Jade Sotomayor

David Sotomayor Jr., known by his stage name Jade, was born on November 18, 1984, in Chicago, and raised in the city’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. His drag persona initially adopted the name Jennifer, inspired by Jennifer Lopez, before evolving to Jay, and eventually Jade Sotomayor after a host’s mispronunciation. This early development in his drag career set the stage for his emergence into the public eye.

In 2009, at 25 years old, Jade Sotomayor competed on the first season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, placing sixth overall. Her time on the show included a notable lip-sync battle against Rebecca Glasscock. Following her “Drag Race” appearance, Sotomayor remained active in the drag community, co-hosting shows at Hamburger Mary’s alongside fellow alumni DiDa Ritz and Monica Beverly Hillz. She also presented at Logo TV’s Trailblazer Honors in 2016 and returned for the finale of “Drag Race’s” tenth season. In 2017, she participated in “Queens United / Reinas Unidas”, a benefit show for Puerto Rico victims organized by Phi Phi O’Hara. Beyond drag, Sotomayor expanded her career into acting, appearing in the indie film “Bailiwick” and an episode of “Empire” in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she transitioned into a role as a nurse, demonstrating versatility in her professional life.

Sotomayor’s personal connections have also influenced her public visibility; she is of Puerto Rican descent, and her cousin was a victim of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. This personal tragedy brought her into advocacy, speaking about the impact of such events. She was recognized in “Windy City Times'” “30 Under 30” list in 2009 for her contributions. Residing in Jefferson Park as of 2016, Jade Sotomayor continues to maintain a presence in entertainment and community engagement.