Drag performer Shangela makes 'Dancing With the Stars' history
Drag entertainer and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alumnus Shangela made history Monday night on the hit competition show “Dancing With the Stars.” On the show’s 31st
Drag entertainer and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alumnus Shangela made history Monday night on the hit competition show “Dancing With the Stars.”
On the show’s 31st season premiere, Shangela, whose real name is D.J. Pierce, became the first drag queen to compete in the U.S. version of the international franchise.
“My heart was racing like crazy but when the announcer guy started the intro, in my mind I went into full on Beyoncé at the Super Bowl mode,” Pierce wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. “I wanted to deliver y’all a moment that was worthy of all ur love and support, and also show people that might not be familiar or loving of drag queens, that we belong, and we know how to Turn The Party! Keep cheering, watching and Voting because we are in this together hopefully all the way to the finals!”
Pierce and his dance partner, Russian American dancer and choreographer Gleb Savchenko, received a standing ovation after their dazzling salsa performance to the Pussycat Dolls’ song “When I Grow Up.” The duo earned sevens from all four judges, the fourth-highest score of the 16 dance partners who performed.
“We’ve never had anyone like Shangela,” Savchenko, who has been part of the show since season 16, said in an interview with E! News. “So it’s going to be extra, extra, extra special.”
Rating: 5