Laganja Estranja

Laganja Estranja
Laganga, on stage, glances down at the crowd. She is seen from the waste up, wearing a teal wig and a bikini top attached to a lattice of multi-colored straps. This garment is matched with gauntlet-like gloves.
Laganja Estranja performing in Santiago de Chile in August 2016
Born Jay Jackson
(1988-12-28) December 28, 1988
Dallas, Texas
Alma mater California Institute of the Arts
Occupation
Website laganjaestranja.com

Laganja Estranja is the stage name of Jay Jackson, an American choreographer, drag queen, and cannabis rights activist based in Los Angeles, California. Laganja competed on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, finishing in eighth place.

Early life

Jay Jackson was born on December 28, 1988 to parents David and Nancy Jackson. Jay was an eccentric child and performed professionally at an early age, appearing in The Will Rogers Follies at the Dallas Summer Musicals, and local shows across Texas. He attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, focusing in dance and choreography. In 2007, Jay attended YoungArts and was awarded status as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts by the Presidential Scholars Program. After graduating high school, Jay moved to California and received his BFA from California Institute of the Arts (2007–2011) in Dance and Choreography.

Drag career

Laganja Estranja's drag debut was at Micky's West Hollywood on November 7, 2011.[1] After winning the Amateur Competition, Laganja became an official "Showgirl" with a monthly guaranteed gig at Micky's. Laganja went on to win "Queen of Queens" at 340 Nightclub in Pomona, California and "Best Newcomer" from Rhea Litré.

In April 2013, one year since walking on the stage as Laganja Estranja for the first time, Jay and his team decided to audition Laganja Estranja for RuPaul's Drag Race.[2] He was accepted onto the show, and filmed in the summer of 2013.

RuPaul's Drag Race

In 2014, the sixth season of drag-oriented reality competition RuPaul's Drag Race aired on LogoTV.[3] Laganja performed moderately well on the show, winning a challenge while partnered with eventual runner-up Adore Delano.[4] Laganja was eliminated in the eighth episode of the season, placing her in a small category of contestants in the show's history who were eliminated the week after winning a challenge.[4] During the show, Laganja became infamous for her over-the-top dramatics, catchphrases, and emotional breakdowns. Eventual winner Bianca Del Rio credited Laganja as the root of every memorable quote from the following season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[5] Laganja's mannerisms have since been parodied by fellow drag queens, including Alaska Thunderfuck.[6]

Drag family

Laganja Estranja is the drag daughter of Alyssa Edwards, and the drag sister of Shangela Laquifa Wadley and Gia Gunn[3]—all three of whom competed on RuPaul's Drag Race, Edwards appearing on season 5 and season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, Wadley appearing on season 2 and 3 and All Stars season 3, and Gunn on season 6. Under the moniker of the Haus of Edwards, the trio has internationally toured and performed together on multiple occasions,[7] most notably at the pre-show warm-up for the finale episode of the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[8]

Activism

Laganja spoke out against Donald Trump while he was running for President of the United States, and she is committed to continuing to use her platform for social change.[9]

Music

In 2014, Laganja contributed vocals to a cover of RuPaul's "Jealous of My Boogie", for the album RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz. Throughout 2014, Laganja was featured on three singles, contributing a rap verse to each song. In 2015, she released her debut single as a lead artist, titled "Legs", which featured American female rapper Rye Rye. In June 2015, "Legs" was rated as the third best song by a RuPaul's Drag Race contestant by Pitchfork Media.[10] In June 2015, Laganja was featured on fellow RuPaul's Drag Race star, Alaska Thunderfuck's debut album, Anus, on the track "Gimme All Your Money".[11] In 2016, she released both her third single "Tease 4U" and a Christmas Album with the Haus of Edwards. Her single on the album is entitled "Green XXXmas," and the video featured exotic dancer Candace Cane.[12]

Merchandise

In 2014, Laganja launched a collection of marijuana-themed merchandise. Her jewelry line is called "Laganja Estranja is My Enemy". In May 2016 Laganja released a collaboration ice water hash cannabis joint "LAhepburns". Laganja's puppy cannabis clothing line "Puffin' Pups" was featured in The New York Times.[13]

Discography

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year
"Legs"[14]
(Featuring Rye Rye)		 2015
"Hotbox"[15]
"Tease 4u" 2016
Title Year
"Got Beat"[16]
(Kraax featuring Laganja Estranja, Cool B. & Lissa Wick)		 2014
"Oh No She Better Don't"[17]
(RuPaul featuring Drag Race Season 6 Cast)
"Gold Grill BBQ"[18]
(Krysta Youngs featuring Laganja Estranja & Melanie Fontana)
"Gimme All Your Money[19]
(Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 featuring Laganja Estranja)		 2015

