Raven (drag queen)
Encyclopedia
Raven is an American drag queen
and reality television
personality from Riverside
, California
. He is best known as a contestant on second season
of RuPaul's Drag Race
. He was first runner-up of season 2, and followed that up with regular appearances on RuPaul's Drag U
in summer 2010 and 2011, alongside fellow competitors Morgan McMichaels
, Pandora Boxx
, and Jujubee
.
-like episode of the show, he humorously impersonated billionaire heiress Paris Hilton
. Raven won the season's first mini-challenge, a photo shoot, in the first episode, "Gone with the Window." His next win came in the "Here Comes the Bride" episode in which the queens had to decorate a box with something old, something new, and something borrowed, showing their personal style. Raven borrowed Jujubee's raven
hat, securing a win. Raven also won the main challenges in the seventh and eighth episodes "Once Upon a Queen" and "Golden Gals", respectively. In the seventh episode, the queens had to create and promote
their autobiographies. Raven's book, Young, Broke, and Fabulous, was the winner. In episode 8, the contestants were tasked with making over
older gentlemen as their "drag mothers." Raven and his drag mother, Golda LaMae, won the challenge. Although he ended up as the runner-up of the second season's competition, Petruschin has criticized the way he was portrayed on Drag Race and felt the show's editors purposely edited the show's segments in order to portray him as a villain
.
, 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 served as a "drag professor" and mentor to female contestants who are given make-overs. In the series, Petruschin's persona is not portrayed in a villainous fashion, but instead as a softer and nurturing mentor. Raven made a total of four appearances and during the series' first season. The series was renewed for a second season in 2011, with Raven returning once again as a drag professor.
" on the Logo network, Raven lip synchs 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
", which documents the life and career of celebrity medical aesthetician Rand Rusher.
He previously worked as a cosmetics
salesperson and as a freelance makeup artist
before pursuing a full-time drag career. He currently hosts several drag-related events at Oasis nightclub in Upland, California
as well as The Menagerie nightclub in Riverside.
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
and reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
personality from Riverside
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He is best known as a contestant on second season
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2
The second season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on February 1, 2010 and aired its final episode on April 26, 2010. On May 1, 2009, the casting website for RuPaul's Drag Race opened for prospective contestants of season two to create user profiles and upload videos of themselves to be voted on by...
of RuPaul's Drag Race
RuPaul's Drag Race
RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality television series produced by World of Wonder for Logo. RuPaul plays host, mentor and inspiration for this series, which details RuPaul's search for "America's next drag superstar."...
. He was first runner-up of season 2, and followed that up with regular appearances on RuPaul's Drag U
RuPaul's Drag U
RuPaul's Drag U is an American reality television series. Hosted by RuPaul and a team of drag queen "professors," Drag U is a spin-off of the series RuPaul's Drag Race...
in summer 2010 and 2011, alongside fellow competitors Morgan McMichaels
Morgan McMichaels
Morgan McMichaels is the female persona of drag performer Thomas White. A local fixture in Southern California's drag circuit, White became a reality television personality, when he joined the cast of the second season of the popular cable television reality competition, RuPaul's Drag Race.-Early...
, Pandora Boxx
Pandora Boxx
Pandora Boxx is an American drag queen, comedian and reality television personality from Rochester, New York. He is best known as a contestant from the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race...
, and Jujubee
Jujubee (drag queen)
Jujubee is an American drag queen and reality television personality from Boston, Massachusetts. He is best known as a contestant on Season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race.-RuPaul's Drag Race:...
.
RuPaul's Drag Race
In a Match GameMatch Game
Match Game is an American television game show in which contestants attempted to match celebrities' answers to fill-in-the-blank questions...
-like episode of the show, he humorously impersonated billionaire heiress Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton
Paris Whitney Hilton is an American businesswoman, heiress, and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton . Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood...
. Raven won the season's first mini-challenge, a photo shoot, in the first episode, "Gone with the Window." His next win came in the "Here Comes the Bride" episode in which the queens had to decorate a box with something old, something new, and something borrowed, showing their personal style. Raven borrowed Jujubee's raven
Raven
Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus—but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied...
hat, securing a win. Raven also won the main challenges in the seventh and eighth episodes "Once Upon a Queen" and "Golden Gals", respectively. In the seventh episode, the queens had to create and promote
Promotion (marketing)
Promotion is one of the four elements of marketing mix . It is the communication link between sellers and buyers for the purpose of influencing, informing, or persuading a potential buyer's purchasing decision....
their autobiographies. Raven's book, Young, Broke, and Fabulous, was the winner. In episode 8, the contestants were tasked with making over
Makeover
A makeover is a term applied to changing one's appearance, sometimes through cosmetics. Makeovers can range from something as simple as a new haircut, to the use of cosmetic surgery, to the extreme of the implantation of dental veneers, eye-color-changing contact lenses, and the use of...
older gentlemen as their "drag mothers." Raven and his drag mother, Golda LaMae, won the challenge. Although he ended up as the runner-up of the second season's competition, Petruschin has criticized the way he was portrayed on Drag Race and felt the show's editors purposely edited the show's segments in order to portray him as a villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
.
Career after RuPaul's Drag Race
In addition to his participation in RuPaul's Drag Race, Petruschin was featured on an episode of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8
America's Next Top Model Cycle 8 is the eighth cycle of America's Next Top Model and the second season of the series to be aired on The CW network, which aired from February 28, 2007, to May 16, 2007....
, in which he participated in a photo shoot with each of the show's contestants in male drag and paired with a drag queen.
RuPaul's Drag U
Raven was one of many Drag Race alumni who were invited to be as a drag professor in spin-off series RuPaul's Drag URuPaul's Drag U
RuPaul's Drag U is an American reality television series. Hosted by RuPaul and a team of drag queen "professors," Drag U is a spin-off of the series RuPaul's Drag Race...
. Raven served as a "drag professor" and mentor to female contestants who are given make-overs. In the series, Petruschin's persona is not portrayed in a villainous fashion, but instead as a softer and nurturing mentor. Raven made a total of four appearances and during the series' first season. The series was renewed for a second season in 2011, with Raven returning once again as a drag professor.
Other appearances
Featured in a commercial promoting the syndication run of the cable television series "Nip/TuckNip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
" on the Logo network, Raven lip synchs 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
Pretty Hurts is an American reality television series from the LGBT-interest network Logo. The show revolves around Rand Rusher, a Botox/Restylane injectionist to the starlets, Hollywood wives, and the wanna-bes of Beverly Hills. The setting is Rusher's office on S...
", which documents the life and career of celebrity medical aesthetician Rand Rusher.
Personal life
Petruschin currently resides in Riverside, California with his dog Blu.He previously worked as a cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
salesperson and as a freelance makeup artist
Makeup artist
thumb|[[Michelle Camaclang]], an international-certified professional makeup artistthumb|Special effects makeup techniquesA Make-up artist is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and prosthetics for theatrical, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions...
before pursuing a full-time drag career. He currently hosts several drag-related events at Oasis nightclub in Upland, California
Upland, California
Upland is a city in San Bernardino County, California, located at an elevation of 1,242 feet . As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 73,732, up from 68,393 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on May 15, 1906, after previously being named North Ontario.-History and culture:Upland...
as well as The Menagerie nightclub in Riverside.