Michelle Visage

Michelle Visage

Birthday: September 20
Birthplace: Perth Amboy, New Jersey

Multiple Emmy and Producer's Guild Award winning, internationally renowned television personality, radio show host, podcast host, platinum-selling recording artist and author, Michelle Visage has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, across multiple mediums for the past three decades.

Multiple Emmy and Producer's Guild Award winning, internationally renowned television personality, radio show host, podcast host, platinum-selling recording artist and author, Michelle Visage has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, across multiple mediums for the past three decades.

Visage initially rose to fame as a member of the girl group (A&M) Seduction in the early 1990s, with their platinum-selling album "Nothing Matters Without Love," that spawned multiple hits that climbed the billboard charts. Visage was also featured on the best selling soundtrack of all time [35 million copies sold], THE BODYGUARD [Warner Brothers Pictures], with her remake of Bill Withers' "It's Gonna Be A Lovely Day," that she wrote and sang. Visage was immediately signed to Arista Records by Clive Davis himself.

Today, Visage can be seen as head judge on the multiple Emmy Award winning show, RuPaul's Drag Race, alongside iconic host, RuPaul. The reality competition show leaves fans wanting more each week with Michelle's rapid-fire quick wit, impeccable sense of style and signature sass, as the judges decide who will stay or "Sashay Away." Her work extends across some of the international spinoffs including "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" (BBC3, BBC1, and WOW Presents Plus) where she can be seen next to RuPaul, Graham Norton and Alan Carr.

Visage's judging expertise can also be seen on the Paramount+ hit series, Queen of the Universe - the world's first all drag queen singing competition - in addition to her time on both seasons of the IFTA-nominated Ireland's Got Talent.

Michelle was recently announced as the new host of Drag Race Down Under (Stan TV, TVNZ, and WOW Presents Plus).

In addition to her iconic work as a judge, Visage serves as the host of companion series RuPaul's Drag Race: Whatcha Packin'?  - the weekly series where she sits down with the eliminated queens to discuss life and fashion, earning herself another Emmy nomination this time for Whatcha Packin'. Fans have also seen Visage on her reality show How's Your Head, Hun? where she and her family kept everyone's spirits high during lockdown. In 2019, Visage competed and dominated in UK's biggest show, Strictly Come Dancing, leaving after a controversial dance off. She was the fan favorite and fell in love with the world of dancing!

Visage has also been a staple on morning radio for 17 years, hosting and co-hosting programs on various stations such as WKTU 103.5 [New York], HOT 92.3 [Los Angeles], SUNNY 104.3 [West Palm Beach, FL], WMIA [Miami] and Sirius XM, to name a few. In this time, Michelle has recorded thousands of commercials and delivered even more live reads. She was the co-host of the hugely successful RuPaul's What's the Tee? With Michelle Visage podcast, which won a 2018 Webby Award as well as the show having been downloaded over 50 million times and is now the host of her own podcast on the BBC entitled "Rule Breakers with Michelle Visage" and has a weekly Fabulous Friday night show on BBC radio 2 in the UK.

She is also the author of bestseller "The Diva Rules" [Chronicle Books], offering advice for living life to the fullest, and finding success no matter what hand you're dealt.

Visage currently splits her time between Los Angeles and London. She shares her life with her husband of 28 years, two great kids and two rescue pups.

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Awards & Nominations

7 Nominations | 4 Emmys
Outstanding Reality Competition Program - 2024
Outstanding Reality Competition Program - 2023
Outstanding Competition Program - 2022
Outstanding Competition Program - 2021
Outstanding Competition Program - 2020
Outstanding Competition Program - 2019

