David Petruschin (born April 8, 1979), best known as Raven, is an American
drag queen
A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, drag queens have usually been gay men, and part of ...
, make-up artist, and reality television personality from
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in and the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States, in the Inland Empire metropolitan area. It is named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. It is the most populous city in the Inland Empire an ...
. Raven was a fixture in the South California nightclub scene before gaining international prominence for appearing in both the
second season of ''
RuPaul's Drag Race
''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, VH1 (season 9–14) and, beginning with the f ...
'' and the
first season of ''
All Stars''. Raven placed as the runner-up on both seasons. He also served as a "professor" during all three seasons of ''
RuPaul's Drag U
''RuPaul's Drag U'' (as in "Drag University") is an American reality television series that debuted July 19, 2010, on Logo TV. Its final episode aired in August 2012. It was hosted by RuPaul and a team of drag queen "professors". ''Drag U'' was ...
''.
Petruschin has been
RuPaul's makeup artist since ''Drag Race''
's
ninth season and has since become a
creative producer of both ''Drag Race'' and ''All Stars''. For his make-up work on the show, Petruschin received the
in 2020.
Early life
Petruschin
was born to DeShawna and Jose Herrera Chacon (1935-2012) in Victorville, California
as the first of five children. Being of Russian ancestry, his mother, who separated from his father when Petruschin was seven years old, raised him a
Mormon
Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into severa ...
.
Career
At the beginning of his career, Petruschin worked as a
cosmetics
Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...
salesperson and a freelance
make-up artist
A make-up artist, also called a makeup artist, and often shortened to MUA, is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and prosthetics on others for theatre, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions inc ...
for local theater productions during the day, and at night performed in nightclubs as a
go-go boy under the name "Phoenix". He started performing in
drag in 2002, changing his moniker to Raven. He recalls the exact date to be the tenth of May, where he and
Mayhem Miller (another ''
Drag Race
Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most c ...
'' alumnus) performed for the very first time. Unlike many other drag queens, Petruschin learned drag without a
drag mother to act as a
mentor
Mentorship is the influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the personal and p ...
. As Raven, Petruschin auditioned to compete on the
first
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
and
second seasons of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''.
''Drag Race'' franchise and makeup artistry
In 2010, it was announced that Raven would be a contestant on the second season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. In the first episode, he won the season's first mini-challenge, a photo shoot. In the second and third episode she landed in the bottom two, having to "lip-sync for her life" twice in order to stay in the competition. He won both lip-syncs. Raven won a second mini-challenge in the fourth episode by guessing the price of various objects, earning her a phone call home; and a third mini-challenge in the fifth episode by successfully decorating a box to reflect his personal style.
She won the seventh
and eighth
main challenges, which involved creating and promoting an autobiography, and giving an older gentleman a makeover, respectively.
At the end of the competition, she ultimately placed second behind
Tyra Sanchez
James William Ross IV (born 1988) is an American drag queen and reality television personality who performed under the stage name Tyra Sanchez. A frequent drag impersonator of pop star Beyoncé, Ross is best known as the winner of the second sea ...
.
Raven was one of many ''Drag Race'' alumni who were invited to act as a drag professor in the spin-off series ''
RuPaul's Drag U
''RuPaul's Drag U'' (as in "Drag University") is an American reality television series that debuted July 19, 2010, on Logo TV. Its final episode aired in August 2012. It was hosted by RuPaul and a team of drag queen "professors". ''Drag U'' was ...
'',
which has screened three seasons. Raven serves as a "drag professor" and mentor to female contestants who are given make-overs. In the series, his persona is not portrayed in a villainous fashion, but instead as a softer and nurturing mentor. Raven made a total of twelve appearances and collected the most wins during the series' run, being dubbed the "Makeover Queen". In an episode of the second season he gave his mother Deshawna a makeover, helping him win against the sisters of
Jujubee and
Manila Luzon
Karl Philip Michael Westerberg, better known by the stage name Manila Luzon (born August 10, 1981), is an American drag queen, recording artist, comedian and reality television personality. Luzon came to international attention as a contestant on ...
.
On August 6, 2012, it was announced that Raven was one of twelve past ''Drag Race'' contestants selected to join the cast of ''
RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars'' that premiered on the
Logo network
Logo TV (often shortened to Logo, and stylized as Logo.) is an American basic cable channel owned by Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global. Launched in 2005, Logo was originally dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment progr ...
on October 22, 2012. Prior to the airing of the season finale, Raven (along with ''All Stars'' contestants
Manila Luzon
Karl Philip Michael Westerberg, better known by the stage name Manila Luzon (born August 10, 1981), is an American drag queen, recording artist, comedian and reality television personality. Luzon came to international attention as a contestant on ...
,
Latrice Royale
Timothy K. Wilcots (born February 12, 1972), better known by the stage name Latrice Royale, is an American drag performer, recording artist, and reality television personality. She is best known for her appearances on the fourth season of ''RuPa ...
, and
Tammie Brown
Tammie Brown is the stage name of Keith Glen Schubert (born September 15, 1980), an American drag performer, reality television personality, and recording artist. Brown was a fixture in the Southern California drag scene before appearing on the ...
) appeared in a television commercial for travel website
Orbitz's new portal for
LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term ...
leisure travel. He was paired with contestant and best friend
Jujubee to form ''Team Rujubee''. They won the mini-challenges in the second and fifth episode by correctly answering questions about each other in the style of ''
The Newlywed Game
''The Newlywed Game'' is an American television game show that puts newly married couples against each other in a series of revealing question rounds to determine how well the spouses know or do not know each other. The program, originally create ...
