Soju (drag queen) explained

Soju
Birth Name:Hyunsoo Ha (하현수)
Other Names:Tony Hyunsoo Ha
Birth Date:12 May 1991
Birth Place:Seoul, South Korea
Years Active:2016–2021
Known For:RuPaul's Drag Race
Module:
Embed:yes
Channel Direct Url:channel/UCS5IJsGKmsClqyMly6RzgAA
Channel Display Name:Soju
Genre:Comedy, review, vlog
Subscribers:64,800+
Subscriber Date:April 2020
View Date:April 2020
Views:6.3+ million[1]
Years Active:2016–2021
Module2:
Child:yes
Headercolor:transparent
Hangul:하현수
Rr:Ha Hyeon-su
Mr:Ha Hyŏn-su

Soju is the former stage name of Tony Hyunsoo Ha,[2] [3] a South Korean-American retired drag queen, singer and television/YouTube personality. Soju is best known for her online reviews of the reality show RuPaul's Drag Race, until being cast on the show's eleventh season.

Early life

Ha was born on May 12, 1991, in Seoul, South Korea. His family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa when he was ten years old, due to his father's military background.[4] [5] He came out as gay when he was 21 and his drag mother is Kahmora Hall.[6] Ha's original drag name was Soju Love, but later shortened to just Soju, which is taken from the drink of the same name.[7]

Career

Outside of drag, Ha is the owner of a taekwondo academy.[8]

Soju was announced as one of fifteen contestants on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race on January 24, 2019.[9] She was eliminated in the first episode after doing poorly in the sewing challenge and losing a lip sync to "The Best of Both Worlds" by Hannah Montana against Kahanna Montrese.[10] [11] A conversation between Soju and the judges about a cyst became a viral meme within the Drag Race fandom.[12] [13]

After season eleven, YouTuber Miles Jai became the co-host for the third season of Shot with Soju. Comedian Margaret Cho appeared in the first episode of the season in March 2019.[14] In 2019, World of Wonder announced that Soju was set to star in her own webseries, I Want To Be A K-Pop Idol with Soju. The series aired for four episodes before its apparent cancellation in August 2019.[15] Soju is one of the founders and performers of the touring LGBTQ+ K-Pop drag show Seoul Train Party.[16] She appeared in the music video for Lizzo's song "Juice" on April 17, 2019.[17] [18]

Music

Soju released her first single "So Juicy" with a music video on January 11, 2018.[19] [20] Her second single, "K-Pop Idol Reject" featuring Edward Avila was released on November 6, 2018.[21] In an interview with Billboard, Soju stated, "We want to bring more foreigners, we want to see queer people in K-pop. It's slowly changing - the industry is very conservative and very old school, so it will take a while for them to change. But it's happening."[22]

Personal life

Soju lives in Chicago, as of 2017.[19] On January 21, 2021, Soju was accused of sexual assault.[23] On March 9, 2021, Soju announced that she had quit drag to focus on her mental health and that she wouldn't be returning. In 2022 Soju returned to Instagram and has refused to address questions about these allegations.[24]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018How Far Is Tattoo Far?Herself
2019RuPaul's Drag RaceContestant (15th place)
2019

Music videos

YearTitleArtist
2018"So Juicy"Soju
2018"K-Pop Idol Reject"Soju
2019"Juice"Lizzo
2020"Hype"Yvie Oddly (ft.Vanessa Vanjie Mateo)

Web series

YearTitleRole
2016–19Shot with SojuHost
2018Cosmo Queens[25] Herself
2019Whatcha Packin'[26] Herself
2020Silky's Snack Shack[27] Herself

