Raja Gemini
Raja at the 2022 RuPaul's DragCon LA
Born
Sutan Ibrahim Karim Amrullah

(1974-06-14) June 14, 1974
Baldwin Park, California, U.S.
Other names
  • Raja
  • Sutan Amrull
  • Crayola
EducationCalifornia State University, Fullerton
Occupation(s)Make-up artist
Drag performer
Television personality
Recording Artist
Years active1990–present
Known forRuPaul's Drag Race (season 3) RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 7)
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
PredecessorTyra Sanchez
SuccessorSharon Needles
Spouse
Ryan Turner
​
(m. 2017)​
RelativesWilly Amrull (father)
Hamka (half-uncle)
Websitehttps://rajagemini.com

Sutan Ibrahim Karim Amrullah ['suːtɑn ˈibrahɪm ka.riːm ˈamruːla]; (born June 14, 1974), often shortened to Sutan Amrull, is an American drag performer and make-up artist who also goes by the stage name Raja Gemini or simply Raja. They are best known for winning the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Amrullah later returned to compete on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, an all-winners season, where she won the title "Queen Of She Done Already Done Had Herses". Outside of drag, Amrullah is also known for their makeup artistry on the reality television show America's Next Top Model[1] (cycles four through twelve). Amrullah's clients include Tyra Banks, Dita von Teese, Pamela Anderson, Paulina Porizkova, Iman, Iggy Azalea, RuPaul, and Twiggy. Since 2009, Amrullah has been make-up artist to singer Adam Lambert for print media, live U.S. appearances, and Lambert's international 2010 Glam Nation Tour.

Amrullah previously co-hosted the podcast Very That alongside Delta Work.[2]

Early life

Amrullah was born in Baldwin Park, California. They are of Dutch and Indonesian descent.[3] Their late father, Abdul Wadud Karim Amrullah, was the younger brother of Indonesian ʿālim and philosopher Hamka.[4] When they were three, their family moved to the island of Bali in Indonesia, their parents' native country, where they stayed for six years before returning to the U.S.[5]

Career

Career beginnings

At sixteen years of age, Amrullah got into the drag scene by attending L.A. nightclubs with friends. They were part of a sector of drag that was inspired by the goth and punk subcultures.[6] The first few years of their drag career in the early '90s were spent as a club kid named Crayola.[7]

Amrullah attended Bassett High School, then California State University, Fullerton as an art student, focusing on art direction and illustration, for two years, then decided to pursue a career in makeup artistry and female impersonation.[8][9]

RuPaul's Drag Race

Raja at their RuPaul's DragCon LA booth in 2022

They were a contestant on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race as Raja.[10] They were a member of the "Heathers" clique,[11][12] which took its name from the popular cult film Heathers. In the final episode, after a lip-sync battle with Manila Luzon, Raja was declared the winner of the show's third season and crowned America's Next Drag Superstar.[13] As part of their duties as the third-season winner of Drag Race, Amrullah toured the U.S. and Canada on Logo's Drag Race Tour in 2011.[14][15]

In 2014, Raja joined the Drag Race Battle of the Seasons tour where they performed a lip-sync duet with Manila Luzon to the Babymetal song "Gimme Chocolate!!"

In April 2022, Raja was announced as one of the eight returning winners that would be competing in seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, the first ever all-winners season of Drag Race.[16] They won the title of "Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses" and a prize of $50,000.[17]

Other ventures

Amrullah was a make up artist on America's Next Top Model from 2005 until 2009.[18]

In May 2011, Amrullah released their first single as Raja, titled "Diamond Crowned Queen."[19] The single debuted at number fifty on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs,[20] before peaking at number thirty-five.[21] On August 21, 2012, their second single "Sublime" was released. Their third single, "Zubi Zubi Zubi" (roughly translating to "Dance Dance Dance"), was released June 1, 2013.[22]

Since 2014, they have presented the weekly WOWPresents YouTube series RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Photo RuView with fellow Drag Race alumna Raven.[23]

In February 2017, they starred as an intergalactic creature in the music video for Blondie's single "Fun".[24] They also appeared in the "Make Love Not Walls" Diesel campaign directed by David LaChapelle and in a campaign for Urban Decay alongside fellow Drag Race alumni Alaska, Jiggly Caliente, and Katya.

