Aura Mayari Explained

Aura Mayari
Birth Name:Jay-R de Leon
Birth Place:Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines[1]
Occupation:Drag queen
Credits:, which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by
Works:, which produces label "Works"; or by
Label Name:, which produces label "Label(s)" -->
Television:RuPaul's Drag Race (season 15)
Office:may be used as an alternative when the label is better rendered as "Office" (e.g. public office or appointments) -->

Aura Mayari is the stage name of Jay-R de Leon,[2] a Filipino-American drag performer most known for competing on the fifteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[3]

Early life

Jay-R de Leon was born and raised in the Philippines. His family struggled living there and relocated to the United States in 2003,[4] when de Leon was a child.[5] [6] de Leon's family lived in Chicago.[7]

Career

de Leon discovered drag in Chicago. He began performing at Play in Nashville, Tennessee.

In 2023, de Leon competed as Aura Mayari on the fifteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. She won the girl group challenge[8] and placed eleventh overall.[9] [10] Aura Mayari was eliminated on the seventh episode after placing in the bottom two in an acting challenge, then losing a lip-sync battle against Jax to "Sweetest Pie" (2022) by Dua Lipa and Megan Thee Stallion.[11] [12] [13] Aura Mayari later admitted she had forgotten the lyrics to the song and mouthed gibberish.[14] She also said "lack of sleep and the construction of her runway 'limited' her performance", according to Gay Times.[15]

Queerty's Cameron Scheetz called her time on the show "memorable" and said "she served up some fierce dance moves, sickening runway fashion, and enough 'boy Aura' photos to earn the (self-proclaimed) moniker of the 'horniest queen of the season'".[16] The website also described her as "the world’s premier Filipino-American frat bro turned drag sorority sis".[17] Joey Nolfi of Entertainment Weekly described her as "the trade" of the season.[18]

Personal life

According to Vogue, Aura Mayari is "named after the goddess of the moon and the ruler of the night in Kapampangan mythology". Her name is also inspired by the Filipino gay slang term "awra".[19] [20]

On the season 15 reunion episode, de Leon revealed he is engaged to be married.

Discography

Featured singles

"One Night Only"
(with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race season 15)
2023[21]
"Golden Years (Rockin' Old Gs)"
(with Malaysia Babydoll Foxx, Sasha Colby & Spice)
[22]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023RuPaul's Drag Race (season 15)Herself/Contestant11th place[23]

Web series

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023Meet the QueensHerselfStand-alone special
RuPaul's Drag Race (season 15)
[24]
EW News FlashHerselfGuest [25] [26]
BuzzFeed CelebHerselfGuest[27]
MTV NewsHerselfGuest[28]
Today with Hoda and JennaHerselfGuest[29]
Drip or DropHerselfGuest[30]
Whatcha Packin’ HerselfGuest[31]