Discography

Singles

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://socialblade.com/youtube/channel/UCS5IJsGKmsClqyMly6RzgAA Soju's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) - Social Blade Stats
  2. Web site: This is how Soju the Drag Queen gets ready for bed. 4 May 2018. Very Good Light. February 17, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124307/https://www.verygoodlight.com/2018/05/04/soju-the-drag-queen/. 9 February 2019. live.
  3. Web site: It Presents: Juice. June 26, 2016. March 3, 2019. ChicagoPride.com. live. July 31, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160731011651/http://chicago.gopride.com/calendar/event.cfm/id/214254.
  4. Web site: HAPPY BIRTHDAY Soju!!. Facebook. 2017-05-12. en. 2019-03-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190331115510/https://www.facebook.com/shotwithsoju/posts/happy-birthday-soju/805456672944480/. 2019-03-31. live.
  5. Web site: Soju Love, Chicago. 2017-10-19. en. 2019-03-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190327004851/https://tennesseeloveless.com/soju-love-chicago-series/. 2019-03-27. live.
  6. Web site: The WERRRK.com Interview: Soju. 2018-05-11. en. 2019-03-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190327004856/https://werrrk.com/the-werrrk-com-interview-soju/. 2019-03-27. live.
  7. News: Sultana . Rashad . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 11: First cyst-er down . March 18, 2019 . Queerty . March 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090616/https://www.queerty.com/rupauls-drag-race-season-11-first-cyst-er-20190302 . March 27, 2019 . live .
  8. Web site: Queereans. 2018-10-16. en. PHmuseum. 2019-03-18.
  9. Aquaria & Adam Rippon to Announce 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11 Cast in Upcoming 'Ruveal'. Billboard. 2019-01-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20190120071254/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8494171/rupauls-drag-race-season-11-reveal-aquaria-adam-rippon. 2019-01-20. live.
  10. Web site: RuPaul's Drag Race Season Premiere Recap: Let's Get Elevengendary!. 2019-02-28. en. Vulture. 2019-03-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190327004845/https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/rupauls-drag-race-recap-season-11-episode-1.html. 2019-03-27. live.
  11. Web site: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' 11 episode 1 recap: Which queen was sent packing on 'Whatcha Unpackin'? [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]]. 2019-02-28. en. Goldderby. 2019-03-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091010/https://www.goldderby.com/article/2019/rupauls-drag-race-season-11-episode-1-recap-live-blog-news/. 2019-03-27. live.
  12. Web site: Soju Does Not Regret Talking About Her Taint Cyst on 'Drag Race'. 2019-03-03. en. Out.com. 2019-03-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190327004845/https://www.out.com/drag/2019/3/03/soju-does-not-regret-talking-about-her-taint-cyst-drag-race. 2019-03-27. live.
  13. Web site: Drag Race star Soju tells us why she wants to grow another cyst. 2019-03-07. en. Gay Times. 2019-03-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190322051335/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/119422/drag-race-star-soju-tells-us-why-she-wants-to-grow-another-cyst/. 2019-03-22. live.
  14. Web site: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11: What's Next For Soju After Elimination?. 2019-03-01. en. Newsweek. 2019-04-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20190329084621/https://www.newsweek.com/soju-rupaul-drag-race-elimination-1349093. 2019-03-29. live.
  15. Yvie Oddly, Nina West, more Drag Race stars getting new reality shows. July 4, 2023. Joey Nolfi. June 27, 2019. Entertainment Weekly.
  16. 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Soju Shares Her Top 10 K-Pop Songs Ever. 2019-04-16. Billboard. en. 2019-04-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20190417164106/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8507515/soju-top-10-kpop-songs-playlist-rupauls-drag-race. 2019-04-17. live.
  17. Web site: Lizzo - JUICE Music Video feat. RuPaul's Drag Race Queens. YouTube. 2019-04-17. 2019-04-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20190425231357/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlFN-2cmpzA. 2019-04-25. live.
  18. Web site: Lizzo Shares New "Juice" Video Feat. RuPaul's Drag Race Queens. 2019-04-17. Stereogum. en. 2019-04-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20190417190335/https://www.stereogum.com/2040240/lizzo-juice-rupauls-drag-race-queens/video/. 2019-04-17. live.
  19. News: Cabe . Jessica . Chicago Drag Queen Soju Drops First Single, 'So Juicy' . March 18, 2019 . DNA Info . September 28, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091832/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170928/boystown/soju-so-juicy-korean-american-drag-queen-single-k-pop-shot-with-catherine-yang-shyyness-billy-rodriguez/ . March 27, 2019 . dead .
  20. Web site: Soju (소주) "So Juicy" Official M/V. YouTube. 2018-01-11. en. 2019-03-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190402021512/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RanHW12ZP5o. 2019-04-02. live.
  21. Web site: Soju (소주) "K-Pop Idol Reject" ft. Edward Avila Official M/V. YouTube. 2018-11-06. en. 2019-03-18.
  22. News: Daw . Stephen . Soju Talks Diversity in K-Pop, Why She Didn't Recognize Miley Cyrus & More After 'Drag Race' Exit . March 18, 2019 . Billboard . March 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190329013019/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8500696/drag-race-soju-exit-interview . March 29, 2019 . live .
  23. Web site: 2021-01-22. 'Drag Race's Soju Deletes Twitter After Sexual Assault Allegations. 2021-01-22. www.out.com. en.
  24. Web site: 2021-03-09. RuPaul's Drag Race: Soju Quits Drag Amid Assault Accusations. 2021-04-02. ScreenRant. en-US.
  25. Web site: Watch Soju the Drag Queen Transform into a K-Pop Goddess. Cosmopolitan. 2018-11-07. 2019-04-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20181219050343/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a24739416/soju-drag-makeup-transformation-cosmo-queens/. 2018-12-19. live.
  26. Whatcha Packin': Soju Season 11 Episode 1 RuPaul's Drag Race. YouTube. March 1, 2019. January 23, 2020.
  27. Silky's Snack Shack: Episode 5 "Whoop Yo Ass Pie". YouTube. March 25, 2019. March 25, 2020.