Alaska Thunderfuck 5000

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000

Alaska Thunderfuck in 2014
Born Justin Andrew Honard
March 6, 1985
Erie, Pennsylvania
Residence Los Angeles, California U.S.
Other names Alaska, Alaska Thunderfuck, Alaska 5000
Occupation Drag performer, recording artist
Website
AlaskaThunderfuck.com

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, also known known mononymously as Alaska or as Alaska Thunderfuck, and Alaska 5000,[1] is the stage name of Justin Honard, an American drag performer and recording artist. Honard is best known for appearing on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Early life

Justin Andrew Honard was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Fort LeBoeuf High School in 2003.[2][3] He studied theater at the University of Pittsburgh.[4]

Career

Honard originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Dissatisfied with the auditioning process, he turned to drag and got a job at the West Hollywood club, Fubar.[5] He frequently performed in the Trannyshack shows in Los Angeles.[6] In 2009, he performed in Palm Springs Gay Pride with Tammie Brown and Jer Ber Jones.[7]

Honard met future boyfriend Sharon Needles through Myspace in December 2009 and eventually moved back to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to live with him in 2010.[2] Along with Sharon Needles and Cherri Baum, he formed the band the Haus of Haunt, which later evolved into a drag troupe based out of the bar the Blue Moon.[8] As part of the Haus of Haunt, he helped present the Pittsburgh debut of fellow drag queen and recording artist Christeene Vale in 2013.[9] Alaska later impersonated Christeene for the music video "RuPaulogize" by Willam Belli.[10]

In November 2012, Logo announced that Alaska Thunderfuck was among 14 drag queens who would be competing on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, but would be known by the mononym Alaska.[2][11] He had previously auditioned every season for the show.[5] Alaska won the fragrance commercial-themed main challenge in the episode "Scent of a Drag Queen" and the main challenge for "Sugar Ball."[12][13] As part of the show, Alaska sang on the "We Are the World"-inspired song "Can I Get an Amen?". The song's proceeds helped benefit the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.[14] In May 2013, during the season finale, Alaska was declared the runner-up of the season, along with fellow competitor Roxxxy Andrews.

In October 2013, Alaska performed as Dr. Frank N. Furter in the Woodlawn Theatre's production of The Rocky Horror Show. RuPaul's Drag Race judge Michelle Visage and season four contestant Willam Belli also starred in the musical.[15]

Since appearing on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Honard has toured and performed consistently, appearing in RuPaul’s Drag Race Battle of the Seasons shows, the Drag Stars at Sea cruises, custom one-woman shows such as a Stevie Nicks tribute called "Stevie Forever", a cabaret show called "Red for Filth", and a holiday show called "Blue Christmas".[16][17][18] During the summer of 2014, he starred in a stage production of "Sex and the City".[19] With brother Cory Binney, Honard has a web series sponsored by World of Wonder, called Bro’Laska.[20] Alaska recently became a spokesmodel for American apparel alongside Willam Belli and Courtney Act.[21]

Honard has since perused a music career, and has released a string of singles, namely “Ru Girl”, “Your Makeup Is Terrible”, and "Nails". In December 2014, it was announced that these singles would be featured on Alaska's debut album, set to be released sometime in 2015.[22]

Artistry

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 is Jer Ber Jones' drag daughter.[23] Jones is noted for pioneering "tranimal" drag, which originated in Los Angeles and emphasized nontraditional drag influences such as Leigh Bowery and the Cockettes.[24] Honard's drag name is derived from Alaskan Thunderfuck, a strain of marijuana. Alaska counts Divine, Britney Spears, and Marilyn Monroe as influences. His drag character's back story revolves around being an alien who crash-landed from the planet Glamtron.[1][25]

Personal life

Honard lives in Los Angeles. In November 2013 it was announced that Honard and his boyfriend Aaron Coady, more commonly known as Sharon Needles, had split up after a 4-year relationship.[26] Honard has indicated in several interviews that sometime in 2013, he decided to go clean and sober, and has remained sober since.[27]

Discography

Singles

Title Year Album
"Ru Girl" 2013 TBA
"Your Makeup Is Terrible" 2014
"Nails"
"American Apparel Ad Girls" (with Courtney Act & Willam Belli) non-album singles
"Dear Santa, Bring Me a Man" (with Courtney Act & Willam Belli)

As featured artist

Title Year Album
"Let's Get Something Started"
(Candy Apple Blue featuring Alaska Thunderfuck)		 2013 non-album singles
"Can I Get an Amen?"
(Rupaul featuring Drag Race Season 5 Cast)

