Latrice Royale

Timothy Wilcots[1] (born February 12, 1972),[2][3] better known by the stage name Latrice Royale, is an American drag performer, recording artist, and reality television personality. He is best known for his appearances in season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012, and season 1 and season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. He finished fourth place in the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race; in the final episode of the season, he was crowned Miss Congeniality. He placed fifth in the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. In June 2019, New York magazine published the results from their panel of judges and writers which ranked her in the top twenty Drag Race superstars.[4]

Latrice Royale
Born
Timothy Wilcots

(1972-02-12) February 12, 1972
NationalityAmerican
OccupationDrag performer
Known for
Spouse(s)
Christopher Hamblin (m. 2018)
AwardsRuPaul's Drag Race: Miss Congeniality 2012
Websitelatriceroyale.com

Life and career

Wilcots was born in California and raised in Compton, a city in Greater Los Angeles.[5] While growing up, he did not have a relationship with his father.[3]

Royale's first foray into drag was dressing up as Wanda, a character from American sketch comedy show In Living Color, to amuse his friends. While in his twenties, in the mid-1990s, he performed in his first drag show: it was at the Copa Night Club in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[6] Her drag mother is Tiffany Arieagus.[7]

In May 2011, RuPaul's Drag Race, a drag competition produced as reality television, opened auditions for the show's fourth season;[8] acting on a dare, Wilcots submitted an audition video. His audition was accepted, and he was cast for the show; production began later that year. The fourth season premiered on January 30, 2012. Wilcots was eliminated from the competition in the 11th episode, which aired on April 9, 2012. Viewers voted him Miss Congeniality, and he was crowned in the season finale.[9]

After coming into the public eye, Wilcots was ordained as a minister. The first wedding that he performed was for his friend Daniel in upstate New York in 2013. Royale is a supporter of marriage equality, though he believes that it should not be called "gay marriage", stating, "It's a man and a man, and a woman and a woman getting married, and I think it is special and unique. So why not identify and celebrate it as something special and unique, and not lump it in with the same thing that has been going on for years?"[10][11]

RuPaul's Drag Race season 4

Latrice Royale competed as a "plus-size" queen.[12] He competed against twelve other queens, including Sharon Needles, Phi Phi O'Hara, Willam Belli, and Cher impersonator Chad Michaels.[13]

Royale made it into the top four—along with Needles, Michaels, and O'Hara—and won two challenges along the way, including when she acted in a mock sitcom in Queens Behind Bars. When Royale was cut from the competition, Entertainment Weekly called the elimination "shocking".[14] When he was eliminated, Royale said to show host RuPaul, "You have changed my life forever. You have changed the world of drag forever. I love you and respect you so much, and thank you for seeing something special in me. Thank you." Guest judges in attendance were Wynonna Judd and Rose McGowan; Royale's words brought tears to McGowan's eyes.[15][16]

Sharon Needles won the crown for season 4. In the season finale, it was announced that Royale would appear on RuPaul's Drag U, which aired later that year.[17]

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 1

Royale performing in June 2013

After RuPaul's Drag Race, Royale went on tour across the United States, performing at a number of different venues. When he had the opportunity to appear on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Royale had to cancel tour dates to appear in the show.[12]

For All Stars, Royale competed against Chad Michaels, Raven, Jujubee, Shannel, Alexis Mateo, Yara Sofia, Manila Luzon, Nina Flowers, Tammie Brown, Pandora Boxx, and Mimi Imfurst.[18] For the competition, the queens were paired together, which was a departure from the rest of the RuPaul competitions where everyone competed alone. Royale and Luzon both chose to be together, and as a team they won the first challenge of the season.

On the third episode of the season, after not performing well with the street-punking challenge, Luzon and Jujubee faced off in the lip syncing challenge to represent each of their teams. Jujubee was paired with Raven. In the end, Royale and Luzon were sent home.[19] About the two leaving, RuPaul told them, "Manila and Latrice, my brainy and courageous queens. I think I’m going to miss you the most. Now, sashay away."[20]

RuPaul's Drag U

In 2012, Royale joined the cast of RuPaul's Drag U for its third and final season. Other "professors" included: JuJubee, Manila Luzon, Raja, Raven, Shannel, Alexis Mateo, Mariah, Chad Michaels, Willam, Morgan McMichaels, Pandora Boxx, Delta Work and Sharon Needles.[21]

Other performances

In January 2014, Royale released his debut single "Weight", which was endorsed by Logo TV.[22] A remix EP was released in March that year.[23]

In September 2014, Royale introduced and then performed with Jennifer Hudson at the CBS Fashion Rocks charity fundraiser event. Hudson stated that working with Royale "Gave me life."[24][25]

Royale works at the Palace Bar in South Beach, Florida. Of working there, Royale stated, "I love this place NOT because I work there, but because it is the Ultimate Experience.. It’s outside right on the Beach. Beautiful People, Great Food/Drinks and the Drag Shows are amazing!"[26][27]

In 2016, Royale appeared alongside Peaches Christ and RuPaul's Drag Race alum Willam in Mister Act, an off-Broadway gender-flipped parody of the film Sister Act.[28]

