Milk (drag queen)

Last updated
Milk
Milk DragCon2024 @DVSROSS (cropped).jpg
Milk at RuPaul’s DragCon, 2024
Born
Daniel P. Donigan [1]

(1987-06-23) June 23, 1987 (age 38)
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s) Drag queen, model, Figure skater
Television
Website bigandmilky.com

Milk (born June 23, 1987) is the stage name of Daniel P. Donigan, an American drag performer and former figure skater who came to attention on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race , and the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars . [2] [3]

Contents

Early life

Donigan was raised in Syracuse, New York. [4] [5] He served as an altar boy at his Catholic church and attended Catholic school. [6] His parents were supportive of his sexuality when he came out as gay. [7] He began ice skating at the age of 9 and eventually became a competitive figure skater, until 2009. [5]

Career

Drag

After moving to New York City in 2012, Donigan began a full-time career as a drag performer. [5] Donigan first gained attention when he appeared on season six of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2014. Out of 14 contestants, Milk placed ninth overall, losing a lip-sync to Trinity K. Bonet in the sixth episode. [8] On October 20, 2017, Donigan was announced as one of the 10 contestants for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3 . He was eliminated by Kennedy Davenport in the third episode, placing 8th. [9] He again placed ninth after Morgan McMichaels returned to the competition. [10]

Outside of Drag Race, Donigan has modeled for Marc Jacobs's Spring/Summer 2016 Campaign [11] and Vivienne Westwood's S/S 2018 campaign. [12] He was featured in Perry Ellis's Fall 2018 collection. [13] In print work, he was featured on the cover of Hello Mr. magazine's third issue [14] and featured in the third issue of Gayletter [15] and in the January 2018 issue of Gay Times. [16] He was featured in a 2014 issue of Next Magazine . [17] He was announced as the new face of Madonna's skincare line, MDNA Skin. [18] In 2017, Milk appeared as Madonna in a video promoting the skincare range, dressing in several of her iconic costumes. [19]

Figure skating

Donigan is a former elite figure skater who qualified to the 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Junior Ice Dance. [20] He returned to competition in 2025, winning first place in the Gold Solo Pattern Dance and Gold Solo Free Dance categories at the U.S. Eastern Adult Sectional Championships. [21] [22]

He performed at the Bryant Park Figure-Skating Rink for the Guys On Ice event as charity for the Ali Forney Center. [23]

Music

Donigan formed the group The Dairy Queens in 2016, whose first single, "Milk It", was released on July 2, 2016. [24] He then released his first solo single, "Touch the Fashion, Change Your Life", [25] which he performed live on the first episode of All Stars 3 in 2017. [26]

Personal life


Donigan is Catholic and gay. [6] He was in an open relationship with James B. Whiteside, [27] principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, for 12 years. [28] In October 2020, Donigan announced on Instagram that they have amicably split. [29] Donigan currently lives in New York City.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 6) HerselfContestant (9th place)
2016 Skin Wars Episode: "Miss Skin Wars" [30]
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 3) Contestant (9th place)
2019 Hey Qween! Guest
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Guest

Music Videos

YearTitleArtistRef.
2020Fashion BloggerRhyme So [31]

Web

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2014 James St. James: Transformations HimselfGuest [32]
2014–2018Milk's LegenDAIRY LooksHost [33]
2014–2017#MarcoMarcoShow BackstageModel [34]
2014Ring My BellGuest [35]
2015Drag Queens ReactPart 2 [36]
2017$TRANGER$ FOR CA$HWith Kim Chi [37]
How to MakeupEpisode: "Milk's Finishing Touches" [38]
Craiglist Missed ConnectionsGuest [39]
2018Whatcha Packin' [40]
M.U.G.With Kim Chi [41]
2020 BBC Sport Guest [42]
2022Out of the Closet [43]
2023Glam SlamContestant [44]

Discography

Singles

YearSongRef(s)
2016"Milk It" [24]
2018"Touch the Fashion" [25]
TitleYearAlbum
"Sitting on a Secret"
(RuPaul featuring Aja, Chi Chi DeVayne, Milk, Morgan McMichaels, & Thorgy Thor)		2018Non-album single

