Jaidynn Diore Fierce
Photograph of a person wearing a Minions-inspired outfit
Jaidynn Diore Fierce at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2022
Born
Christopher Williams

1988 or 1989 (age 34–35)[1]
Tennessee, U.S.
OccupationDrag queen
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race (season 7)

Jaidynn Diore Fierce is the stage name of Christopher Williams, an American drag performer who competed on season 7 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Originally from Tennessee, Williams continues to live and work in Nashville. He has spoken out against Tennessee's bill to ban public drag performance and gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Early life and education

Christopher Williams[2] was born in the U.S. state of Tennessee,[3] and raised in a Christian household. He graduated from high school in Nashville, and attended his first drag show at Play Dance Bar in 2007, on the night of his graduation.[4]

Career

Photograph of a person wearing a prison-inspired jumpsuit
Photograph of a person wearing a sparkly pink outfit
Jaidynn Diore Fierce at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2018 (top) and 2019 (bottom)

Williams began his drag career in Nashville, initially competing in pageants for several years. He auditioned for RuPaul's Drag Race three times before being selected to compete as Jaidynn Diore Fierce on the seventh season (2015).[5] On the show, she impersonated Raven-Symoné for the Snatch Game challenge.[6][7] Jaidynn Diore Fierce was partnered with Tempest DuJour on the "Conjoined Queens" episode, a pairing deemed a "betrayal" on Kennedy Davenport's part by Pride.com.[8] Jaidynn Diore Fierce eliminated two contestants from the competition,[9] and placed eighth overall.[2][10] She was eliminated by Ginger Minj.[11]

Pride.com said Jaidynn Diore Fierce "was another great example of a queen who had everything it took to go all the way, but just wasn't ready yet to tackle all of the challenges that one must face on Drag Race".[12] Michael Cook of Out In Jersey called her the "true heart" of the season, and said she had an "infectious" personality.[13] Ryan Shea included Jaidynn Diore Fierce in Instinct magazine's 2019 list of the ten best "plus size queens".[14]

In 2016, Jaidynn Diore Fierce was part of the rotating cast of Playmates at Nashville's Play Dance Bar.[15] She participated in a drag show to raise funds for Puerto Rico residents impacted by the destruction of Hurricane Maria in 2017,[16] and headlined the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee's nineteenth annual drag show in 2018.[5] As of 2022, she was part of the all-Black drag trio Missfits, with her "drag sisters" Sapphire Mylan and Venus Ann Serena,[17] who has also been described as Jaidynn Diore Fierce's "drag daughter".[9] Jaidynn Diore Fierce and fellow Drag Race contestant Mercedes Iman Diamond performed at the first drag brunch in Ely, Minnesota, in 2022.[18]

In 2023, Jaidynn Diore Fierce was part of a fundraiser to spotlight queer performers in country music and Americana and to protest the passage of anti-LGBT legislation in Tennessee.[19][20] She was also among a group of Drag Race contestants and other Tennessee-based drag artists who joined Lizzo on stage at one of her concerts as part of the singer's protest against the state's bill to ban public drag performance.[21][22] Among other 2023 events in which Jaidynn Diore Fierce performed were a local Wizard of Oz-themed brunch[23] and an LGBTQ+ pub quiz fundraiser in Orlando.[24]

Personal life

Williams lives in Nashville, as of 2015.[25] He has struggled with his sexual identity, being both Christian and gay.[4]

In addition to joining Lizzo on stage, Jaidynn Diore Fierce has spoken out against Tennessee's bill to ban public drag performance and gender-affirming care for trans youth.[3] In 2023, John Oliver defended her against Gabrielle Hanson, a Republican politician from Tennessee, on his series Last Week Tonight.[26][27]

