Naomi Smalls

Naomi Smalls is the stage name of American drag queen Davis Heppenstall (born September 8, 1993),[1] best known as the runner-up on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, and competing on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 4.[2]

Naomi Smalls
Smalls at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2018
Born
Davis Heppenstall

(1993-09-08) September 8, 1993
Redlands, California, U.S.
OccupationDrag queen
Height1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)

Early life

Heppenstall was born in Redlands, California,[3] and was later adopted.[4]

Career
Naomi Smalls in 2017

The name Naomi Smalls comes from supermodel Naomi Campbell and rapper Biggie Smalls.[5][6]

RuPaul's Drag Race

Smalls was announced as one of twelve contestants for the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race on February 1, 2016.[7] She was in the bottom two in the fifth episode where she played Tiffany Pollard for the annual "Snatch Game" competition. She lip synced to "Causing a Commotion" by Madonna against Acid Betty and won.[8] She won the sewing challenge the following episode, where she designed an outfit for one of the Little Women: LA cast members.[9] She reached the final three in the season, but lost to Bob the Drag Queen, and tied with Kim Chi for runner-up.[10][11][12]

On November 8, 2018, it was announced that Smalls would be returning to compete in the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[13] She was in the bottom for the roast of Lady Bunny but won against Gia Gunn in a Lipsync in the "LaLaPaRuZa" to keep her place.[14] She was in the bottom the following episode, but was saved by Latrice Royale. She won the makeover challenge, becoming the first ever queen to win two makeover challenges, and the only one to only win the makeover challenge on each of her seasons, but she controversially eliminated front-runner Manila Luzon from the competition.[15][16] Smalls reached the final, and finished as the Runner up with Monique Heart.[2] She became the first Drag Race contestant to finish as Runner up to both of her seasons since Raven.

After Drag Race

Outside of Drag Race, Smalls was a co-host with Kim Chi for the WoWPresents internet series M.U.G. where they critique queens makeup looks.[17] She makes recurring appearances on the internet series "Fashion Photo Ruview" filling in for Raja or Raven.[18]

Smalls did an interview with Cardi B for Cosmopolitan in February 2018.[19][20]

She started her own YouTube series, Small's World, where she documents her life touring across the country.[21] The first episode premiered on February 16, 2018.[22]

In September 2019, at RuPaul’s DragCon NYC, Smalls was named as one of a rotating cast of a dozen Drag Race queens in RuPaul's Drag Race Live!, a Las Vegas show residency from January to August 2020 at the Flamingo Las Vegas.[23] The show will feature RuPaul’s music and seven of the twelve queens: Smalls, Aquaria (winner of season ten), Asia O'Hara (season ten), Coco Montrese (season five, All Stars season two), Derrick Barry (season eight), Eureka O'Hara (season nine and ten), India Ferrah (season three), Kahanna Montrese (season eleven), Kameron Michaels (season ten), Kim Chi (season eight), Yvie Oddly (winner of season eleven), and Shannel (season one, All Stars one).[23]

Music

Smalls released a music video for her first single, "Pose", on December 16, 2018.[24]

She also appeared in Manila Luzon’s music video for "Go Fish".[25]

Personal life

Heppenstall has eleven brothers and sisters.[26] Many of his siblings including himself are adoptees.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2018 A Queen for the People Herself Documentary by Bob the Drag Queen

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself Contestant (Runner-Up)
2016–2017 Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul Guest
2018–2019 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Contestant (3rd/4th Place)

Music videos
Year Title Artist
2018 Pose Herself
2019 Go Fish Manila Luzon

Web series
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Herself Season 8 [27]
2017 Fashion Photo Ruview Guest Host [28]
2017-18 M.U.G. Co-Host [29]
2018 Small's World Host [30]
2018 Sibling Rivalry Guest, Episode 10
2018 Call Me Coulee Cameo [31]
2019 Whatcha Packin' Guest [32]
2019 Runway Rewind Guest, hosted by Violet Chachki [33]
2020 Werq The World Featured Queen [34]

