Shangela

Shangela Laquifa Wadley
Shangela Laquifa Wadley in April 2017, during DragCon at the Los Angeles Convention Center
Born	Paris, Texas, U.S.
Residence	Las Vegas, Nevada U.S.
Occupation	Drag Queen Reality Television Personality
Website	Official Website

D.J. Pierce, known by his stage name Shangela Laquifa Wadley, is an American drag queen, comedian, dancer, businessperson and reality television personality who rose to prominence competing on RuPaul's Drag Race. She was the first contestant eliminated in season two, and returned as a surprise contestant in the series' third season, where she finished in sixth place. Since RuPaul's Drag Race, Shangela has had several television appearances and continues to perform across the United States and Canada.

Pierce, who is gay and of African-American and Saudi Arabian descent, grew up in Paris, Texas, the only child of a mother in the U.S. Army who traveled frequently for her work, and raised by an extended family including a grandfather who worked as a ranch hand at pig and cattle farms. He was a male cheerleader in high school, and began dressing in drag for creative projects for English classes.RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 contestant Alyssa Edwards is Shangela's drag mother.

Shangela emerged as Pierce's drag persona in January 2009. Pierce had choreographed a three-person drag act to "Single Ladies" for a sober charity event in Los Angeles, and when one of the performers cancelled, the other two asked him to fill in. The club's promoter was so impressed with Shangela's performance that he offered to book him for the following week. In 2010, Shangela was crowned in the first California Entertainer of the Year pageant; the first alternate was Chad Michaels.

After five months of performing in Los Angeles, Shangela was selected to join the cast for Season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Though he was eliminated in the first episode, he re-applied for the following season and made it to the top 5.