Manila Luzon

Filipino-American drag performer (born 1981) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Manila Luzon

Karl Philip Michael Westerberg (born August 10, 1981), known professionally as Manila Luzon,[1] is a Filipino-American drag queen, reality television personality, recording artist, and comedian. Luzon came to international attention as a contestant on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race and on the first and fourth seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[2]

Quick Facts Born, Education ...
Manila Luzon
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Luzon at RuPaul's DragCon (2019)
Born
Karl Philip Michael Westerberg

(1981-08-10) 10 August 1981 (age 43)
EducationUniversity of Minnesota, Duluth (BFA)
Occupations
Spouse
Michael Alvarez
(m. 2017)
Partner(s)Antoine Ashley
(2006–2012; Ashley's death)
Comedy career
Genres
Subject(s)
Musical career
GenresPop
InstrumentVocals
Years active2011–present
Labels
Websitemanilaluzon.com
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Luzon has also contributed to the compilation album series Christmas Queens.[3][4]

Career

Summarize
Perspective

2011–2012: Breakthrough with RuPaul's Drag Race

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Manila performing in May 2014

With the success of RuPaul's Drag Race, Luzon auditioned for the third season of the reality series, and went on to appear in every episode until its finale. She lip-synced against Raja Gemini to "Champion (DJ BunJoe's Olympic Mix)" by RuPaul but lost the lip-sync and became the runner-up of the season.

The publicity generated by her participation in the show brought many new opportunities to perform at various national and international LGBT events throughout the United States and Canada, including New York Pride and Vancouver Pride. She has been active in AIDS awareness and activism. After being featured in a Gilead Sciences ad titled "Red Ribbon Runway" with fellow Drag Race co-stars Carmen Carrera, Delta Work, Shangela and Alexis Mateo,[5] the dress she was featured wearing was auctioned off by Logo TV in commemoration of World AIDS Day. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the National Association of People with AIDS.[6]

In 2011, Luzon, along with third season Drag Race contestants Carmen Carrera and Shangela, appeared in a television commercial for travel-related website Orbitz.[7] In addition to the commercial, she and Shangela also did an entertainment news segment for US Weekly where they discussed current male celebrities and reimagine them as drag queens.[8] In August 2012, NiniMomo, a Long Island-based company specializing in poseable fashion dolls, released a doll in Luzon's likeness and wearing the now famous pineapple dress she wore during her time on Drag Race. The doll, which was available via special order, marked the first time a Drag Race contestant has been immortalized as a doll.[9] Two years later, a couple of fans of Manila produced their very own 3D-printed Manila Luzon doll.[10]

On August 6, 2012, it was announced that Manila was one of twelve past Drag Race contestants selected to join the cast of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, which premiered on the Logo network on October 22, 2012.[11] Paired with contestant Latrice Royale to form Team Latrila, the duo was eliminated in the third episode of the series that aired on November 5, 2012, placing in joint 7th/8th place. Their elimination was one of many who led to widespread criticism of the first installment of All Stars. On October 12, 2012, Manila appeared on an episode of the MTV series Made where she mentored a young man in the art of drag, allowing him to explore his drag alter-ego as he prepared for New York City's Gay Pride March.[12] Prior to the airing of the season finale of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Manila (along with All Stars contestants Raven, Latrice Royale, and Tammie Brown) appeared in a television commercial for travel website Orbitz's new portal for LGBT leisure travel.[13] After the season, Luzon was a playable character with Pandora Boxx and Yara Sofia for the "RuPaul's Drag Race: Dragopolis" mobile app.[14]

2018–present: All Stars 4, debut album and upcoming projects

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Manila Luzon performing in July 2019

On November 9, 2018, it was announced that Manila would return to All Stars 4, alongside fellow All Stars 1 Team Latrila team-mate Latrice Royale, but this time would compete separately against each other rather than as a team.[15] Despite being one of the season's front-runners with three challenge wins, Manila was controversially eliminated by Naomi Smalls in the eighth episode of the season, which aired on February 1, 2019, ultimately placing sixth.[16] On November 16, 2018, indie musician VELO released the single "Where My Man At," featuring Luzon and Drag Race season 9 and season 10 contestant Eureka O'Hara.[17] The two also appear in the song's music video (together with Thorgy Thor, Ginger Minj and Trinity the Tuck).[18] She later appeared as a guest for the first challenge in the premiere of season 11 of Drag Race.[19] On February 1, 2019, Luzon released her single "Go Fish" alongside its music video. The video features fellow All Stars 4 contestant Naomi Smalls, Luzon's husband, and the Heathers, a prominent clique of Drag Race 3 contestants featuring Luzon, Raja, Delta Work, and Carmen Carrera. Following the buzz of her controversial departure in All Stars, the video received more than 300,000 views in less than 24 hours. Luzon made a guest appearance on General Hospital in late summer 2019.[20] In June 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine placed her 19th on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former Drag Race contestants.[21]