Amrullah has created and performed live drag shows as Raja in Provincetown, Massachusetts, such as Gawdess (2017),[25] Masque (2018),[26] and Lush Life (2019).[27]

Amrullah guest starred as themself in The Simpsons episode "Werking Mom," which aired on November 18, 2018.[28][29] In June 2019, they were one of 37 queens to be featured on the cover of New York Magazine.[30]

Raja at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2019

Personal life

On December 14, 2017, Amrullah married Ryan Turner at a small ceremony at City Hall in Norwalk, California.[31][32]

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with selected details and chart positions
Title Year Peak chart position
US
Dance
[33]
"Diamond Crowned Queen" 2011 35
"Sublime" 2012 —
"Zubi Zubi Zubi" 2013 —
"Cholita" 2015 —
"Divine" 2017 —
"Moodbored" 2019 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
List of featured singles
Title Year
"Legends" (Cast Version)
(RuPaul featuring the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, season 7)		 2022
"Titanic" (MSTR)
(with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, season 7)		 2022

Other appearances

Title Year Other Artist(s) Album
"Lady Marmalade" 2014 Raja, Delta Work, Manila Luzon and Carmen Carrera (as The Heathers) Non-album single

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Angels! Tawngy Davis
2008 The Young and Evil Maxie Short
2015 TupiniQueens Themself Documentary

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2005-2009 America's Next Top Model Themself Make Up Department
2011 RuPaul's Drag Race Themself/Contestant Season 3, Winner
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Season 3
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race Themself Season 4, Episode 13: "The Final Three" – Guest
RuPaul's Drag U Themself/Professor
2013 NewNowNext Awards Themself
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8, Episode 1: "Keeping It 100!" (100th episode) – Guest
Season 8, Episode 10: "Grand Finale" – Guest
2018 The Simpsons Season 30, Episode 7: "Werking Mom"
The Browns Guest appearance [34]
2019 RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11, Episode 1: "Whatcha Unpackin?" – Guest
2021 Painted with Raven Themself Guest judge (1 episode) [35]
2022 The Kelly Clarkson Show Guest [36]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 7) Contestant [16]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked (season 7) [37]
Countdown to All Stars 7: You’re a Winner Baby VH1 special [38]
The View Guest [39]
2023 Drag Me to Dinner Hulu original [40]

Web

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2013 Ring My Bell Themself Guest [41]
2013 SubCultures: Drag Queens feat. Raja Gemini & Vicky Vox By SoulPancake [42]
2014–present RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Photo RuView Cohost with Raven [43]
2014 Paint Me Bitch Episode: "Sutan Amrull" [44]
2015 Raja Drawja Host [45]
2015 Hey Qween Episode: "Raja" [46]
2015 Olivia Culpo is Transformed into Farrah Fawcett by Make-up Artist Raja By Refinery29 [47]
2016 100 Years of Drag Queen Fashion By Vanity Fair [48]
2017-2023 The Pit Stop Host; Guest (S15) [49][50]
2019 Reading Queens Guest [51]
2019 Hey Qween Episode: "Raja on the Hey Qween Halloween Special" [52]
2019 Puff Puff Sessions Guest [53]
2020 Working Out is a Drag Guest [54]
2021 Wanna Be On Top? Podcast, guest [55]
2022 Around the Table Guest, By Entertainment Weekly [56]
2022 BuzzFeed Celeb Guest [57]
2022 Friendship Test Guest, By Glamour [58]
2022 Be Coming Guest, By Them [59]
2022 Drip Or Drop? Guest, By Cosmopolitan [60]

Music videos

Year Title Artist
1994 "Everlasting Love" Gloria Estefan
2011 "Champion" RuPaul
"Diamond Crowned Queen" Themself
2012 "Amazing"[61] Hi Fashion
"Sublime" Themself
2013 "RuPaulogize" Willam Belli
"Zubi Zubi Zubi" Themself
2014 "Lady Marmalade" The Heathers
"Ransom"[62] MOXXI
2015 "Not a Pearl" Willam Belli
2015 "Cholita" Themself
2016 "Anus" Alaska Thunderfuck
2017 "Fun" Blondie
2018 "Excuse the Beauty" Latrice Royale
2019 "Go Fish" Manila Luzon
"Comin in Hot"[63] Adam Lambert
"Moodbored"[64] Themself
2020 "Nerves of Steel"[65] Erasure
2021 "Shoes"[66] Themself

