Sutan Amrull

Sutan Amrull
Raja Gemini performing in 2011
Born Sutan Ibrahim Karim Amrullah
(1974-06-14) June 14, 1974
Baldwin Park, California
Residence Los Angeles, California
Other names Raja, Raja Gemini
Occupation Make-up artist
Drag performer
Television personality
Years active 1990-present
Known for RuPaul's Drag Race (season 3) winner
Height 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Predecessor Tyra Sanchez
Successor Sharon Needles
Spouse(s)
Ryan Turner (m. 2017)

Sutan Amrull (/ˈsuːtɒn ˈɒmruːl/; born June 14, 1974), also known 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,[1] serving as the show's make-up artist for nine cycles (fourth through twelve), and as the winner of Season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Amrull's clients include Dita von Teese, Pamela Anderson, Paulina Porizkova, Iman, Tyra Banks, Iggy Azalea, RuPaul, and Twiggy.[2] Since 2009, Amrull has been make-up artist to singer Adam Lambert for print media, live U.S. appearances, and Lambert's international 2010 Glam Nation Tour.

Early life

Amrull was born in Baldwin Park, California. At the age of three his family moved to Indonesia (where his father is from) and stayed there for six years before returning to the U.S.[3]

Career

Career beginnings

When he was sixteen, Amrull got into the drag scene by attending L.A. nightclubs with his friends. He was part of a sector of drag that was inspired by the goth and punk subcultures.[4]

He attended university as an art student for two years, then decided to pursue a career in make up artistry and female impersonation.[5]

Rupaul's Drag Race

He was a contestant on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race, performing as his drag persona Raja Gemini.[6] He was a member of the "Heathers" clique,[7][8] which took its name from the popular cult film, Heathers. In the final episode, after a lip sync battle with Manila Luzon, Raja was declared the winner of the show's third season and crowned America's Next Drag Superstar.[9] As part of his duties as the third season winner of Drag Race, Amrull toured the U.S. and Canada on Logo's Drag Race Tour in 2011.[10]

Raja was the first Asian American winner of the Drag Race series.[11]

In 2014 Raja joined the Drag Race Battle of the Seasons tour where she performed a lipsync duet with Manila Luzon to the Babymetal song "Gimme Chocolate!!".

Other ventures

In May 2011, Amrull released his first single as Raja, titled "Diamond Crowned Queen".[12] The single debuted at number fifty on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs,[13] before peaking at number thirty-five.[14] On August 21, 2012, his second single "Sublime" was released. His third single, "Zubi Zubi Zubi" (roughly translating to "Dance Dance Dance"), was released June 1, 2013.[15]

Since 2014 he has presented the weekly WOWPresents YouTube series RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Photo RuView with fellow Drag Race alumna Raven.[16]

In February 2017 he starred as an intergalactic creature in the music video for Blondie's single "Fun".[17] He also appeared in the 'Make Love Not Walls' Diesel campaign directed by David LaChapelle and in a campaign for Urban Decay alongside fellow Drag Race alumni Alaska, Jiggly Caliente and Katya.

Personal life

On December 14, 2017, Amrull married Ryan Turner in Norwalk, California.[18]

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with selected details and chart positions
Title Year Peak chart position
US
Dance
[19]
"Diamond Crowned Queen" 2011 35
"Sublime" 2012 —
"Zubi Zubi Zubi" 2013 —
"Cholita" 2015 —
"Divine" 2017 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Angels! Tawngy Davis
2008 The Young and Evil Maxie Short
2015 TupiniQueens Himself Documentary

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005-2009 America's Next Top Model Himself Make Up Department
2011 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself/Contestant Winner
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself Season 4, Episode 13: "The Final Three" - Guest
RuPaul's Drag U Himself/Professor
2013 NewNowNext Awards Himself
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8, Episode 1: "Keeping It 100!" (100th episode) – Guest
Season 8, Episode 10: "Grand Finale" - Guest

Web

Pitstop Herself

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2014–present RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Photo RuView Cohost with Raven
2014 Paint Me Bitch Himself Episode: "Sutan Amrull"
2015 Hey Qween Himself Episode: "Raja"
2016 100 Years of Drag Queen Fashion Himself By Vanity Fair

References

  1. ↑ Loza, Josefina (11 September 2010). "Designer eyes leaving Omaha to achieve his dreams". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  2. ↑ Sutan Amrull on IMDb
  3. ↑ Renzi, Dan. "'Drag Race' Winner Sutan Amrull, a.k.a. Raja, Wants You to Have Sex in Heels". Queerty. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  4. ↑ "Interview: Drag Queen Raja Talks About His Start in Drag, Coming Out to His Family and His Favorite Beauty Tip". Alive. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  5. ↑ Nunn, Jerry. "Raja Gemini interview with ChicagoPride.com". ChicagoPride.com. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  6. ↑ Jessie Peterson (14 July 2014). "Conchita Wurst Walked At Paris Fashion Week, Might Be Drag's New Fashion Superstar". MTV News. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Tanner Stransky (3 May 2011). "'RuPaul's Drag Race: Reunited!': 'The Drag Race may be over, but the real drama is just getting started...'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  8. ↑ Davis, Madeliene (2011-03-01). "RuPaul's Drag Race Takes a Page Out of Heathers". Gawker. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  9. ↑ Parsley, Aaron (April 26, 2011). "What's Next for the Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race?". People. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  10. ↑ John Polly (11 May 2011). "Get Ready! The RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3 Winner's Tour Is Sashaying Your Way!". LOGO Blog. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  11. ↑ Jethro Nededog (26 April 2011). "'RuPaul's Drag Race': Raja on her controversial win, 'I don't mind the criticism'". Zap2It. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Lyndsey Parker (17 February 2015). "7 Actually Great Singles By 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Contestants". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Dance Club Play Songs - Week of July 02, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  14. ↑ "Dance Club Play Songs - Week of July 30, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  15. ↑ Dan Avery (1 June 2013). "Raja Serves New Single, "Zubi Zubi Zubi": LISTEN". LOGO Blog. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  16. ↑ "Raja and Raven Star in New Web Series 'RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Photo RuView'". Drag Official. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  17. ↑ "Watch Raja Play A Psychedelic Space Queen In New Blondie Music Video". LOGO News. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  18. ↑ Rudolph, Christopher (18 December 2018). ""Drag Race" Season 3 Winner Raja Marries Husband In Surprise Wedding". NewNowNext. Viacom International. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  19. ↑ "Dance Songs: Top Dance Music Chart – August 6, 2011". Billboard. August 6, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2015. (subscription required)
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