Manila Luzon
Luzon at RuPaul's DragCon (2019)
Born	Karl Philip Michael Westerberg (1981-08-10)10 August 1981 (age 44) Ramsey, Minnesota, U.S.
Education	University of Minnesota, Duluth (BFA)
Occupations	Drag queen comedian television personality musician
Spouse	Michael Alvarez ​ (m. 2017)​
Partner(s)	Antoine Ashley (2006–2012; Ashley's death)
Comedy career
Genres	Blue comedy observational comedy
Subjects	LGBT culture Philippine culture fashion
Musical career
Genres	Pop
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Producer Entertainment Group Warner Music Philippines
Musical artist
Website	manilaluzon.com

Karl Philip Michael Westerberg (born August 10, 1981), known professionally asManila Luzon,^[1] is an Americandrag queen, reality television personality, recording artist, and comedian. Luzon came to international attention as a contestant on thethird season ofRuPaul's Drag Race and on thefirst andfourth seasons ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.^[2]

Luzon has also contributed to the compilation album seriesChristmas Queens.^[3][4]

Westerberg was born to a mother fromManila, in the islandLuzon of thePhilippines (where he took his drag name), and an American father.^[5][6] Westerberg was raised Catholic.^[7] Westerberg grew up inCottage Grove, Minnesota.^[8]

With the success ofRuPaul's Drag Race, Luzon auditioned for thethird season of the reality series, and went on to appear in every episode until its finale. She lip-synced againstRaja Gemini to "Champion (DJ BunJoe's Olympic Mix)" byRuPaul but lost the lip-sync and became the runner-up of the season.

The publicity generated by her participation in the show brought many new opportunities to perform at various national and internationalLGBT events throughout theUnited States and Canada, includingNew York Pride andVancouver Pride. She has been active inAIDS awareness and activism. After being featured in aGilead Sciences ad titled "Red Ribbon Runway" with fellowDrag Race co-starsCarmen Carrera,Delta Work,Shangela andAlexis Mateo,^[9] the dress she was featured wearing was auctioned off byLogo TV in commemoration ofWorld AIDS Day. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the National Association of People with AIDS.^[10]

In 2011, Luzon, along withthird seasonDrag Race contestants Carmen Carrera and Shangela, appeared in a television commercial for travel-related websiteOrbitz.^[11] In addition to the commercial, she and Shangela also did an entertainment news segment forUS Weekly where they discussed current male celebrities and reimagine them as drag queens.^[12] In August 2012, NiniMomo, aLong Island-based company specializing in poseable fashion dolls, released a doll in Luzon's likeness and wearing the now famouspineapple dress she wore during her time onDrag Race. The doll, which was available via special order, marked the first time aDrag Race contestant has been immortalized as a doll.^[13] Two years later, a couple of fans of Manila produced their very own3D-printed Manila Luzon doll.^[14]

On August 6, 2012, it was announced that Manila was one of twelve pastDrag Race contestants selected to join the cast of thefirst season ofRuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, which premiered on the Logo network on October 22, 2012.^[15] Paired with contestantLatrice Royale to formTeam Latrila, the duo was eliminated in the third episode of the series that aired on November 5, 2012, placing in joint 7th/8th place. Their elimination was one of many who led to widespread criticism of the first installment ofAll Stars. On October 12, 2012, Manila appeared on an episode of theMTV seriesMade where she mentored a young man in the art of drag, allowing him to explore his drag alter-ego as he prepared for New York City's Gay Pride March.^[16] Prior to the airing of the season finale ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Manila (along withAll Stars contestantsRaven,Latrice Royale, andTammie Brown) appeared in a television commercial for travel website Orbitz's new portal for LGBT leisure travel.^[17] After the season, Luzon was a playable character withPandora Boxx andYara Sofia for the "RuPaul's Drag Race: Dragopolis" mobile app.^[18]

On November 9, 2018, it was announced that Manila would return toAll Stars 4, alongside fellowAll Stars 1Team Latrila team-mate Latrice Royale, but this time would compete separately against each other rather than as a team.^[19] Despite being one of the season's front-runners with three challenge wins, Manila was controversially eliminated byNaomi Smalls in the eighth episode of the season, which aired on February 1, 2019, ultimately placing sixth.^[20] On November 16, 2018, indie musician VELO released the single "Where My Man At," featuring Luzon andDrag Raceseason 9 andseason 10 contestantEureka O'Hara.^[21] The two also appear in the song's music video (together withThorgy Thor,Ginger Minj andTrinity the Tuck).^[22] She later appeared as a guest for the first challenge in the premiere ofseason 11 ofDrag Race.^[23] On February 1, 2019, Luzon released her single "Go Fish" alongside its music video. The video features fellowAll Stars 4 contestant Naomi Smalls, Luzon's husband, and theHeathers, a prominent clique ofDrag Race 3 contestants featuring Luzon,Raja, Delta Work, and Carmen Carrera. Following the buzz of her controversial departure inAll Stars, the video received more than 300,000 views in less than 24 hours. Luzon made aguest appearance onGeneral Hospital in late summer 2019.^[24] In June 2019, a panel of judges fromNew York magazine placed her 19th on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 formerDrag Race contestants.^[25]

Luzon is the host and head judge of theAmazon Prime Video Filipino reality competition seriesDrag Den, taking on the role of 'Drag Lord'.^[26] Since its debut in December 2022,twoseasons ofDrag Den have aired.^[27] Luzon also serves as an executive producer of the series.^[28]

A longtime resident ofManhattan, Westerberg resided inHarlem with his boyfriend at the time, Antoine Ashley (Sahara Davenport), who Luzon began dating in 2007^[29] and was a contestant on thesecond season ofDrag Race.^[30] Ashley later died of heart failure atJohns Hopkins Hospital inBaltimore on October 1, 2012.^[31] Westerberg studied graphic design at theUniversity of Minnesota, Duluth.^[32]

In November 2016, Westerberg proposed to his boyfriend Michael Alvarez, also known as Mic J Rez.^[33] On December 24, 2017, the couple wed at the Silver Bells Wedding Chapel, with anElvis impersonator as the officiant.^[34]

As of 2013, Westerberg resides in Los Angeles, California where he moved shortly after Ashley's death.^[35] Westerberg resides in Los Angeles, but he also considers New York City home.^[8]

• Filipinos in the New York metropolitan area
• LGBT culture in New York City
• List of LGBT people from New York City
• NYC Pride March

Wikimedia Commons has media related toManila Luzon.

• Official website
• Manila Luzon discography atDiscogs
• Manila Luzon atIMDb

• Drag Den
• 1981 births
• Living people
• 20th-century American LGBTQ people
• 21st-century American LGBTQ people
• American drag queens of Asian descent
• American drag queens
• American people of Filipino descent
• American people of German descent
• American people of Swedish descent
• American LGBTQ people of Asian descent
• Drag performers from New York City
• LGBTQ people from California
• LGBTQ people from Minnesota
• LGBTQ Roman Catholics
• American LGBTQ singers
• People from Cottage Grove, Minnesota
• RuPaul's Drag Race contestants
• 21st-century American comedians
• American LGBTQ comedians
• Comedians from Minnesota
• Drag performers from Los Angeles
• Drag performers from Minnesota

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