Filmography

Television

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Most Powerful Drag Queens in America, Ranked". Vulture. Vox Media. June 10, 2019. Archived from the original on June 10, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Campbell, Chuck. "Yas! Tennesseans slay on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Knoxville News Sentinel. Gannett. OCLC 12008657. Archived from the original on 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  3. 1 2 "Tennessee 'Drag Race' stars slam state's 'blatantly unconstitutional' drag ban bill". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  4. 1 2 "Jaidynn Diore serves Nashville realness on RuPaul's Drag Race". OutVoices. Archived from the original on 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  5. 1 2 Orlowski, Maren (February 19, 2018). "UWM Drag Show features 'RuPaul' contestant Jaidynn Diore Fierce". University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  6. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' recap: 'Snatch Game'". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. ISSN 1049-0434. OCLC 21114137. Archived from the original on 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  7. ↑ Carpentier, Megan; Rushe, Dominic (2015-04-14). "RuPaul's Drag Race recap – season seven, episode seven: Snatch Game". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  8. ↑ "10 Biggest Betrayals In 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Herstory". Pride.com. Here Media. Archived from the original on 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  9. 1 2 Whittingham, Emily (2021-10-19). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 7 Queens: Where Are They Now?". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  10. ↑ Campbell, Chuck. "Eureka! Tennesseans lose 'RuPaul's Drag Race' in surprising finale". Knoxville News Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  11. ↑ "Last Words With RuPaul's Drag Race's Jaidynn Diore Fierce". The Advocate. ISSN 0001-8996. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  12. ↑ "Fan-Casting A Glow-Up Queen Season Of Drag Race All Stars". Pride.com. Archived from the original on 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  13. ↑ Cook, Michael (2015-05-19). "Jaidynn Diore Fierce says Drag Race experience was a life changer". Out In Jersey. Archived from the original on 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  14. ↑ "10 Greatest Plus Size Queens on 'RPDR'". Instinct. 2019-05-26. ISSN 1096-0058. Archived from the original on 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  15. ↑ "Best Drag Cast". Nashville Scene. 2016-09-08. OCLC 1035130202. Archived from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  16. ↑ Aguilar, Azahar (2017-10-06). "Katya, Bob the Drag Queen & More Join Lineup for Puerto Rico Benefit Drag Show". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  17. ↑ "All black drag group creates safe space for misfits at sold-out shows". WTVF. 2022-06-26. Archived from the original on 2022-08-07. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  18. ↑ Johnson, Kenny (2022-08-07). "Ely's first ever drag brunch brings representation to The Iron Range". WDIO-DT. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  19. ↑ Groff, Will (2023-03-10). "Mary Gauthier, Aaron Lee Tasjan + More to Perform at 'We Will Always Be' Protest Concert and Fundraiser". The Boot. Archived from the original on 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  20. ↑ Freeman, Jon (2023-03-10). "Katie Pruitt, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and Black Opry to Lift Up Queer Voices at Nashville Benefit". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  21. ↑ Long, Danielle (April 24, 2023). "Lizzo dances with drag queens at Knoxville show in protest of Tennessee drag ban". ABC News. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  22. ↑ Kassahun, Tomas (April 23, 2023). "Lizzo Protests Tennessee's Anti-Drag Law at Concert in State, Brings Out 'Drag Race' Queens". Yahoo! News. Yahoo! Inc. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  23. ↑ Gutierrez-Jones, Jackie (2023-10-02). "Check Out the New Menu at the World's Longest Bar". Eater Nashville. Vox Media. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  24. ↑ Greenberg, Chloe. "RuPaul's Drag Race queen hosts LGBTQ+ trivia night to benefit Orlando's Zebra Youth". Orlando Weekly. Euclid Media Group. Archived from the original on 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  25. ↑ Guerra, Joey (2015-04-22). "Jaidynn Diore Fierce talks 'RuPaul's Drag Race' elimination". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  26. ↑ "John Oliver Defends 'Drag Race's Jaidynn Diore Fierce". Pride.com. Archived from the original on 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  27. ↑ Walsh, Savannah (October 9, 2023). "John Oliver Exposes a "Hard-Core MAGA Candidate" Running in Tennessee". Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. ISSN 0733-8899. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
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