The world of figure skating has always been one of elegance and grace, but it’s not often that we see drag queens on the ice. This past weekend, however, viewers were treated to a new kind of performance when The Vivienne, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and star of All Stars 7, took to the ice in full Cher drag for her debut performance on the British reality series Dancing on Ice.
The Vivienne, whose drag name is inspired by the late fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, skated to the tune of “Strong Enough” with her partner Colin Grafton. Following her debut performance, The Vivienne spoke of her newfound love for figure skating and received a score of 28.5 from the judges, the second-highest score of the night and the third-highest score of the entire season so far.
The Vivienne’s appearance on Dancing on Ice marks an important moment in the ongoing representation of LGBTQ performers on reality TV. In 2022, Shangela made history as the first-ever drag queen to compete on Dancing With the Stars in the US. Now, The Vivienne is making UK television history by competing in the 15th season of Dancing on Ice.
Drag enthusiasts know that The Vivienne is a fierce competitor, having proven herself on the first season of Drag Race UK and All Stars 7. Viewers can expect her to bring that same level of commitment to Dancing on Ice. The Vivienne’s debut performance was a triumph for drag performers everywhere and we’ll be rooting for her all season long. Dancing on Ice season 15 airs Sundays on ITV.