Nicole Paige Brooks Explained

Nicole Paige Brooks
Birth Name:Brian Christopher Pryor
Birth Date:[1]
Nationality:American
Occupation:Drag queen
Television:RuPaul's Drag Race (season 2)

Nicole Paige Brooks (born 1973 or 1974), is the stage name of Brian Christopher Pryor, an American drag performer and entertainer who competed on season 2 of the television series RuPaul's Drag Race. Based in Georgia, Nicole Paige Brooks continues to host and perform in drag shows, and participate in Drag Race-related events.

Career

Pryor is a drag performer who competed as Nicole Paige Brooks on season 2 (2010) of RuPaul's Drag Race. She was the show's first contestant to represent the U.S. state of Georgia. She was the second to be eliminated on the season,[2] placing eleventh overall.[3] [4] The main challenge on the second episode required teams to perform burlesque and sell gift certificates, while competing to earn the most cash. Nicole Paige Brooks placed in the bottom two and lost a lip-sync challenge against Raven to the 1992 song "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" by En Vogue.[5] The author of a chapter on villains in The Makeup of RuPaul's Drag Race: Essays on the Queen of Reality Shows (2014) wrote that Nicole Paige Brooks was "edited to seem daft and out of touch".[6] Nicole Paige Brooks was referenced during the "reading" (or comedy roast) challenges on season 8 (2016) of Drag Race and season 3 (2018) of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, by contestants Kim Chi and BenDeLaCreme, respectively.[7] In 2020, Nicole Paige Brooks participated in RuPaul's Digital DragCon, which replaced RuPaul's DragCon LA because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] She was a featured guest at DragCon LA in 2022.[9] In 2023, Marcus Wratten of PinkNews said the lip-sync between her and Raven was season 2's best,[10] and Bernardo Sim of Pride.com wrote: "Season two was a very different time in Drag Race herstory where queens would still walk the runway with more off-the-rack, ready-to-wear looks. Still, fans and other queens love making fun of Nicole Paige Brooks' wardrobe from season two, which has turned into a long-standing joke within the fandom."[11]

Nicole Paige Brooks continues to host and perform in drag shows. These have included The Divas Cabaret at the gay bar LeBuzz in Marietta as well as Cell Block,[12] House of Brooks, Wild Out Wednesday (with Mo'Dest Volgare),[13] and Legends of Drag.[14] [15] [16] Nicole Paige Brooks participated in a drag show to raise funds for Puerto Rico residents impacted by the destruction of Hurricane Maria in 2017.[17] She has performed in various events affiliated with Atlanta Pride, such as a drag brunch with season 10 winner Aquaria in 2021,[18] the annual Starlight Cabaret,[19] as well as an event called "Fat Slut" with season 11 contestant Silky Nutmeg Ganache in 2022.[20] Nicole Paige Brooks also performed at a Halloween event at the Lawrenceville Arts Center in 2022.[21] She often performs in West Hollywood, California, and has been described as well-connected to other Drag Race contestants.

In 2024, Nicole Paige Brooks was announced as one of eight former Drag Race contestants participating in Painting with Raven, a spin-off of the WOW Presents Plus series Painted with Raven.[22] [23]

Personal life

Pryor has lived in Atlanta and Marietta. He is a parent, helping to raise his best friend's son.[24] [25] Pryor was arrested on drug possession charges in 2017.[26] [27]

Nicole Paige Brooks's "drag mother" is Shawnna Brooks,[28] and her "drag daughter" Phoenix competed on season 3 of Drag Race.[29]

