Timothy K. Wilcots[1][2] (born February 12, 1972),[3][4] better known by the stage name Latrice Royale, is an American drag performer, recording artist, and reality television personality. She is best known for her appearances on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012 and on the first and fourth seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. She finished fourth on her original season; in its final episode, she was crowned Miss Congeniality. She placed fifth on the fourth season of All Stars.
Latrice Royale | |
---|---|
Born | Timothy K. Wilcots February 12, 1972 Torrance, California, U.S. |
Occupation | Drag performer |
Known for | |
Title | Miss Congeniality |
Predecessor | Yara Sofia |
Successor | Ivy Winters |
Spouse |
Christopher Hamblin (m. 2018) |
Awards | RuPaul's Drag Race: Miss Congeniality 2012 |
Website | latriceroyale |
Life and career
editWilcots 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.[4]
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]
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?"[8][9]
RuPaul's Drag Race Franchise
editRuPaul's Drag Race season 4
editIn May 2011, RuPaul's Drag Race, a drag competition produced as reality television, opened auditions for the show's fourth season;[10] 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. He ultimately placed fourth in the competition and was eliminated in the 11th episode, which aired on April 9, 2012. Viewers voted him Miss Congeniality, and he was crowned in the season finale.[11] 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] After winning a public fan vote, Royale was crowned as Miss Congeniality of season 4.[18]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 1
editAfter 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.[19] 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.[20] During their elimination, RuPaul told them, "Manila and Latrice, my brainy and courageous queens. I think I’m going to miss you the most. Now, sashay away."[21]
RuPaul's Drag U
editIn 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.[22]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 4
editIn November 2018, Royale was announced as a cast member for All Stars 4, joining fellow All Stars season 1 cast member Manila Luzon for their 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 Mo Heart, but was brought back into the competition during the LalapaRuza episode.[23] After her elimination she won episode seven and eliminated Valentina from the competition. In the subsequent episode, she was saved from elimination by Naomi Smalls. Royale was eliminated again in episode nine by Trinity the Tuck, ultimately placing fifth overall.[24]
RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular and RuPaul's Drag Race Live Untucked
editIn December 2018, Royale competed in the Drag Race television special RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular.[25] She appears in RuPaul's Drag Race Live Untucked (2024).
Other performances
editIn January 2014, Royale released her debut single "Weight", which was endorsed by Logo TV.[26] A remix EP was released in March that year.[27] Later that year 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."[28][29]
As of 2014, 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!"[30][31]
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.[32]
In March 2016, Royale released her EP, Here's to Life: Latrice Royale Live in the Studio.[33] In 2018 and 2019, Royale took Here's to Life on tour and performed her Shirley Horn-inspired act in cities across Canada and the United States.[34]
In April 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, Royale was announced as a featured cast member for the very first Digital Drag Fest, an online drag festival for all ages, with attendees given opportunities to interact with the artists, tip them, and win prizes during the broadcast.[35] In June 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine placed Royale tenth on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former RuPaul's Drag Race contestants.[36]
In September 2022, Latrice Royale will headline the Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival comedy lineup.[37]
Personal life
editIn 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 of his probation, and was sentenced to eighteen months in prison. After the passage of 2018 Florida Amendment 4, Wilcots regained his right to vote.[38]
Wilcots proposed to Christopher Hamblin in June 2016.[39] The couple were married in Atlanta, Georgia on September 29, 2018. Attendees included Drag Race alumni and other drag performers.[40]
Wilcots expresses interest in spirituality.[41]
Discography
editEPs
editTitle | Details |
---|---|
The Chop Remixes |
|
Weight Remixes |
|
Here's to Life: Latrice Royale Live in the Studio |
|
Singles
editTitle | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US Comedy Digital [42] | |||
"The Chop" (with Manila Luzon)[43] |
2012 | — | Non-album single |
"Weight (featuring Epiphany Mattel)" |
2014 | 13 | |
"Excuse the Beauty" (featuring Epiphany Mattel)[44] |
2018 | — |
Other appearances
editTitle | 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
editTelevision
editYear | 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 | |
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 | [19] |
2014 | Fashion Rocks | Herself | Television concert special | [28][29] |
2018 | RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular | Herself (Contestant) | Holiday Special | [25] |
2018–2021 | Drag Tots | Lady Liber-T | [45] | |
2020 | AJ and the Queen | Fabergé Legs | Guest appearance; also creative consultant | [46] |
Celebrity Family Feud | Herself | Guest contestant | [47] | |
2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars | Lady Liber-T from Drag Tots | Season 6, Episode: "Drag Tots" | |
2023 | Drag Me to Dinner | Herself | Hulu original | [48] |
2024 | We're Here | Herself | HBO Original | |
2024 | Everybody Still Hates Chris | Drag queen (voice) | Episode: "Everybody Still Hates Bullies" |