Awards and nominations

Year Award-giving body Category Work Results Ref.
2023 Queerty Awards Drag Royalty Themself Won [67]

References

  1. ↑ Loza, Josefina (September 11, 2010). "Designer eyes leaving Omaha to achieve their dreams". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  2. ↑ Hecht, Evan (October 28, 2021). "Seven drag artist podcasts you need to check out". DBK News. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  3. ↑ @sutanamrull (May 29, 2019). "I am indonesian. I am a blend of Indonesian and Dutch (on my mother's side)(…)" – via Instagram.
  4. ↑ Amrullah, Abdul Wadud Karim (2016). Sumatran Warrior: Mighty Man of Love and Courage. Westbow Press. ISBN 9781512731835.
  5. ↑ Renzi, Dan (May 12, 2011). "'Drag Race' Winner Sutan Amrull, a.k.a. Raja, Wants You To Have Sex In Heels". Queerty. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Interview: Drag Queen Raja Talks About His Start in Drag, Coming Out to His Family and His Favorite Beauty Tip". Alive. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  7. ↑ RDR 909: Fashion Photo RuView 423 | WOWPresents. WOWPresentsPlus. May 24, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  8. ↑ Nunn, Jerry. "Raja Gemini interview with ChicagoPride.com". ChicagoPride.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  9. ↑ The Power Group – Sutan Amrull
  10. ↑ Jessie Peterson (July 14, 2014). "Conchita Wurst Walked At Paris Fashion Week, Might Be Drag's New Fashion Superstar". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  11. ↑ Tanner Stransky (May 3, 2011). "'RuPaul's Drag Race: Reunited!': 'The Drag Race may be over, but the real drama is just getting started...'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ Davis, Madeliene (March 1, 2011). "RuPaul's Drag Race Takes a Page Out of Heathers". Gawker. Gawker Media. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  13. ↑ Parsley, Aaron (April 26, 2011). "What's Next for the Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race?". People. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  14. ↑ John Polly (May 11, 2011). "Get Ready! The RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3 Winner's Tour Is Sashaying Your Way!". LOGO Blog. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  15. ↑ Jethro Nededog (April 26, 2011). "'RuPaul's Drag Race': Raja on their controversial win, 'I don't mind the criticism'". Zap2It. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  16. 1 2 Nolfi, Joey; Sederholm, Jillian (April 13, 2022). "RuPaul's Drag Race reveals first all-winners cast for All Stars 7". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  17. ↑ Quinn, Dave (July 29, 2022). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 7: And the Winner Is..." people.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  18. ↑ "About". Raja Gemini. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  19. ↑ Lyndsey Parker (February 17, 2015). "7 Actually Great Singles By 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Contestants". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Dance Club Play Songs - Week of July 02, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Dance Club Play Songs - Week of July 30, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  22. ↑ Dan Avery (June 1, 2013). "Raja Serves New Single, "Zubi Zubi Zubi": LISTEN". LOGO Blog. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Raja and Raven Star in New Web Series 'RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Photo RuView'". Drag Official. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Watch Raja Play A Psychedelic Space Queen In New Blondie Music Video". LOGO News. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  25. ↑ Yaeko, Sydney (September 11, 2017). "Raja's closing night speech for GAWDESS in P-Town: Icon Alert". sydney yaeko.
  26. ↑ Creighton, Kathy (September 10, 2018). "Maxi Challenge - Raja Live". Fourculture Magazine.
  27. ↑ Desroches, Steve (August 6, 2019). "REVIEW: Raja - Lush Life". Provincetown Magazine.
  28. ↑ "RuPaul and Drag Race winner Raja sashay into the Simpsons and it is everything". November 19, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Sutan RAJA on Instagram: "Here he is everyone! I am so proud to announce my cameo appearance on #theSimpsons ! I cant describe how honored I am to have been asked…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  30. ↑ "On The Cover: The Most Powerful Drag Queens In America".
  31. ↑ Rudolph, Christopher (December 18, 2018). ""Drag Race" Season 3 Winner Raja Marries Husband In Surprise Wedding". NewNowNext. Viacom International. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  32. ↑ Lopez, David (December 17, 2017). "'Drag Race' Winner, Raja, Marries Husband in Surprise Wedding". Instinct Magazine. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Dance Songs: Top Dance Music Chart – August 6, 2011". Billboard. August 6, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2015. (subscription required)
