Jaida Essence Hall

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Jaida Essence Hall
Born
Jared Johnson

(1986-12-09) December 9, 1986 (age 35)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationDrag queen
Known forRuPaul's Drag Race (season 12) winner
PredecessorYvie Oddly
SuccessorSymone
Websitejaidaehall.com

Jaida Essence Hall is the stage name of Jared Johnson, an American drag queen who won the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[1] In October 2020, Johnson was a featured performer in Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Fashion Show Vol. 2.

Early life[]

Johnson was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is the third contestant from the city to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race and second winner after Trixie Mattel (winner of All Stars Season 3). He cites Milwaukee's sense of community and diversity of drag as major influences. He performed for a period of time at Hamburger Mary's.[2]

Career[]

Johnson began drag in the early 2010s.[3][4] Her name is a product of personal anecdotes and experiences that hold meaning. A friend called her "Jaida" when she put on a wig for the first time, and the name stuck. "Essence" came from her boyfriend, who called her "the essence of beauty" in a text message.[5] "Hall" is the name of her drag family; her mothers are Tajma Hall and Prada Diamond, and her drag sisters are Mercedes Iman Diamond, Dida Ritz, and Kahmora Hall.[6][7][8]

She rose to prominence in the drag scene through pageantry, winning titles such as Miss Five, Miss Gay Madison, Miss Wisconsin Club, and Miss City of the Lakes.[3][4] She also performed a halftime show at a 2019 Milwaukee Bucks game.[4][9]

Jaida is known for her design eye and makes many of her own outfits; her boyfriend makes her jewelry.[7] She is also a makeup artist and painted Silky Nutmeg Ganache's face for the season eleven finale of RuPaul's Drag Race.[10]

In July and August 2020, Hall on toured with Drive 'N Drag, a drive-in drag show held outdoors to accommodate social distancing restrictions imposed due to COVID-19.[11][12] Johnson was featured on the cover of the September issue of Attitude magazine in 2020.[13] In October 2020, Johnson was a featured performer in Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Fashion Show Vol. 2.[14]

In September 2021, she performed alongside Christina Aguilera at LadyLand Festival.[15] The following month, she will perform at PridetoberFest at Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee,[16] and the 10th annual Night of the Living Drag: The North American Halloween Tour.[17] In December, she will perform at the 2021 A Drag Queen Christmas event, produced by Murray & Peter.[18]

RuPaul's Drag Race[]

Jaida was announced as a contestant on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race on January 23, 2020.[19] During her time on the show, she won three main challenges, including the Fosse-style number on episode two, the political debate on episode nine, and the makeover on episode ten. She also had one appearance in the bottom two, after a shaky performance in the one-woman show on episode eleven. Jaida ultimately sent fan favorite, and eventual Miss Congeniality winner, Heidi N Closet, home after a lip sync showdown to Prince's hit song "1999". She was crowned the winner (virtually) on May 29, 2020 after winning a three-way lip sync against Crystal Methyd and Gigi Goode to "Survivor" by Destiny's Child.[20][21] This performance earned Jaida a nomination for the 2020 People's Choice Awards, in the Competition Contestant category.[22]

She returned in the eleventh episode of the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars as a "Lip Sync Assassin", where she lipsynced against Eureka! to Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly".[23]

Personal life[]

Johnson identifies as queer.[24] He currently lives in West Allis.[25]

Filmography[]

Movies[]

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2020 Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 Herself Fashion special [14]

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2019 Milwaukee Bucks game Herself Halftime Show Performer [9]
2020 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 12) Contestant Winner [19]
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (season 12)
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Herself Guest [26]
2021 Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Herself Guest [27]
RuPaul's Drag Race (season 13) Herself Guest [28]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 6) Herself "Lip Sync Assassin" (episode 11) [23]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked (season 3)

Music videos[]

Year Title Artist Ref.
2020 "Legends Never Die" Orville Peck, Shania Twain [29]
2021 "GAP" Heidi N Closet [30]

Web series[]

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2020 Cosmo Queens Herself Guest [31]
2020 Whatcha Packin' Herself Guest [32]
2020 Countdown to The Crown Herself Guest [33]
2020 The Pit Stop Herself Guest [34]
2020 Exposed Herself Guest [35]
2020 Bring Back My Ghouls Herself Host [36]
2020 GAP Chat Herself Guest [37]
2020 BINGE Herself Podcast; guest [38]
2020 Hey Qween Herself Guest [39]
2021 The Awardist Herself Guest [40]

Discography[]

Featured singles[]

Title Year Album
"You Don't Know Me"[41]
(with The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12) 		2020 Non-album singles
"Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical"[42]
(with The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12)
"I Made It / Mirror Song/ Losing Is New Winning" (Las Vegas Live Medley)[43]
(with The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12)
"The Shady Bunch"[44]
(with The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12)

References[]

  1. ^ Jones, Dylan B. (2020-05-30). "RuPaul's Drag Race recap: season 12 finale – she's a winner baby!". The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  2. ^ "Milwaukee native to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  3. ^ a b "About". Jaida Essence Hall. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  4. ^ a b c Noennig, Jordyn. "Jaida Essence Hall, from Milwaukee's north side, is larger than life on 'RuPaul Drag Race'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  5. ^ Meet Jaida Essence Hall: 'The Essence Of Beauty' | RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12, retrieved 2020-05-19
  6. ^ "Jaida Essence Hall on Instagram: "One of me favorite pics ever! Lmao fun with my sister @mercedesimandiamond and mutha @queenpradad at the @gay90s