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United States Gia Gunn is a drag performer and activist known for her appearances on RuPaul's Drag Race and The Switch Drag Race, advocating for transgender visibility and rights.
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Gia Gunn, born Gia Keitaro Ichikawa on May 10, 1990, in Chicago, Illinois, was raised in Carpentersville, Illinois. From the age of five, Ichikawa engaged in Japanese traditional dance and kabuki, performing in onnagata roles. After completing high school, she pursued a cosmetology license. Her exposure to numerous drag shows in Chicago led her to become a headlining drag performer under the stage name Gia Gunn, drawing inspiration for her surname from Tim Gunn and her first name from Gia Carangi. Prior to her television debut, Gia Gunn maintained a full-time career in the hair industry while actively performing drag.
Her career gained national attention with her participation in the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which premiered on February 24, 2014. Despite being eliminated in the third episode, finishing in tenth place, she became known for her voguing skills, memorable catchphrases, and distinctive feminine drag style. Following this, she competed in the second season of The Switch Drag Race, the Chilean adaptation, in 2017, where she achieved ten challenge wins and finished as a runner-up. In 2018, Gia Gunn returned to the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise for All Stars season four, where she became the third openly transgender contestant, and the first to compete post-transition. She was eliminated in the third episode, placing eighth.
Beyond competition, Gia Gunn is recognized for her advocacy. In April 2017, she publicly identified as a trans woman via Instagram. She later legally changed her first name to Gia. Her advocacy extends to challenging mainstream perceptions of drag, notably engaging in discussions about transgender drag performers. She has featured in web series like ’30 Days in Transition,’ documenting her personal journey, and ‘Follow Me,’ an internet documentary series by WOWPresents focusing on her life as a trans individual and drag queen. She has collaborated on music projects and participated in fashion shows, broadening her influence across entertainment and advocacy platforms.
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