Jujubee (drag queen)
American drag queen, reality television personality, and recording artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Airline Inthyrath[1] (Lao: ແອລາຍ ອິນທິຣາດ; born June 21, 1984),[2] known by her stage name Jujubee, is an American drag queen, reality television personality, and recording artist from Lowell, Massachusetts.[3] She first rose to prominence in 2010 as a contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race,[3] and later returned to compete on the first and fifth seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, and the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022),[4] becoming one of the most popular queens from the franchise.[5] She has the unique distinction of being the only contestant to reach the finale of the competition four times. Additionally, she was a main cast member on the makeover television series RuPaul's Drag U (2010–2012), Dragnificent (2019–2020), and RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race (2022). In 2021, she competed in the first season of Paramount+ singing competition Queen of the Universe.
Jujubee | |
|---|---|
| ຈູຈູບີ | |
.jpg) Jujubee at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2022 | |
| Born | Airline Inthyrath June 21, 1984 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Education | University of Massachusetts, Amherst (BA) |
| Occupation(s) | Drag queen, reality television personality |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Known for | |
| Website | Official website |
Early life
Inthyrath was born to a Laotian Buddhist family in Boston, Massachusetts[6] and raised in both Fresno, California[7] and Lowell, Massachusetts.[8][3][9] Inthyrath's father died when she was 15 years old, the same year her mother abandoned her and his two sisters. Her drag mother is Boston performer Karisma Geneva-Jackson Tae.[10] She graduated from Lowell High School in Lowell, Massachusetts. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre arts from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.[11] She owns a cat, Priss.[12]
Career
Summarize
Perspective
2010–2018: RuPaul's Drag Race
Jujubee appeared on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race when she was 25, finishing in third place out of twelve. Jujubee, along with fellow season two contestants Tyra Sanchez, Raven, Pandora Boxx, and Morgan McMichaels served as drag professors on RuPaul's Drag U, a spin-off of Drag Race that premiered on the Logo network in June 2010.[13] She made at least one appearance on all three seasons of Drag U. She was also nominated for a 2010 NewNowNext Award for "Most Addictive Reality Star".[14][15]
On August 6, 2012, it was announced that Jujubee was one of twelve past Drag Race contestants selected to join the first cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, which premiered on the Logo network on October 22, 2012.[16] Paired with contestant Raven to form Team Rujubee the duo managed to make it to the finale which aired on November 26, 2012, where she landed in third/fourth place with fellow contestant Shannel.[17]
In 2014, an animated version of Jujubee appeared in the "RuPaul's Drag Race: Dragopolis 2.0" mobile app.[18] She was featured in a series of ads with Gilead to raise HIV/AIDS awareness.[19] She and Raven appeared as guests on "Snatch Game" during the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[20] She was a guest on the first episode of season 10 for the first mini-challenge.[21] She appeared in the music video for RuPaul's song "Jealous of My Boogie".[22] She later appeared in the music video "Queen" by Mimi Imfurst's band Xelle, along with other RuPaul's Drag Race contestants.[23] She was also in the video for Blair St. Clair's "Call My Life" in 2018.[24]
2019–2020: Dragnificent and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 5
She appeared with BeBe Zahara Benet, Thorgy Thor and Alexis Michelle in the TLC show Drag Me Down the Aisle, which premiered on March 9, 2019.[25] Jujubee appeared in the Netflix series AJ and the Queen starring RuPaul in 2020 as pageant contestant Lee St. Lee.[26]
On May 8, 2020, Jujubee was announced as one of the ten past Drag Race contestants selected to join the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, which premiered on VH1 on June 5, 2020.[4] She became the fourth queen, along with fellow All Stars 5 competitor Alexis Mateo, to compete on three different seasons of Drag Race, following Shangela, Latrice Royale, and Manila Luzon. She won her first ever main challenge in episode 3, after designing a signature hotel suite entitled "The Glamazone" alongside Mateo and India Ferrah. She would lose her first ever lip-sync later in the episode, falling in a lip sync for your legacy to Lizzo's "Juice" against the lip sync assassin Monét X Change. She went on to reach the top 3 of the season, becoming the first queen in Drag Race herstory to make it to the finale in three separate seasons.
