Laganja Estranja
Laganja Estranja is an American c*ographer and drag queen based in Los Angeles. Laganja competed on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, finishing in eighth place. Laganja came out as transgender in 2021.
Contents
- 1 Early life
- 2 Career
- 2.1 Drag
- 2.2 Music
- 2.3 Cannabis advocacy
- 2.4 Dance
- 3 Personal life
- 4 Discography
- 4.1 Singles
- 4.1.1 As lead artist
- 4.1.2 As featured artist
- 4.2 Guest appearances
- 4.1 Singles
- 5 Filmography
- 5.1 Film
- 5.2 Television
- 5.3 Music videos
- 5.4 Music video appearances
- 5.5 Web series
- 6 References
- 7 External links
Early life
Laganja Estranja was raised in Dallas, Texas and attended the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She obtained a BFA in dance from the California Ins*ute of the Arts.
Career
Drag
Laganja Estranja's drag debut was at Micky's West Hollywood on November 7, 2011. After winning the Amateur Compe*ion, Laganja became an official "Showgirl" with a monthly gig at Micky's. Laganja went on to win "Queen of Queens" at 340 Nightclub in Pomona, CA and "Best Newcomer" in West Hollywood.
In April 2013, Laganja Estranja auditioned for RuPaul's Drag Race. She was accepted in the show, and filmed in the summer of 2013. In 2014, the sixth season of drag-oriented reality compe*ion RuPaul's Drag Race aired on LogoTV. Laganja performed moderately well on the show, winning a challenge when she was partnered with the eventual runner-up, Adore Delano. Laganja was eliminated in the eighth episode of the season, placing her in a small category of contestants in the show's history who were eliminated the week after winning a challenge. At the outset of the show, Laganja received quite a lot of attention on social media for her now-iconic entrance. During the show, Laganja became infamous for her over-the-top dramatics, catchphrases, and emotional breakdowns. Eventual winner Bianca Del Rio credited Laganja as the root of every memorable quote from the following season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Laganja's mannerisms have since been parodied by fellow drag queens, including Alaska Thunder*.
Laganja Estranja is the drag daughter of Alyssa Edwards, and the drag sister of Shangela and Plastique Tiara —all of whom competed on RuPaul's Drag Race, Edwards appearing on season 5 and season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, Shangela appearing on season 2 and 3 and All Stars season 3, and Tiara on season 11. Under the moniker of the Haus of Edwards, they have internationally toured and performed together on multiple occasions, most notably at the pre-show warm-up for the finale episode of the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Laganja currently hosts her own web show on the drag-centric platform World of Wonder, the same production company behind RuPaul's Drag Race, RuPaul's DragCon LA, and RuPaul's DragCon NYC.
Laganja appeared as a Lip-Sync **in in the third episode of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 6, winning the lip-sync against fellow season 6 contestant, Trinity K. Bonet.
She was a featured performer during Jennifer Lopez's performance at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Music
In 2014, Laganja contributed vocals to a cover of RuPaul's "Jealous of My Boogie", for the album RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz. Throughout 2014, Laganja was featured on three singles, contributing a rap verse to each song. In 2015, she released her debut single as a lead artist, *led "Legs", which featured American rapper Rye Rye. In June 2015, "Legs" was rated as the third best song by a RuPaul's Drag Race contestant by Pitchfork Media. In June 2015, Laganja was featured on fellow RuPaul's Drag Race star, Alaska Thunder*'s debut album, *, on the track "Gimme All Your Money".
In 2016, she released both her third single "Tease 4U" and a Christmas Album with the Haus of Edwards. Her single on the album is en*led "Green *mas," and the video featured exotic dancer Candace Cane. In September 2018, she released her fourth single "Look At Me" featuring J. Tyler, and an accompanying video. The video took a stance against arrests for * possession. In November 2018, she released a lyric video for her fifth single "Smoke Break."
Cannabis advocacy
As a cannabis rights activist, Laganja has hosted conversations on cannabis legalization at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and at Impulse in San Francisco. She has also been featured twice in High Times Magazine as well as on the cover of Dope Magazine, making her the first LGBTQ+ advocate on the cover of a cannabis magazine. In 2014, Laganja launched a collection of *-themed merchandise including a jewelry line named Laganja Estranja Is My Enemy. Laganja has also collaborated with Blunted Objects on a *-themed statement necklace.
In September 2018, Laganja was interviewed by Civilized Magazine about her music video for Look at Me that “slammed” the war on drugs. The interview by Civilized — a magazine reported to be for the millions of adults who choose to enjoy cannabis recreationally — covered a number of aspects behind the imagery of Laganja's music video. Leafly, the world's largest cannabis information site, featured Laganja on its in-house podcast in January 2019. The podcast, The Hash, explored, alongside Laganja, topics like *phobia in the cannabis industry and what it's like to often be the only queer person in a room.
The Laganja Estranja lifestyle brand includes a collaboration preroll joint with San Francisco's The Hepburns, called "LAhepburns." Laganja also partnered with FRUIT SLABS, a company making cannabis infused, vegan, real-fruit squares for their 2019 PRIDE collection. Laganja worked with FRUIT SLABS to create a one-of-a-kind flavor to be offered for a limited time.
Dance
Graduating from The California Ins*ute of the Arts in 2011 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance and c*ography, Laganja is a skilled c*ographer, teacher, and dancer. A Presidential Scholar in The Arts, Laganja performed her original work “not today” at the Kennedy Center in 2007. Laganja is also a YoungArts Silver Winner and returns every year to the program to mentor high school students in Miami, Florida. Laganja's c*ography credits include Germany's Next Top Model, NYC Cosmetics FACE Awards, and for commercial artists such as Miley Cyrus and Brooke Candy.