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Rupaul Charles, Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley of RuPaul's Drag Race in the audience at the 76th Emmy Awards
The team from RuPaul's Drag Race on the red carpet at the 76th Emmy Awards
The team from RuPaul's Drag Race backstage at the 75th Emmy Awards
The team from RuPaul's Drag Race accepts the award for Outstanding Reality Competition Series at the 75th Emmy Awards
RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage
Michelle Visage, RuPaul Charles, Gottmik, and Symone on the Winners’ Walk at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Symone, Gottmik, RuPaul, and Michelle Visage accept an award at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race team accepts their award at the 71st Emmy Awards.
College Television Awards
RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley and Ross Mathews
Ross Mathews, RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley
RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage, Hector Pocasangre
Michael Jacob Kerber, Ben Dey, RuPaul Charles, Nick Murray, Michelle Visage
Leah Remini, Michelle Visage and RuPaul Charles
RuPaul Charles and Michelle Visage
Carson Kressley, RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Ross Mathews on the red carpet at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.
Television Academy performers celebration
Television Academy performers celebration
Zaldy Goco, from left, Michelle Visage, and RuPaul Charles on the red carpet at the 2016 Creative Arts Emmys.
Fill 1
Fill 1
Rupaul Charles, Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley of RuPaul's Drag Race in the audience at the 76th Emmy Awards
Camera

RuPaul, Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley of RuPaul's Drag Race at the 76th Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
The team from RuPaul's Drag Race on the red carpet at the 76th Emmy Awards
Camera

The team from RuPaul's Drag Race on the red carpet at the 76th Emmy Awards 

Invision/AP
The team from RuPaul's Drag Race backstage at the 75th Emmy Awards
Camera

The team from RuPaul's Drag Race backstage at the 75th Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
The team from RuPaul's Drag Race accepts the award for Outstanding Reality Competition Series at the 75th Emmy Awards
Camera

The team from RuPaul's Drag Race accepts the award for Outstanding Reality Competition Series

Invision/AP
RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage
Camera

RuPaul Charles and Michelle Visage of RuPaul's Drag Race on the red carpet

Invision/AP
Michelle Visage, RuPaul Charles, Gottmik, and Symone on the Winners’ Walk at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Camera

Michelle Visage, RuPaul Charles, Gottmik, and Symone of RuPaul's Drag Race on the Winners’ Walk at the 73rd Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
Symone, Gottmik, RuPaul, and Michelle Visage accept an award at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Camera

Symone, Gottmik, RuPaul, and Michelle Visage accept the award for Outstanding Competition Series for RuPaul's Drag Race at the 73rd Emmy Awards 

Invision/AP
The RuPaul’s Drag Race team accepts their award at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Camera

The RuPaul’s Drag Race team accepts their award at the 71st Emmy Awards. 

Invision/AP
College Television Awards
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Alaska and Michelle Visage at the 39th College Television Awards presented by the Television Academy Foundation at the Saban Media Center on Saturday, March 16, 2019, in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley and Ross Mathews
Camera

RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley and Ross Mathews on the red carpet at the 70th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Ross Mathews, RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley
Camera

Ross Mathews, RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley on the red carpet at the 70th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage, Hector Pocasangre
Camera

RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage and Hector Pocasangre at the 2018 Creative Arts Ball. 

Invision/AP
Michael Jacob Kerber, Ben Dey, RuPaul Charles, Nick Murray, Michelle Visage
Camera

Michael Jacob Kerber, Ben Dey, RuPaul Charles, Nick Murray and Michelle Visage at the 2018 Creative Arts Ball. 

Invision/AP
Leah Remini, Michelle Visage and RuPaul Charles
Camera

Leah Remini, Michelle Visage and RuPaul Charles at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
RuPaul Charles and Michelle Visage
Camera

RuPaul Charles and Michelle Visage on the red carpet at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
Carson Kressley, RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Ross Mathews on the red carpet at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.
Camera

Carson Kressley, RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Ross Mathews on the red carpet at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.

Invision/AP
Television Academy performers celebration
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Kathryn Hahn, Tracee Ellis Ross, RuPaul, Tony Hale, and Michelle Visage attend the Television Academy's 2017 Performers Peer Group Celebration of the 69th Emmy Awards at Montage Beverly Hills on Monday, August 21, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
Television Academy performers celebration
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Michelle Visage, RuPaul, Delta Work, and Ross Matthews attend the Television Academy's 2017 Performers Peer Group Celebration of the 69th Emmy Awards at Montage Beverly Hills on Monday, August 21, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California.

Invision/AP
Zaldy Goco, from left, Michelle Visage, and RuPaul Charles on the red carpet at the 2016 Creative Arts Emmys.
Camera

Zaldy Goco, from left, Michelle Visage, and RuPaul Charles on the red carpet at the 2016 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
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