In March 2016, Royale released her EP, Here's to Life: Latrice Royale Live in the Studio, produced by Electropoint.[29] In 2018 and 2019, Royale took Here's to Life on tour and performed her Shirley Horne-inspired act in cities across Canada and the United States.[30]

She competed in the Drag Race television special RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular.[31]

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 4

In November 2018, Royale was announced as a cast member for All Stars 4, joining fellow All Stars season 1 cast member Manila Luzon for his second All Stars competition; the pair are the first Drag Race alumni to compete on two All Stars seasons. They are also the second and third contestants to compete on three separate seasons of the show (excluding specials) following Shangela Laquifa Wadley. Royale was originally eliminated fourth, sent home by Monique Heart, but was brought back into the competition during the LalapaRuza episode.[32] After her elimination she won episode seven and eliminated Valentina from the competition. She was eliminated for good in episode nine by Trinity The Tuck, placing fifth.[33]

Personal life

In 2001, Wilcots was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on felony charges for carrying marijuana and Klonopin without a prescription. In 2006, he missed a mandatory probation meeting, violating the terms his probation, and was sentence to one year in prison. After the passage of 2018 Florida Amendment 4, Wilcots gained his right to vote again.[34]

Wilcots proposed to Christopher Hamblin in June 2016.[35] The couple were married in Atlanta, Georgia on September 29, 2018 (with Wilcots out of drag). Attendees included Drag Race alumni and other drag performers.[36]

Wilcots is a Christian.[37]

Discography

EPs

Title Details
The Chop Remixes
  • Released: December 26, 2012
  • Label: N/A
  • Formats: Digital download
Weight Remixes
  • Released: March 20, 2014
  • Label: LOMLPLEX
  • Formats: Digital download
Here's to Life: Latrice Royale Live in the Studio
  • Released: March 10, 2016
  • Label: LRI Talent & Management
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Comedy
Digital
[38]
"The Chop"
(with Manila Luzon)[39]
2012 Non-album single
"Weight
(featuring Epiphany Mattel)"
2014 13
"Excuse the Beauty"
(featuring Epiphany Mattel)[40]
2018

Other Appearances

Title Year Other Artist(s) Album
"Thick Thighs" 2015 Willam Belli Shartistry in Motion
"Oral" 2018 Willam Belli Now That's What I Call Drag Music, Vol. 1
"Don't Funk It Up" RuPaul, Gia Gunn, Manila Luzon, Valentina, Trinity The Tuck Non-album Single
"Robbed" 2019 Manila Luzon Rules!

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes References
2012-2016 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself (Contestant) Season 4: 4th Place; Guest Appearances in Seasons 5-8 [13]
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Herself Season 4
2012 RuPaul's Drag U Herself (Professor) 3 episodes [17]
2012, 2018-2019 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Herself (Contestant) Season 1: 7/8th Place; Season 4: 5th Place [18]
2014 Fashion Rocks Herself Television concert special [24][25]
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular Herself (Contestant) Holiday Special [31]
2020 AJ and the Queen Fabergé Legs Guest appearance; also creative consultant [41]
2020 Celebrity Family Feud Herself Guest contestant [42]

Music Videos

Year Title Artist Ref.
2012 "Responsitrannity" RuPaul [43]
2020 "Always" Waze & Odyssey [44]

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2014 South Beach on Heels Herself Documentary
2015 TupiniQueens Herself Documentary about Drag scene in Brazil
2015 Gays in Prison Herself (Host) Documentary
2017 Cherry Pop Terry
2018 A Queen For the People Herself Documentary about Bob the Drag Queen
2019 Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts Herself Documentary about Trixie Mattel

Webseries

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2009 My Baby's Daddies Shay Online short, Makeup effects artist
2013 Ring My Bell Herself Guest, Episode: "Latrice Royale" [45]
2015, 2018 Hey Qween! Herself Guest (2 episodes: "Latrice Royale" "DragCon L.A. 2018", )
2015 Raja Drawja Herself Guest [46]
2016 Transformations Herself (Episode: Latrice Royale)
2018 Drag Tots Lady Liber-T (voice) 8 episodes
2018 Pardon My French Food Herself Recurring [47]
2019 Werq The World Herself Featured Queen

Awards and nominations

Year Award Giving Body Category Work Results Ref.
2020 The Queerties Drag Royalty Herself Nominated [48]