  34. ↑ Patterson, Denny (November 11, 2021). "'The Browns' Are Back in Town with a Second Season". Out Front Magazine. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  35. ↑ Ting, Jasmine (November 11, 2021). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Raven Has a New Makeup Competition Show That You *Must* Watch". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  36. ↑ 'Drag Race' Winners Monét X Change, Shea Couleé, Yvie Oddly & Raja Gemini On Returning For All Stars. The Kelly Clarkson Show. April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  37. ↑ Adam B. Vary (April 13, 2022). "'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' to Feature All-Winner Cast for Season 7". Variety. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  38. ↑ Roberts, Kayleigh (May 2, 2022). "How to Watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7'". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  39. ↑ ""RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" Season 7 Cast Takes Over 'The View' Part 1 | The View". YouTube. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  40. ↑ Rice, Lynette (May 1, 2023). "'Drag Me To Dinner': Hulu Announces Premiere Date For Unscripted Series From Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka". Deadline.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  41. ↑ Raja - Ring My Bell. YouTube. April 25, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  42. ↑ "SoulPancake Has Raja Gemini And Vicky Vox Reveal Another Side Of Drag (VIDEO)". HuffPost. July 31, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  43. ↑ RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Photo RuView with Raja and Raven - Episode 1. YouTube. February 26, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  44. ↑ Paint Me Bitch Ep 05 - Sutan Amrull. YouTube. December 12, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  45. ↑ Raja Drawja - Willam. YouTube. March 23, 2015. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  46. ↑ RuPaul's Drag Race Star Raja on Hey Qween with Jonny McGovern | Hey Qween. YouTube. June 15, 2015. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  47. ↑ Olivia Culpo is Transformed into Farrah Fawcett by Make-up Artist Raja | Refinery29. YouTube. September 17, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  48. ↑ 100 Years of Drag Queen Fashion | Vanity Fair. YouTube. October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  49. ↑ The Pit Stop w/ Raja & Raven | RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 9 Ep 10) | Now on VH1. YouTube. March 29, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  50. ↑ The Pit Stop S15 E14 🏁 | Bianca Del Rio & Raja Cut Up! | RuPaul's Drag Race S15. YouTube. April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  51. ↑ Raja: Reading Queens With Char Margolis. YouTube. September 18, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  52. ↑ RAJA ON THE HEY QWEEN! HALLOWEEN SPECIAL. Hey Qween! TV. October 30, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  53. ↑ Puff Puff Sessions - Laganja Estranja and Raja Do Magic!. YouTube. December 30, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  54. ↑ WOWPresents (July 8, 2020). "Raja: WORKING OUT IS A DRAG 104" (YouTube video). Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  55. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (April 9, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race champ Shea Couleé to host America's Next Top Model podcast". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  56. ↑ "Around the Table With 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7' | Around the Table | Entertainment Weekly". Entertainment Weekly. April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  57. ↑ "The Queens Of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7" Play Who's Who". BuzzFeed Celeb. May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  58. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Take a Friendship Test | Glamour". Youtube.com. June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  59. ↑ "Raja Breaks Down Her Drag Career, RuPaul's All Stars & Fashion Photo RuView | Them". Youtube.com. June 29, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  60. ↑ "Ru Paul's Drag Race All Stars Rating Looks From Other Queens *ICONIC* | Drip Or Drop? | Cosmopolitan". Youtube.com. July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  61. ↑ Spargo, Chris (September 19, 2012). "Raja Cameos In Hi Fashion 'Amazing' Video: Watch". NewNowNext.com. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  62. ↑ Bendix, Trish (November 4, 2017). "20 Music Videos With Drag Queen Cameos". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  63. ↑ "Adam Lambert is "Comin in Hot" on his new single". Lab.fm. June 26, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  64. ↑ Daw, Stephen (November 4, 2019). "Raja Celebrates the Day of the Dead in New 'Moodbored' Video". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  65. ↑ Erasure (August 11, 2020). "Erasure - Nerves of Steel (Official Video)" (YouTube video). Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  66. ↑ Song, Sandra (April 6, 2021). "Raja Gives Kelly's 'Shoes' a High Fashion Makeover". Paper. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  67. ↑ "Drag Royalty Nominees". The Queerties. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
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