Soju (drag queen)

Last updated
Soju
Dragcon2-SAT-72 (47937184788).jpg
Soju in 2019
Born
Hyunsoo Ha (하현수)

(1991-05-12) May 12, 1991 (age 32)
Seoul, South Korea
Other namesTony Hyunsoo Ha
Occupations
Years active2016–2021
Known for RuPaul's Drag Race
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2016–2021
Genre(s)Comedy, review, vlog
Subscribers64,800+ [1]
(April 2020)
Total views6.3+ million [2] [1]
(April 2020)
Korean name
Hangul
하현수
Revised Romanization Ha Hyeon-su
McCune–Reischauer Ha Hyŏn-su

Soju is the former stage name of Tony Hyunsoo Ha, [3] [4] a South Korean-American retired drag queen, singer and television/YouTube personality. Soju is best known for her online reviews of the reality show RuPaul's Drag Race , until being cast on the show's eleventh season.

Contents

Early life

Ha was born on May 12, 1991, in Seoul, South Korea. His family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa when he was ten years old, due to his father’s military background. [5] [6] He came out as gay when he was 21 and his drag mother is Kahmora Hall. [7] Ha's original drag name was Soju Love, but later shortened to just Soju, which is taken from the drink of the same name. [8]

Career

Outside of drag, Ha is the owner of a taekwondo academy. [9]

Soju was announced as one of fifteen contestants on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race on January 24, 2019. [10] She was eliminated in the first episode after doing poorly in the sewing challenge and losing a lip sync to "The Best of Both Worlds" by Hannah Montana against Kahanna Montrese. [11] [12] A conversation between Soju and the judges about a cyst became a viral meme within the Drag Race fandom. [13] [14] [8]

After season eleven, YouTuber Miles Jai became the co-host for the third season of Shot with Soju. Comedian Margaret Cho appeared in the first episode of the season in March 2019. [15] In 2019, World of Wonder announced that Soju was set to star in her own webseries, I Want To Be A K-Pop Idol with Soju. The series aired for four episodes before its apparent cancellation in August 2019. [16] Soju is one of the founders and performers of the touring LGBTQ+ K-Pop drag show Seoul Train Party. [17] She appeared in the music video for Lizzo's song "Juice" on April 17, 2019. [18] [19]

Music

Soju released her first single "So Juicy" with a music video on January 11, 2018. [20] [21] Her second single, "K-Pop Idol Reject" featuring Edward Avila was released on November 6, 2018. [22] In an interview with Billboard , Soju stated, "We want to bring more foreigners, we want to see queer people in K-pop. It's slowly changing - the industry is very conservative and very old school, so it will take a while for them to change. But it's happening." [23]

Personal life

Soju lives in Chicago, as of 2017. [20] On January 21, 2021, Soju was accused of sexual assault. [24] On March 9, 2021, Soju announced that she had quit drag to focus on her mental health and that she wouldn't be returning. In 2022 Soju returned to Instagram and has refused to address questions about these allegations. [25] She has since deactivated her Instagram account again.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018 How Far Is Tattoo Far? Herself
2019 RuPaul's Drag Race Contestant (15th place)
2019 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked

Music videos

YearTitleArtist
2018"So Juicy"Soju
2018"K-Pop Idol Reject"Soju
2019"Juice" Lizzo

Web series

YearTitleRole
2016-19Shot with SojuHost
2018Cosmo Queens [26] Herself
2019Whatcha Packin' [27] Herself
2020Silky's Snack Shack [28] Herself

Discography

Singles

TitleYear
"So Juicy"[ citation needed ]2018
"K-Pop Idol Reject"[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgan McMichaels</span> Scottish-American drag queen

Morgan McMichaels is the stage name of Scottish-American drag performer Thomas White, best known as a contestant on the second season of the reality television competition RuPaul's Drag Race, as well as the third season of the show's All-Stars spinoff. She has also been involved in various Drag Race spin-offs, including RuPaul's Drag U and RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jujubee (drag queen)</span> American drag queen, reality television personality, and recording artist

Airline Inthyrath, known by her stage name Jujubee, is an American drag queen, reality television personality, and recording artist from Lowell, Massachusetts. She first rose to prominence in 2010 as a contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race, and later returned to compete on the first and fifth seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, and the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022), becoming one of the most popular queens from the franchise. She has the unique distinction of being the only contestant to reach the finale of the competition four times. Additionally, she was a main cast member on the makeover television series RuPaul's Drag U (2010–2012), Dragnificent (2019–2020), and RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race (2022). In 2021, she competed in the first season of Paramount+ singing competition Queen of the Universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detox (drag queen)</span> American drag performer and recording artist

