Adore Delano Explained

Adore Delano
Birth Date:29 September 1989
Birth Place:Glendora, California, U.S.
Other Names:Dani Noriega
Years Active:2008–present
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Occupation:Drag queen, singer-songwriter, television personality
Years Active:2007–present
Subscribers:527 thousand
Views:83.37 million
Silver Button:y
Stats Update:27 July 2023

Dani Noriega[1] (born September 29, 1989),[2] better known under the stage name Adore Delano,[3] is an American drag queen, singer-songwriter, and television personality. She appeared as a contestant on the sixth and seventh season of American Idol in 2008 and later competed as Adore Delano on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, placing in the final three. She then went on to compete on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, placing ninth after voluntarily leaving the competition. She has recorded and released three studio albums: Till Death Do Us Party (2014), After Party (2016), Whatever (2017), and one EP Dirty Laundry (2021).

Early life

Noriega was born to Bonnie Pimentel Noriega[4] [5] in Glendora, California, raised in Azusa, California, and attended Sierra High School, a continuation school for at-risk teenagers.[6]

Career

2008–2009: American Idol and early work

In 2008, Noriega appeared on the seventh season of American Idol, making it to the semi-finals. She became known for her flamboyant personality and sassy rapport with the judges, notably a comment toward judge Simon Cowell, which later went viral. After watching Noriega on Idol, Rosie O'Donnell invited her to perform on her R Family Vacations cruise.[7] Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres also invited Noriega to be a guest on her show.[8] Before her appearance on American Idol and through high school, she lived as a transgender woman, but suppressed her gender identity in order to appear on the show.

Performances:! Stage! Theme! Song choice! Original artist! Result
AuditionSinger's Choice"Proud Mary"Creedence Clearwater RevivalAdvanced
HollywoodSinger's Choice"When I Need You"Albert HammondAdvanced
Top 24The 1960s"Jailhouse Rock"Elvis PresleySafe
Top 20The 1970s"Superstar"Delaney & BonnieSafe
Top 16The 1980s"Tainted Love"Gloria JonesEliminated
Following American Idol, Noriega became a YouTube personality, performing skits in drag as Adore Delano, or Angel Baby, another drag character. In June 2009, she released the music video for the song "24/7," featuring sister Diamonique.[9]

2010–present: RuPaul's Drag Race and albums

After seeing RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Raven perform at the nightclub Micky's in West Hollywood, Noriega was inspired to enter a drag competition at the club, which she won.[10] Noriega began performing as Adore Delano in Southern California.[11] Along with other RuPaul's Drag Race contestants, she walked the Marco Marco runway for Los Angeles Fashion Week in 2013.[12] In December 2013, Logo TV announced her as one of 14 drag queens who would be competing on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[13] She had previously competed for the season 5 fan-vote, ultimately losing to Penny Tration. Adore Delano eventually went on to win three challenges and made it to the final three. With Courtney Act, she finished as runner-up to season winner Bianca Del Rio.

Following the finale of Drag Race, Adore Delano released the single "DTF" on May 20, 2014, as the lead single from her debut album Till Death Do Us Party. The album was released on June 3, 2014, charting at number three on the US Dance/Electronic Albums chart,[14] 11 on the US Independent Albums chart,[15] and number fifty-nine on the Billboard 200.[16] She released music videos for the majority of its tracks, including "I Adore U", which peaked at 49 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs.[17] In November 2014, Adore Delano announced that a second album was in the works with an anticipated 2015 release date.[18]

Adore Delano's album After Party was set for release March 11, 2016.[19] "Dynamite", the first single, was released on February 26, 2016; "Take Me There", the second single, was released on March 10, 2016; and the "I.C.U.", was released on September 1, 2016.[20] Adore was one of 10 contestants on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars.[21] She chose to leave the show in the second episode for personal reasons. Whatever, her third studio album, was released on August 18, 2017.[22]

On April 4, 2017, Noriega filed a lawsuit against Producer Entertainment Group, her former management company, alleging that Noriega had earned $2.5 million over the past three years, but only about $300,000 was actually paid.[23] P.E.G. counter-sued in January 2018, alleging Noriega owed the company $180,000 in management fees. The suit was dismissed by a judge who awarded no money to either party.[24] [25]

In 2019, Adore Delano appeared as a guest for the first challenge in the premiere of season 11 of Drag Race.[26] In June 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine placed her sixth on its list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former Drag Race contestants.[27] In August, she was featured on the cover of Gay Times.[28] In December 2019, she joined the cast of the fourth season of Ex on the Beach.[29]

After her de-transition in order to appear on American Idol, she has said that she attempted to appease her feelings about her gender identity by living as a woman through Adore, but in her transgender "coming out" video, she stated that she "could not do it anymore."

