Gia Gunn | |
|---|---|
 Gia Gunn in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Gia Keitaro Ichikawa |
| Born | May 10, 1990 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | Drag |
| Occupations | Drag queen, musical artist, actress, activist |
| Instruments | Vocals |
Gia Gunn is the stage name of American drag performer Gia Keitaro Ichikawa (born May 10, 1990). [1] [2] [3] She is known for competing on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race , the second season of The Switch Drag Race , and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars season four.
Raised in Carpentersville, Illinois, Ichikawa began performing Japanese traditional dance and kabuki in onnagata roles when she was five years old. [4] She graduated from Barrington High School in Barrington, Illinois.[ citation needed ]
She won the drag pageants Miss Roscoe's 2013 and Miss Diosa 2013. [5] Her drag mother is trans drag performer Aly Gunn. Their last name was inspired by Tim Gunn; Gia Gunn's first name came from Gia Carangi. [4]
Gia Gunn was announced as one of fourteen contestants for the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race on February 24, 2014. She covered RuPaul's song "Ladyboy" for RuPaul's album RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz to promote the season. [6] On the show, she was known for her voguing, off-the-cuff catchphrases, reads and particular opinions, feminine style of drag, and friendship with fellow contestant Laganja Estranja. Gia Gunn underperformed as Kim Kardashian during the "Snatch Game" challenge, and was eliminated after losing a bottom two lip sync against Estranja to Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's "Head to Toe," [7] earning her tenth place.
In 2017, Gia Gunn was announced as a contestant on the second season of The Switch, the Chilean version of Drag Race, [8] alongside Drag Race alumnus Kandy Ho. [9] The series premiered in March 2018, with 15 contestants. Gia Gunn earned ten challenge wins, making her the most-decorated contestant of the season, but lost to Miss Leona. [10]
Gia Gunn was announced as one of ten contestants competing on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2018. [11] She became the third ever transgender contestant to come out prior to appearing on the show, following Monica Beverly Hillz and Peppermint. However, Gia Gunn was the first trans contestant to compete post-transition during her second season. The show premiered on December 14, 2018, with Gia Gunn eliminated in the third episode after once again underperforming in "Snatch Game" challenge with her Jenny Bui impression. Manila Luzon eliminated her, causing Gia Gunn to place 8th. [12] She had a chance to return in the sixth episode, where the eliminated queens faced off with the queens still in game, but lost a lip sync to Naomi Smalls, eliminating her for good. [13]
After her elimination, Gia Gunn sparked controversy revealing that an altercation between her and RuPaul about transgender drag queens was edited out of show. [14]
Gia Gunn walked the runway for MarcoMarco's fall 2017 fashion show with other Drag Race alumni. [15]
On March 31, 2018, Gia Gunn released 30 Days in Transition, a web series on her YouTube channel documenting aspects of her transition as a transgender woman. Shortly thereafter, she was announced to star in the first episode of an internet documentary series by WOWPresents following her life as a trans person and drag queen; the series will be called Follow Me. A teaser was released on June 25, 2018, and features Isis King. [16] With WOW Presents, Gia Gunn played Karrueche Tran's character Virginia in a recap video of the first season of Claws. [17] Gia Gunn also frequently appeared in other WOW Presents productions, including Wait, What?, Besties for Cash, and Fashion Photo RuView . She and Estranja appear both on WOW Presents and at other performances as the duo TeamTooMuch. [18]
Following her appearance on RuPaul's Drag Race, Gia Gunn released her first solo single "Bring out the Gunnz" on July 31, 2015. [19] In 2016, Gia Gunn was featured on the Alaska's song "Stun" from her album Poundcake. [20] A music video was released on April 24, 2017. [21] Drag Race contestants Mariah Paris Balenciaga, Courtney Act and Willam are featured in the video as well. [21] On August 29, 2018, Gia Gunn's second single "#LaChinaMasLatina" was released, featuring Alaska. [22] Gia Gunn and Estranja appeared in the music video for Danielle Alexa's "Spin in Circles." [23]
Ichikawa started taking hormones in 2016, [24] and she publicly came out as a trans woman via Instagram in April 2017. [25] She later had the first name on her birth certificate officially changed to Gia in August. [26] She was one of many Drag Race alumni to criticize RuPaul's views on transgender and bio queens competing on the show in 2018. [27] She started a Gofundme page to cover $30,000 of her transition surgery. [28]
Ichikawa sparked controversy in June 2020, claiming that the COVID-19 pandemic was a hoax, saying in an Instagram Live video, "I think the whole mask thing is f–king ridiculous... I honestly think this whole COVID-19 thing is a hoax." [29] She later tested positive for COVID-19 in July 2021, receiving further backlash from fellow season 6 contestant and winner Bianca Del Rio, as well as season 7 contestant Mrs. Kasha Davis. [30] [31]
Gia Gunn is a member of the drag family The Haus of Edwards, with Alyssa Edwards, Shangela, Plastique Tiara, Laganja Estranja and Vivienne Pinay. [32] [33]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Contestant (10th place) |
| 2014 | RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | ||
| 2018 | The Switch Drag Race | Contestant (runner-up) | |
| 2018-19 | RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars | Contestant (8th place) |
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Stun" | Alaska |
| 2018 | "Spin In Circles" | Danielle Alexa |
| 2018 | "#LaChinaMasLatina" | Herself |
| 2019 | "Not Ok" [34] | Kygo, Chelsea Cutler |
| 2020 | "I Can't" [35] | Rigel Gemini |
| 2021 | "It's The -- For Me" [36] | Rigel Gemini |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Transformations | Herself | Guest | [37] |
| 2018 | 30 Days In Transition | Host | ||
| 2018 | Puff Puff Sessions | Guest | [38] | |
| 2018 | Follow Me | Guest | [39] | |
| 2018 | Whatcha Packin' | Guest | [40] | |
| 2019 | The X Change Rate | Guest, Episode 7 | [41] |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2015 | "Bring out the Gunnz" |
| 2018 | "#LaChinaMasLatina" |
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She later got a new birth certificate to reflect her transition that same summer, showing how she had legally changed her name to Gia Ichikawa.
Ichikawa is my last name and Keitaro is my middle name. It was my very first tattoo and I was about 18 years old when I got it. I wanted to get something that resembled my Japanese heritage and also that I would never regret getting on me permanently.
これは私が18歳の時に人生で初めて入れたタトゥーで、自分のルーツを忘れないように、自分の苗字とミドルネームの啓太郎を日本語で入れたの。
With a drag name originating from 70s fashion model Gia Carangi and fashion consultant Tim Gunn...