Discography

Singles
Year Title
2019 "Pose"

References
  1. "Naomi's 'Drag Race' behind-the-scenes tour". Washington Blade: Gay News, Politics, LGBT Rights. 2016-06-08. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  2. "Op-Ed: Naomi Smalls Is the True Winner of 'All Stars 4'". www.out.com. 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
  3. "TV: Redlands drag queen a finalist on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Press Enterprise. 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  4. "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Snatch Me If You Can". Vulture. 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  5. Stapelton, John Paul (May 12, 2016). "Naomi Smalls brings her fashionable look and is said to be one of the best fashion queens to enter the world of drag as well as the best from Boston. grooves to Boston". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  6. Nwadiogbu, Ngozi (May 9, 2018). "Drag Heroine, Naomi Smalls, Like You've Never Seen Her Before". Interview Magazine. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  7. "The Cast Of "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 8 Will Be Announced At New Now Next Honors". LOGO News. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  8. "The real Acid Betty: Everything the 'RuPaul's Drag Race' cameras didn't show". Screener. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  9. Sava, Oliver. "RuPaul's Drag Race journeys to Oz for a wonderful makeover challenge". TV Club. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  10. "And the Winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 8 Is …". Us Weekly. 2016-05-17. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  11. Mason, Charlie (2016-05-17). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 Finale Recap: And the Winner Is [Spoiler]!". TVLine. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  12. "RuPaul's Drag Race crowns its eighth Next Drag Superstar – HOTCHKA". hotchka.com. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  13. "Exclusive: Meet the 'RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars 4' cast". EW.com. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  14. "Bow Down, Bitches: Naomi Smalls Just Proved She's No Underdog". www.out.com. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  15. Guerra, Joey (2019-02-18). "'Drag Race' diva Naomi Smalls on that Judy Garland lip sync, chopping Manila Luzon and what's next". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  16. "'Drag Race' Star Naomi Smalls Talks Surviving Social Media Backlash: 'I Have the Thickest Skin Ever'". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  17. "M.U.G. with Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls". WOW Presents Plus. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  18. WOWPresents (2017-05-03), FASHION PHOTO RUVIEW: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 Episode 6 "Kimono She Better Don't", retrieved 2018-08-26
  19. "Watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Naomi Smalls Interview Cardi B About High School, Success & More". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  20. "This interview with Drag Race's Naomi Smalls and Cardi B is a gift". A.Side. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  21. "Drag heroine Naomi Smalls, like you've never seen her before - Interview Magazine". Interview Magazine. 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  22. Naomi Smalls (2018-02-16), Small's World Episode 1: Pilot, retrieved 2018-08-26
  23. Ramos, Dino-Ray (September 7, 2019). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Sets Live Show In Las Vegas". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
  24. Naomi Smalls, Pose - Naomi Smalls (Official Video), retrieved 2018-12-16
  25. Daw, Stephen (February 2, 2019). "Manila Luzon Enlists Naomi Smalls For Campy 'Go Fish' Music Video: Watch". Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  26. "15 Drag Queens Who Are Hotter Than You". TheTalko. 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  27. Untucked: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 - Episode 1 "Keeping It 100!". YouTube. March 8, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  28. FASHION PHOTO RUVIEW: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 Episode 6 "Kimono She Better Don't". YouTube. May 3, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  29. M.U.G. with Naomi Smalls and Kim Chi - Get Ready with Them!. YouTube. March 5, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  30. Small's World Episode 1: Pilot. YouTube. February 16, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  31. Shea Couleé - Call Me Couleé: Episode 1. YouTube. April 20, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  32. Whatcha Packin’: Naomi Smalls | RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4. YouTube. February 16, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  33. VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW 2003 FT. NAOMI SMALLS | Violet Chachki's Runway Rewind. YouTube. July 5, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  34. Dino-Ray Ramos (May 19, 2020). "World Of Wonder Sets U.S. Premiere Dates For 'How's Your Head, Hun?', 'Canada's Drag Race' And Return Of 'Werq The World'". Deadline.com. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.