Matthew Dail Sanderson, better known by the stage name Detox Icunt or simply Detox, is an American drag performer and recording artist. Detox was a fixture of the Southern California drag scene before coming to international attention on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, as well as the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shannel</span> American drag queen (born 1979)

Bryan Watkins, known by his stage name Shannel, is an American drag queen and television personality, best known for competing on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race and later the first season and ninth seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mariah Paris Balenciaga</span> American drag performer and television personality

Mariah Paris Balenciaga, or simply known as Mariah, is the stage name of Elijah A. Kelly, an American drag queen and television personality, best known for competing on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2011) and the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2020). Since appearing on the show, she has been featured in a number of web series produced by World of Wonder, such as Wait, What?, Transformations, and Fashion Photo RuView. Balenciaga released her first single, "Mug 4 Dayz", on November 19, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimora Blac</span> American drag queen

Kimora Blac is the stage name of Von Nguyen, an American drag queen and television personality, best known for competing on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaymes Mansfield</span> Drag queen and TV personality

James Jeffrey Wirth, better known as Jaymes Mansfield, is an American drag queen, TV personality, and YouTuber. She is best known for competing on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, and playing the part of Delia Von Whitewoman in the film The Bitch Who Stole Christmas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity K. Bonet</span> American drag queen, performer, celebrity impersonator, actor and singer

Joshua Jamal Jones, better known by the stage name Trinity Kardashian Bonét, is an American drag queen, performer, celebrity impersonator, actor and singer who came to international attention on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2014. Bonet released her first single, "I'm a Drag Queen" on September 6, 2017, and the accompanying music video was later released on October, 18. On May 26, 2021, she was announced as part of the cast for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 6 alongside 12 other contestants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asia O'Hara</span> American drag performer and costume designer

Antwan Mason Lee, better known by the stage name Asia O'Hara, is an American drag queen, reality television personality, and costume designer. She is most well known for competing on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, in which she placed fourth. Since her season aired in 2018, O'Hara has been a staple of several domestic and international tours that feature Drag Race contestants, including Werq the World, Christmas Queens and Drive 'N Drag. She has also appeared on a number of web series produced by World of Wonder, including Can Do Queens, which she co-hosts with Kameron Michaels. In June 2018, she released "Queen for Tonight", her debut single. Her second single, "Crown Up", was released on May 20, 2019, along with an accompanying music video. Since January 2020, she has been a staple cast member of RuPaul's Drag Race Live!, a residency show in Las Vegas, and also stars in the accompanying VH1 miniseries RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blair St. Clair</span> American drag performer and recording artist

Blair St. Clair is an American drag queen, singer, and hair stylist known for competing on the tenth season of the reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race, as well as the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayhem Miller (drag queen)</span> American drag queen and performer

Mayhem Miller is the stage name of Dequan Armand Johnson, an American drag performer and actor, best known for competing on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2018), the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2020), and the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mo Heart</span> American drag performer and singer

Mo Heart, formerly Monique Heart, is the stage name of Kevin Leandrew Richardson, an American drag queen, reality television personality, and recording artist best known for competing on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2018), the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars (2018–2019), and the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022). Since first appearing on Drag Race in 2018, Mo Heart has appeared in a number of web series produced by World of Wonder, including a starring role in Manic Moments With Monique Heart, and hosted her own podcast, Ace of Hearts with Monique Heart. In January 2019, she released her debut single "Brown Cow Stunning", and later released her debut extended play Beloved SoS 6.3 in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylie Sonique Love</span> American drag queen (born 1983)

Kylie Sonique Love, formerly known as Sonique, is an American entertainer, singer, dancer, model and reality television personality. She rose to prominence as a contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2009, and achieved further popularity by winning the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars eleven years later in 2021. Love was the first person to ever come out as transgender on any reality TV show. Upon winning All Stars 6, Love became the second transgender winner in the Drag Race franchise and was the first trans woman to win an American series of Drag Race. Additionally, in 2020, she co-hosted Translation Season 1, the first talk show on a major network hosted by an all-trans cast. Her first single, "Santa, Please Come Home", was released in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juice (Lizzo song)</span> 2019 single by Lizzo

"Juice" is a song recorded by American singer and rapper Lizzo. It was released on January 4, 2019, by Atlantic Records as the lead single from her third and debut major-label studio album, Cuz I Love You. The single was written by Lizzo, Theron Thomas, Sam Sumser, Sean Small and Ricky Reed; the latter also handled the song's production. Musically, it is a retro-inspired funk and funk-pop song that is based on a throwback groove. Lyrically, the song discusses self-love, and has been described as a self-esteem anthem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ariel Versace</span> American drag queen

Ariel Versace is the stage name of Bryan Philip Neel, an American drag queen and wig designer, most known for competing on season 11 of the television series RuPaul's Drag Race. The self-described "bratz doll" was born in New Jersey and goes by the name Bryan Philip on OnlyFans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ra'Jah O'Hara</span> American drag performer

