The Icon, The Legend: The Vivienne

The Vivienne, a well-known Welsh drag queen also known as James Lee Williams passed away at only 33 years old in January 2025. She is remembered by her astounding career and achievements but most importantly as the beautiful person and performer that she was.

RuPaul’s Drag Race

The Vivienne curated her name and personality around her Welsh sarcastic humor and the popular fashion brand Vivienne Westwood. She wore only Westwood clothing and impressed the likes of RuPaul with her sharp and electrifying wit. In 2015, she was named the UK Ambassador for RuPaul’s Drag Race by judges RuPaul, Katie Price, and Jonathon Ross. In 2019, she was the first queen to be asked to join the brand new TV series RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK. One of her standout performances from the series was of course: The Snatch Game, where she impersonated a very orange Donald Trump, making one of the most formidable men of 2019 successfully camp.

“I'm giving you rich Scouse girl, ladies day, she's got a bottle of vodka in her bag and she doesn't give a shit.” (The Vivienne from RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK, Season 1)

Mainstream Superstar

After winning RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK against Divina de Campo, The Vivienne went on to compete in RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars Season 7. However, her success did not just stop at RuPaul’s queendom doorstep. She participated in popular TV show Dancing On Ice, where she became the first-ever drag queen to compete. She released her debut song Bitch on Heels in 2021, a bad bitch anthem for all the gays, girls, and queers of this world. In 2024, she starred as the Wicked Witch of the West for the infamous West End.

With the drag race superstar crown securely on The Vivienne’s head, she exploded into mainstream media, undoubtedly taking the UK’s drag culture with her and solidifying its very own place on the world’s mainstage.