2021–present: Queen of the Universe and RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs The World
In November 2021, Jujubee was announced as one of fourteen contestants on the debut season of Queen of the Universe, an international drag queen singing competition, and a spin-off of RuPaul's Drag Race.[27] She was eliminated in the second episode after singing Ariana Grande's "Into You".[28][29]
In January 2022, Jujubee was announced as one of the nine contestants to compete on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World,[30] becoming the very first Drag Race queen to compete on four separate seasons in the franchise.[31] After the show aired, Jujubee announced that it would likely be the last time she competes in a drag competition.[32]
In May 2022, she was the subject of a photoshoot entitled 'Best in Show' with Paper.[33]
She is among the most followed queens from Drag Race, and as of October 2021, has accumulated over 1.1 million Instagram followers.[5]
Queen of Hearts
In 2022, Jujubee began hosting a dating game show podcast titled Queen of Hearts.[34][35][36] The podcast is formatted as a blind-date game show with the help of Wondery and Amazon Music.[37][38] Each episode is hosted by Jujubee, who plays as a matchmaker for heartbroken individuals who are looking for love.[37][35][39][36] André Hereford of Metro Weekly wrote, "Episodes typically clock in at 35 minutes or less, with Jujubee guiding each eager contestant — folks of different genders and persuasions — to choose from three potential matches. Upon listening to a few episodes, one thing is undeniable: flirting and attraction come through really clearly in an audio-only format. Voices give everything away."[40] In Out, Bernardo Sim wrote, "In [Queen of Hearts], Juju will help people connect and potentially go on a date together – all without seeing each other. In each episode, Jujubee hosts a series of games and asks several questions to ensure that these contestants can find some chemistry between them."[41] The third season of Queen of Hearts began airing on June 20, 2023.[42]
Dungeons and Drag Queens
In June 2023, Jujubee took up the role of Twyla in the Dungeons & Dragons themed show Dungeons and Drag Queens, which was also the 18th season of the actual play anthology series Dimension 20 on Dropout.[43][44] Brennan Lee Mulligan serves as the Dungeon Master while Jujubee plays alongside fellow Queens Alaska Thunderfuck, Bob the Drag Queen, and Monét X Change.[43][45] In 2025, she reprised the role in the show's second season.[46]
Music
Jujubee released her debut extended play record, Good Juju: Vol. 1, on June 23, 2020.[47] The song "Don't Wanna Love" was performed on the first episode of All Stars 5. A sequel, Good Juju: Vol. 2, was released on July 21, 2020, with the lead single "Tonight or Forever" featuring fellow All Stars 5 contestant Blair St. Clair being released on July 14, 2020.[48][49]
In May 2022, Jujubee portrayed the voice of The Tigress in Alaska's Drag: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording), a studio recording of a planned stage production about two rival drag bars that go head-to-head while struggling through financial troubles.[50]
In April 2024, Jujubee announced via Instagram that a new collabrative single with fellow Drag Race contestant Trinity the Tuck was coming out April 26, 2024, titled "Til Death Becomes Us".[51]
Discography
Summarize
Perspective
| Jujubee discography | |
|---|---|
| EPs | 2 |
| Live albums | 1 |
| Compilation albums | 1 |
| Remix albums | 1 |
| Singles as lead artist | 11 |
| Singles as featured artist | 15 |
Remix albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Back for More |
Track listing
|
Compilation albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Good Juju: Vol. 1 & Vol. 2[52] |
Track listing
|
Live albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Good Juju: Live |
Track listing
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Good Juju: Vol. 1 |
Track listing
|
| Good Juju: Vol. 2 |
Track listing
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Album | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Don't Wanna Love" | 2020 | Good Juju: Vol. 1 | Aaron Aiken, Toni Ni Evans, Jujubee | Aaron Aiken | [53] |