Guest appearances

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Jealous of My Boogie"[20] 2014 RuPaul RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz
"Gimme All Your Money"[11] 2015 Alaska Thunderfuck Anus

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2014 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself (Contestant) Season 6 – 8th place [3]
2014 Untucked Himself Companion show to RuPaul's Drag Race [4]
2015 Skin Wars Himself Season 2 - Guest [21]
2017 Bong Appétit Himself Season 1, Episode 6 - Guest [22]
2018 Germany's Next Topmodel Himself Season 13, Episode 14 - Guest
2018 So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series) Himself

(Contestant)

 Season 15

Music videos

Title Year Director Ref.
"Jealous of My Boogie" 2014 Jay Jackson [23]
"Got Beat" 2014 Kristen R. Lovell [24]
"Gold Grill BBQ" 2014 Kristen R. Lovell [25]
"LEGS feat. Rye Rye" Lyric Video 2015 Zigmortius [26]
"Gimme All Your Money feat. Laganja Estranja" 2016 Justin Andrew Honard [27]

Music video appearances

Title Year Director Ref.
"No Bueno"
(Angel Haze)		 2013 Frank Borin [28]
"Expensive"
(Todrick Hall)		 2016 Todrick Hall
"Gimme All Your Money"
(Alaska Thunderfuck 5000)		 2016 Justin Andrew Honard & Nick Laughlin

References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPwxuNjNU18
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W4Uw9KPGHc
  3. 1 2 3 Avery, Dan (December 13, 2013). "Meet The Queens Of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6: Laganja Estranja, Milk, Magnolia Crawford". NewNowNext. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Reynolds, Daniel (April 11, 2014). "Last Words With RuPaul's Drag Race's Laganja Estranja". The Advocate. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Catchphrases of Season 7 – 12 Days of Crowning: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 7" (SKIP TO 3:17). YouTube. May 27, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Walking with Laganja in Nature". YouTube. May 19, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  7. ↑ "The Haus Of Edwards National Tour April 2015". ITDEvents. December 24, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ Jacobs, Blake (June 1, 2015). "The Kids BEAT THE WALLS for the Haus of Edwards at RuPaul's Drag Race Grand Finale!". World of Wonder. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  9. ↑ http://www.inquisitr.com/3585372/trump-laganja-estranja-rupauls-drag-race-video/
  10. ↑ Emmitt, Andy (June 26, 2015). "The Best and Worst Music of RuPaul's Drag Divas". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  11. 1 2 "iTunes – Music – Anus – Album by Alaska Thunderfuck". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsDHI88xkP4
  13. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/fashion/why-the-fashion-world-is-obsessed-with-rupauls-drag-race.html?_r=0
  14. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Legs (feat. Rye Rye) – Single by Laganja Estranja". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  15. ↑ ""Hotbox" Preview". YouTube. June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  16. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Got Beat (feat. Laganja Estranja, Cool B. & Lissa Wick) – Single by Kraax". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  17. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Oh No She Better Don't (feat. The Cast of Rupaul's Drag Race Season 6) – Single by RuPaul & DJ ShyBoy". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  18. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Gold Grill BBQ (feat. Laganja Estranja & Melanie Fontana) – Single by Krysta Youngs". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  19. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Gimme All Your Money (feat. Laganja Estranja) - Single by Alaska Thunderfuck 5000". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  20. ↑ "iTunes – Music – RuPaul Presents the CoverGurlz – Album by RuPaul". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  21. ↑ Smothers, Thairin (June 8, 2015). "RuPaul's Drag Race Stars on Skin Wars Season 2". World of Wonder. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  22. ↑ "BONG APPETIT Season 1". VICElAND. Jan 18, 2017. Retrieved Jan 18, 2017.
  23. ↑ "RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz – Laganja Estranja "Jealous of My Boogie" Music Video". YouTube. January 28, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  24. ↑ ""Got Beat" – Kraax ft. Laganja Estranja, Cool B & Lissa Wick". YouTube. March 17, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  25. ↑ ""Gold Grill BBQ" - Krysta Youngs feat. Laganja Estranja and Melanie Fontana". YouTube. July 7, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  26. ↑ ""LEGS feat. Rye Rye"". YouTube. August 30, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  27. ↑ ""Gimme All Your Money feat. Laganja Estranja" - Alaska Thunderfuck". YouTube. April 1, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Angel Haze – No Bueno (Official Video)" (SKIP TO 1:49). YouTube. June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
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