Sasha Velour

Sasha Velour won Season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2017 after delivering an iconic lip-sync performance to 'So Emotional' by Whitney Houston. During the performance, she famously pulled off her wig to reveal a cascade of red rose petals hidden underneath. This theatrical moment is widely considered one of the most memorable reveals in the show's history.

Beyond the show, Sasha Velour is highly regarded for her focus on art, theatrical illusion, and queer politics in drag. She produces and stars in 'Nightgowns,' a monthly drag revue in Brooklyn that was adapted into a docuseries on the Quibi platform. She also publishes a queer comic magazine called 'Velour: The Drag Magazine.'

Yes, Sasha Velour integrates burlesque aesthetics, striptease, and theatrical illusion into her contemporary drag performances. Her style often blurs the line between traditional drag and modern performance art. This approach was heavily featured in her highly visual one-person touring stage show, 'Smoke & Mirrors.'

Sasha Velour began performing drag while living in New York City, heavily influenced by her background in visual arts and literature. She was artistic director of 'Velour: The Drag Magazine' years before auditioning for television. She rose to international fame when her season of Drag Race aired on VH1 in 2017.