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Shannel

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Shannel is an American drag queen, character illusionist, makeup artist and showgirl from Las Vegas, Nevada. She was part of the Season 1 cast of RuPaul's Drag Race.

She was best known on RuPaul's Drag Race for her makeup artistry, her costumes, showing off her body, and for her tricks on the runway. However, Shannel was also known for speaking out to the judges about her performances, and being the first queen to nominate herself for elimination.

Name Origin

Her drag name comes from her first Siamese cat named Shannel. Bryan thought that it was suiting, sexy, and sensual.[citation needed]

RuPaul's Drag Race

Shannel
Statistics Season 1 All Stars 1
Ranking: 4th Place 3rd/4th Place
Maxi Challenges Won: 0 3 (Eps. 3, 4, 5)
Mini Challenges Won: 0 0
Times as Team Captain: 0 0
Times in Bottom: 2 (Eps. 3, 6) 1 (Ep. 1)
Episode Eliminated: Episode 6 Episode 6

Memorable Quotes

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1

  • "Holler!"
  • "I got a whole roll of duct tape with your name on it, kitten!" (to Ongina because she had to tuck)
  • "I am amazed at myself; In my mind... I've already won."
  • "I love you too baby. You're going down!" (to Rebecca after voting her to go home)
  • "Oprah, for me, is God." (to BeBe when preparing for the Oprah challenge)
  • "Well hi there! I am the delicious Miss Mandarin! *gasp* mm.. *lip smacking*"
  • "I'm here because I am a professional entertainer. I want to be able to give and create showmanship; for the world to be able to see that the art of drag is not about putting on a dress and prancing around. There is so much more in what we are and who we are, as men, and as well when we are women."
  • "I'm so glad you asked me this question! I nominate myself because I don't want to be here anymore." (nominating herself for elimination)
  • "Since day one, I have been judged really hard, and I'm very frustrated that you can't see the personality, Because I am so fucking real, you have no idea. And I don't feel that I am being understood here. I am beautiful. I'm a beautiful person internally and on the outside, and its so, so frustrating to me that that image does not seem to be conveyed. Week after week when we come into elimination round, I am so negatively critiqued." (nominating herself for elimination)
  • "That sounds so nice to hear." (after the judges' answer to her nomination)

Trivia

  • When Bryan is not performing, he likes to sit down at home and watch the "Golden Girls" and "Roseanne".
  • One of Shannel's memorable performances was getting the opportunity to audition as the host for Cirque du Soleil's show "Zumanity". Out of 88 people, she was chosen to be in the top 5 to do the main audition on stage. She had the opportunity to walk on stage in an auditorium that seated almost 3,000 people and perform in Mugler's finest fashions using a million-dollar microphone.
  • In her shows, Shannel can do tricks such as juggling, tightrope and stilts.
  • Shannel revealed in Episode 3 of Season 1 that Oprah Winfrey inspired her to lose 60 pounds.
  • Shannel is not only a drag queen but she is also a character illusionist. She can successfully create the illusions of many celebrities such as Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Cher, Dolly Parton, Madonna, Lucille Ball, Catwoman, the Evil Queen of Snow White, and even Boy George.
  • Shannel got eliminated on the same episode in two different seasons, being sent home in week 6 during both Season 1 and All Stars 1.
  • Shannel is the first queen to...
    • ...enter the Werk Room.
    • ...lose her wig during a lipsync.
    • ...place 4th.
    • ...nominate herself for elimination.
    • ...to win three Maxi Challenges in an All Stars season without winning one in their original season.
    • ...to make the finale on an All-Stars season without doing so in her original season.
  • She is the highest placing Season 1 queen to never win a main challenge in the season.
  • She lipsynced alongside Mayhem Miller during the Season 10 finale.
  • Shannel was a contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race: Live in Las Vegas. Other contestants include Coco Montrese, Derrick Barry and India Ferrah.
  • Shannel is a interior design enthusiast.
  • Shannel worked as a creative consultant on Secret Celebrity Drag Race alongside Mayhem Miller and Laila McQueen to help the celebrities with their makeup, and also appeared in a bonus "Just the Tip!" scene for the first episode which was released to YouTube by World of Wonder.
    • While on the show she helped paint Nico Tortorella, Vanessa Williams, Matt Iseman and Madison Beer (in episode order). After the airing of the fourth episode Shannel caused drama on Twitter by branding Madison a "nightmare" to work with in tweets that have since been deleted.
  • Shannel was the first queen to win a challenge on an All Stars season having not won one on her original season. She was followed in subsequent seasons by Aja on All Stars 3, Monique Heart and Monet X Change on All Stars 4, India Ferrah and Jujubee on All Stars 5 and Ra'Jah O'Hara, Trinity K. Bonet, Jan and Kylie Sonique Love on All Stars 6.

Gallery

Season 1

Season 1 Looks

All Stars 1

All Stars 1 Looks

Season 10

Season 10 Looks

Celebrity Drag Race 1

Celebrity Drag Race 1 Looks

Videos

Lip Syncs

Filmography

Filmography

Year Series Notes
2006 Trantasia Documentary
2009 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 1
2010 Halloween on 6th Street Documentary
2010 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 2 Episode: "The Main Event Clip Show" (Special guest)
2010 The Arrangement
2010-2012 RuPaul's Drag U Season 1, 2, and 3, 9 episodes
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 4 Episode: "RuPocalypse Now!" (Zombie)
Episode: "RuPaul Rewind"
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Season 1
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked
2013 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 5 Episode: "Reunited!" (Audience)
2014 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 6 Episode: "The Finale" (Audience)
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 8 Episode: "Keeping It 100" (Special guest)
Episode: "Grand Finale"
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 10 Episode: "10s Across the Board" (Archive footage)
Episode: "Grand Finale"

Music Videos

Year Song Song Artist Notes
2009 "Cover Girl" RuPaul Cameo
2012 "Queen" Xelle Cameo
2013 "Applause" (Lyric Video) Lady Gaga Cameo

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