D.J. 'Shangela' Pierce

Biography

Shangela is the stage name of Chantaize Darius Jeremy Pierce, an American drag queen, actor, television producer and reality television personality. He introduced the persona in 2009 and took the California Entertainer of the Year title a year later. His breakthrough came on RuPaul's Drag Race, where he was the first queen voted off season two, came back for season three, and later returned to All Stars 3, ending in joint third and fourth place with Bebe Zahara Benet. On screen he has appeared in Community, Glee, Bones and Broad City, and in the films Hurricane Bianca (2016), its sequel Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate (2018) and A Star Is Born (2018). He co-hosted the HBO series We're Here from 2020 to 2024, which drew critical acclaim, and finished fourth on Dancing with the Stars in 2022. He has also released singles and founded the agency Say What Entertainment.

44years old

Turns 45 on November 22in 12 days

Born November 22, 1981Paris
Star sign: SagittariusFirst day of the sign, on the Scorpio cusp
Darius Jeremy Pierce (birth name)Also credited as Shangela and D.J. Pierce

Movie Career

Films: 4
Career span: 3 years2015 to 2018

Every film, newest first

2018Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with HateIMDb rating 4.8
2018RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay SpectacularIMDb rating 4.9
2016Hurricane BiancaIMDb rating 5.9
2015Kiss Me, Kill MeIMDb rating 4.9

Genres

Did you know?!

A first
Pierce made history at the 91st Academy Awards in 2019 as the first drag queen to appear on the Oscars red carpet in drag, representing A Star Is Born.
About the name
Shangela adopted the name after a friend on a telemarketing call spoke with a woman named Shangela, and developed the persona in January 2009.
A first
In 2010, Shangela took the top prize at the first California Entertainer of the Year pageant, while Chad Michaels was named first alternate.
A first
Shangela reached the finale of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars season three and was seen as a frontrunner, but the jury of previously eliminated queens gave her just one vote, from Thorgy Thor, and she was controversially eliminated. She tied third/fourth with Bebe Zahara Benet.
Behind the camera
Shangela served as creative director of the Werq the World tour while also performing in it alongside fellow Drag Race alumni.