Gia Gunn
Gia Gunn in 2019
Gia Gunn in 2019
Background information
Also known asGia Keitaro Ichikawa
Born (1990-05-10) May 10, 1990
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
GenresDrag
OccupationsDrag queen, musical artist, actress, activist
InstrumentsVocals

Gia Gunn is the stage name of American drag performer Gia Keitaro Ichikawa (born May 10, 1990).[1][2][3] She is known for competing on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, the second season of The Switch Drag Race, and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars season four.

Early life

Raised in Carpentersville, Illinois, Ichikawa began performing Japanese traditional dance and kabuki in onnagata roles when she was five years old.[4] She graduated from Barrington High School in Barrington, Illinois.

She won the drag pageants Miss Roscoe's 2013 and Miss Diosa 2013.[5] Her drag mother is trans drag performer Aly Gunn. Their last name was inspired by Tim Gunn; Gia Gunn's first name came from Gia Carangi.[4]

Career

Drag Race and The Switch

Gia Gunn was announced as one of fourteen contestants for the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race on February 24, 2014. She covered RuPaul's song "Ladyboy" for RuPaul's album RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz to promote the season.[6] On the show, she was known for her voguing, off-the-cuff catchphrases, reads and particular opinions, feminine style of drag, and friendship with fellow contestant Laganja Estranja. Gia Gunn underperformed as Kim Kardashian during the "Snatch Game" challenge, and was eliminated after losing a bottom two lip sync against Estranja to Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's "Head to Toe,"[7] earning her tenth place.

Gia Gunn at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2017

In 2017, Gia Gunn was announced as a contestant on the second season of The Switch, the Chilean version of Drag Race,[8] alongside Drag Race alumnus Kandy Ho.[9] The series premiered in March 2018, with 15 contestants. Gia Gunn earned ten challenge wins, making her the most-decorated contestant of the season, but lost to Miss Leona.[10]

Gia Gunn was announced as one of ten contestants competing on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2018.[11] She became the third ever transgender contestant to come out prior to appearing on the show, following Monica Beverly Hillz and Peppermint. However, Gia Gunn was the first trans contestant to compete post-transition during her second season. The show premiered on December 14, 2018, with Gia Gunn eliminated in the third episode after once again underperforming in "Snatch Game" challenge with her Jenny Bui impression. Manila Luzon eliminated her, causing Gia Gunn to place 8th.[12] She had a chance to return in the sixth episode, where the eliminated queens faced off with the queens still in game, but lost a lip sync to Naomi Smalls, eliminating her for good.[13]

After her elimination, Gia Gunn sparked controversy revealing that an altercation between her and RuPaul about transgender drag queens was edited out of show.[14]

After Drag Race

Gia Gunn at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2019

Gia Gunn walked the runway for MarcoMarco's fall 2017 fashion show with other Drag Race alumni.[15]

On March 31, 2018, Gia Gunn released 30 Days in Transition, a web series on her YouTube channel documenting aspects of her transition as a transgender woman. Shortly thereafter, she was announced to star in the first episode of an internet documentary series by WOWPresents following her life as a trans person and drag queen; the series will be called Follow Me. A teaser was released on June 25, 2018, and features Isis King.[16] With WOW Presents, Gia Gunn played Karrueche Tran's character Virginia in a recap video of the first season of Claws.[17] Gia Gunn also frequently appeared in other WOW Presents productions, including Wait, What?, Besties for Cash, and Fashion Photo Ruview. She and Estranja appear both on WOW Presents and at other performances as the duo TeamTooMuch.[18]

Music

Following her appearance on RuPaul's Drag Race, Gia Gunn released her first solo single "Bring out the Gunnz" on July 31, 2015.[19] In 2016, Gia Gunn was featured on the Alaska's song "Stun" from her album Poundcake.[20] A music video was released on April 24, 2017.[21] Drag Race contestants Mariah Paris Balenciaga, Courtney Act and Willam are featured in the video as well.[21] On August 29, 2018, Gia Gunn's second single "#LaChinaMasLatina" was released, featuring Alaska.[22] Gia Gunn and Estranja appeared in the music video for Danielle Alexa's "Spin in Circles."[23]

