| Raven | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Petruschin[1] April 18, 1979 Victorville, California[2] |
| Occupation | Drag Queen, Reality Television Personality |
Raven (born David Petruschin,[1] April 18, 1979) is an American drag queen and reality television personality from Riverside, California.[2] He is best known as a contestant on second season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[3] He was first runner-up of season 2,[4] and followed that up with regular appearances on RuPaul's Drag U in summer 2010 and 2011,[5] alongside fellow competitors Morgan McMichaels, Pandora Boxx, and Jujubee.[5]
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In a Match Game-like episode of the show, he humorously impersonated billionaire heiress Paris Hilton. Raven won the season's first mini-challenge, a photo shoot, in the first episode, "Gone with the Window." His next win came in the "Here Comes the Bride" episode in which the queens had to decorate a box with something old, something new, and something borrowed, showing their personal style. Raven borrowed Jujubee's raven hat, securing a win.[6] Raven also won the main challenges in the seventh[7] and eighth[8] episodes "Once Upon a Queen" and "Golden Gals", respectively. In the seventh episode, the queens had to create and promote their autobiographies. Raven's book, Young, Broke, and Fabulous, was the winner.[7] In episode 8, the contestants were tasked with making over older gentlemen as their "drag mothers." Raven and his drag mother, Golda LaMae,[9] won the challenge.[8] Although he ended up as the runner-up of the second season's competition, Petruschin has criticized the way he was portrayed on Drag Race and felt the show's editors purposely edited the show's segments in order to portray him as a villain.[citation needed]
In addition to his participation in RuPaul's Drag Race, Petruschin was featured on an episode of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8, in which he participated in a photo shoot with each of the show's contestants in male drag and paired with a drag queen.
Raven was one of many Drag Race alumni who were invited to be as a drag professor in spin-off series RuPaul's Drag U. Raven served as a "drag professor" and mentor to female contestants who are given make-overs. In the series, Petruschin's persona is not portrayed in a villainous fashion, but instead as a softer and nurturing mentor. Raven made a total of four appearances and during the series' first season. The series was renewed for a second season in 2011, with Raven returning once again as a drag professor.
Featured in a commercial promoting the syndication run of the cable television series "Nip/Tuck" on the Logo network, Raven lip synchs to the theme song "A Perfect Lie", as he caresses a syringe close to his lips. The commercial is based on one of his past drag performances. He also has made a guest appearance in an episode of Logo's reality series, "Pretty Hurts", which documents the life and career of celebrity medical aesthetician Rand Rusher.
In Drag Race Episode 210, he reveals that he is Jewish (via his father). In Drag U! Episode 208: "A Family That Drags Together!", Petruschin reveals that he was raised a Mormon (via his mother).[10]
Petruschin currently resides in Riverside, California with his dog Blu.
He previously worked as a cosmetics salesperson and as a freelance makeup artist before pursuing a full-time drag career. He currently hosts several drag-related events at gay clubs through Southern California.
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