18][19]
In September 2019, at RuPaul’s DragCon NYC, Shannel was named as one of a rotating cast of a dozen Drag Race queens in RuPaul's Drag Race Live!, a Las Vegas show residency at the Flamingo Las Vegas.[20]
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Contestant (4th place) |
2010 | The Arrangement | ||
2010-12 | RuPaul's Drag U | Herself | |
2012 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Herself | Contestant (3rd/4th place) |
2012 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked | Herself |
Music videos
Year | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
2012 | Queen | Xelle |
2013 | Applause | Lady Gaga |
Web series
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | WOW Shopping Network | Herself | Guest | [21] |
Ring My Bell | Guest | [22] | ||
2016 | The Pit Stop | Guest | [23] | |
Drag Makeup Tutorial | Guest | [24] | ||
2020 | Hey Qween | Guest | [25] |
References
- ^ "Q&A: Bryan Watkins". Las Vegas Magazine. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ Nunn, Jerry. "The drag all-star on surviving RuPaul's Drag Race". ChicagoPride.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ "Shannel". Piranha Nightclub. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ Stanley, Alessandra. "Logo's New Reality Competition Explores What It Takes To Be a Drag Star". Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ "INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World". www.intomore.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ "The Drag Race Rutrospective: Ow! My Balls!". Xtra. 2013-11-06. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ "'RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race': Meet the Queens". LOGO News. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ "Chad Michaels & Shannel Share Tearful Moment on 'Drag Race'". LOGO News. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ "'RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race' season finale recap". EW.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ Gascot, John (2011-07-12). "Drag U: Professor Shannel". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 8 Premiere: Keepin' It 100". Observer. 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ VH1 (2018-06-28), Lip Sync Eleganza Extravaganza Performance 💃 'Finale Sneak Peek' | RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10, retrieved 2018-08-17
- ^ "Watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 1 queens reunite to slay in season 10 finale preview". EW.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ Damshenas, Sam (27 April 2020). "Shannel says she was "cut" from RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race". GayTimes. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ "Shannel Guest Stars on "The Arrangement" - The Arrangement (Video Clip) | LOGOtv". Logo TV. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ "Detox, Raven, Shannel & Morgan McMichaels To Star In Lady Gaga "Applause" Music Video". LOGO News. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ "20 Music Videos With Drag Queen Cameos". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ "'Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas': Bigger and better". Las Vegas Magazine. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ "The stars align with 'Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas'". Las Vegas Magazine. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (September 7, 2019). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Sets Live Show In Las Vegas". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
- ^ Shannel on WOW Shopping Network. YouTube. April 25, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ Shannel - Ring My Bell. YouTube. September 5, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
- ^ RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 8 Ep. 8 Recap) | The Pit Stop with Kingsley & Shannel | Logo. YouTube. April 25, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
- ^ Drag Makeup Tutorial: Shannel's 'Medusa Look' | RuPaul's Drag Race | Logo. YouTube. April 30, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
- ^ SHANNEL on Hey Qween! with Jonny McGovern. YouTube. February 3, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.