| "Tonight or Forever" (featuring Blair St. Clair) |
Good Juju: Vol. 2 | Aiken, Jujubee | [54] | ||
| "Together Alone" | Non-album singles | Aiken, Jujubee, Lauren Evans | [55] | ||
| "I Used to Be Cool" (Remix) (with Bright Light Bright Light) |
2021 | Bright Light Bright Light | Bright Light Bright Light | [56] | |
| "Round and Round" (Bright Light Bright Light Remix) |
Aiken, Jujubee, Astyn Turrentine, Nikki Holguin | Aiken, Bright Light | [57] | ||
| "Don't Wanna Love" (live at EGO) |
Good Juju: Live | Aiken, Toni Ni Evans, Jujubee | Aiken | [58] | |
| "Life Sentence" (with Tony Ni) |
Love Terminator | Lisa Hickox, Megan Dervin-Ackerman, Toni Ni Evans | - | [59] | |
| "Bad Juju" (featuring Shea Couleé) |
Back for More | Aiken, Evans, Jujubee | Aiken | [60] | |
| "Back for More" | 2022 | [61] | |||
| "UBU" (with Jackie Lipson) |
2023 | Non-album singles | Jacqueline Rose Lipson, Matt Parad | Matt Parad | [62] |
| "Show Me the Money" (with Betty Bitschlap) |
Airline Inthryath, Anders Bilberg | Morten Kaerup | [63] |
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Album | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I'm in Love"[64] (with the Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Season 5) |
2020 | Non-album single | Thomas C. Campbell, Shea Couleé, Mariah Paris Balenciaga, Ongina, Blair St. Clair, Mayhem Miller, Miz Cracker, India Ferrah, Jujubee, Alexis Mateo, Freddy Scott, Leland | Freddy Scott, Leland | [65] |
| "Clap Back" (RuPaul featuring the Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Season 5) |
Thomas C. Campbell, RuPaul, Shea Couleé, Miz Cracker, Jujubee, Freddy Scott, Leland | [66] | |||
| "Eight Days of You" (Miz Cracker featuring Jujubee)[67] |
Miz Cracker, Jujubee | Danny Ross | [68] | ||
| "Cursed" (Tony Ni featuring Jujubee) |
2021 | Love Terminator | Lisa Hickox, Megan Dervin-Ackerman, Tony Ni Evans | - | [69] |
| "Living My Life in London (Cast Version)"[70] (RuPaul featuring the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World) |
2022 | Non-album single | Janey Jacké, Mo Heart, Jujubee, Blu Hydrangea, Baga Chipz, RuPaul | Jack Wilson, Lior Rosner | [71] |
| "Cathouse Fever" (Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Peppermint) |
Drag: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording) | Alaska Thunderfuck, Ash Gordon, Tomas Costanza | Tomas Costanza | [72] | |
| "Wigs" (Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Peppermint) |
[73] | ||||
| "She's Such a Bitch" (Alaska Thunderfuck, Divina de Campo, Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Lagoona Bloo, Monét X Change, Nick Adams, Peppermint) |
[74] | ||||
| "Welcome to the Catfish" (Bob the Drag Queen, Divina de Campo, Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Lagoona Bloo, Peppermint) |
[75] | ||||
| "Brendan Is His Name" (Jack Rodman, Jujubee, Divina de Campo, Peppermint, Lagoona Bloo, Ginger Minj) |
[76] | ||||
| "Get It Together" (Alaska Thunderfuck, Divina de Campo, Ginger Minj, Jack Rodman, Jujubee, Lagoona Bloo, Michelle Visage, Monét X Change, Nick Adams, Peppermint) |
[77] | ||||
| "The Big Opening" (The cast of Huluween Dragstravaganza) |
Huluween Dragstravaganza (Original Soundtrack) | Chantry Johnson, Michelle Zarlenga, Noah Davis | Chantry Johnson | [78] | |
| "The Next American Slasher" (Jujubee, Manila Luzon, Mo Heart) |
Austin Zudeck, Justin Thunstrom, Sofia Quinn, Stewart Taylor | Parkwild | [79] | ||
| "It's the End, Girlfriend" (The cast of Huluween Dragstravaganza) |
Fallon King, Lucky West, Noah Davis, Tony Ferrari | Lucky West | [80] | ||
| "Til Death Becomes Us"
(Trinity the Tuck featuring Jujubee) |
2024 | Sinematic | Drew Louis, Jayelle, Coen Hutton | Drew Louis | [81] |
Other appearances
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" | 2018 | Christmas Queens 4 |
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–2018 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Contestant | Season 2; 12 episodes (3rd place) | [3] |
| Herself | Guest; Season 10; Episode 1: "10s Across the Board" | [82] | ||
