Violet Chachki Opens Up About Queer Representation in Mainstream Fashion

Violet Chachki has been busy since snatching the crown of RuPaul's Drag Race season 7 a mere three years ago.

The aerial burlesque performer has been touring in a major cabaret with her mentor, Miss Dita Von Teese. She became the first drag queen to star in a major lingerie campaign, modeling for the "Bettie Page" collection of the London-based brand, Playful Promises. She's also worked closely with Jeremy Scott, closing a Moschino fashion show not once, but twice.

And in May of this year, Chachki released a visually stunning video for "A Lot More Me", which OUT previously described as "a commentary on the hang ups portions of society still have with drag queens and queer people - misgendering, transphobia, and prejudice toward feminine men."

It was all of her work in fashion and burlesque which led to landing her greatest fashion achievement yet: starring in Prada's Fall 2018 campaign.

"This shoot was the height of my fashion career," Violet told OUT.

When asked how she landed such a monumental campaign role, Violet replied, "Vegas is very up my alley. They reached out and thought of me. They needed a show girl - I mean - that's what I do - so it was a really naturally fit, and [it] worked out perfectly."

The shoot totaled five days, for which Prada shut down an entire street in Las Vegas. For one whole day - "whole day" - Violet reiterated, the shoot was about no one else but her.

"It was a crazy shoot. They treated me so well. The production value was insane!"

Still raving, Violet continued, "I would have never dreamed to be a part of this. Fabio [Zambernardi] designed the shoes for me."

Growing up, Violet had clipped out an advertisement Zambernardi creative directed for Prada in 2006. For years, it hung on her childhood bedroom. A dozen years later, "He's making me shoes, and I get to be a part of what he's doing. So it's a dream come true."

However, this shoot was more than just Violet's dream coming to life; the burlesque performer recognizes the importance of being a queer person in a shoot for a mainstream brand.

"It's really great to see that brands are recognizing what it means to be a queer artist these days, how that looks politically, [and letting me] take up space as a queer person."

"Especially now," she said, "It's more important to have visibility in mainstream brands and marketing."

It's unclear what we can expect to see next from the multifaceted artist.

"I have my hands in many pots - maybe too many," she clarified. "I really want to do a residency in Vegas or Paris. I wanna do a cabaret tour. I wanna create more videos and work with the music and beauty industry more. I guess I really want to [continue to] create content that's exciting, relevant, and provocative."