Personal life

Noriega came out as bisexual at age 12, then gay. In a 2012 interview, she said she is not opposed to dating women.[30] From 2017 to 2023, Noriega identified as non-binary and used any pronouns.[31] Noriega said that "gender isn't a real thing... it's just something they came up with to categorize and control people".[32]

She has been sober since 2021. In a video posted to Instagram on July 26, 2023, Noriega revealed that she had been taking estrogen for about three months and identified as transgender, using the pronouns she/her. She additionally announced that she has a gender-affirming surgical operation scheduled for November of the same year.[33]

Discography

See main article: Adore Delano discography.

Tours

Headlining

Co-headlining act

Promotional

Awards and nominations

!|-!scope="row"| 2014| Adore Delano| Drag Queen of the Year| | align="center"|[34] |}

Filmography

Film

YearTitleDirectorRoleNotes
2015DraggedChristopher BirkSelf[35]
2015TupiniQueensJoão MonteiroDocumentary about the drag queen scene in Brazil[36]

Television

YearTitleNotes
2008American Idol[37]
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2014RuPaul's Drag RaceSeason 6 – finalist
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untuckedcompanion show to RuPaul's Drag Race
2015Chasing Life
2016Season 2 – 9th place
2018Courtney Act's Christmas ExtravaganzaChannel 4 Christmas Special
2019The ViewInterviewed with Nina West and Monét X Change[38]
Ex on the BeachSeason 4: Peak of Love – contestant
2020KTLA 5 NewsInterviewed with LaDemi

Web series

YearTitleNotes
2014Let the Music Play[39]
2015Hey Qween!Episode: "Adore Delano"[40]
2018Portrait of a QueenEpisode: "Love & Adore"[41]
Bestie$ for Ca$hEpisode: "Adore Delano and Chris Crocker"[42]
2018–23The Pit StopGuest; 4 episodes[43] [44] [45] [46]
2019 The View: Facebook LiveEpisode: "Pride Month 2019"
2020Love for the ArtsGuest judge[47]
2023Sissy That Talk Show with Joseph ShepherdPodcast; Guest[48]