| 2010 | RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | Herself | Season 1; 10 episodes | [3] |
| 2010–2012 | RuPaul's Drag U | Herself | Mentor ("Drag Professor"); Season 1–3; 11 episodes | [13] |
| 2012–2020 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Contestant | Season 1; 6 episodes (3rd/4th place) | [16] |
| Herself | Guest; Season 2; Episode 2: "All Stars Snatch Game" | [20] | ||
| Contestant | Season 5; 8 episodes (Runner-up) | [4] | ||
| 2012–2020 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked | Herself | Season 1; 6 episodes | [83] |
| Season 2; 8 episodes | [83] | |||
| 2016 | Cocktails & Classics | Herself | 2 episodes | [84] |
| 2019–2020 | Dragnificent! | Herself | Mentor; 7 episodes, formerly known as Drag Me Down the Aisle | [25] |
| 2020 | AJ and the Queen | Lee St. Lee | Episode 10: "Dallas" | [85] |
| 2021 | Queen of the Universe | Contestant | Season 1; 1 episode (10th-14th place) | [27] |
| 2022 | RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World | Contestant | Series 1; 6 episodes (3rd place) | [30] |
| RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race | Herself | "Queen Supreme Mentor"; Season 2, 8 episodes | [86] | |
| Huluween Dragstravaganza | Herself | Hulu original | [87] |
- Drag House Rules (2025)
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Death Drop | Summer Raines | Criterion Theatre | [88] |
| Cinderella | Madame | North Shore Music Theatre | [89] | |
| 2023 | Death Drop: Back in the Habit | Sister Maria Julie Andrews | UK Tour | [90] |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Jealous of My Boogie | RuPaul |
| 2012 | Responsitrannity[91] | RuPaul |
| Queen | Xelle | |
| 2018 | Call My Life | Blair St. Clair |
| 2024 | 'Til Death Becomes Us[92] | Trinity the Tuck (feat. Jujubee) |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Fashion Photo RuView | Herself | Guest Co-Host | [93] |
| 2015 | Drag Queens React | Episode: "Drag Queens Reading Mean Comments" | [94] | |
| 2017 | Bestie$ for Ca$h | Guest, with Raven | [95] | |
| The Pandora Boxx Show | Guest, with Jasmine Masters | [96] | ||
| 2019 | Holiday Showdown | ExitFour production | ||
| 2020 | Love Hotline | Co-Host | [97] | |
| The Pit Stop | Guest | [98] | ||
| Whatcha Packin' | Guest | [99] | ||
| 2021 | I Like to Watch | Guest with Katya Zamolodchikova | [100] | |
| 2022 | Bring Back My Girls | Guest | [101] | |
| The Walk In | Guest, Amazon Music pride special | [102] | ||
| Tongue Thai'd | Guest | [103] | ||
| 2023, 2025 | Dimension 20: Dungeons and Drag Queens | Twyla | Main role; 10 episodes | [104][46] |
| 2023 | Dirty Laundry | Herself | Episode: "Who Came Out to Their High School Girlfriend Via Jesus Christ?" | [105] |
| 2024 | Drag Me to The Movies | Various | Produced by World of Wonder | [106][107] |
| 2024 | Monét's Slumber Party | Herself | Guest | [108] |
Podcasting
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Binge | Herself | Podcast by Entertainment Weekly | [109] |
| 2022 | Queen of Hearts | Main Host | [34][110] | |
| Hi Jinkx! with Jinkx Monsoon | Episode: "Jujubee" | [111] | ||
| Rich and Daily | Episode: "Jujubee is Our 'Queen of Hearts'" | [112] | ||
| Sydnee in the Sheets | Episode: "Good Juju" | [113] | ||
| Call Me Curious | Episode: "Are Drag Queens Doing More Than Performing?" | [114] | ||
| 2023 | Add To Cart (with Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak) |
Episode: "Lao Joy with Jujubee" | [115] | |
| Even the Rich | Episode: "RuPaul: Born Naked - That’s a Slay! with Jujubee & Mo Heart" | [116] | ||
| And That's What You REALLY Missed | Episode: "The Secret’s Out" | [117] |
Awards and nominations
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | New Now Next Awards | Most Addicting Reality Star | Herself | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Queerty Award | Drag Royalty | Nominated | [118] | |
| WOWIE Award | Best Viral Moment | Cast Reveal(s) | Nominated | [119][120] | |
| 2025 | Queerty Awards | Web Series | Dungeons and Drag Queens | Won | [121][122] |
| Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical | Drag: The Musical | Pending | [123] |
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.