Queer musicians from Drag Race UK, including stars Bimini Bon-Boulash and Tia Kofi, plan to release a single in honor of The Vivienne, who recently passed away. The single, “Your Light Will Shine,” will raise money for historic British LGBTQ+ charity Switchboard, which operates the National LGBTQ+ Support Line.
James Lee Williams, better known as The Vivienne—beloved inaugural winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and a powerhouse in the world of drag—died in January this year from cardiac arrest after taking ketamine. The Vivienne was only 32.
The unexpected and tragic death of Williams caused an outpouring of grief from the Drag Race community and wider entertainment world.
Across nine episodes, The Vivienne cemented herself as one of the most well-rounded queens in Drag Race history, delivering an uncanny impression of Donald Trump for Snatch Game and tackling each challenge with the poise of a seasoned entertainment star.
Beginning drag in 2007, The Vivienne—whose stage name came from their penchant for dressing in Vivienne Westwood, head to toe—carved a path for British drag stars some years before her Drag Race appearance.
The single is set for release on Wednesday, September 17.
Miah, who Drag Race fans know for his work on RuPaul’s cult favorite track “Read U Wrote U,” will produce the “hopeful” and “stirring” song, which is written by The Vivienne’s manager and friend Simon Jones.
In a statement, Jones says: “I wanted to do something that would not only honour The Vivienne’s lasting legacy but also help raise vital funds for a charity that does so much for our community. Viv was a trailblazer and a one-off, and in this song, we celebrate their life but also remind everyone that right now, we need to be united as a community and fight for our love more than ever.”
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