Music videos

TitleYearArtistDirector
"Oh No She Better Don't"2014Steven Corfe[49]
"Sissy That Walk"Steven Corfe[50]
"Mean Gays"Courtney ActKain O'Keeffe[51]
"Hieeee"2015AlaskaBen Simkins[52]
"The T"2016[53]
"You Need to Calm Down"2019Taylor SwiftDrew Kirsch[54]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About . 2023-09-14 . Adore Delano . en-US.
  2. Web site: Daniel Anthony Noriega . November 12, 2022 . Ancestry Institute . Ancestry.
  3. Parker . Lyndsey . April 16, 2014 . Ex-Idol Danny Noriega Lip-Synchs Paula Abdul for Paula Abdul . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160407042456/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ex-idol-danny-noriega-lip-synchs-paula-abdul-for-paula-abdul-20140416 . April 7, 2016 . September 16, 2017.
  4. Web site: Daniel Anthony Noriega . Ancestry Institute . Ancestry . November 12, 2022.
  5. AdoreDelano . 1139880659210686464 . HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO MY MAMA BONNIE!.
  6. Web site: Velazquez. Maritza. Class notes: Interview with American Idol's Danny Noriega. San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Whittier Daily News. December 12, 2013. February 15, 2008. For 18-year-old Noriega.... December 12, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212232927/http://www.insidesocal.com/classnotes/2008/02/15/interview-with-american-idols/. live.
  7. Web site: Danny Noriega Gets Her First Job Offer – From Rosie O'Donnell!. People. December 12, 2013. March 7, 2008. March 29, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140329072029/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20424137,00.html. live.
  8. Web site: And Who Could Ever Forget Little Danny Noriega on Ellen?. World of Wonder. April 25, 2014. May 17, 2015. May 18, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518095904/http://worldofwonder.net/danny-noriega-ellen/. live.
  9. Stranksky. Tanner. June 10, 2009. 'American Idol' album Danny Noriega's new single '24/7': Too much to handle *TMTH*...ish. December 12, 2013. Entertainment Weekly. December 13, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141213212039/http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/06/10/american-idol-danny-noriega-new-single/. live.
  10. Web site: Amabile. Michelle. 'American Idol' Alum Danny Noriega to Compete on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' (Video). The Hollywood Reporter. December 12, 2013. December 10, 2013. April 12, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412120329/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/american-idol-alum-danny-noriega-664480. live.
  11. Parker. Lyndsey. 'Idol' Alum Danny Noriega to Compete on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'. Rolling Stone. December 12, 2013. December 9, 2013. December 11, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131211220810/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/idol-alum-danny-noriega-to-compete-on-rupaul-s-drag-race-20131209. live.
  12. Web site: Avery. Dan. "Drag Race" Queens Walk L.A. Fashion Week Runway For Marco Marco. Logo TV. October 18, 2013. December 13, 2013. January 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140105121547/http://www.newnownext.com/drag-race-queens-walk-l-a-fashion-week-runway-for-marco-marco/10/2013/. live.
  13. Beard. Lanford. 'RuPaul's Drag Race': Check out the sickening season 6 supertease and meet the queens – Exclusive Video. Entertainment Weekly. December 9, 2013. December 9, 2013. December 9, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131209161923/http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/12/09/rupauls-drag-race-season-6-supertease/. live.
  14. Adore Delano Till Death Do Us Party Chart History. Billboard. May 3, 2018. May 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180525153610/https://www.billboard.com/music/adore-delano/chart-history/dance-electronic-albums/song/848045. live.
  15. Adore Delano Till Death Do Us Party Chart History. Billboard. May 3, 2018. May 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180525153633/https://www.billboard.com/music/adore-delano/chart-history/independent-albums/song/848045. live.
  16. Adore Delano Till Death Do Us Party Chart History. Billboard. May 3, 2018. May 21, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180521103554/https://www.billboard.com/music/adore-delano/chart-history/billboard-200/song/848045. live.
  17. Adore Delano I Adore U Chart History. Billboard. May 3, 2018. May 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180525155511/https://www.billboard.com/music/adore-delano/chart-history/dance-electronic-songs/song/848251. live.
  18. Web site: New Details Arise About Adore Delano's Upcoming Sophomore Album. Tim Winfred. Dragaholic. May 9, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150729005348/http://dragaholic.com/2014/11/adore-delano-sophomore-album-rupauls-drag-race-season-6-music/. July 29, 2015. dead.
  19. Web site: After Party [Explicit]: Adore Delano: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon |date= n.d.|access-date=March 1, 2017].
  20. Listen to 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Adore Delano's 'After Party' Album: Exclusive Premiere. Billboard. March 9, 2016. March 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311091046/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6913521/adore-delano-after-party-album-premiere. live.
  21. Web site: Avery . Dan . Logo Announces Contestants For "RuPaul's All Star Drag Race" Season 2 . NewNowNext.com . June 17, 2016 . March 1, 2017 . March 8, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170308210813/http://www.newnownext.com/logo-rupauls-all-star-drag-race-season-2/06/2016/ . live .
  22. Adore Delano Talks New Punk Album 'Whatever', the '27 Club' & Being Nonbinary: 'Gender Isn't a Real Thing'. Billboard. March 5, 2019. June 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180616155047/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/7934257/adore-delano-new-album-whatever-nonbinary-gender-interview. live.
  23. Web site: Delano . Adore . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Sues Managers for Stealing Millions . April 4, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170404085354/http://www.tmz.com/2017/04/04/rupauls-drag-race-adore-delano-manager-lawsuit/ . April 4, 2017 . April 4, 2017 . TMZ.com.