'' and by scoring more points in a game of basketball, which won them a call to their loved ones. The duo managed to make it to the finals, which aired on November 26, 2012, where Raven again landed as a runner-up, this time to winner
Chad Michaels
Chad Michael Storbeck, known professionally as Chad Michaels (born March 20, 1971), is an American drag performer and professional Cher impersonator. He was the runner-up of the fourth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race'', alongside Phi Phi O'Hara, ...
.
Petruschin returned to ''Drag Race'' as RuPaul's make-up artist for the
ninth season, episode 3. He eventually received a nomination for the
2018 Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award in the category "Television and New Media Series: Best Contemporary Makeup". For his work on the
tenth season, he received a nomination for the
70th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards honored the best in U.S. prime time television programming from June 1, 2017, until May 31, 2018, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The ceremony was held live on September 17, 2018, at the Mi ...
in the category
Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special. He won an Emmy for his work on the
twelfth season.
Aside from doing RuPaul's make-up since 2017, he has served as a
creative producer for ''All Stars'' since its
third season and for ''Drag Race'' since its tenth.
Other appearances
Featured in a commercial promoting the syndication run of the cable television series ''
Nip/Tuck
''Nip/Tuck'' is an American medical drama television series created by Ryan Murphy that aired on FX in the United States from July 22, 2003, to March 3, 2010. The series, which also incorporates elements of crime drama, black comedy, family dra ...
'' on the Logo network, Raven lip synced to the theme song "A Perfect Lie" as he caresses a syringe close to his lips. The commercial is based on one of his past drag performances. He also has made a guest appearance in an episode of Logo's reality series, ''
Pretty Hurts
"Pretty Hurts" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her eponymous fifth studio album (2013). It impacted mainstream radio in the United States on June 10, 2014, as the third single from the album. The song was written by Sia, Am ...
'', which documents the life and career of celebrity medical aesthetician Rand Rusher. Raven was also featured on an episode of ''
America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8
The eighth cycle of ''America's Next Top Model'' aired from February 28, 2007 to May 16, 2007, and was the second season of the series to be aired on The CW network.
The winner, similar to all of the cycles aired on The CW network, received repr ...
'', in which he participated in a photo shoot with each of the show's contestants in male drag and paired with a drag queen. Raven made a cameo in the 2011 music video for "
Diamond Crowned Queen
"Diamond Crowned Queen" is a song recorded by American drag queen Raja Gemini, Raja, which was released on May 3, 2011, through the record label Citrusonic Flavor Recordings. This was shortly after he was crowned winner of RuPaul's Drag Race ...
" by
''RuPaul's Drag Race'' season three winner
Raja
''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested f ...
. His cameo was praised by critics, who named him the "magnificent Raven". In 2012, along with other ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' contestants, he appeared in another music video, "Queen" by
Mimi Imfurst's band Xelle. He also starred in the music video "Feed Me Diamonds" by
MNDR
Amanda Lucille Warner (born September 12, 1982), known professionally as MNDR, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She rose to prominence after being featured on Mark Ronson, Mark Ronson & The Business Intl's 2010 single "Bang ...
.
In 2014, Raven and Raja started a weekly
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
fashion critique show on
World of Wonder's channel called "''RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Photo RuView''", where they discuss fashion from mostly ''Drag Race'' alumni. He has appeared on multiple other WOW shows as well. Besides international touring, Raven currently hosts several drag-related events at
gay club
A gay bar is a drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ( LGBT) clientele; the term ''gay'' is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBT communities.
Gay bars once served ...
s throughout
Southern California
Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most po ...
.
Legacy
In 2016, Raven was included as an inspiration in ''
Vanity Fair's'' "100 Years of Drag Fashion" video, alongside iconic drag performers
Divine
Divinity or the divine are things that are either related to, devoted to, or proceeding from a deity.[divine< ...](_blank)
,
David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
, and
RuPaul. The video presented his style as the epitome of 2000s-era drag.
''RuPaul's Drag Race'' season six winner
Bianca Del Rio
Roy R. Haylock (born June 27, 1975), better known by the stage name Bianca Del Rio, is an American drag queen, comedian, actor, and costume designer. She is known for winning the sixth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. Since her time on ''Drag R ...
has also stated that many young drag queens use Raven's style.
Filmography
Film
* ''
The Bitch Who Stole Christmas
''The Bitch Who Stole Christmas'' is a 2021 Christmas comedy film featuring RuPaul and twenty ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' contestants, among other celebrities. The film, which aired on VH1 on December 2, 2021, is produced by MTV Entertainment Studio ...
'' (2021) as Shopping Lady
Television
Web
Music videos
Awards and nominations
, -
! scope="row", 2018
,
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards
Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...
,
Best Contemporary Makeup in Television and New Media Series
, ''
RuPaul's Drag Race
''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, VH1 (season 9–14) and, beginning with the f ...
''
,
,
, -
! scope="row" ,
2018
, rowspan="3",
Primetime Emmy Awards
The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
,
Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special
, ''RuPaul's Drag Race''
(season 10)
,
, rowspan="2",
, -
! scope="row" ,
2020
, rowspan="2",
Outstanding Contemporary Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program
, ''RuPaul's Drag Race''
(season 12)
,
, -
! scope="row" ,
2021
File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October–November 2021 ...
, ''RuPaul's Drag Race''
(season 13)
,
,
, -
! scope="row",
2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...
,
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards
Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...
,
Best Contemporary Makeup in Television and New Media Series
, ''RuPaul's Drag Race''
,
,
References
External links
''Make Up Work! with Raven'' series*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raven
1979 births
Living people
American drag queens
American people of Russian descent
Former Latter Day Saints
LGBT Latter Day Saints
LGBT people from California
American make-up artists
People from Riverside, California
People from Victorville, California
Primetime Emmy Award winners
RuPaul's Drag Race contestants
Raven
Painted with Raven