Filmography

Television

Web series

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Meet the Fierce Contestants of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' ! . . January 29, 2010 . 18 December 2023 . 29 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230829225923/https://people.com/celebrity/meet-the-fierce-contestants-of-rupauls-drag-race/ . live . 0093-7673 . 794712888 . Dotdash Meredith.
  2. Web site: Sim . Bernardo . 2020-02-15 . RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2 Queens: Where Are They Now? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230130081944/https://screenrant.com/rupaul-drag-race-season-2-queens-where-are-they-now/ . 2023-01-30 . 2023-12-18 . . en.
  3. Web site: McGill . Abby . 2020-02-07 . FEMME brings former RuPaul's Drag Race contestant to the Athens stage . 2023-12-18 . . . en.
  4. Stransky . Tanner . 2015-03-13 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' premiere recap: Should Mystique Summers Madison have sashayed away instead? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231112160822/https://ew.com/recap/rupauls-drag-race-season-2-premiere/ . 2023-11-12 . 2023-12-18 . . Dotdash Meredith . en . 1049-0434 . 21114137.
  5. Stransky . Tanner . 2015-03-13 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' recap: Talent wins over charisma this week . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231112152707/https://ew.com/recap/rupauls-drag-race-season-2-episode-2/ . 2023-11-12 . 2023-12-18 . Entertainment Weekly . en.
  6. Book: Daems, Jim . The Makeup of RuPaul's Drag Race: Essays on the Queen of Reality Shows . 2014-10-13 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-9507-8 . en . 2024-03-22 . 2023-12-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231219185612/https://books.google.com/books?id=c3WuBAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Nicole+Paige+Brooks%22&pg=PA37 . live .
  7. Web site: Shea . Ryan . 2020-12-31 . 'Drag Race's Most Legendary Reads . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606032539/https://instinctmagazine.com/the-library-is-open-rupauls-drag-races-20-best-reads-of-all-time/ . 2023-06-06 . 2023-12-18 . . en-US . 1096-0058.
  8. Web site: Gardner . Chris . 2020-04-27 . RuPaul's DragCon Pivots to Digital YouTube Event Following Coronavirus Cancellation . 2024-03-22 . . en-US . 2022-06-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220624233031/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/rupauls-dragcon-pivots-digital-youtube-event-coronavirus-cancellation-1292057/ . live .
  9. Web site: Sim . Bernardo . 2022-08-23 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 2 Queens: Where Are They Now? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820041248/https://www.out.com/television/2022/8/23/rupauls-drag-race-season-2-queens-where-are-they-now . 2023-08-20 . 2023-12-18 . . en . 1062-7928.
  10. Web site: Wratten . Marcus . 2023-12-09 . All 15 seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race US ranked from worst to best . 2023-12-18 . PinkNews . en-US . 2023-12-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231210002141/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/12/09/all-fifteen-seasons-of-rupauls-drag-race-us-ranked-worst-best/ . live .
  11. Web site: Bernardo . Sim . 2023-11-22 . Willow Pill Says This Is The Perfect All Stars Cast . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231127210916/https://www.pride.com/drag-queens/rupauls-drag-race-willow-pill-all-stars-cast . 2023-11-27 . 2023-12-18 . . . en.
  12. Web site: 2015-08-09 . Drag it out all week with Atlanta's hottest drag kings and queens . 2023-12-18 . . en-US . 2023-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218221534/https://thegavoice.com/nightlife/drag-it-out-all-week-with-atlantas-hottest-drag-kings-and-queens/ . live .
  13. Web site: Bagby . Dyana . 2020-08-27 . Memoirs of the Atlanta Drag Scene . 2023-12-18 . The Georgia Voice . en-US . 2023-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218221534/https://thegavoice.com/today-in-gay-atlanta/memoirs-of-the-atlanta-drag-scene/ . live .
  14. Web site: Szelinski . Cailyn . 2022-12-14 . RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2: Where Are They Now? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230623192258/https://screenrant.com/rupauls-drag-race-season-2-where-are-they-now/ . 2023-06-23 . 2023-12-18 . Screen Rant . en.
  15. Web site: Nightlife . Jacy Topps . 2014-08-01 . LeBuzz's weekly show features legendary queens . 2023-12-18 . The Georgia Voice . en-US . 2023-02-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203011228/https://thegavoice.com/nightlife/lebuzzs-weekly-show-features-legendary-queens/ . live .
  16. Web site: Edwards . Sarah . 2023-04-06 . 'Legends of Drag' Comes to Durham . 2023-12-18 . . en-US . 0737-8254 . 2023-06-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230605170653/https://indyweek.com/culture/legends-of-drag-comes-to-durham/ . live .