References

  1. Dawson, Lamar (November 9, 2018). "Latrice Royale Reflects On Restoration of Voting Rights". Logo. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  2. Hagwood, Rod Stafford (28 Jan 2012). "Two local female impersonators compete on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  3. Moffo, Michael (August 20, 2013). "Latrice Royale & her Columbus Court". Quorum Columbus. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  4. The Editors (June 10, 2019). "The Most Powerful Drag Queens in America: Ranking the new establishment". New York. New York Media, LLC. Archived from the original on June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  5. Latrice Royale Official Website: About
  6. Givens, Orie (April 25, 2012). "RPDR Season 4's Latrice Royale Whirls and Twirls On CBUS Stages". Outlook Columbus. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  7. https://theabbynormal.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/latrice-royale-is-a-queen-of-grace/ added 2/23/2019
  8. "RuPaul's Drag Race now casting for season 4". TheGAVoice.com. Georgia Voice. May 11, 2011. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  9. "Logo's RuPaul's Drag Race Season Four Reunion Wins the Crown as Highest-Rated Episode This Season". The Futon Critic. May 2, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  10. "Exclusive Interview: Latrice Royale Talks 'Marriage' and Performing Her First Wedding". Drag Official. July 10, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  11. Robinson, Nicholas (July 12, 2013). "Celebrity drag queen Latrice Royale gets ordained, marries gay couple". Rolling Out. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  12. Hines, Emily Bartlett (December 27, 2012). "In anticipation of her New Year's Eve gig at Play, Latrice Royale talks girdles, gospel and goddesses". Nashville Scene Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  13. Johnson, Lisa (15 Nov 2011). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season Four Cast Revealed". BET. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  14. Stransky, Tanner (April 18, 2012). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' contestant Latrice Royale talks elimination, Sharon Needles, and what's next". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  15. "'RuPaul's Drag Race': Rose McGowan And Wynonna Judd Sit In On An Emotional Goodbye (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. December 10, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  16. Stransky, Tanner (April 9, 2012). "RuPaul's Drag Race shocker! A beloved queen is eliminated..." Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  17. "'RuPaul's Drag U': Latrice Royale Beauty Tips". Logo. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  18. Armbrister, Dey (August 6, 2012). "'RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race': Meet the Queens". New Now Next. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  19. Garvey, Georgia (November 2012). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Streetwalkers". Red Eye Chicago. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  20. Stransky, Tanner (November 5, 2012). "'RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars' episode 3: Did [spoiler] really deserve to go home?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  21. Robertson, Lindsay (14 May 2012). "And The 'RuPaul's Drag U' Season 3 Professors Are…". LOGO TV. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  22. Avery, Dan (January 15, 2014). "Latrice Royale Releases New Chunky-Yet-Funky Single, "Weight": LISTEN". New Now Next. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  23. Weight Remixes by Latrice Royale on iTunes, 2014-03-20, retrieved 2018-11-10
  24. Avery, Dan (September 25, 2014). "Jennifer Hudson: Performing With Latrice Royale "Gave Me Life"". New Now Next. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  25. Avery, Dan (September 11, 2014). "Latrice Royale Tears Up CBS' Fashion Rocks With Jennifer Hudson". Logo. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  26. Keyes, Jeffrey James. "A Drag Race Christmas: Latrice Royale". Queerty. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  27. "Latrice Royale". Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  28. Durham, Trevor. "BWW Reviews: MISTER ACT A Hilarious Spoof Done Right". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  29. Dalton, Paisley. "Latrice Royale Gets Jazzy With It on Debut Album "Here's To Life"". World of Wonder. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  30. "The gospel of truth according to Latrice Royale". Xtra. 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  31. "Kim Chi, Shangela, Trixie Mattel & More to Compete in 'RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  32. Blanton, Kayla (18 January 2019). "Latrice Royale's Return On 'All Stars' 4 Could've Been Ru's Plan All Along". Bustle. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  33. Swift, Andy; Swift, Andy (2019-02-09). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Recap: Was the Right Queen Carried Away?". TVLine. Retrieved 2019-02-09.
  34. Dawson, Lamar (9 November 2018). "Latrice Royale Reflects On Restoration of Voting Rights". NewNowNext. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  35. "Latrice Royale Proposes To Boyfriend On Stage In Seattle". LOGO News. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  36. Vu, Lily (October 3, 2018). "Drag Star Latrice Royale Got Hitched This Weekend!". DragStarUSA.com. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_mu0w0HAJ4
  38. "Latrice Royale - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  39. The Chop - Single by Manila Luzon & Latrice Royale, 2012-11-06, retrieved 2018-11-10
  40. Excuse the Beauty (feat. Epiphany Mattel) - Single by Latrice Royale, 2018-05-11, retrieved 2018-11-10
  41. Nolfi, Joey (2019-12-03). "RuPaul brings 22 Drag Race queens to costar on AJ and the Queen". EW.com. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  42. Rudolph, Christopher (May 28, 2020). "Team "RuPaul's Drag Race" Keeps It Fierce on "Celebrity Family Feud"". NewNowNext.com. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  43. RuTube (October 25, 2012), RuPaul Responsitrannity music video, retrieved May 29, 2020
  44. George Michael (May 21, 2020), Always (Drag Stars Official Video), retrieved May 21, 2020
  45. Latrice Royale - Ring My Bell. YouTube. May 30, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  46. Raja Drawja with Latrice Royale - RuPaul's DragCon 2015. YouTube. June 5, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  47. Drag Queens try french "Andouillette" (w/ Latrice Royale, Kim Chi) | Pardon my french food #2 | VF. YouTube. July 15, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  48. "'The 2020 Queerties". Cheat Sheet. February 28, 2020.
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