Personal life

Ichikawa started taking hormones in 2016,[24] and she publicly came out as a trans woman via Instagram in April 2017.[25] She later had the first name on her birth certificate officially changed to Gia in August.[26] She was one of many Drag Race alumni to criticize RuPaul's views on transgender and bio queens competing on the show in 2018.[27] She started a Gofundme page to cover $30,000 of her transition surgery.[28]

Ichikawa sparked controversy in June 2020, claiming that the COVID-19 pandemic was a hoax, saying in an Instagram Live video, "I think the whole mask thing is f–king ridiculous... I honestly think this whole COVID-19 thing is a hoax."[29] She later tested positive for COVID-19 in July 2021, receiving further backlash from fellow season 6 contestant and winner Bianca Del Rio, as well as season 7 contestant Mrs. Kasha Davis.[30][31]

Gia Gunn is a member of the drag family The Haus of Edwards, with Alyssa Edwards, Shangela, Plastique Tiara, Laganja Estranja and Vivienne Pinay.[32][33]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2014 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself Contestant (10th place)
2014 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
2018 The Switch Drag Race Contestant (runner-up)
2018-19 RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Contestant (8th place)

Music videos

Year Title Artist
2017 "Stun" Alaska
2018 "Spin In Circles" Danielle Alexa
2018 "#LaChinaMasLatina" Herself
2019 "Not Ok"[34] Kygo, Chelsea Cutler
2020 "I Can't"[35] Rigel Gemini
2021 "It's The -- For Me"[36] Rigel Gemini

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2014 Transformations Herself Guest [37]
2018 30 Days In Transition Host
2018 Puff Puff Sessions Guest [38]
2018 Follow Me Guest [39]
2018 Whatcha Packin' Guest [40]
2019 The X Change Rate Guest, Episode 7 [41]

Discography

Singles

Year Title
2015 "Bring out the Gunnz"
2018 "#LaChinaMasLatina"