Other appearances

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Kai Kai" 2013 Sharon Needles, Ana Matronic PG-13

Music videos

Title Year Other artist(s) Director
"Hooker Shoes" 2013 Amy Vodkahaus Michael David, Michael Quigley
"Let's Get Something Started" Candy Apple Blue Fading Brunette
"Can I Get an Amen?" Rupaul, Season 5 Cast Eve, Trina
"Ru Girl" Solo Carly Usdin
"Your Makeup is Terrible" 2014 Saša Numić
"Nails" Ben Simkins
"I Look Fuckin Cool" Adore Delano

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Himself Season 4 - Cameo in video message
2013 RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 - Runner-up
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
NewNowNext Awards
2015 The Art Of Episode: "The Art of Drag"

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Pure Camp[28] Himself Produced by World of Wonder
2014 Bro'Laska[20]

Theatre

Year Title Role Theatre
2013 The Rocky Horror Show[15] Dr. Frank N. Furter Woodlawn Theatre

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "ALASKA THUNDERFUCK". AlaskaThunderfuck.com. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nunn, Jerry (18 April 2013). "Alaska from RuPaul’s Drag Race dishes with Jerry Nunn". ChicagoPride.com. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  3. ↑ McCracken, Sean (13 March 2013). "High school friend on national reality competition". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Sciullo, Maria (28 January 2013). "Pittsburgh's 'Alaska' takes a turn on 'Drag Race'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Middleton, Josh (29 March 2013). "Interview: Alaska From RuPaul's Drag Race Talks About Life Post-Show and Her Love Affair with Sharon Needles". Philadelphia. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  6. ↑ Lucid, Michael (23 July 2009). "DAILY FREAK SHOW: JAMES GOES TO TRANNYSHACK". World of Wonder. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  7. ↑ Lucid, Michael (18 November 2009). "JAMES ST JAMES GOES TO THE ACE HOTEL". World of Wonder. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  8. ↑ Thunderfuck, Alaska (15 October 2012). "Just who did create the Haus of Haunt?". Facebook. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "Tickets for CHRISTEENE @ 6119 in Pittsburg from ShowClix". ShowClix. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  10. ↑ Higbee, Jonathan (22 April 2013). "Willam's Back With Brand New Video, "RuPaulogize"". IInstinct. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  11. ↑ Coughlan, Maggie (19 November 2012). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 Contestants Announced". People. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  12. ↑ Sava, Oliver (19 March 2013). "Scent of a Drag Queen". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  13. ↑ Sava, Oliver (16 April 2013). "Sugar Ball". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  14. ↑ Parker, Lyndsey (5 March 2013). "Great Musical Moments In Reality TV: RuPaul’s "Can I Get An Amen"". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Shorey, Eric (8 October 2013). "Willam, Alaska And Michelle Visage Get Ready To Rock "Rocky Horror Show": PHOTOS". New Now Next. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  16. ↑ "Alaska: Stevie Forever-The Laurie Beechman Theatre- Theatre In New York".
  17. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race".
  18. ↑ "Alaska Opens New Show, "Red For Filth," In NYC //". NewNowNext.
  19. ↑ "Sex and the City Live! San Francisco Tickets - $15.00 at Victoria Theatre.". Goldstar.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "BroLaska Starring Alaska Thunderfuck and Cory Binney". World of Wonder.
  21. ↑ "Exclusive: Alaska, Courtney Act, and Willam Belli Team Up With American Apparel". Out Magazine.
  22. ↑ "Alaska Thunderfuck - Nails [Official]". YouTube.
  23. ↑ Thunderfuck, Alaska (15 April 2013). "Twitter / Alaska5000: @yazzzy666 PB5K is one of my". Twitter. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  24. ↑ Shellhammer, Bradford. "jer ber jones (Bradford Shellhammer : Interviews)". BradfordShellhammer.com. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  25. ↑ Slice, Kymbo. "The Alaska Thunderfuck Interview". Nak You Out. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  26. ↑ "Sharon Needles And Alaska Thunderfuck Announce Break Up". The Huffington Post.
  27. ↑ "FOF #2039 – Alaska’s Makeup is Far from Terrible". Feast of Fun.
  28. ↑ Asea, Adam (22 August 2013). "The Premiere of Sharon Needles and Alaska: Pure Camp". World of Wonder. Retrieved 7 December 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alaska Thunderfuck 5000.
Preceded by
Chad Michaels & Phi Phi O'Hara		 RuPaul's Drag Race runner-up
Season 5 (2013) 		Succeeded by
Courtney Act & Adore Delano