Shannel Explained

Shannel
Birth Name:Bryan Watkins
Birth Date:3 July 1979
Birth Place:Orange County, California
Occupation:Drag queen
Years Active:1994–present

Bryan Watkins, known by his stage name Shannel (born July 3, 1979),[1] is an American drag queen and television personality, best known for competing on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race and later the first and ninth seasons of .

Early life

Watkins was born to Debbie and Gary Watkins on July 3, 1979, in Orange County, California.[2] He was raised in Cypress, California, and attended Pacifica High School.[3] He was introduced to drag at age 8 when he was taken to a Las Vegas boylesque show, and started doing drag at fifteen years old when he entered a Halloween drag contest under the name “Elvira” and won. A year later, he began working as a makeup artist, hairstylist, and photoshoot coordinator for glamour photography.[4] He worked as a beauty advisor for the cosmetics branch of fashion house Chanel for ten years.[1] He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2000.[5] He owns one of the largest collections of Lucille Ball memorabilia in the world, and has stated that if he wasn't a drag queen, he'd work as an interior designer.[1]

RuPaul's Drag Race

Shannel was announced as one of nine contestants for the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2009.[6] In the third episode, she was in the bottom two with fellow competitor Akashia, and won a lip sync against her to "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston. She famously did the first "wig reveal" on the show during the lip sync.[7] She was later eliminated on the sixth episode after losing the bottom-two lip sync, to "Shackles (Praise You)" by Mary Mary, against Rebecca Glasscock; she would attempt to change the narrative by stating she was “choosing” to go home and was, essentially, self-disqualifying.[8]

Shannel was announced as being among twelve returning contestants for the first season of in 2012.[9] Due to the team twist for the season, Shannel teamed with eventual winner Chad Michaels as the team Shad.[10] They won the third, fourth and fifth episode challenges, until Shannel was eliminated in third place with Jujubee.[11]

Shannel also was a drag professor for three seasons of the spin-off show RuPaul's Drag U in 2010 to 2012.[12]

She appeared as a guest star on the first episode of Drag Race eighth season.[13] She appeared with her fellow season one cast on the Drag Race season ten finale, lip syncing next to Mayhem Miller.[14]

Shannel was credited as a Creative Consultant for the premiere episode of RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race. She also made an appearance making over celebrity Nico Tortorella, though it was ultimately cut from the episode.[15]

In 2023, Shannel appeared as the "lip-sync assassin" of the fourth episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, where she lip-synced against Jimbo to Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation”. Shannel won the lipsync and, as the winner, revealed which of the queens in the bottom had been voted to be eliminated, which was Darienne Lake.[16]

On April 23, 2024, Shannel was announced as one of the eight contestants competing on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[17]

Career

Outside of Drag Race, Shannel appeared in an episode of The Arrangement in 2010.[18] She appeared in the official lyric music video for Lady Gaga's "Applause" with Raven, Morgan McMichaels, Shangela Laquifa Wadley and Detox.[19] She was a part of CeeLo Green’s show, "Loberace", in 2013.[4] She was also in the video for Xelle's "Queen" in 2014.[20] The same year, she began producing her own "dinner and drag" show, "Lipstick & Lashes", in Santa Ana. In 2016, she joined the cast of "53x", a Vegas show produced by the Chippendales. She was part of Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas show in 2017, impersonating Barbra Streisand and Adele.[21] [22] [4]

Since 2018, she has hosted Drag Brunch at Señor Frog's in Las Vegas alongside fellow Drag Race alums Yara Sofia, Kahanna Montrese, and DeJa Skye, as well as Hot Chocolate and Roxy Brooks Lords in collaboration with Voss Events.[4] [23]

In September 2019, at RuPaul's DragCon NYC, Shannel was named as one of a rotating cast of a dozen Drag Race queens in RuPaul's Drag Race Live!, a Las Vegas show residency at the Flamingo Las Vegas.[24] In 2022, Shannel (billed as Bryan Watkins) was a contestant on the premiere episode of Season Ten of ABC's The Great Christmas Light Fight, where he was awarded the $50,000 grand prize for his decorated house. He also owns his own company, Santa's Helper Designs, which creates festive displays for clients such as Allegiant Stadium.[25] [26] In 2024, she 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.[27] [28]

