Madame Cassandra Uzumaki LaQueer | |
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Born | |
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Television | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 4) |
Website | madamelaqueer |
Madame Cassandra Uzumaki LaQueer (formerly Madame LaQueer) is the stage name of Cassie Melendez, [1] [2] a Puerto Rican drag performer and make-up artist who competed on season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race . Originally from Carolina, Melendez moved to Orange County, California, where she works in the cosmetic industry, performs in drag shows, and livestreams on Twitch.
Madame LaQueer has continued to participate in Drag Race-related projects, appearing in a music video by fellow contestant Morgan McMichaels and attending RuPaul's DragCon LA as well as season finale tapings.
Melendez was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, [2] on October 5, 1981. [3] [4] She started doing drag on one of her birthdays as a teenager. [5] She has a degree in computer programming. [6] [7]
Melendez is a drag performer who competed as Madame LaQueer on season 4 (2012) of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race . [8] She won the WWE-inspired drag wrestling challenge (tied with Chad Michaels) on the second episode, [9] and placed tenth overall. [10] She was eliminated from the competition in the fourth episode ("Queens Behind Bars"), after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip sync battle against Milan to "Trouble" (2003) by Pink. [11] Sarah Martindale included Madame LaQueer in Bustle 's 2015 list of twelve "plus size drag queens giving us all life". [12] Thrillist's Brian Moylan ranked her number 102 out of the show's 113 contestants in 2017, [13] and Instinct 's Ryan Shea ranked her 95 out of Drag Race's 126 competitors in 2018. [14]
In 2017, Madame LaQueer participated in a drag show to raise funds for Puerto Rico residents impacted by the destructive Hurricane Maria. [15] [16] She has continued to participate in Drag Race-related projects. In 2020, she appeared in the music video for fellow contestant Morgan McMichaels's single "Ass Like Mine" (2020). [17] Madame LaQueer has featured at Drag Race conventions, including RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2022, [18] and appeared in season finale tapings of the show. [19] That year, she was the grand marshal of Bell's inaugural Southeast LA Pride Festival, in which she also performed. [20]
Outside of drag, Melendez has managed the beauty department of a drug store in Southern California. [6] As of 2017, she was a make-up artist in Santa Ana and continued to perform at VLVT Lounge. [2]
Melendez relocated to Orange County, California, on April 20, 2013, after competing in Drag Race. [5] [6] In January 2024, she came out as a trans woman on social media, and revealed her new names in and out of drag as Madame Cassandra Uzumaki LaQueer and Cassie, respectively. [1] She streams a variety of PlayStation games on Twitch. [21]
Madame LaQueer has had as many as seventeen "drag daughters" (or mentees), [22] including Lineysha Sparx, who competed on season 5 of Drag Race. [6] [10]
José David Sierra, better known as Jessica Wild, is a Puerto Rican drag queen, professional make-up artist, and reality television personality. She was a contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
Jade Jolie is the stage name of Jules Green, an American drag queen and impersonator of Taylor Swift, known for competing in the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the fourth season of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula.
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Stacy Layne Matthews is the stage name of Stacy Jones, a former drag performer who competed on season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race. On the show, she popularized the word "henny", which became a nickname, and she won the Snatch Game challenge for her impersonation of Mo'Nique. Following Drag Race, Stacy Layne Matthews impersonated Mo'Nique in The HoMo'Nique Show, a parody of BET's The Mo'Nique Show, at Manhattan's Laurie Beechman Theater. She has also appeared on season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and Teen Mom OG. Originally from Back Swamp, North Carolina, Jones is part of the Lumbee tribe. She announced her retirement from drag in 2023.
Joslyn Fox is the stage name of Patrick Allen Joslyn, an American drag performer most known for competing on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
April Carrión is the stage name of Jason Carrión, a Puerto Rican drag queen and television personality best known for their appearance on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Naysha Lopez is the stage name of drag performer and beauty pageant winner Fabian Rodriguez, who won the 2013 Miss Continental competition and appeared on the eighth seasons of both RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
Ongina is the stage name of Ryan Ong Palao, a Filipino-American drag performer and HIV activist who came to international attention on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. Since appearing on the show, Ongina has been featured in a number of web series produced by World of Wonder, including Wait, What?, Ring My Bell, and Fashion Photo RuView. Ongina was one of the first reality TV stars to come out as HIV-positive.
Kahanna Montrese is the stage name of Tyrone Hardiman, an American drag performer most known for competing on season 11 of RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
"Queens Behind Bars" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on Logo on February 20, 2012. The episode has contestants pose for fake mug shots for the mini challenge, and to act in the mock prison sitcom "Hot In Tuckahoe" for the main challenge. Max Mutchnick and Nicole Sullivan serve as guest judges, alongside regular panellists Billy B, RuPaul, and Michelle Visage.
Aiden Zhane is the stage name of Devin LaMar Lewis, an American drag performer most known for competing on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Kandy Muse is the stage name of Kevin Candelario, an American drag queen and performer most known for being the runner-up on both the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2021) and the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (2023).
LaLa Ri is the stage name of LaRico Demetrius Potts, an American drag performer most known for competing on season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race and season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
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Jaidynn Diore Fierce is the stage name of Christopher Williams, an American drag performer who competed on season 7 of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race. Williams, who is originally from Tennessee, lives and works in Nashville. He has spoken out against Tennessee's bill to ban public drag performance and gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
Nicole Paige Brooks, is the stage name of Brian Christopher Pryor, an American drag performer and entertainer who competed on season 2 of the television series RuPaul's Drag Race. Based in Georgia, Nicole Paige Brooks continues to host and perform in drag shows, and participate in Drag Race-related events.
Mystique Summers Madison is the stage name of Donté Sims, an African American drag performer who competed on season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Based in Texas, Mystique Summers Madison continues to perform in drag shows and participate in Drag Race-related events such as RuPaul's DragCon LA.
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