Violet Chachki | |
|---|---|
 Chachki in April 2017 | |
| Born | Paul Jason Dardo (1992-06-13)June 13, 1992 (age 33) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | St. Pius X Catholic High School Savannah College of Art and Design |
| Occupations | Drag queen Performer Content creator Model Recording artist Television personality |
| Years active | 2011–present[1] |
| Known for | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 7) winner |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels |
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Musical artist | |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Genres |
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| Subscribers | 282 thousand |
| Views | 24 million |
| Last updated: February 10, 2022[needs update] | |
| Website | violetchachki |
Paul Jason Dardo (born June 13, 1992), known professionally asViolet Chachki,[2][3][4] is an Americandrag queen,burlesque/aerialperformer,content creator, model, andrecording artist best known for winning theseventh season ofRuPaul's Drag Race.
Born inAtlanta, Georgia, Dardo has anEcuadorian parent.[4][5] She was raised Catholic and attendedSt. Pius X Catholic High School.[6][7] During her upbringing, she also lived inStone Mountain andLilburn.[6]
Dardo began performing in drag as Violet Chachki at the age of 19. The name "Violet" was inspired byJennifer Tilly's character of the same name in the filmBound, while "Chachki" is a variant of the Yiddish wordtchotchke, used to name a strictly decorative small collectible item or describe a beautiful young lady.[8] She first performed at the bar LeBuzz inMarietta, Georgia. Using a fake ID to perform in local drag shows, she eventually won Miss New Faces at Friends on Ponce inAtlanta and was adopted as a "drag daughter" by drag queensDax Exclamationpoint (who competed on theeighth season ofDrag Race) and Genre Monster.[9] Later, Violet Chachki was enrolled at theSavannah College of Art and Design at the Atlanta campus for fashion design, but dropped out to focus on doing drag. She became a regular cast member of The Other Show at the bar Jungle in Atlanta which gave her exposure locally and allowed her to perform withAlaska Thunderfuck 5000,Amanda Lepore, andLady Bunny.[10]
In 2013, she was photographed for "Legendary Children". The project focused on Atlanta's drag scene and was exhibited at Gallery 1526. Two photos that featured her genitals andgaff were covered up after complaints. Later, the censorship controversy caught the attention ofVice.[11][12]
In 2014, she appeared on the cover for the single "Cosplay" by Captain Murphy (AKAFlying Lotus). She also appeared in a commercial for the single onAdult Swim.[13]Flying Lotus recorded the song as Captain Murphy for Adult Swim's Single Series.[14]
In 2015, Violet Chachki was announced as a contestant onseventh season ofRuPaul's Drag Race,[15] after having unsuccessfully auditioned forseason six.[16] On the show, she was noted for excelling in fashion and design related challenges and her focus on aesthetics and confident demeanor.[17] On June 1, 2015, she won the competition and received a cash prize of $100,000.[18]
Violet Chachki is known for her burlesque performances and aerial work, includingaerial silk andaerial hoop.[19] In January 2017, Dardo joinedThe Art of Teese, aneo-burlesque show headlined byDita Von Teese.[20]
In November 2017, she became the first drag queen in a major lingerie ad campaign, for the brand Bettie Page Lingerie.[21]
In January 2018, she walked forMoschino in their Fall 2018 Collection atMilan Fashion Week.[22]
In April 2019, she became the first international drag queen to have ever performed in India.[23]
In May 2019, she attended theMet Gala, where the theme wasCamp: Notes on Fashion, wearing a glove-shaped Moschino dress which was altered byJeremy Scott.[24] Thus, she became one of the first drag queens at the event, alongsideAquaria andRuPaul.[25] In June 2019, a panel of judges fromNew York magazine placed Violet Chachki 16th on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 formerDrag Race contestants.[26]
In November 2019, she teamed up with perfume brand Heretic Parfum as collaborator and muse for the genderless fragrance "Dirty Violet".[27]
In 2023, she was featured on an alternate cover for the March 2023 edition ofVogue Czechoslovakia, and became the firstDrag Race alum to be featured on the cover of the magazine.[28]
In May 2023, while at a party inSanta Monica, California, Violet Chachki and frequent collaborator, fellow drag queen, andRuPaul's Drag Race alumGottmik were asked by rapperCardi B to direct her next music video. The duo accepted, and the completed video is to-be-announced.[29]
In June 2023, she walked in theBritish Vogue xLuisa Via Roma fashion show inFlorence, Italy.[30] The same month, Violet Chachki was awarded the Cultural Icon Award from theTom of Finland Foundation, which was presented to her byDita Von Teese.[31]
On June 2, 2015, Violet Chachki released "Bettie" as the lead single from her debut EP.[32] The EPGagged was released on June 30, 2015.[33] In May 2018, she released her fourth single, "A Lot More Me", a burlesque track independent from an album.[34]