On August 13, 2022, Shannel was accused of stealing seven-hundred dollars out of a female audience member's purse at a drag show.[29] Shannel has since repeatedly claimed that she did not steal the money, stating instead that she took two dollars as a joke and gave it back (which the event organizers said was corroborated "by statements taken from nearby customers and our own security camera footage. Additionally, management counts all tips collected during the show which did not even total the $700 this person alleges was taken from her purse").[30]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009RuPaul's Drag RaceHerselfContestant (4th place)
2010The Arrangement
2010–12RuPaul's Drag UHerself
2012RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Season 1HerselfContestant (3rd/4th place)
2012RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked, Season 1Herself
2023RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Season 6HerselfLip Sync Assassin; Episode: "Screen Queens"
Special guest; Episode: "You're A Winner Baby!"[31]
2023RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked, Season 6HerselfEpisode: "Untucked - Screen Queens"
2024RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Season 9HerselfContestant (7th Place)
2024RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked, Season 9Herself

Music videos

YearTitleArtist
2012QueenXelle
2013ApplauseLady Gaga

Web series

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013WOW Shopping NetworkHerselfGuest[32]
Ring My BellGuest[33]
2016The Pit StopGuest[34]
Drag Makeup TutorialGuest[35]
2020Hey QweenGuest[36]