See also

Notes and References

  1. auramayari . CoDZ638OG9D . Yes, I am an Asian immigrant and I am proud. #stopracism . January 30, 2023.
  2. Web site: Filipino American drag queen Aura Mayari joins 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 15 . 2023-05-06 . www.yahoo.com . 16 December 2022 . en-US.
  3. Web site: Filipina queen Aura Mayari from 'RuPaul's Drag Race' S15 is coming to the Philippines! . 2023-05-06 . GMA News Online . 27 April 2023. en.
  4. News: February 1, 2023 . Pinay 'Drag Race' star Aura Mayari shares struggles as an immigrant . ABS-CBN News . live . May 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201114858/https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/01/23/drag-race-star-aura-mayari-shares-struggles-as-an-immigrant . February 1, 2023.
  5. Web site: 2023-03-07 . 'It's About Spreading Hate': RuPaul's Drag Race Contestant Aura Mayari Strikes Back Against the Tennessee Drag Ban . 2023-05-06 . Vogue . en-US . 2023-03-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230330233551/https://www.vogue.com/article/aura-mayari-tennessee-drag-ban-interview . live .
  6. Nolfi . Joey . February 24, 2023 . Tennessee 'Drag Race' stars slam state's 'blatantly unconstitutional' drag ban bill . 2023-05-06 . Entertainment Weekly . en . 2023-04-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230427183549/https://ew.com/tv/rupauls-drag-race-queens-slam-tennessee-drag-ban-bill/ . live .
  7. Web site: Filipino American drag queen Aura Mayari joins 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 15 . 2023-05-06 . Yahoo News . 16 December 2022 . en-US.
  8. News: Antonio . Josiah . February 5, 2023 . Aura Mayari wins 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 15 girl group challenge . ABS-CBN News . May 6, 2023 . March 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320201655/https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/05/23/aura-mayari-wins-drag-race-s15-girl-group-challenge . live .
  9. News: Antonio . Josiah . April 10, 2023 . Aura Mayari announces engagement during 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 15 reunion . ABS-CBN News . May 6, 2023 . April 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230418030755/https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/04/10/23/drag-race-star-aura-mayari-is-now-engaged . live .
  10. News: Antonio . Josiah . April 15, 2023 . 'Drag Is Not A Crime': Aura Mayari leaves mark in 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 15 finale . ABS-CBN News . May 6, 2023 . April 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415170322/http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/04/15/23/aura-mayari-leaves-big-mark-in-drag-race-finale . live .
  11. Daw . Stephen . 2023-02-13 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race': Aura Mayari on Trying to 'Distract the Judges' After Forgetting Her Lip Sync Words . 2023-05-06 . Billboard . en-US . 2023-03-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230319065711/https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/rupauls-drag-race-aura-mayari-elimination-interview-1235253175/ . live .
  12. Web site: 'Drag Race's Best Beyoncé Look Didn't Even Make It on Television . 2023-05-06 . www.out.com . en . 2023-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314212840/https://www.out.com/gay-tv-shows/drag-race-beyonce-runway-aura-mayari . live .
  13. News: Antonio . Josiah . February 15, 2023 . Aura Mayari ends 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 15 journey . ABS-CBN News . May 6, 2023 . April 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230419042129/https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/15/23/aura-mayari-ends-rupauls-drag-race-season-15-journey . live .
  14. Web site: Duncan . Charlie . 2023-02-14 . Drag Race star Aura Mayari squashes beef with fellow queens after online drama . 2023-05-06 . . en-US . 2023-04-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230413005651/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/02/14/aura-mayari-drag-race-lip-sync-mistress-luxx/ . live .
  15. Web site: 2023-02-23 . Aura Mayari reveals why she was 'limited' in her Drag Race lip-sync . 2023-05-06 . . en-GB . 2023-03-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320211607/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/originals/drag-race-aura-mayari-interview/ . live .
  16. Web site: Scheetz . Cameron . Aura Mayari talks pasties, the time she nearly quit drag, and thirsty fan DMs . 2023-05-06 . Queerty . 14 February 2023 . 2023-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306231008/https://www.queerty.com/aura-mayari-talks-pasties-the-time-she-nearly-quit-drag-and-thirsty-fan-dms-20230214 . live .
  17. Web site: Aura Mayari is 'Drag Race' season 15's "horniest" queen and the feeling is mutual . 2023-05-06 . Queerty . 20 December 2022 . 2023-02-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210223622/https://www.queerty.com/aura-mayari-says-shes-drag-race-season-15s-horniest-queen-feeling-mutual-20221220 . live .
  18. Nolfi . Joey . February 13, 2023 . 'Drag Race' star Aura Mayari reveals she mouthed gibberish in final lip-sync . 2023-05-06 . . en . 2023-04-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230412212410/https://ew.com/tv/rupauls-drag-race-season-15-aura-mayari-elimination-interview/ . live .
  19. Web site: Filipino drag queen Aura Mayari joins 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 15 . 2023-05-06 . Philstar Life . 2022-12-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221223073406/https://philstarlife.com/celebrity/666871-filipino-drag-queen-aura-mayari-joins-rupaul-s-drag-race-season-15 . live .
  20. Web site: Scheetz . Cameron . The strangest and most surprising things we've learned about the cast of 'Drag Race' season 15 . 2023-05-06 . Queerty. 13 December 2022 .
  21. Web site: One Night Only – Single. Spotify. April 4, 2023. November 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201123220518/https://open.spotify.com/album/0oPPq6vXRojAI8lVQDm3Cd. live.
  22. Web site: Golden Years (Rockin' Old Gs) – Single. Spotify. April 4, 2023. November 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201123220525/https://open.spotify.com/album/2hYO3hqVHF1kGG2CfzfEmO. live.
  23. Web site: Mitchell . Harriet . RuPaul's Drag Race makes history with cast announcement for season 15 . December 13, 2022 . April 11, 2023 . . en-UK . March 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230315211837/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a42230362/rupauls-drag-race-season-15-twins/ . live .
  24. MEET THE QUEENS OF SEASON 15! RuPaul's Drag Race ✨ . . December 13, 2022 . 2023-01-10 . 2023-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109224450/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppwvzOH1sJE . live .
  25. 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 15 Cast Promise "Unhinged" Drama and Twists Ahead Entertainment Weekly. YouTube. January 6, 2023. 2023-01-10. 2023-01-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20230110190307/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3jJPjTZ1xo&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  26. Aura Mayari on Her Fraternity Past Before 'Drag Race' Entertainment Weekly. YouTube. December 20, 2022. 2023-05-17. 2023-01-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20230104145049/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHd8Dr9Z7U0. live.
  27. The Queens Of "RuPaul's Drag Race 15" Play Who's Who . . January 10, 2023 . 2023-01-11 . 2023-01-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111010542/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKAM43OzoWw&gl=US&hl=en . live .
  28. 15 Things That Could Use a Touch of Drag w/ RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 Cast MTV News . . January 12, 2023 . March 16, 2023 . March 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230316222159/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ttb3jqbopY . live .
  29. The cast of 'Drag Race' season 15 talk life as 'Ru Girls' and give their best impersonations . . January 28, 2023 . February 24, 2023 . January 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111010542/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZWxekX_MGo . live .
  30. RuPaul's Drag Race Queens Rate ICONIC Fits From Other Seasons Drip or Drop Cosmopolitan . . February 4, 2023 . February 24, 2023 . January 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111010542/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HvD8gaehF4 . live .
  31. Whatcha Packin' S15 E07 RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 ✨ . . February 10, 2023 . May 18, 2023 . January 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111010542/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbBx0mcXZHI . live .