In July 2021, Violet Chachki released the single "Mistress Violet" with pop singerAllie X. The song was produced by French producer Lecomte De Brégeot and written by Allie X. The accompanying 1980s influenced music video was shot on analog and features themes of power play and BDSM, with the two appearing in haute couture outfits bySchiaparelli. Violet Chachki had previously appeared in Allie X's 2016 music video for "All The Rage".[35]
Violet Chachki's style is characterized by her "obsession with vintageglamour".[36] She has been referred to as "the living embodiment of a 1950sfemale archetype" and have cited designersChristian Dior,Thierry Mugler andJohn Galliano as inspirations, as well as "style icons" such asLady Miss Kier,Dovima,Dita Von Teese, andRaquel Welch.[37]
The influence offetish fashion andart is a staple in Violet Chachki's aesthetic, with references to thebondage andlatex subcultures,[37]John Willie's illustrations,[38]dominatrix imagery[39] andBettie Page.[40] They toldDesign Scene in 2016: "I think drag in itself is kind of a fetish, it’s kind of uncomfortable and I think bondage and latex are uncomfortable and they have that same feel... I think especially when you’re really feeling it and feeling your look and you’re willing to suffer through the pain to kind of present yourself the way you want to present... I think that’s kind of a fetish. I think it’s exhibitionism almost."[37] Violet Chachki is known for hertightly lacedcorsets.[39]
| Title | Details | Peak positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance [41] | US Heat [42] | US Indie [43] | ||
| Gagged |
| 11 | 16 | 48 |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Bettie" | 2015 | Gagged |
| "Vanguard" | ||
| "A Lot More Me" | 2018 | non-album singles |
| "Whatever Violet Wants" (featuring Daddy Squad) | 2021 | |
| "Mistress Violet" (withAllie X) | TBA |
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Drop That Pimp" | 2015 | RuPaul, Miles Davis Moody[44] | RuPaul Presents: CoverGurlz2 |
| "I Run the Runway" | Miss Fame | Beauty Marked | |
| "The Night Before Christmas" | N/a | Christmas Queens | |
| "Rim" | 2019 | Brooke Candy,Aquaria | Sexorcism |
| Title | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queer Moxie | 2016 | self | Documentary | [45] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | RuPaul's Drag Race(season 7) | Herself | Contestant (winner) | [46] |
| 2016 | RuPaul's Drag Race(season 8) | Guest in Episode 1 and 10 | [47] | |
| 2022 | RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race | Guest | [48] |
| Title | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Untucked | 2015 | self | Companion show toRuPaul's Drag Race | [49] |
| Transformations withJames St. James | 2016 | Guest | [50] | |
| The Pit Stop | 2017-2022 | guest in 4 episodes | [51] | |
| Iconic | 2018 | Guest | [52] | |
| Digital Drag | 2019 | Series from their YouTube channel | ||
| Runway Rewind | ||||
| Violet Does | ||||
| His Vintage Touch | Guest | [53] | ||
| Werq the World | World of Wonder's series | [54] | ||
| Shop Like a Queen | Host | [55] | ||
| Huda Boss | Season 2, Episode 4 | [56] |
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Director | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Drop That Pimp" | 2015 | self | N/a | [57] |
| "Get Ready to Clock" | themself, Max, Jaidynn Diore Fierce | [58] | ||
| "Born Naked (Stadium Remix)" | RuPaul | Steven Corfe | [59] | |
| "Bettie" | self | Michael Serrato | [60] | |
| "Vanguard" | ||||
| "I Run the Runway" | Miss Fame | Ali Mahdavi | [61] | |
| "All the Rage" | 2016 | Allie X | Jungle George/Maluko Haus | [62] |
| "A Lot More Me" | 2018 | self | Love Bailey | [63] |
| "Mine" | Alice Glass | Lucas David | [64] | |
| "I Don't Wanna Brag" | Aja | Assaad Yacoub | [65] | |
| "Whatever Violet Wants" | 2021 | self | Ali Mahdavi | [66] |
| "The Perfect Girl" | 2022 | Mareux | Michael E Linn Nedda Afsari | [67] |
| "Unholy" | Sam Smith andKim Petras | Floria Sigismondi | [68] | |
| "L.A. Drags" | 2025 | Ultra Sunn | Ultra Sunn & Alejandro Lomeli | [69] |
| Title | Year | Role | Note | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #CreateYourStyle | 2018 | self | Schwarzkopf campaign video | [70] |
| Neon Dream | Marilyn Monroe Impersonator / Showgirl | Prada campaign video | [71] | |
| Sublime Perfection | 2019 | self | Path McGrath Labs campaign video | [72] |
| Oops! I LaLiT Again | The LaLiT London ad | [73] | ||
| Werq the World Live Stream | 2020 | Voss Events' online show | [74] | |
| Werq the World Battle Royale | [75] | |||
| Le Male Le Parfum | N/a | Jean Paul Gaultier campaign video | [76] | |
| Digital Folies | self | Sololive stream show | [77] | |
| Boys Lie Family | N/a | Boys Lie campaign video | [78] | |
| When You Wear a Condom | 2021 | self | AHF parody ad | [79] |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Winner ofRuPaul's Drag Race US season 7 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
