Laganja Estranja Bio, Age, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Dance School and Twitter

Laganja Estranja Career

The performer made her drag debut at Micky’s West Hollywood on November 7, 2011. After winning the Amateur Competition, Laganja became an official “Showgirl” with a monthly gig at Micky’s.

RuPaul’s Drag Race

In April 2013 Laganja Estranja auditioned for RuPaul’s Drag Race. She was accepted onto the show and filmed in the summer of 2013.

In 2014, the sixth season of drag-oriented reality competition RuPaul’s Drag Race aired on LogoTV. Laganja performed moderately well on the show, winning a challenge while partnered with eventual runner-up Adore Delano. Laganja was however eliminated in the eighth episode of the season, placing her in a small category of contestants in the show’s history who was eliminated the week after winning a challenge. At the outset of the show, Laganja received quite a lot of attention on social media for her now-iconic entrance.

 During the show, Laganja became infamous for her over-the-top dramatics, catchphrases, and emotional breakdowns. Eventual winner Bianca Del Rio credited Laganja as the root of every memorable quote from the following season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. 

Laganja Estranja is the drag daughter of Alyssa Edwards and the drag sister of Shangela. and Plastique Tiara —all of whom competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Since her appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Laganja Estranja has performed countless drag shows across the world.

Musical Career

In 2014, Laganja contributed vocals to a cover of RuPaul’s “Jealous of My Boogie”, for the album RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz.

Throughout 2014, Laganja was featured on three singles, contributing a rap verse to each song. In 2015, she released her debut single as a lead artist, titled “Legs”, which featured American rapper Rye Rye. In June 2015, “Legs” was rated as the third-best song by a RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant by Pitchfork Media.

 In June 2015, Laganja was featured on fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race star, Alaska Thunderfuck’s debut album, Anus, on the track “Gimme All Your Money”.

In 2016, she released both her third single “Tease 4U” and a Christmas Album with the Haus of Edwards. Her single on the album is entitled “Green XXXmas,” and the video featured exotic dancer Candace Cane. In September 2018, she released her fourth single “Look At Me” featuring J. Tyler, and an accompanying video. The video took a stance against arrests for marijuana possession.

She released a lyric video for her fifth single “Smoke Break.” in November 2018.

Endorsements

The Laganja Estranja lifestyle brand includes a collaboration preroll joint with San Francisco’s The Hepburns, called “LAhepburns.” Laganja also partnered with FRUIT SLABS, a company making cannabis-infused, vegan, real-fruit squares for their 2019 PRIDE collection. Laganja worked with FRUIT SLABS to create a one-of-a-kind flavor to be offered for a limited time.

As a model/brand ambassador, Laganja embodies the company she endorses and represents by increasing brand awareness with an authentic flair.

Activism| Cannabis

As a cannabis right activist, Laganja has hosted conversations on cannabis legalization at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and at Impulse in San Francisco. She has also been featured twice in High Times Magazine as well as on the cover of Dope Magazine, making her the first LGBTQ+ advocate on the cover of a cannabis magazine.

In September 2018, Laganja was interviewed by Civilized Magazine about her music video for Look at Me that “slammed” the war on drugs. The interview by Civilized — a magazine reported being for the millions of adults who choose to enjoy cannabis recreationally — covered a number of aspects behind the imagery of Laganja’s music video.

In December of 2018, Laganja was featured in a Facebook live broadcast by Merry Jane. In this episode, Laganja talks fun-and-games topics like sky diving in drag and her favorite cannabis strains. But, she also goes into serious topics like “weed slut-ness” and important cannabis policy news.

Leafly, the world’s largest cannabis information site, featured Laganja on their in-house podcast in January of 2019. The podcast, The Hash, explored, alongside Laganja, topics like homophobia in the cannabis industry and what it’s like to often be the only queer person in a room.

Dance Career

Graduating from The California Institute of the Arts in 2011 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance and choreography, Laganja is a skilled choreographer, teacher, and dancer. A Presidential Scholar in The Arts, Laganja performed her original work “not today” at the Kennedy Center in 2007. Laganja is also a YoungArts Silver Winner and returns every year to the program to mentor high school students in Miami, Florida.

Laganja’s choreography credits include Germany’s Next Top Model, NYC Cosmetics FACE Awards, and for commercial artists such as Miley Cyrus and Brooke Candy.

In the summer of 2017, Laganja led a dance theatre project on gender expression with artists across Europe assembling in Nottingham, the UK for a four-day workshop and showcase exploring the boundaries of gender identity. “G[END]ER” was in collaboration with Backlit Gallery, Kitty Tray, and Nottingham Contemporary. In the fall of 2018, Laganja elaborated on this idea of gender expression with her dance residency at YoungArts. The immersive experience included live vocals, original compositions, and curated set design.

Laganja’s moves have also been featured on several popular dance YouTube channels including, but not limited to, Brian Friedman and DanceON.

In the fall of 2018, Laganja found herself partnered with the Pérez Art Museum Miami (Pamm) to present the art of drag for a one-day Poplife Social YoungArts Takeover. The event at the world-renowned art museum included an invitation from Laganja herself.

Laganja’s Dance School

In 2016 Laganja’s Dance School, an international high-heels masterclass and confidence workshop was founded with partner Kristen Lovell. The master class has been held in dozens of cities in the United States and as international experience, has traveled to Manchester, Nottingham, London, Newcastle, Dublin, Lima, Mexico City, and Amsterdam.

The class includes an extensive warmup/stretch, across the floor exercises, and a final combination of original choreography. Participants are encouraged to express themselves, gain new skills, and feel amazing in this hip-hop oriented jazz-funk atmosphere.

Merchandise

In 2014, Laganja launched a collection of cannabis-themed merchandise including a jewelry line called “Laganja Estranja Is My Enemy”. Laganja has also collaborated with Blunted Objects on a marijuana-themed statement necklace.

Television Appearances

Laganja currently hosts her own web show on the drug-centric platform World of Wonder, the same production company behind RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag Con.

In 2018, Laganja Estranja was interviewed by Billboard Pride for her notable role in the drag community. In this interview, Billboard Pride highlights her drag career as well as her choreography work with Miley Cyrus for the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.

Laganja Estranja Awards & Accomplishments