A'keria C. Davenport

Last updated

A'Keria Chanel Davenport
Dragcon2-SAT-147 (47937164867) (cropped).jpg
A'Keria C. Davenport in 2019
Born
Gregory D'Wayne

(1988-03-01) March 1, 1988 (age 36)
Oak Cliff, Texas, U.S.
Occupation
Years active2011–present
Known for RuPaul's Drag Race (season 11) contestant
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 6) contestant
Website theonlyakeria.com

A'Keria Chanel Davenport (born March 1, 1988) [1] is the stage name of Gregory D'Wayne, [2] an American drag queen best known for competing on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2019) and the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2021). As a professional entertainer, she has won several national titles in drag pageantry systems, including Miss Black Universe in 2017. [3] Davenport was recognized by Dallas Voice as a Texan of the Year in 2019. [4]

Contents

Career

2011–2018: Drag beginnings

A'Keria Davenport, 2019 Dragcon-2 (47937194626).jpg
A'Keria Davenport, 2019

Davenport started participating in drag pageants since 2011. Some of her titles include Miss Unity of America Newcomer 2011, Miss Wessland Newcomer 2012, Miss Diamond of the South Newcomer 2012, Miss International Vogue 2017, and Miss Black Universe 2017. [5]

2019–present: RuPaul's Drag Race

A'Keria was announced to be one of fifteen contestants competing on season eleven of RuPaul's Drag Race on January 24, 2019. [6] In episode three, she was involved in the show's first ever six-way lip sync with Honey Davenport, Ra'Jah O'Hara, Plastique Tiara, Scarlet Envy, and Shuga Cain, which she survived. [7] [8] She later lip synced again with Ra'Jah to Sheena Easton's "Strut" in episode seven. [9] She won two main challenges, in episodes six and nine. [10] [11] She placed 3rd/4th alongside Silky Nutmeg Ganache after losing a lip sync against Yvie Oddly, who would eventually win the season against Brooke Lynn Hytes. [12] [13]

From March 26 to September 6, she was a part of the rotating cast for RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 11 Tour, presented by Voss Events and World of Wonder, and hosted by Asia O'Hara. [14] The show kicked off in Los Angeles on May 26 during the RuPaul's DragCon LA wrap party (hosted by Drag Race judge Michelle Visage) and concluded with a final bow on September 6 in New York City (also hosted by Visage) at the top of RuPaul’s DragCon NYC. [14]

A'Keria was in a music video for Lizzo's "Juice" on April 17, 2019. [15] She portrayed Nicki Minaj in the music video for Taylor Swift's "You Need to Calm Down" on June 17, 2019. [16] On August 26, 2019, Davenport performed alongside Taylor Swift during her 2019 MTV Video Music Awards performance. [17]

In April 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, Davenport was announced as a featured cast member for the very first Digital Drag Fest , an online drag festival for all ages, with attendees given opportunities to interact with the artists, tip them, and win prizes during the broadcast. [18]

On May 26, 2021, it was revealed that A'Keria would be competing in RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 6 along with 12 other contestants, including fellow Season 11 contestants Ra'Jah O'Hara, Scarlet Envy, and Silky Nutmeg Ganache. [19] After landing in the bottom on episodes 3 and 4, she was later sent home by Kylie Sonique Love on the 6th episode “Rumerican Horror Story: Coven Girls” (a parody of American Horror Story ) after placing in the bottom with fellow season 11 contestant Ra’Jah O’Hara.

In August 2021, they were a featured performer and host in Klub Kids London Presents: NOIR: The Tour, where 25% of the proceeds from the production were donated to the Black Lives Matter movement. [20]

Personal life

A'Keria Chanel Davenport at RuPaul's DragCon LA 2022 RuPaul DragCon 2022 (52073260091).jpg
A'Keria Chanel Davenport at RuPaul's DragCon LA 2022

A'Keria C. Davenport is a member of the Drag Haus of Davenport, with Drag Race alum Kennedy Davenport, Sahara Davenport, Monét X Change, Honey Davenport and Ra'Jah O'Hara. [21] Her drag mom is Armani Nicole Davenport. [22] D'Wayne was living in Dallas before being accepted on Drag Race. [23] After Drag Race, D'Wayne moved to Katy. [24] He has stated that he plans to create a skincare line as well as start a charity that will provide support for transgender women and homosexual youth. [25]

D'Wayne spent almost a year of his life as a woman, Kiki, until he realized he identified as a man. [26] He opened up about this experience on the fifth episode of the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars , saying: "It took me to go through that experience to not only find myself but to know who I truly was and wanted to be to know I was enough... I faced the same obstacles most trans people ([especially] those of color) and that's why I will now and forever advocate and dedicate everything in me to protect them!" [27]


Davenport went to David W Carter High School in Wolf Creek, Texas and grew up in Oak Cliff, Texas

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2019 RuPaul's Drag Race HerselfContestant (3rd/4th Place) [6]
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
2021 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 6) Contestant (8th Place) [28]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked (season 3)

Music videos

YearTitleArtistRef
2019"Juice" Lizzo [15]
"You Need to Calm Down" Taylor Swift [16]

Web series

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2019Queen to QueenHerselfWith Vanessa Mateo and Silky Nutmeg Ganache [29]
Queen's CourtGuest [30]
Countdown to the CrownSeason 11 [31]
Whatcha Packin'Guest [32]
Cosmo QueensCosmopolitan Series [33]
Ca$tmate$ for Ca$hGuest, with Brooke Lynn Hytes [34]
2021Reality CheckGuest [35]
Pageant PodPodcast; guest [36]
Whatcha Packin'Guest [37]
Ruvealing the LookGuest [38]
Drag Us WeeklyGuest [39]
2022The Pit StopGuest [40]

Discography

TitleYearAlbum
"Queens Everywhere – Cast Version" [41]
(RuPaul featuring Akeria C. Davenport, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, & Yvie Oddly)		2019Non-album single

Awards and nominations

YearAward Giving BodyCategoryWorkResultsRef.
2019 MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year Taylor Swift's "You Need to Calm Down"Won [42]

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References

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  16. 1 2 "Every celebrity cameo in Taylor Swift's 'You Need To Calm Down' music video". PopBuzz. Archived from the original on June 17, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
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  33. ↑ A'keria Chanel Davenport Is The Master of Colorful Eyeshadow | Cosmo Queens. YouTube. June 30, 2019. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
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