  17. Aguilar . Azahar . 2017-10-06 . Katya, Bob the Drag Queen & More Join Lineup for Puerto Rico Benefit Drag Show . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221209094657/https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/puerto-rico-benefit-drag-show-lineup-katya-bob-the-drag-queen-7990097/ . 2022-12-09 . 2023-12-01 . . en-US.
  18. Web site: Burkholder . Katie . 2021-10-08 . Pride Weekend Roundup . 2023-12-18 . The Georgia Voice . en-US . 2023-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218221535/https://thegavoice.com/today-in-gay-atlanta/pride-weekend-roundup/ . live .
  19. Web site: Eldredge . Richard L. . 2022-10-07 . Atlanta drag star Phoenix emcees Starlight Cabaret as it returns to Atlanta Pride this weekend . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530173637/https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/atlanta-drag-star-phoenix-emcees-starlight-cabaret-as-it-returns-to-atlanta-pride-this-weekend/ . 2023-05-30 . 2023-12-18 . . en-US . 0004-6701 . 50679936.
  20. Web site: Burkholder . Katie . 2022-10-06 . Atlanta Pride Events at a Glance . 2023-12-18 . The Georgia Voice . en-US . 2023-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218221535/https://thegavoice.com/today-in-gay-atlanta/atlanta-pride-events-at-a-glance/ . live .
  21. Web site: Garbus . Rachel . 2023-10-09 . It's Spooky Season in ATL: Here are October's not-to-miss Halloween events . 2023-12-18 . Atlanta . en-US . 2023-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218215734/https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/its-spooky-season-in-atl-here-are-octobers-not-to-miss-halloween-events/ . live .
  22. Web site: Sharpe . Josh . PAINTED WITH RAVEN Spin-Off Series Coming This Summer . 2024-04-16 . . en.
  23. Web site: Painted with Raven is back with a new format . 2024-04-16 . Pride.com . en.
  24. Web site: Manzella . Sam . 2017-08-30 . 5 "Drag Race" Stars Who Are Parents . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230422101552/https://www.logotv.com/news/dymxql/rupauls-drag-race-parents . 2023-04-22 . 2023-12-18 . . en.
  25. Nolfi . Joey . 2023-01-26 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 2 winner Tyra Sanchez comes out of retirement . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230329203920/https://ew.com/tv/rupauls-drag-race-season-2-winner-tyra-sanchez-returning-club-tyra-tour/ . 2023-03-29 . 2023-12-18 . Entertainment Weekly . en.
  26. Web site: Beresford . Meka . 2017-02-18 . Former RuPaul's Drag Race contestant arrested on possession of drugs charges . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218210238/https://www.thepinknews.com/2017/02/18/former-rupauls-drag-race-contestant-arrested-on-possession-of-drugs-charges/ . 2023-12-18 . 2023-12-18 . . en-US.
  27. Web site: Crispim . Fabio . 2017-02-19 . RuPaul's Drag Race star arrested over drug charges . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218210310/https://www.attitude.co.uk/news/world/rupauls-drag-race-star-arrested-over-drug-charges-291659/ . 2023-12-18 . 2023-12-18 . . en-GB . 1353-1875.
  28. Web site: 2013-04-04 . Atlanta drag legend Ashley Kruiz remembered for generosity, beauty . 2023-12-18 . The Georgia Voice . en-US . 2023-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218221534/https://thegavoice.com/news/atlanta/atlanta-drag-legend-ashley-kruiz-remembered-for-generosity-beauty/ . live .
  29. Book: And Don't F&%k It Up: An Oral History of RuPaul's Drag Race (The First Ten Years) . 2023-06-06 . . 978-1-5387-1767-7 . en . 2023-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218210253/https://books.google.com/books?id=q4OSEAAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT132&dq=%22Nicole+Paige+Brooks%22&hl=en#v=onepage&q=%22Nicole%20Paige%20Brooks%22&f=false . 2023-12-18 . live.
  30. RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Photo RuView with Raja and Nicole Paige Brooks: Season 4 Episode 5 . September 2, 2015 . Video . . March 21, 2024 . . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218211550/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=jKKTVhoghR0 . live .
  31. Nicole Paige Brooks on Hey Qween! with Jonny McGovern . April 29, 2019 . Video . . March 21, 2024 . . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218211550/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=jKKTVhoghR0 . live .
  32. Nicole Paige Brooks on Look At Huh - Part 1 . May 1, 2019 . Video . Hey Qween! . March 21, 2024 . . January 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128094446/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OTxVNnk33A . live .
  33. Nicole Paige Brooks on Look At Huh - Part 2 . May 1, 2019 . Video . Hey Qween! . March 21, 2024 . . February 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205175223/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFhLI7BYTFk . live .
  34. Besties for Cash: Sonique and Nicole Paige Brooks . January 21, 2020 . Video . World of Wonder . March 21, 2024 . . February 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240208054144/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v67a9j2KY90 . live .