Manila Luzon
Encyclopedia
Manila Luzon is a Filipino American
drag queen
and reality television
personality from New York City
. He is best known as the runner-up of the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race
. His drag name is a play on words of the capital city (Manila
) and the largest island (Luzon
) of the Philippines
, where his mother was born. His father is American of German/Swedish ancestry.
, Carmen Carrera, and Delta Work, and winning an emotionally charged lip sync against Delta Work. He also won two challenges in a row for making over a heterosexual jock into his drag sister, and making a couture dress out of (fake) paper money.
events including New York Pride and Vancouver Pride. In 2011, Luzon, along with third season Drag Race contestants Carmen Carrera and Shangela Laquifa Wadley, appeared in a television commercial for travel-related website Orbitz
. In addition to the commercial, he and Shangela also did an entertainment news segment for US Weekly
where they discuss current male celebrities and reimagine them as drag queens.
, appearing in three episodes. He helped a housewife looking for a makeover in the first episode. In his second appearance, he made over a lesbian contestant, while in his third stint as a drag professor, he helped makeover his sister Rachel.
with his boyfriend Sahara Davenport
, who was a contestant on the second season
of Drag Race.
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
drag queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
and reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
personality from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is best known as the runner-up of the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race
RuPaul's Drag Race
RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality television series produced by World of Wonder for Logo. RuPaul plays host, mentor and inspiration for this series, which details RuPaul's search for "America's next drag superstar."...
. His drag name is a play on words of the capital city (Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
) and the largest island (Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
) of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, where his mother was born. His father is American of German/Swedish ancestry.
RuPaul's Drag Race
With many memorable outfits and a camp sense of humor, Manila won three main challenges and received high marks from the judges. Highlights of the season included Manila's win for a controversial impersonation of a Japanese reporter, forming the "Heathers" clique with fellow contestants RajaSutan Amrull
Sutan Amrull , known also as Raja and Raja Gemini, is an American make-up artist and drag performer. He is best known for his work on the reality television show America's Next Top Model, serving as the show's make-up artist for nine cycles...
, Carmen Carrera, and Delta Work, and winning an emotionally charged lip sync against Delta Work. He also won two challenges in a row for making over a heterosexual jock into his drag sister, and making a couture dress out of (fake) paper money.
Career after RuPaul's Drag Race
The publicity generated by her participation on the show brought many new opportunities to perform at various national and international LGBTLGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
events including New York Pride and Vancouver Pride. In 2011, Luzon, along with third season Drag Race contestants Carmen Carrera and Shangela Laquifa Wadley, appeared in a television commercial for travel-related website Orbitz
Orbitz
Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. is an Internet travel company headquartered in the Citigroup Center in Near West Side, Chicago, Illinois. Through its primary web site Orbitz.com, Orbitz Worldwide enables travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products, facilitating 1.5 million flight...
. In addition to the commercial, he and Shangela also did an entertainment news segment for US Weekly
Us Weekly
Us Weekly is a celebrity gossip magazine, founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company, who sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986. The publication covers topics ranging from celebrity relationships to the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and entertainment...
where they discuss current male celebrities and reimagine them as drag queens.
RuPaul's Drag U
Manila Luzon served as drag professor on RuPaul's Drag URuPaul's Drag U
RuPaul's Drag U is an American reality television series. Hosted by RuPaul and a team of drag queen "professors," Drag U is a spin-off of the series RuPaul's Drag Race...
, appearing in three episodes. He helped a housewife looking for a makeover in the first episode. In his second appearance, he made over a lesbian contestant, while in his third stint as a drag professor, he helped makeover his sister Rachel.
Personal Life
He resides in HarlemHarlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
with his boyfriend Sahara Davenport
Sahara Davenport
Sahara Davenport is an American drag queen and reality television personality and classically-trained dancer. He is best known as a contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race.-Early career:...
, who was a contestant on the second season
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2
The second season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on February 1, 2010 and aired its final episode on April 26, 2010. On May 1, 2009, the casting website for RuPaul's Drag Race opened for prospective contestants of season two to create user profiles and upload videos of themselves to be voted on by...
of Drag Race.
External links
- Official website
- Manila Luzon on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....