  24. Web site: January 9, 2018 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Adore Delano Countersued by Managers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180205085051/http://www.tmz.com/2018/01/09/rupaul-drag-race-adore-delano-countersued-managers-180k/ . February 5, 2018 . February 4, 2018 . TMZ.com.
  25. Web site: 2018-01-11 . RuPaul's Drag Race star Adore Delano slapped with lawsuit in ongoing legal battle . 2021-06-09 . PinkNews . en-GB.
  26. Web site: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' 11 episode 1 recap: Which queen was sent packing on 'Whatcha Unpackin'? [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]]. February 28, 2019. Goldderby. March 1, 2019. March 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091010/https://www.goldderby.com/article/2019/rupauls-drag-race-season-11-episode-1-recap-live-blog-news/. live.
  27. News: The Most Powerful Drag Queens in America: Ranking the new establishment. . June 10, 2019 . June 10, 2019 . New York . June 10, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190610184458/https://www.vulture.com/2019/06/most-powerful-drag-queens-in-america-ranked.html . live.
  28. News: Rudolph. Christopher. Exclusive: Adore Delano Dishes on Her Favorite "RuPaul's Drag Race" Winner. NewNowNext.com. March 16, 2020. February 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200206215749/http://www.newnownext.com/adore-delano-exclusive-favorite-season-drag-race/07/2019/. live.
  29. Web site: MTV Announces New Dating Show, Ex on the Beach: Peak of Love — with Your Favorite Reality Stars. October 24, 2019. People. October 25, 2019. August 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200827225630/https://people.com/tv/mtv-announces-new-dating-show-ex-on-the-beach-peak-of-love-with-your-favorite-reality-stars/. live.
  30. Delano. Adore. My Coming Out Story With Mom!. Danny Noriega YouTube channel. April 16, 2012.
  31. 1199731783584976896. AdoreDelano. I constantly respond to people that I don't mind which pronouns they use while addressing me, but that doesn't move focus away from the importance of how others feel about her own pronouns. Respect all & remember it's really just about intent.. Adore Delano. November 28, 2019. August 29, 2021.
  32. Voss. Brandon. Adore Delano Talks New Punk Album 'Whatever', the '27 Club' & Being Nonbinary: 'Gender Isn't a Real Thing'. August 25, 2017. Billboard. August 21, 2017. August 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170825072826/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/7934257/adore-delano-new-album-whatever-nonbinary-gender-interview. live.
  33. RuPaul's Drag Race and American Idol star Adore Delano comes out as trans: 'It feels so empowering' . Joey . Nolfi . July 26, 2023 . Entertainment Weekly .
  34. News: Adore Delano Wins 'Drag Queen of the Year' LGBT Hero Award. Winfred. Tim. Queerty. April 22, 2017. April 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170422131012/https://www.queerty.com/adore-delano-nominated-drag-queen-year-lgbt-hero-awards-2014-20140723. live.
  35. TupiniQueens. January 9, 2015. Facebook. September 9, 2015.
  36. Web site: TupiniQueens – Trailer Oficial . YouTube . November 7, 2015 . March 1, 2017 . March 15, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160315083844/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH-ScvFTx-Y . live .
  37. Web site: Adore Delano Rupaul's Drag Race Contestant – Season 6. Adore Delano official website. May 17, 2015. May 11, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150511054957/http://www.adoredelano.com/#!page2/cjg9. live.
  38. Web site: Meghan McCain interviewed three drag queens on 'The View' for Pride and people weren't having it. Gremore. Graham. June 12, 2019. queerty.com. June 13, 2019. June 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190613130340/https://www.queerty.com/meghan-mccain-interviewed-three-drag-queens-view-pride-people-werent-20190612. live.
  39. Web site: WOWPresents Premiere: Let The Music Play with Adore Delano. World of Wonder. August 5, 2014. July 17, 2015. Thairin. Smothers. May 31, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140531051106/http://worldofwonder.net/adore-delano-let-music-play. live.
  40. Adore Delano on Hey Qween with Jonny McGovern. May 26, 2015. August 29, 2021. YouTube.
  41. Love & Adore Delano Portrait of a Queen. September 27, 2018. August 29, 2021. YouTube.
  42. BESTIE$4 CA$H – Adore Delano and Chris Crocker. YouTube. May 2, 2018. December 26, 2019.
  43. The Pit Stop S3 E6 Adore Delano Talks All the Drama RuPaul's Drag All Stars. YouTube. March 5, 2018. January 22, 2023.
  44. The Pit Stop S10 E3 Adore Delano Spills the Tea RuPaul's Drag Race. YouTube. April 9, 2018. January 22, 2023.
  45. The Pit Stop S14 E07 Monét X Change & Adore Delano Get Soapy RuPaul's Drag Race. YouTube. February 19, 2022. January 22, 2023.
  46. The Pit Stop S15 E04 Bianca Del Rio & Adore Delano Party! RuPaul's Drag Race S15. YouTube. January 21, 2023. January 22, 2023.
  47. Web site: Street. Mikelle. Trinity the Tuck Has A New Drag Competition Starting this Week. Out.com. August 19, 2020. August 3, 2020. August 5, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200805224710/https://www.out.com/drag/2020/8/03/trinity-tuck-has-new-drag-competition-starting-week. live.
  48. January 31, 2023 . ADORE DELANO Sissy That Talk Show with Joseph Shepherd Episode 2 . Moguls of Media . YouTube . June 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202170138/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmgNX9RZDQM . February 2, 2023 . live.
  49. Web site: RuPaul's "Oh No She Better Don't" Official Music Video feat. The Cast of Rupaul's Drag Race Season 6 . YouTube . April 2, 2014 . March 1, 2017 . March 21, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170321091352/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHVNduc12PU . live .
  50. RuPaul's Sissy That Walk Official Music Video. YouTube. May 12, 2014. May 19, 2015.
  51. Mean Gays – Courtney Act. YouTube. May 15, 2014. May 19, 2015.
  52. Alaska Thunderfuck - Hieeee [Official]]. YouTube. June 8, 2015. May 25, 2020.
  53. Alaska Thunderfuck – The T (feat. Adore Delano) [Official]]. YouTube. October 13, 2016. October 22, 2016.
  54. Web site: Every celebrity cameo in Taylor Swift's 'You Need To Calm Down' music video. PopBuzz. June 17, 2019. June 17, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190617132341/https://www.popbuzz.com/music/artists/taylor-swift/news/you-need-to-calm-down-video-celebrity-cameo/. live.