The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum is the first drag performer to compete in the dance competition franchise’s American iteration. Shangela, a drag performer and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alumna, made history on the hit competition show “Dancing With the Stars” on Monday night. Shangela, actual name D.J. Pierce, became the first drag queen to participate in the US version of the international series during the show’s 31st season debut.
“My heart was racing like crazy, but when the announcer dude started the intro, I went into full-on Beyoncé at the Super Bowl mode,” Pierce posted on Instagram on Tuesday. “I wanted to give you all a moment worthy of all your love and support, as well as demonstrate to folks who aren’t familiar or fond of drag queens that we belong, and we know how to Turn The Party!” Continue to cheer, watch, and vote because we are all in this together, hopefully, all the way to the finals!”
Pierce and his dance partner, Russian American dancer, and choreographer Gleb Savchenko, received a standing ovation following their stunning salsa performance to “When I Grow Up” by the Pussycat Dolls. The duo received sevens from all four judges, placing them fourth out of the 16 dance partners who competed. “We’ve never had somebody like Shangela,” Savchenko, who has been on the show since season 16, told E! News. “As a result, it’ll be extra, extra, extra special.” Savchenko and Pierce, who performs as Shangela but identifies as a man and uses he/him pronouns, are also making history as the first male couple to compete in the United States franchise, which will now air live on Disney+ on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.
The international “Dancing With the Stars” franchise is no stranger to gender stereotypes. Last season, dancer and pop singer JoJo Siwa made history by being the first participant in the show’s 30 seasons to compete with someone of the same sex. In 2018, gay fashion designer Giovanni Ciacci and his dancing partner, Raimondo Todaro, made history as the first male couple to participate regularly throughout the season on the Italian edition of “Dancing With the Stars.”The new season of the American show debuted Monday as a full two-hour program including performances by 16 dancing couples, judged by four renowned ballroom specialists and presented by Tyra Banks and Alfonso Ribeiro. Dancers can win up to 40 points based on the combined scores of the judges. These points are used with audience votes to determine who stays and who gets eliminated from the show.
Pierce and his dance partner, Russian American dancer and choreographer Gleb Savchenko, received a standing ovation after their dazzling salsa performance to the Pussycat Dolls’ song “When I Grow Up.” The duo earned sevens from all four judges, the fourth-highest score of the 16 dance partners who performed.