Benni Miller, better known by the stage name Ra'Jah O'Hara, is an American drag queen best known for competing on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2019 and the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2021. In 2022, she was crowned the winner of the first season the international All Stars spin-off series, Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarlet Envy</span> American drag performer (born 1992)

Scarlet Envy, is the stage name of Jacob James Grady, an American drag queen, reality television personality, singer, and performer who is best known for competing on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2019), the sixth season of its spin-off, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2021), and the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silky Nutmeg Ganache</span> American drag queen

Silky Nutmeg Ganache is an American drag performer from Chicago, Illinois, who came to international attention in 2019 when she competed on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race finishing in third place, and later competed on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2021. She has also been involved in numerous Drag Race spin-offs, including RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue (2020) and RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race (2022). She also competed in the first Canadian-based international All Stars spin-off series, Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World in 2022, finishing as a runner-up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A'keria C. Davenport</span> American drag performer

A'Keria Chanel Davenport is the stage name of Gregory D'Wayne, 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. Davenport was recognized by Dallas Voice as a Texan of the Year in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social Media Kings Into Queens</span> 10th episode of the 10th season of RuPauls Drag Race

"Social Media Kings Into Queens" is the tenth episode of the tenth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on May 24, 2018. The episode has contestants dress as butch men and promote a perfume called Trade for the mini challenge, and give a makeover to a social media personality for the main challenge. Miles Heizer and Lizzo serve as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Ross Mathews.

References

  1. 1 2 "About Soju". YouTube.
  2. Soju's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) - Social Blade Stats
  3. "This is how Soju the Drag Queen gets ready for bed". Very Good Light. 4 May 2018. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  4. "It Presents: Juice". ChicagoPride.com. June 26, 2016. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  5. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY Soju!!". Facebook . 2017-05-12. Archived from the original on 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  6. "Soju Love, Chicago". 2017-10-19. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  7. "The WERRRK.com Interview: Soju". 2018-05-11. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  8. 1 2 Sultana, Rashad (March 2, 2019). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 11: First cyst-er down". Queerty. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  9. "Queereans". PHmuseum. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2019-03-18.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. "Aquaria & Adam Rippon to Announce 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11 Cast in Upcoming 'Ruveal'". Billboard . Archived from the original on 2019-01-20. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
  11. "RuPaul's Drag Race Season Premiere Recap: Let's Get Elevengendary!". Vulture. 2019-02-28. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  12. "'RuPaul's Drag Race' 11 episode 1 recap: Which queen was sent packing on 'Whatcha Unpackin'? [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]". Goldderby. 2019-02-28. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  13. "Soju Does Not Regret Talking About Her Taint Cyst on 'Drag Race'". Out.com. 2019-03-03. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  14. "Drag Race star Soju tells us why she wants to grow another cyst". Gay Times. 2019-03-07. Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  15. "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11: What's Next For Soju After Elimination?". Newsweek. 2019-03-01. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  16. Joey Nolfi (June 27, 2019). "Yvie Oddly, Nina West, more Drag Race stars getting new reality shows". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  17. "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Soju Shares Her Top 10 K-Pop Songs Ever". Billboard. 2019-04-16. Archived from the original on 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  18. "Lizzo - JUICE Music Video feat. RuPaul's Drag Race Queens". YouTube . 2019-04-17. Archived from the original on 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  19. "Lizzo Shares New "Juice" Video Feat. RuPaul's Drag Race Queens". Stereogum. 2019-04-17. Archived from the original on 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  20. 1 2 Cabe, Jessica (September 28, 2017). "Chicago Drag Queen Soju Drops First Single, 'So Juicy'". DNA Info. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  21. "Soju (소주) "So Juicy" Official M/V". YouTube . 2018-01-11. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  22. "Soju (소주) "K-Pop Idol Reject" ft. Edward Avila Official M/V". YouTube . 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  23. Daw, Stephen (March 1, 2019). "Soju Talks Diversity in K-Pop, Why She Didn't Recognize Miley Cyrus & More After 'Drag Race' Exit". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  24. "'Drag Race's Soju Deletes Twitter After Sexual Assault Allegations". www.out.com. 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  25. "RuPaul's Drag Race: Soju Quits Drag Amid Assault Accusations". ScreenRant. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  26. "Watch Soju the Drag Queen Transform into a K-Pop Goddess". Cosmopolitan. 2018-11-07. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  27. Whatcha Packin': Soju | Season 11 Episode 1 | RuPaul's Drag Race. YouTube. March 1, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  28. Silky's Snack Shack: Episode 5 "Whoop Yo Ass Pie". YouTube. March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2020.