Alaska Thunderfuck

Alaska Thunderfuck
Alaska Thunderfuck in 2013
Born	Justin Andrew Honard
Residence	Los Angeles, California, US
Other names	Alaska, Alaska Thunderf*ck 5000, Alaska 5000, Alaska Thunderfun
Alma mater	University of Pittsburgh
Occupation	Drag queen recording artist
Known for	RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 2) winner
Predecessor	Chad Michaels
Family	Cory Binney
Website	alaskathunderfuck.com

Alaska Thunderfuck (also known mononymously as Alaska, or as Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, Alaska 5000) is the stage name of Justin Honard,^[1] an American drag performer and recording artist. Alaska is best known for competing in the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where she was a runner-up. She later returned for the second season of RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race, where she was crowned the winner.

Early life

Honard was raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Fort LeBoeuf High School in 2003.^[2][1] He studied theater at the University of Pittsburgh.^[3] Honard has a half-brother named Cory Binney, with whom he stars in a World of Wonder web series, Bro'Laska. He also has an older sister Brooke, and a younger brother Ryan.^[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 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]

It was announced in November 2012 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, Jinkx Monsoon was declared the winner and 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 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 pursued a music career, and released a string of singles, namely "Ru Girl", "Your Makeup Is Terrible", and "Nails". In June 2015, Alaska's debut album, Anus, was released to positive reviews. Singles from the album included "Hieeee" and "This is My Hair".^{[22][23][24][25][26]}

In 2016, Alaska returned to Drag Race for the second season of Rupaul's Drag Race All Stars.^[27] She received some backlash due to some of her choices of eliminations, and her behavior towards the end of the competition. In response to the backlash, Alaska donated $5,000 to the charity Trans Kids Purple Rainbow and posted an apology video online. In the season finale, she was crowned the second winner of All Stars.^[28][29][30]

On October 14, 2016, Alaska released her second album, titled Poundcake.^[31] Three singles from the album have been released: "The T", "Stun", "Puppet". The album is named after the puppet challenge on RuPaul's Drag Race where Alaska and fellow contestant Lineysha Sparx created a rebellious puppet called Lil' Poundcake.^[32] Alaska features other drag queens on her album such as Adore Delano, Jackie Beat, Miss Fame and Gia Gunn.

In October, 2016 Alaska modeled in a fashion show held by the fashion brand, Marco Marco, which is known for its runways filled with people from the LGBT community. Alaska walked the runway while she performed her new hit "Puppet" live with backup dancers.^[33] She mentioned that being a part of the Marco Marco fashion show is a dream come true for any drag queen.^[34]

Artistry

Alaska Thunderfuck is Jer Ber Jones's drag daughter.^[35] Jones is noted for pioneering "tranimal" drag, which originated in Los Angeles and emphasized non-traditional drag influences such as Leigh Bowery and the Cockettes.^[36] Honard's drag name is derived from Alaskan Thunderfuck, a strain of marijuana. Alaska counts Divine, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Marilyn Monroe as her main influences. Her drag character's back story revolves around being an alien from the planet Glamtron who crash-landed on Earth.^[37][38]

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Filmography

Film

Television

Web series

Theatre

Music videos

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Alaska Thunderfuck

• Official website
• Justin Andrew Honard on IMDb