In mid-2017, Laganja led a dance theatre project on gender expression with artists across Europe *embling in Nottingham, UK for a four-day workshop and showcase exploring the boundaries of gender iden*y. “GER” was in collaboration with Backlit Gallery, Kitty Tray, and Nottingham Contemporary. In the fall of 2018, Laganja elaborated on this idea of gender expression with her dance residency at YoungArts. The immersive experience included live vocals, original compositions, and curated set design. In late-2018, Laganja was partnered with the Pérez Art Museum Miami (Pamm) to present the art of drag for a one-day Poplife Social YoungArts Takeover. The event at the world-renowned art museum included an invitation from Laganja herself, “Onto Pamm’s terrace to warm up their dance muscles, ‘sissy that walk’ across the space and participate in a fan dance inspired by traditional *anese performance.”
In 2016, Laganja's Dance School, an international high-heels mastercl* and confidence workshop, was founded with partner Kristen Lovell. The master cl* has been held in dozens of cities in the United States and as an international experience, has traveled to Manchester, Nottingham, London, Newcastle, Dublin, Lima, Mexico City, and Amsterdam. Laganja's Dance School is held weekly at The Ba*t Center of NoHo in North Hollywood, and a beginning Heels Technique cl* is held at Downtown Dance and Movement in Downtown Los Angeles. In 2019, the do*entary Laganja's Dance School was released. The do*entary was directed by Selene Kapsaski and chronicles Laganja Estranja teaching a dance cl* in London.
Personal life
Laganja spoke out against Donald Trump while the latter was running for president of the United States, and is committed to continuing to use her platform for social change. In 2021, she came out as a transgender woman.
Discography
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
Guest appearances
Filmography
Film
Television
Music videos
Music video appearances
Web series
References
External links
- Official website
- Acid Betty
- Adore Delano
- Aiden Zhane
- Aja
- A'keria C. Davenport
- Alexis Mateo
- Alexis Michelle
- Alyssa Edwards
- April Carrión
- Asia O'Hara
- BenDeLaCreme
- Blair St. Clair
- Bosco
- Brita
- Brooke Lynn Hytes
- Carmen Carrera
- Charlie Hides
- Chi Chi DeVayne
- Coco Montrese
- Courtney Act
- Crystal Methyd
- Cynthia Lee Fontaine
- Dahlia Sin
- Darienne Lake
- Delta Work
- Denali
- Derrick Barry
- Detox
- Elliott with 2 Ts
- Eureka
- Farrah Moan
- Gia Gunn
- Gigi Goode
- Ginger Minj
- Gottmik
- Heidi N Closet
- Honey Davenport
- Honey Mahogany
- India Ferrah
- Ivy Winters
- Jackie Cox
- Jade Jolie
- Jan
- Jasmine Kennedie
- Jasmine Masters
- Jaymes Mansfield
- Jessica Wild
- Jiggly Caliente
- Joey Jay
- Joslyn Fox
- Jujubee
- Kahanna Montrese
- Kahmora Hall
- Kameron Michaels
- Kandy Muse
- Katya
- Kelly Mantle
- Kennedy Davenport
- Kerri Colby
- Kim Chi
- Kimora Blac
- Kornbread Jeté
- Lady Camden
- Laganja Estranja
- LaLa Ri
- Latrice Royale
- Maddy Morphosis
- Manila Luzon
- Mariah Paris Balenciaga
- Mayhem Miller
- Milk
- Mimi Imfurst
- Miss Fame
- Miz Cracker
- Monica Beverly Hillz
- Mo Heart
- Morgan McMichaels
- Mrs. Kasha Davis
- Naomi Smalls
- Nicky Doll
- Nina Bo'nina Brown
- Nina Flowers
- Nina West
- Olivia Lux
- Ongina
- Pandora Boxx
- Pearl
- Peppermint
- Phi Phi O'Hara
- Ra'Jah O'Hara
- Raven
- Robbie Turner
- Rock M. Sakura
- Rosé
- Ro*y Andrews
- Sahara Davenport
- Scarlet Envy
- Serena ChaCha
- Shangela
- Shannel
- Sherry Pie
- Shuga Cain
- Silky Nutmeg Ganache
- Soju
- Tamisha Iman
- Tammie Brown
- Tatianna
- Tempest DuJour
- Tina Burner
- Thorgy Thor
- Trinity K. Bonet
- Utica Queen
- Valentina
- Vanessa Vanjie Mateo
- Venus D-Lite
- Victoria "Porkchop" Parker
- The Vixen
- Widow Von'Du
- Willam
- Yara Sofia
- Yuhua Hamasaki
- Episodes
- Episodes
- Episodes
Kingdom
- A'Whora
- Asttina Mandella
- Baga Chipz
- Bimini Bon-Boulash
- Charity Kase
- Cheryl Hole
- Cherry Valentine
- Choriza May
- Crystal
- Divina de Campo
- Ella Vaday
- Ellie Diamond
- Ginny Lemon
- Joe Black
- Kitty Scott-Claus
- Scaredy Kat
- Scarlett Harlett
- Sister Sister
- Sum Ting Wong
- Tayce
- Tia Kofi
- Vanity Milan
- Veronica Green
- Victoria Scone
- Vinegar Strokes
- Episodes
- "The RuRuvision Song Contest"
- Frock Destroyers
- Frock4Life
- God Shave the Queens
- France
- Italy
- Elecktra Bionic
- Enorma Jean
- Philippines
- Sweden
- Category