References

  1. ↑ "Gia Gunn Opens Up About Her Transition Surgery: 'I Feel Much More Whole' (Exclusive)". TooFab.com. December 14, 2018. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2018. She later got a new birth certificate to reflect her transition that same summer, showing how she had legally changed her name to Gia Ichikawa.
  2. ↑ "Holiday Issue 2018/2019". Issuu. JPy Magazine. October 30, 2018. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2020. Ichikawa is my last name and Keitaro is my middle name. It was my very first tattoo and I was about 18 years old when I got it. I wanted to get something that resembled my Japanese heritage and also that I would never regret getting on me permanently.
  3. ↑ "Holiday Issue 2018/2019". Issuu (in Japanese). JPy Magazine. October 30, 2018. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2020. これは私が18歳の時に人生で初めて入れたタトゥーで、自分のルーツを忘れないように、自分の苗字とミドルネームの啓太郎を日本語で入れたの。
  4. 1 2 "Season 6 Spotlight: Gia Gunn". Drag Official. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018. With a drag name originating from 70s fashion model Gia Carangi and fashion consultant Tim Gunn...
  5. ↑ "Gia Gunn". RuPaul's DragCon. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  6. ↑ "RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz - Gia Gunn "Lady Boy" Music Video". YouTube. January 28, 2014. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Last Words With RuPaul's Drag Race's Gia Gunn". March 27, 2014. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  8. ↑ ""The Switch" Season Two Premieres: Watch Gia Gunn and Kandy Ho Compete for the Crown in Chile!". The WOW Report. March 26, 2018. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Fuera la primera draga boricua de "The Switch"". Metro (in European Spanish). June 2018. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  10. ↑ @todotvnews (July 16, 2018). "Mega triunfa con el final de su adaptación de RuPaul's Drag Race". ttvnews (in Spanish). todotvmedia. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  11. ↑ Swift, Andy (November 9, 2018). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 4 Cast Revealed — Who Are You Rooting For?". TVLine. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  12. ↑ Swift, Andy (December 29, 2018). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Recap: Which Queen Literally Got the Boot?". TVLine. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  13. ↑ Rogers, Matt (January 18, 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Recap: 4 Shots of Adrenaline". Vulture. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Gia Gunn spills: My confrontation with RuPaul was edited out of Drag Race". Who.com.au. January 2019. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Laganja Estranja and Gia Gunn STUN at the Marco Marco Fashion Show". September 8, 2017. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  16. ↑ WOWPresents (June 25, 2018), Teaser | Follow Me: Gia Gunn - Available NowoOn WOW Presents Plus!, archived from the original on February 25, 2019, retrieved June 26, 2018
  17. ↑ "This Claws Recap Starring Drag Race Queens Is Everything". E! Online. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  18. ↑ "#TEAMTOOMUCH - Puff Puff Sessions w/ Laganja + Gia". YouTube. April 10, 2018. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  19. ↑ Bring out the Gunnz (feat. Ryan Miistmak3r), iTunes, July 31, 2015, archived from the original on June 15, 2018, retrieved June 14, 2018
  20. ↑ Stun (feat. Gia Gunn) by Alaska Thunderfuck, iTunes, October 14, 2016, archived from the original on June 14, 2018, retrieved June 14, 2018
  21. 1 2 Alaska Thunderfuck, Alaska Thunderfuck - STUN [Official] ft. Gia Gunn, archived from the original on April 21, 2019, retrieved January 29, 2019
  22. ↑ Gia Gunn Entertainment (August 29, 2018), Gia Gunn - #LaChinaMasLatina ft. Alaska Thunderfuck [Official Video], archived from the original on August 29, 2018, retrieved August 31, 2018
  23. ↑ "Laganja Estranja And Gia Gunn Do A Drag King Makeover In Smokin' New Music Video". LOGO News. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  24. ↑ Lu, Fei (February 1, 2019). "There's More to Gia Gunn Than RuPaul's Drag Race". L'Officiel. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  25. ↑ Ferrendi, Brittany. "RuPaul's Gia Gunn Comes Out as Transgender". Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  26. ↑ Bollinger, Alex (August 20, 2017). "Gia Gunn announces that her birth certificate has been corrected". LGBTQ Nation. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Transgender women on 'Drag Race'? RuPaul's remarks spawn backlash". NBC News. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  28. ↑ ""Drag Race" Star Gia Gunn Is Crowdfunding Her Gender-Confirming Surgeries". LOGO News. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Drag Race star Gia Gunn issues apology after claiming that coronavirus pandemic is "a hoax"". June 27, 2020.
  30. ↑ Bianca Del Rio [@TheBiancaDelRio] (July 17, 2021). "@GiaGunn GIRL… 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
  31. ↑ Mrs. Kasha Davis [@KashaDavis] (July 17, 2021). "@GiaGunn Is this tweet a hoax? Is covid a hoax like you've previously said??? OR is it just NOW important because it's affecting you? I truly hope you feel better both with covid symptoms and your ego adjustment. 🙏🏼💋" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
  32. ↑ "Alyssa's Secret: Gia Gunn Officially Joins the Haus of Edwards!". The WOW Report. January 4, 2016. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Here's how the season 11 queens link to past Drag Race contestants". January 25, 2019. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  34. ↑ Sani, Niko (June 6, 2019). "KYGO DROPS MUSIC VIDEO FOR "NOT OK" FEATURING CHELSEA CUTLER". edm.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  35. ↑ Megarry, Daniel. "Premiere: Rigel Gemini drops I Can't music video featuring Alyssa Edwards and Gia Gunn". GayTimes. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  36. ↑ Jekanoski, Cassie (August 10, 2021). ""It's the 一 For Me": A Rigel Gemini Experience ft. Gia Gunn". Office Magazine. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  37. ↑ St. James, James (December 23, 2014). "Transformations: Gia Gunn Serves FISH for Christmas!". WorldofWonder.net. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  38. ↑ TEAMTOOMUCH - Puff Puff Sessions w/ Laganja + Gia. YouTube. April 10, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  39. ↑ Frye, Javay (June 25, 2018). "Follow Me Docu-Series Premieres on WOW Presents Plus! Take a Deeper, More Personal Look in the Life of Sickening Queen Gia Gunn". WorldofWonder.net. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  40. ↑ Rudolph, Christopher (December 30, 2018). ""Whatcha Packin'": Michelle Visage Sits Down With This Week's Eliminated Queen". NewNowNext.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  41. ↑ Duffy, Nick (October 23, 2019). "Drag Race star Gia Gunn says she postponed surgery so she could compete on All Stars". Pink News. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
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