Luzon is the host and head judge of the Amazon Prime Video Filipino reality competition series Drag Den, taking on the role of 'Drag Lord'.[22] Since its debut in December 2022, two seasons of Drag Den have aired.[23] Luzon also serves as an executive producer of the series.[24]

Personal life

Westerberg took his drag name from the capital city (Manila) and the largest island (Luzon) of the Philippines, where his mother was born.[25] His father is American.[26] Westerberg grew up in Cottage Grove, Minnesota and resides in Los Angeles, but he also considers New York City home.[27] A longtime resident of Manhattan, Westerberg resided in Harlem with his boyfriend at the time, Antoine Ashley (Sahara Davenport), who Luzon began dating in 2007[28] and was a contestant on the second season of Drag Race.[29] Ashley later died of heart failure at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on October 1, 2012.[30] Westerberg studied graphic design at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.[31]

As of 2013, Westerberg resides in Los Angeles, California where he moved shortly after Ashley's death.[32] In November 2016, Westerberg proposed to his boyfriend Michael Alvarez, also known as Mic J Rez.[33] On December 24, 2017, the couple wed at the Silver Bells Wedding Chapel, with an Elvis impersonator as the officiant.[34]

Discography

Studio album

More information Title, Details ...
Title Details Peak chart positions
US Comedy
[35]
Rules! 3
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Mixtapes

More information Title, Details ...
Title Details
Eternal Queen
  • Released: October 1, 2014
  • Label: Lomplex
  • Formats: Digital download
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Remix extended plays

More information Title, Details ...
Title Details
Hot Couture (Remixes)
  • Released: April 24, 2012
  • Label: Karl Westerberg
  • Formats: Digital download
Best Xxxcessory: The Remixxxes
  • Released: October 22, 2012
  • Label: Manila Luzon
  • Formats: Digital download
The Chop Remixes
  • Released: December 26, 2012
  • Label: Manila Luzon
  • Formats: Digital download
Bring It!, Remixes, Pt. 1
  • Released: January 17, 2014
  • Label: JRED Music
  • Formats: Digital download
Helen Keller
  • Released: January 28, 2014
  • Label: Peace Bisquit
  • Formats: Digital download
Bring It!, Remixes, Pt. 2
  • Released: March 14, 2014
  • Label: JRED Music
  • Formats: Digital download
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Singles

More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Comedy
Digital
[36]
"Hot Couture" 2011 Non-album singles
"Best XXXcessory" 2012
"The Chop"
(featuring Latrice Royale)
"Bring It!"
(featuring Jinkx Monsoon)
2013
"Helen Keller"
(with Cazwell, featuring Roxy & Richie Beretta)
2014
"Ice Cream"
(featuring Andre Xcellence!)
2015
"Ovahness"
2016
"That's a Man Maury"
(featuring Willam)
2017
"Go Fish" 2019 3 Rules
"Barbra, Can You Hear Me"
(with Cazwell)
"Hella Horny" Non-album single
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More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Album
"Bitch I'm a Bottom"
(Pablo Hernandez featuring Manila Luzon)
2015 Non-album singles
"Don't Funk it Up"
(with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, season 4)
2018
"My Pussy is Like a Peach" (Christmas Remix)
(Choriza May featuring Manila Luzon)
2021
"The Big Opening"
(Ginger Minj and Monét X Change featuring the cast of Huluween Dragstravaganza)
2022
"She"
(Velo featuring Manila Luzon)
"Trinity Ruins Christmas"
(Trinity the Tuck featuring Manila Luzon)
2023 Trinity Ruins Christmas: The Musical
"Good Enough"
(Trinity the Tuck featuring Manila Luzon)
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Other appearances