Notes and References

  1. News: Q&A: Bryan Watkins. Las Vegas Magazine. 2018-08-17. 2016-10-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20161022181408/https://lasvegasmagazine.com/interviews/qa/2016/oct/21/qa-bryan-watkins-shannel-53x-paris#/0. live.
  2. News: The drag all-star on surviving RuPaul's Drag Race. Nunn. Jerry. ChicagoPride.com. 2018-08-17. en-US. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818021016/http://chicago.gopride.com/news/interview.cfm/articleid/454816. live.
  3. News: Larsen . Peter . August 23, 2010 . Drag Queen To The Rescue . Santa Ana Orange County Register . Santa Ana, California . November 8, 2022 . April 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240422154744/https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-orange-county-register-aug-23-2010-p-65/ . live .
  4. Web site: Biography . theofficialshannel.com . July 12, 2023 . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712231002/https://www.theofficialshannel.com/biography . live .
  5. News: Shannel. 2017-02-07. Piranha Nightclub. 2018-08-17. en-US. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818020943/http://www.piranhavegas.com/team/shannel/. live.
  6. News: Logo's New Reality Competition Explores What It Takes To Be a Drag Star. Stanley. Alessandra. The New York Times. February 2009. 2018-08-17. en. 2023-10-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20231009001021/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/02/arts/television/02drag.html. live.
  7. Web site: INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World. www.intomore.com. en. 2018-08-17. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818052228/https://www.intomore.com/culture/a-brief-history-of-wig-reveals-on-rupauls-drag-race/4dbd0535699c44ea. live.
  8. News: The Drag Race Rutrospective: Ow! My Balls!. 2013-11-06. Xtra. 2018-08-17. en-US. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818052314/https://www.dailyxtra.com/the-drag-race-rutrospective-ow-my-balls-55257. live.
  9. News: 'RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race': Meet the Queens. LOGO News. 2018-08-17. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818052301/http://www.newnownext.com/rupauls-all-stars-drag-race-meet-the-queens/08/2012/. live.
  10. News: Chad Michaels & Shannel Share Tearful Moment on 'Drag Race'. LOGO News. 2018-08-17. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818020953/http://www.newnownext.com/chad-michaels-shannel-rupauls-drag-race/11/2012/. live.
  11. News: 'RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race' season finale recap. EW.com. 2018-08-17. en. 2021-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20210304002833/https://ew.com/article/2012/11/27/rupauls-all-stars-drag-race-season-finale-winner/. live.
  12. Web site: Drag U: Professor Shannel. Gascot. John. 2011-07-12. Huffington Post. en-US. 2018-08-17. 2017-04-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20170417002520/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-gascot/drag-u-professor-shannel_b_888359.html. live.
  13. News: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 8 Premiere: Keepin' It 100. 2016-03-08. Observer. 2018-08-17. en-US. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818083750/http://observer.com/2016/03/rupauls-drag-race-season-8-premiere-recap-keepin-it-100/. live.
  14. News: Watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 1 queens reunite to slay in season 10 finale preview. EW.com. 2018-08-17. en. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818020948/https://ew.com/tv/2018/06/27/rupauls-drag-race-season-10-finale-season-1-reunion/. live.
  15. Web site: Damshenas. Sam. Shannel says she was "cut" from RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race. GayTimes. 28 April 2020. 27 April 2020. 27 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200427185052/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/134952/shannel-says-she-was-cut-from-rupauls-secret-celebrity-drag-race/. live.
  16. Screen Queens. RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. May 26, 2023. 8. 4. Paramount+ / WOW Presents Plus.
  17. Web site: Vary . Adam . 2024-04-23. 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Season 9 Queens Revealed, Will Compete for Charity for the First Time. 2024-05-11. Variety. en-US.
  18. Web site: Shannel Guest Stars on "The Arrangement" - The Arrangement (Video Clip) LOGOtv. Logo TV. 2018-08-17. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818020933/http://www.logotv.com/video-clips/g3mkmj/the-arrangement-shannel-guest-stars-on-the-arrangement. live.
  19. News: Detox, Raven, Shannel & Morgan McMichaels To Star In Lady Gaga "Applause" Music Video. LOGO News. 2018-08-17. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818052209/http://www.newnownext.com/detox-raven-shannel-morgan-mcmichaels-to-star-in-lady-gaga-applause-music-video/08/2013/. live.
  20. 20 Music Videos With Drag Queen Cameos. Billboard. 2018-08-17. 2020-01-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200112101749/https://www.billboard.com/photos/8023117/drag-queens-music-videos. live.
  21. News: 'Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas': Bigger and better. Las Vegas Magazine. 2018-08-17. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818053707/https://lasvegasmagazine.com/entertainment/2017/sep/01/frank-marinos-divas-las-vegas-linq-drag-queen/#/0. live.
  22. News: The stars align with 'Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas'. Las Vegas Magazine. 2018-08-17. 2018-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818053709/https://lasvegasmagazine.com/entertainment/2017/apr/07/frank-marinos-divas-las-vegas-the-linq/#/0. live.
  23. yarasofiapr . CuVTCtOP0Ba . Getting ready for the bottomless mimosas with my girls at @dragbrunchvegas . July 5, 2023.
  24. Web site: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Sets Live Show In Las Vegas. Ramos. Dino-Ray. September 7, 2019. Deadline. 2019-09-08. 2019-09-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20190908080342/https://deadline.com/2019/09/rupauls-drag-race-live-show-las-vegas-dragcon-rupaul-charles-1202713647/. live.
  25. Web site: "Well deserved": The Great Christmas Light Fight fans cheer as the Watkins family wins $50,000 . Kamra . Bhavya . sportskeeda.com . Sports Keeda . November 29, 2022 . May 18, 2023 . May 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230518165407/https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/pop-culture/well-deserved-the-great-christmas-light-fight-fans-cheer-watkins-family-win-50-000 . live .
  26. Web site: Retired Christmas displays from Las Vegas Strip revived by local Drag Brunch team . Schultz . Jaclyn . fox5vegas.com . Gray Television, Inc. . December 16, 2022 . May 18, 2023 . May 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230518170106/https://www.fox5vegas.com/2022/12/16/retired-christmas-displays-las-vegas-strip-revived-by-local-drag-brunch-team/?outputType=amp . live .
  27. Web site: Sharpe . Josh . PAINTED WITH RAVEN Spin-Off Series Coming This Summer . 2024-04-16 . . en . 2024-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240422154855/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/PAINTED-WITH-RAVEN-Spin-Off-Series-Coming-This-Summer-20240415 . live .
  28. Web site: Painted with Raven is back with a new format . 2024-04-16 . Pride.com . en . 2024-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240416214808/https://www.pride.com/drag-queens/painted-with-raven . live .
  29. Web site: RuPaul's Drag Race star denies stealing hundreds of dollars from woman's purse . 19 August 2022 . 22 August 2022 . 22 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220822152134/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/08/19/rupauls-drag-race-shannel-tiktok-purse/ . live .
  30. 'Drag Race' star Shannel denies woman's claim that she stole $700 from purse . . 2022-08-22 . 2022-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220822152134/https://ew.com/tv/drag-race-star-shannel-responds-claim-stole-from-purse/ . live .
  31. Web site: Benutty. John. 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' season 8 episode 8 recap: 'You're a Winner Baby!'. live. 2023-06-23. Goldderby.com. 2021-11-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20211123233615/https://www.goldderby.com/article/2023/rupauls-drag-race-all-stars-season-8-episode-8-recap/.
  32. Shannel on WOW Shopping Network. YouTube. April 25, 2013. August 30, 2013. August 24, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130824184442/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAm7iUFCEx8&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  33. Shannel - Ring My Bell. YouTube. September 5, 2013. August 30, 2019. March 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200325174540/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnW3zNpLc60&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  34. RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 8 Ep. 8 Recap) The Pit Stop with Kingsley & Shannel Logo. YouTube. April 25, 2016. August 30, 2019. December 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201220071800/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEytq0l5GVs. live.
  35. Drag Makeup Tutorial: Shannel's 'Medusa Look' RuPaul's Drag Race Logo. YouTube. April 30, 2016. August 30, 2019. June 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190614202903/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QqKss1Z0QU. live.
  36. SHANNEL on Hey Qween! with Jonny McGovern. YouTube. February 3, 2020. March 6, 2020. March 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200314025240/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWbjNY4fS-A. live.

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