The Vivienne
The Vivienne atRuPaul's DragCon LA, 2022
Born	James Lee Williams (1992-04-12)12 April 1992 Colwyn Bay, Wales
Died	5 January 2025(2025-01-05) (aged 32) Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, England
Occupations	Drag queen singer television personality
Years active	2015–2025
Television	RuPaul's Drag Race UK RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Dancing on Ice
Spouse	David Ludford ​ ​ (m. 2019; div. 2023)​

James Lee Williams (12 April 1992 – 5 January 2025), known professionally asThe Vivienne, was a Welshdrag queen known for winning thefirst series ofRuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019. They later competed in theseventh season ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2022 and became the first drag performer to compete onDancing on Ice, placing third in thefifteenth series in 2023. In 2015, before the release ofDrag Race UK, they were the UK drag ambassador for the American seriesRuPaul's Drag Race.

In addition to appearing on television, The Vivienne released music, including theextended playBitch on Heels (2022), and acted on stage, notably as theWicked Witch of the West in the 2024 UK tour ofThe Wizard of Oz.

James Lee Williams was born on 12 April 1992 and raised inColwyn Bay onthe north coast of Wales.^[1] They had a sister, Chanel.^[2] Williams attendedRydal Penrhos and relocated to Liverpool to become amake-up artist at age 16.^[3] Williams was ofRomani heritage.^[4]

Williams was given the drag name Vivienne because they were known for wearingVivienne Westwood clothing; they later added the definite article to make their name unique. Their firstdrag show was at Pink in Liverpool, followed by gigs in other bars such as Superstar Boudoir.^[5] On 28 May 2015, The Vivienne competed in a one-day event judged byRuPaul,Katie Price, andJonathan Ross, taking place atCafé de Paris, London, where they were placed in the top two alongsideLa Voix and then crowned the "UK Drag Ambassador forRuPaul's Drag Race."^[6] They were later flown to Los Angeles to make acameo appearance on theeighth season ofRuPaul's Drag Race (2016).^[7]

The Vivienne was a competitor in the first series ofRuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019.^[8] In the competition, they won three challenges, including theSnatch Game, in which they impersonated American politicianDonald Trump and engaged in repartee withBaga Chipz asMargaret Thatcher.^[9] They ultimately won the competition on 21 November 2019 and were crowned "The UK's First Drag Race Superstar."^[10]

In September 2019, The Vivienne competed withCourtney Act inJag Race, a web series where drag performers race sports cars for charity in collaboration withJaguar andAttitude magazine.^[11] They raced for Sahir House, a Liverpool charity that provides a space in which people living withHIV can speak freely without fear of prejudice, stigma, abuse, or exploitation.^[12] In November, they embarked on a three-month tour alongside their competitors fromRuPaul's Drag Race UK, hosted by drag performerAlyssa Edwards.^[13] The next month, they reprised their Snatch Game impersonation of Donald Trump alongside Baga Chipz as Margaret Thatcher inMorning T&T, a fictional television news show.^[14] In an interview withGay Times, they described the series as a "spoof ofGood Morning Britain andGood Morning America."^[15]

In 2020, American production companyWorld of Wonder announced a six-part series in which The Vivienne produced a music video while travelling inLos Angeles.^[16]The Vivienne Takes on Hollywood premiered on 9 April 2020 onBBC Three andWOW Presents Plus.^[17] The same month, they and Baga Chipz co-presentedI Like to Watch UK, a web series where they humorously review originalNetflix programmes.^[18]

The Vivienne made a guest appearance as themself on the soap operaEmmerdale in June 2021.^[19] In January 2022, they starred in Channel 4'sCelebrity Hunted in aid ofStand Up to Cancer.^[20] That summer, they competed in theseventh season ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, where former winners of the franchise returned for the title of "Queen of All Queens."^[21] Despite winning three challenges and one lipsync battle, they failed to reach the top four of the season.^[22]

In October 2022, they were announced to be competing in thefifteenth series of theITV ice-skating reality showDancing on Ice, making them the first drag artist to participate in the show.^[23] On 12 March 2023, they finished in third place.^[24] In June 2023, they presented the Scene of the Year award at the2023British Soap Awards.^[25] In 2024, they starred as theWicked Witch of the West in the UK tour andWest End run ofThe Wizard of Oz.^[26][27]

