Violet Chachki

Violet Chachki

Violet Chachki in New York
Born Paul Jason Dardo
(1992-06-13) June 13, 1992[1][2]
Atlanta, Georgia
Occupation
Known for RuPaul's Drag Race (season 7) winner
Predecessor Bianca Del Rio
Successor Bob the Drag Queen
Website violetchachki.net

Violet Chachki is the stage name of Paul Jason Dardo, an American drag queen, burlesque dancer, recording artist, reality television personality and model. Chachki is best known for winning the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Career

Dardo began performing drag as Violet Chachki at the age of 19. The name "Violet" refers to Jennifer Tilly's character in the film Bound, while "Chachki" is a variant of the Yiddish word tchotchke, a small object that is decorative rather than functional.[3] Dardo first performed at the bar LeBuzz in Marietta, Georgia. They used a fake ID to perform in local drag shows, eventually winning Miss New Faces at Friends on Ponce in Atlanta. Later, the drag queen and Drag Race Season 8 contestant Dax ExclamationPoint adopted Dardo as her drag daughter. Dardo was enrolled at SCAD-Atlanta for fashion design, but dropped out to focus on drag. They became a regular cast member of The Other Show at the bar Jungle in Atlanta which gave them exposure locally and allowed them to perform with Drag Race Season 5 contestant Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, Amanda Lepore, and Lady Bunny.[4]

In 2013, Dardo was photographed for "Legendary Children". The project focused on Atlanta's drag scene and was exhibited at Gallery 1526. Two photos that featured their penis and gaff (an undergarment used to conceal male genitals when in drag) were covered up after complaints. Later, the censorship controversy caught the attention of Vice.[5][6]

In 2014, Dardo appeared on the cover for the single "Cosplay" by Captain Murphy (AKA Flying Lotus). They also appeared in a commercial for the single on Adult Swim.[7] Flying Lotus recorded the song as Captain Murphy for Adult Swim's Single Series.[8]

On December 7, 2014, Dardo was revealed as a cast member on seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[9] Dardo had auditioned for season six, but was unsuccessful.[10] On the show, Dardo was noted for their focus on aesthetics and confident demeanor.[11] During the show, Chachki won three challenges and became the latest in a handful of contestants in the show's history to make it to the finale without ever being in the bottom two.

On June 1, Dardo was crowned "America's Next Drag Superstar" and received a cash prize of $100,000.[12]

On June 2, 2015, Dardo released the lead single from their upcoming EP, "Bettie".[13] Their debut EP Gagged was released on June 30, 2015.[14]

Personal life

Dardo attended St. Pius X Catholic High School, where they would alter their strict Catholic uniform to meet personal preferences. In fact, Dardo has mentioned several times that this was how they learned to sew. They lived in Atlanta for the majority of their life. After graduating high school, they attended SCAD Atlanta before dropping out to perform as Violet Chachki full-time.

Dardo has a strong relationship with the "Legendary Children" of Atlanta, whom they have called their "drag family." This family includes Dax Exclamationpoint, who is Violet's drag mother. Other known social-media performers from the family include Evah Destruction and Brigitte Bidet.

Dardo identifies as genderfluid[15] and has no preferred pronoun.[16]

Discography

EPs

Title Details Peak
chart
positions
US
Dance
[17]		 US
Heat
[18]		 US
Indie
[19]
Gagged 11 16 48

Singles

Title Year Album
"Bettie"[20] 2015 Gagged
"Vanguard"[21]

Other appearances

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Drop That Pimp"[22] 2015 RuPaul, Miles Davis Moody RuPaul Presents: CoverGurlz2
"I Run the Runway"[23] Miss Fame Beauty Marked

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 RuPaul's Drag Race Themselves (Contestant) Season 7 – Winner [24]
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race Themselves (Guest) Season 8 – "Keeping It 100!" (100th episode) [25]

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Untucked Themselves Companion show to RuPaul's Drag Race [26]

Music videos

Title Year Director Ref.
"Born Naked (Stadium Remix)" 2015 Steven Corfe [27]
"Bettie" 2015 Michael Serrato [28]
"Vanguard" 2015 Michael Serrato [29]
"I Run the Runway" 2016 Ali Mahdavi [30]
"All the Rage" 2016 Jungle George/Maluko Haus [31]

References

  1. ↑ Raymundo, Oscar (June 1, 2015). "A Conversation with Violet Chachki, Drag's Unapologetic New It-Girl". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Violet Chachki on Twitter". Twitter. June 13, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Violet Chachki Interview". Powderzine. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  4. ↑ Terrell, Matthew (April 28, 2014). "Violet Chachki Never Stops Chasing the Neon Rainbow". The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  5. ↑ Terrell, Matthew (October 10, 2013). "No Amount of Censorship Can Stop Atlanta's Drag Queens from Looking Fabulous". Vice. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  6. ↑ Terrell, Matthew (September 27, 2013). "Legendary Children Censorship Reveals Discomfort With Drag Queens' Dicks". The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  7. ↑ Fitzgerald, Christine (February 26, 2015). "Meet the Queens of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 7: Violet Chachki". Socialitelife.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  8. ↑ Nelson, Michael (August 15, 2014). "Captain Murphy – "Cosplay"". Stereogum. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  9. ↑ Beard, Lanford (December 7, 2014). "'RuPaul's Drag Race': Meet the new queens and watch the first season 7 tease". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  10. ↑ Ho, Rodney (May 29, 2015). "Atlanta's Violet Chachki could win 'RuPaul's Drag Race' June 1". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  11. ↑ Hill, Libby (June 2, 2015). "RuPaul's Drag Race Wraps Up With a Messy, Redundant Finale". Vulture. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  12. ↑ Weigle, Lauren (June 1, 2015). "Violet Chachki Crowned Winner on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 7". heavy.com. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  13. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Bettie – Single by Violet Chahki". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  14. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Gagged – EP by Violet Chahki". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2015/06/02/americas-next-drag-superstar-22-genderqueer-and-trans-activ
  16. ↑ https://twitter.com/violetchachki/status/696133959072116736
  17. ↑ "July 18, 2015 – Top Dance/Electronic Albums – Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2015. (subscription required)
  18. ↑ "July 18, 2015 – Heatseeker Albums – Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2015. (subscription required)
  19. ↑ "July 18, 2015 – Independent Albums – Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2015. (subscription required)
  20. ↑ "Bettie: Violet Chachki: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  21. ↑ Violet Chachki - Vanguard [Official]. YouTube. June 29, 2015.
  22. ↑ "RuPaul Presents CoverGurlz2: RuPaul: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Beauty Marked: Miss Fame: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  24. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race recap: season seven, episode one – the devil wears nada". The Guardian. March 3, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Season 8, Ep 1: Keeping It 100!". Logo TV. March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  26. ↑ Untucked: RuPaul's Drag Race Episode 1 – Born Naked. YouTube. March 3, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  27. ↑ RuPaul - Born Naked (Stadium Remix) Official Music Video. YouTube. May 26, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  28. ↑ Violet Chachki – Bettie [Official]. YouTube. June 1, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  29. ↑ Violet Chachki - Vanguard [Official]. YouTube. June 29, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  30. ↑ I Run the Runway [Official] Miss Fame & Violet Chachki. YouTube. February 5, 2016.
  31. ↑ Violet Chachki Hits the Road In New Allie X Video "All the Rage". NewNopwNext. August 29, 2016.
Preceded by
Bianca Del Rio		 RuPaul's Drag Race winner
Season 7 (2015) 		Succeeded by
Bob the Drag Queen
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