Aja

Aja, born Venus Nadya Oshun on January 4, 1994, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, began her drag career in Manhattan at age 16, performing in local contests. Her initial exposure to a broader audience came through her participation in the ninth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2017. Following this, she returned for the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2018, where she placed seventh. Aja is also recognized for her musical endeavors, releasing her debut EP, “In My Feelings,” in 2018, and her debut studio album, “BOX Office,” in 2019. Her musical work continued with the release of a second EP, “ALL CAPS,” in June 2019, and a Halloween-themed collaborative EP, “Nail in the Coffin,” with Shilow later that year.

From July 2018, Aja hosted “Ayo Sis” on WOW Presents Plus, a talk show expanding her presence beyond competitive drag. In 2022, she was a contestant on the third season of “Legendary” on HBO Max, and in 2023, she appeared as a “lip-sync assassin” on the first episode of the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Her career demonstrates a consistent evolution, transitioning from competitive drag to music and other media platforms while maintaining her artistic authenticity. She formally announced her re-engagement with drag performance in 2021, and her participation in the tenth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2025 further solidified her return to the drag competition scene.

Throughout her career, Aja has been open about her personal journey, identifying as genderqueer after previously living as a trans woman at age 18. In December 2021, Aja publicly identified as a transgender woman and announced her transition, actively using she/her pronouns. Her commitment to self-expression and her nuanced perspective on gender identity have been integral to her public persona. Aja’s work continues to blend drag performance, music, and media appearances, marking her as a multifaceted entertainer.