More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Other Artist(s) Album
"Lady Marmalade" 2014 Raja, Delta Work and Carmen Carrera (as The Heathers) Non-album singles
"Bitch I'm a Bottom" 2015 Pablo Hernandez
"Slay Bells" N/A Christmas Queens
"Working Holiday" 2016 Alaska Thunderfuck Christmas Queens 2
"Click (Manila Mix)" 2017 Tom Goss Click
"We Three Queens" Alaska Thunderfuck, Peppermint Christmas Queens 3
"Purong Pinay" 2018 Jiggly Caliente T.H.O.T. Process
"Don't Funk It Up" RuPaul, Gia Gunn, Latrice Royale, Valentina, Trinity the Tuck Non-album single
"The Kitty Girl County Spelling Bee (Interlude)" 2019 Nina West, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo Drag Is Magic
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Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
2018 Justice League : A Gay XXX Parody[37] Wonder Woman Porn parody
2018 The Cocoa Fondue Show Mulan Rouge Short Film
2019 The Queens[38] Herself Documentary
2021 The Bitch Who Stole Christmas[39] Mother
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2011 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself/Contestant Runner-up
2011 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
2011–2012 RuPaul's Drag U Himself/Professor Recurring
2012 The Real Housewives of New York City Herself Season 5, episode 2
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Herself (contestant) Season 1: 7/8th place
2015–2019 EastSiders Amanda 6 episodes
2016 Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul Herself 1 episode
2017 Ya Killin' Me Dr. Delicious
2018 The Trixie & Katya Show Herself 4 episodes
2018 America's Next Top Model Herself 1 episode
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 10) Herself Guest – Episode 1 [40]
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Herself (contestant) Season 4: 6th
2019 General Hospital Bingo Host [41]
2020 AJ and the Queen Drag Queen Season 1, episode 1: "New York City" [42]
2021 Celebrity Karaoke Club: Drag Edition Himself/Contestant [43]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 6) Herself "Lip-Sync Assassin", episode 6
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked (season 3)
Rated Korina Guest appearance
2022 Drag Race España (season 2) Herself Guest appearance, episode 10
We Baby Bears Gouda Voice role, episode 26
Huluween Dragstravaganza Herself Hulu special [44]
Drag Den Herself Main Host [45]
2023 57th Annual CMT Music Awards Herself Performer with Kelsea Ballerini, Jan Sport, Kennedy Davenport & Olivia Lux [46]
Celebrity Family Feud Herself Guest [47]
Drag Me to Dinner Herself Hulu original [48]
2024 Drag Den (season 2) Herself Main Host [49]
Open to It Rita Manuel Episode: "Open to Dirty Talk"
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Music videos

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Artist Ref.
2011 "Champion" RuPaul [50]
"Go Off" Sahara Davenport [51]
2013 "Woman's World" (Remix) Cher [52]
2015 "I Still Love You" Jennifer Hudson [53]
2016 "Around The World" Kings of Leon [54]
"Purse First" Bob The Drag Queen [55]
2018 "Tried & True" Chester Lockhart [56]
"Oops I Think I Pooped" Pandora Boxx [57]
"Call My Life" Blair St. Clair [58]
2019 "Scores" Kahanna Montrese [59]
2020 "Nerves of Steel" Erasure [60]
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Web

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2013 Transformations Herself Guest [61]
Ring My Bell Guest [62]
RuPaul Drives Episode: "RuPaul Drives... Manila Luzon" [63]
2014 WOWPresents Shopping Network Guest, Episode: "Born Naked" [64]
Once Upon a Crime Snow White Episode 5: "Cinderella vs. Snow White” [65]
2014-2021 Hey Qween! Herself Guest; 3 episodes
2014–2019 Fashion Photo RuView Recurring guest co-host [66]
2017–2023 The Pit Stop Recurring guest (season 11 host) [67][68][69]
2018 Feelin' Fruity Guest [70]
Out of the Closet [71]
2019 Iconic [72]
Reading Queens [73]
2020 Supbruh [74]
2024 Very Delta [75]
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Awards and nominations

More information Award ceremony, Year ...
Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Asian Academy Creative Awards 2023 Best Entertainment Host[a] Drag Den Won [76]
Asian Television Awards 2023 Best Entertainment Presenter or Host Won [77]
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See also

Footnotes

  1. The series won both categories, National Winners and Grand Final Winners for the Philippines, awarded by the Asian Academy Creative Awards.

References

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