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Daniel P Donigan". Ancestry Institute. Ancestry. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Milk Out Of Drag—And Out Of His Clothes". LOGO News. Archived from the original on 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  3. ↑ Donigan, Daniel (June 23, 2019). "MILK on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  4. ↑ "This Milk Has Gone Bad! Watch the VIDEO". metrosource.com. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "Drag queen Milk is a figure skating 'weirdo' with big lashes and bigger ambition". In The Know. 24 November 2020. Archived from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  6. 1 2 "RuPaul's Newest Villain: This Milk Has Gone Bad!". Metrosource. February 9, 2018. Archived from the original on October 15, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Coming Out - Milk the Drag Queen". YouTube. June 19, 2017.
  8. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (9 February 2018). "Drag Race eliminee Milk teases 'diva' twist, would've played Virgin Mary for Snatch Game". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  9. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3's Milk Isn't Mad About Getting the Villain Edit". Vulture. 2018-02-09. Archived from the original on 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  10. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race': BenDeLaCreme Opens Up About Her Shocking Exit". Billboard. 2018-02-03. Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  11. ↑ Weiss, Sabrina Rojas (21 January 2016). "Why Marc Jacobs Chose A "RuPaul's Drag Race" Alum For His Spring Campaign". www.refinery29.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  12. ↑ "Vivienne Westwood's SS18 campaign features Drag Race queen Milk and fans are thrilled". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  13. ↑ "Drag Race All Star Milk Walks For Perry Ellis at NYFW". PAPERMAG. 2018-02-07. Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  14. ↑ Mr., Hello. "Dan Donigan: Meet The Milk Man". Hello Mr. Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  15. ↑ "GAYLETTER". GAYLETTER. Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  16. ↑ "Drag Race star Milk strips to a thong for steamy Gay Times photoshoot". Gay Times. 2018-01-02. Archived from the original on 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  17. ↑ "15 Times Milk WAS Fashion". LOGO News. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
  18. ↑ "Milk Is The New Face Of Madonna's MDNA Skincare Line". LOGO News. Archived from the original on 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  19. ↑ Michelson, Noah (9 November 2017). "Watch 'Drag Race' Star Milk Channel Madonna In Iconic Ad For Pop Star's New Skincare Line". HuffPost UK. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  20. ↑ "2009 US Figure Skating Championships / Cleveland OH / 19 January 2009 / Junior Dance Compulsory Dance / Group 3". www.cs.kent.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  21. ↑ "2025 Adult Eastern Sectional Figure Skating Championships: Adult Gold Solo Pattern Dance". ijs.usfigureskating.org. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  22. ↑ "2025 Adult Eastern Sectional Figure Skating Championships: Adult Gold Solo Free Dance I/II". ijs.usfigureskating.org. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  23. ↑ "Milk On Ice: "Drag Race" Star Returns To Figure Skating For A Good Cause". LOGO News. Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  24. 1 2 MILK QUEEN (2016-07-02), Milk - MILK IT [OFFICIAL], archived from the original on 2023-02-16, retrieved 2018-02-12
  25. 1 2 Dave Lennon (2018-01-29), Milk 'Queen' - Touch the Fashion, Change Your Life (Audio), archived from the original on 2020-06-26, retrieved 2018-02-12
  26. ↑ Sava, Oliver. "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars returns when we need it most". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  27. ↑ "Out Love: Ballet dancer James Whiteside (aka JbDubs) & performer Dan Donigan (aka Milk)". 2015-01-12. Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  28. ↑ "Ballet Dancer, Drag Queen, Singer & Podcaster: Inside James Whiteside's Fearless, Authentic Life". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2019-06-18. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  29. ↑ Street, Mikelle (5 October 2020). "'Drag Race's Milk and Dancer James Whiteside Have Broken Up". Out Magazine . Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  30. ↑ Boulet, Ruth (2016-05-11). "Skin Wars meets RuPaul's Drag Race: a Season 3 episode 4 preview". Channel Guide Magazine. Archived from the original on 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  31. ↑ "Exclusive | RHYME SO challenge Drag Race's Milk to a figure skating face-off in fierce 'Fashion Blogger' video - Attitude". Attutude.co.uk. 2020-03-11. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  32. ↑ James St. James and Milk: Transformations. YouTube. April 8, 2014. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  33. ↑ Milk's LegenDAIRY Looks - DeCUNTstructed Drag. YouTube. September 28, 2015. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  34. ↑ MarcoMarcoShow - Fittings with Sharon Needles, Milk, Mathu Andersen, Gigi Gorgeous, and Willam. YouTube. October 22, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  35. ↑ Milk on Ring My Bell. YouTube. November 9, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  36. ↑ Part 2 | Drag Queens Reading Mean Comments w/ Alaska, Raja, Raven, Milk, Morgan, and More!. YouTube. June 24, 2015. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  37. ↑ $TRANGER$ FOR CA$H: Milk & Kim Chi. YouTube. July 11, 2017. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  38. ↑ HOW TO MAKEUP: Milk's Finishing Touch. YouTube. December 18, 2017. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  39. ↑ Milk: CRAIGSLIST Missed Connections - WOW Presents Plus Sneak Peek. YouTube. December 30, 2017. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  40. ↑ Whatcha Packin': Milk | S3 E3 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. YouTube. February 12, 2018. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  41. ↑ M.U.G. with MILK and Kim Chi - LegenDAIRY Looks. YouTube. March 19, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  42. ↑ Meet Milk - the figure skating drag queen. YouTube. September 3, 2020. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  43. ↑ Milk 🥛 It's Just Fashion, Darling | S6 E6 | Out of the Closet 👗. YouTube. December 6, 2022. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  44. ↑ @rupaulsdragrace; (November 17, 2023). "With competition this stiff, these queens need to be prepped for ANYTHING" – via Instagram.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.