The Vivienne released their debut song "Tonight" on 20 May 2020,^[28] adance-pop song they described as "the epitome of the word banger," combining "thumping bass and soaring vocals."^[29] They covered "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (1984) byDead or Alive on 21 October 2020, releasing the track alongside a lyric video. On this track, the drag performer paid tribute to the band's lead vocalist, the latePete Burns.^[30] "Bitch on Heels" was released on 25 March 2021, written by American songwriterDiane Warren and produced by Swedish record producer Tannergard.^[31] The three singles were released on the EPBitch on Heels in July 2022. The Vivienne also covered "Jingle Bell Rock" (1957) alongsideTia Kofi, released on 19 November 2021.^[32]

Williams used the pronounsthey/them^[33][34][35] and identified asgay.^[36]

In December 2019, Williams married David Ludford^[37] in a ceremony at the gay nightclubHeaven.^[38] The couple confirmed their separation and remained mutual friends in April 2023.^[39]

In June 2023, Williams was the victim of ahomophobic attack in aMcDonald's restaurant in Liverpool.^[40]Merseyside Police confirmed that 51-year-old Alan Whitfield fromEverton made homophobic remarks towards Williams and punched them in the face before leaving the scene.^[41] Williams spoke about the attack to highlight the fact that homophobia still existed in 2023 and urged members of theLGBTQ community to remain vigilant when out in public.^[42] Whitman was found guilty of assault motivated by homophobia in December 2023^[43] and was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison with an 18-monthsuspended sentence on 5 January 2024.^[44]

Williams struggled with drug addiction throughout their life,^[45] including aketamine addiction.^[46] They praised the work of the Armistead Centre in Liverpool for theirrehabilitation.^[47]

On 5 January 2025,Cheshire Constabulary were called to an address located inChorlton-by-Backford, following a report of a sudden death.^[48] It was announced later that evening that Williams had died at the age of 32.^[49] Their agent released a statement confirming that Williams had died over the weekend and that their family would not be releasing any further details at present.^[50] Initially, local police said the death was not suspicious.^[51] The area coroner later revealed that Williams was discovered in the home’s bathroom from an "unnatural death" and requested further investigation.^[52]

TheRuPaul's Drag Race social media accounts paid tribute to Williams, memorialising as a "beacon of creativity and authenticity" who "embodied what it [meant] to be a true champion."^[53] SeveralDrag Race co-stars spoke in their honor, including Baga Chipz, who described them as their "bestest friend in the whole wide world,"Michelle Visage, who said they were a "beacon to so many" who would be "so missed,"^[54][55][56] andRuPaul, who said that his heart was "broken," describing them as an "incredibly talented queen" and a "lovely human being."^[57] The next day's performance ofRuPaul's Drag Race Live! was dedicated to The Vivienne.^[58] Tributes appeared onRuPaul's Drag Race episode "Drag Queens Got Talent – Part 2"^[59] and on the first episode of theseventeenth series ofDancing on Ice.^[60]

Williams' funeral took place on 27 January 2025 at St. Margaret's Church inBodelwyddan,Denbighshire, North Wales,^[61] and was attended by a number of British celebrities. The coffin arrived by horse-drawn carriage, pulled by black horses with green plumes. Floral tributes spelled "Vivienne", "James," and "Son"; the crown and sceptre awarded toRuPaul's Drag Race winners was carried into the church ahead of the coffin.^[62]

It was announced on 17 March 2025 that The Vivienne had died from acardiac arrest, associated with aketamine overdose. Their family have said that they will be working with charityAdferiad to campaign to opening conversations about substance abuse. An inquest is set to take place later this June.^[2]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toThe Vivienne.

• The Vivienne atIMDb

• 1992 births
• 2025 deaths
• 21st-century Welsh actors
• 21st-century Welsh LGBTQ people
• Drag performers from Liverpool
• Intention Records artists
• People educated at Rydal Penrhos
• British drag queens
• People from Colwyn Bay
• Romani LGBTQ people
• RuPaul's Drag Race UK winners
• Welsh drag queens
• Welsh gay entertainers
• Welsh musical theatre actors
• Welsh Romani people
• Welsh victims of crime

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use British English from November 2019
• Use dmy dates from January 2025
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