Music videos
editYear | Title | Artist | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | "Responsitrannity" | RuPaul | [49] |
2020 | "Always" | Waze & Odyssey | [50] |
2021 | "Friends in Low Places" | Ginger Minj | [51] |
Film
editYear | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | My Baby's Daddies | Shay | Short | |
2014 | South Beach on Heels | Herself | Documentary | [52] |
2015 | TupiniQueens | Herself | Documentary about Drag scene in Brazil | |
2015 | Gays in Prison | Herself (Host) | Documentary | |
2017 | Cherry Pop | Terry | [53] | |
Marabou | Marabou | Short | ||
2018 | A Queen for the People | Herself | Documentary about Bob the Drag Queen | |
2019 | Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts | Documentary about Trixie Mattel | [54] | |
2019 | Wig | Documentary | [52] | |
2021 | The Bitch Who Stole Christmas | The Spirit of Christmas | [55] | |
2023 | Remember It's Christmas | Gregory/Marjorie | Short |
Theatre
editYear | Title | Role | Theatre | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Death Drop | Summer Raines | Garrick Theatre | [56] |
2024 | Little Shop of Horrors | Audrey II | Ogunquit Playhouse |
Web series
editYear | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | My Baby's Daddies | Shay | Online short, Makeup effects artist | |
2013 | Ring My Bell | Herself | Guest, Episode: "Latrice Royale" | [57] |
2015, 2018 | Hey Qween! | Guest (2 episodes: "Latrice Royale" "DragCon L.A. 2018", ) | ||
2015 | Raja Drawja | Guest | [58] | |
2016 | Transformations | (Episode: Latrice Royale) | [59] | |
2018 | Drag Tots | Lady Liber-T (voice) | 8 episodes | [60] |
Pardon My French Food | Herself | Recurring | [61] | |
2019 | Werq The World | Featured Queen | [62] | |
2019-2020 | Hey Qween! Pride | Guest; 2 episodes | ||
2021 | The Pit Stop | Guest, Episode: "Trixie Mattel & Latrice Royale Kiki" | [63] | |
2022 | Out of the Closet | Guest, Episode: "Latrice Royale: Bold and Beautiful Drag" | [64] | |
2023 | Give It To Me Straight | Guest | [65] |
Awards and nominations
editYear | Award Giving Body | Category | Work | Results | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | The Queerties | Drag Royalty | Herself | Nominated | [66] |
2023 | Peabody Awards | Entertainment | We're Here | Won | [67] |
References
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- ^ "Timothy K Wilcots". Ancestry Institute. Ancestry. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Hagwood, Rod Stafford (28 Jan 2012). "Two local female impersonators compete on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ a b Moffo, Michael (August 20, 2013). "Latrice Royale & her Columbus Court". Quorum Columbus. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
- ^ Latrice Royale Official Website: About
- ^ Givens, Orie (April 25, 2012). "RPDR Season 4's Latrice Royale Whirls and Twirls On CBUS Stages". Outlook Columbus. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
- ^ https://theabbynormal.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/latrice-royale-is-a-queen-of-grace/ added 2/23/2019
- ^ "Exclusive Interview: Latrice Royale Talks 'Marriage' and Performing Her First Wedding". Drag Official. July 10, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
- ^ Robinson, Nicholas (July 12, 2013). "Celebrity drag queen Latrice Royale gets ordained, marries gay couple". Rolling Out. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
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- ^ "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.
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- ^ a b Avery, Dan (September 11, 2014). "Latrice Royale Tears Up CBS' Fashion Rocks With Jennifer Hudson". Logo. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
- ^ Keyes, Jeffrey James. "A Drag Race Christmas: Latrice Royale". Queerty. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
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- ^ Durham, Trevor. "BWW Reviews: MISTER ACT A Hilarious Spoof Done Right". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
- ^ Dalton, Paisley (15 March 2016). "Latrice Royale Gets Jazzy With It on Debut Album "Here's To Life"". World of Wonder. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- ^ "The gospel of truth according to Latrice Royale". Xtra. 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
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- ^ Rice, Lynette (May 1, 2023). "'Drag Me To Dinner': Hulu Announces Premiere Date For Unscripted Series From Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka". Deadline.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
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- ^ Selman, Chris. "Drag Race stars absolutely slay in raucous murder mystery Death Drop – review". Gay Times. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
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- ^ Raja Drawja with Latrice Royale - RuPaul's DragCon 2015. YouTube. June 5, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- ^ TRANSFORMATIONS: Latrice Royale & James St. James. YouTube. August 16, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
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- ^ Drag Queens try french "Andouillette" (w/ Latrice Royale, Kim Chi) | Pardon my french food #2 | VF. YouTube. July 15, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ Miller, Shannon (June 26, 2019). "Latrice Royale's opening act hits a speed bump in this exclusive Werq The World clip". AV Club. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ The Pit Stop S13 E2 | Trixie Mattel & Latrice Royale Kiki | RuPaul's Drag Race. YouTube. January 9, 2021.
- ^ Latrice Royale: Bold and Beautiful Drag | RuPaul's Drag Race | Out of the Closet. YouTube. June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
- ^ LATRICE ROYALE - "Give It To Me Straight" Ep21 - Hosted by Maddy Morphosis. YouTube. September 25, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
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