Latest news with #ValentinaXunaxi
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Drag Race star comes out as transgender in emotional post on 34th birthday
RuPaul's Drag Race star and former Drag Race Mexico host Valentina Xunaxi, who rose to fame in season nine, shared an emotional post on her 34th birthday Former Drag Race Mexico co-host Valentina Xunaxi has come out as a transgender woman in an emotional new post shared on her 34th birthday. The stunning reality star took to her page on Instagram to share several gorgeous photos taken of her as she made the announcement. In the photos, Valentina rocked long wavy locks, a full face of glam, a simple spaghetti strap top and black trousers. She wrote both in English and in Spanish: "Hello everyone, it's me Valentina Xunaxi. Today is my birthday. I turn 34. For some time now I've been in transition, I've been doing it privately but today I wanted to open and share with you all. "Along the way I've felt pressure to come forward so I've decided and wanted to take today to declare myself as a transgender woman. I welcome all the love, support and protection from my dear fans. Thank you so much." Fans and friends immediately took to the comment section to share their support for the Drag Race star, with Bianca Del Rio simply writing: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY! LOVE, NANA." "Happy birthday beautiful!!! Love you!" Jaida Essence Hall commented. One drag queen wrote in Spanish: "Awww you are so beautiful. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVERRRRRR." Others sharing their support included Michelle Visage, Detox and Jewels Sparkles. Others from the Drag Race community sharing their support included Amanda Tori Meating, DeJa Skye, Monet X Change, Peppermind, Farrah Moan, Shea Coulee, June Jambalaya, CoCo Montrese and Tammie Brown. In 2019, Valentina came out as nonbinary in a chat with Out. She said at the time: "I identify as nonbinary. I don't completely feel like a man, I don't completely feel like a woman. I feel like a goddess. I feel like I'm my own gender." That same year saw her portray Angel in Rent Live, a character some people have interpreted as being transgender or genderfluid. She had only been doing drag for less than a year in LA night nightclubs when she was cast in season nine of RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired in 2017. In 2023, Valentina co-hosted the first season of Drag Race México. One of Valentina's famous moments was from her original season during the elimination in episode nine to Nina Bo'Nina Brown after losing her lipsync battle to Ariana Grande's Greedy. She was wearing a face mask as part of her look but refused to remove it for the lip syncing in a moment that went viral among fans. Valentina landed in seventh place and won only one challenge but viewers voted her Miss Congeniality.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Reality TV star comes out as a transgender woman in emotional post
Former Drag Race México co-host Valentina Xunaxi announced her gender affirmation as a transgender woman in honor of her 34th birthday on Wednesday. 'For some time now I've been in transition, I've been doing it privately but today I wanted to open and share with you all,' the drag performer revealed to her 1.7M social media followers. 'Along the way I've felt pressure to come forward so I've decided and wanted to take today to declare myself as a transgender woman. I welcome all the love, support and protection from my dear fans. Thank you so much.' Valentina (born James Andrew Leyva) quickly received validation from World of Wonder, the production company behind Drag Race, as well as judge Michelle Visage, who's best friends with RuPaul. 'Happy happy happy birthday!' Michelle gushed. The Cali-born kid of Mexican immigrants got some love from her RuPaul's Drag Race season nine and All Stars 4 sister Farrah Moan, who commented: 'Happy birthday beautiful!' Former Drag Race México co-host Valentina Xunaxi announced her gender affirmation as a transgender woman in honor of her 34th birthday on Wednesday (pictured March 27) Valentina's All Stars 4 sister and Pit Stop host Monét X Change gushed in Spanglish: 'Mi hermosa reina! Happy Birthday amor!' The 5ft8in stunner's season 9 sister Peppermint - who publicly came out as trans in 2016 - commented: 'Happy Birthday lady! I love you so much!' And RuPaul's Drag Race #6 winner Bianca Del Rio put her sarcastic jabs aside to write: 'Happy birthday! Love, Nana!' Valentina also received supportive comments from her Drag Race sisters Kylie Sonique Love, Detox, Bosco, Amanda Tori Meating, Jewels Sparkles, DeJa Skye, CoCo Montrese, Tammie Brown, June Jambalaya, Manila Luzon, Naysha Lopez, Shea Couleé, and Jaida Essence Hall. The brunette beauty previously came out as non-binary in 2019, telling Out Magazine: 'I don't completely feel like a man, I don't completely feel like a woman. I feel like a goddess. I feel like I'm my own gender.' Valentina had only been doing drag for 10 months in LA nightclubs when she was cast in the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired in 2017 on VH1. The Mexican-American star made Drag Race her-story when RuPaul stopped her lip sync against Nina Bo'nina Brown early because she initially refused to remove her face mask (years before COVID-19). And while Valentina ultimately landed in seventh place with only one challenge win under her belt, viewers voted her Miss Congeniality for season nine. The drag performer revealed to her 1.7M social media followers: 'For some time now I've been in transition, I've been doing it privately but today I wanted to open and share with you all' 'Along the way I've felt pressure to come forward so I've decided and wanted to take today to declare myself as a transgender woman. I welcome all the love, support and protection from my dear fans. Thank you so much' Valentina (born James Andrew Leyva) quickly received validation from World of Wonder, the production company behind Drag Race, as well as judge Michelle Visage, who's best friends with RuPaul The Cali-born kid of Mexican immigrants got some love from her RuPaul's Drag Race season nine and All Stars 4 sister Farrah Moan, who commented: 'Happy birthday beautiful!' Valentina's All Stars 4 sister and Pit Stop host Monét X Change gushed in Spanglish: 'Mi hermosa reina! Happy Birthday amor!' The 5ft8in stunner's season 9 sister Peppermint - who publicly came out as trans in 2016 - commented: 'Happy Birthday lady! I love you so much!' And RuPaul's Drag Race #6 winner Bianca Del Rio put her sarcastic jabs aside to write: 'Happy birthday! Love, Nana!' Valentina previously came out as non-binary in 2019, telling Out Magazine: 'I don't completely feel like a man, I don't completely feel like a woman. I feel like a goddess. I feel like I'm my own gender' (pictured May 2) The brunette beauty had only been doing drag for 10 months in LA nightclubs when she was cast in the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired in 2017 on VH1 Valentina made Drag Race her-story when RuPaul stopped her lip sync against Nina Bo'nina Brown early because she initially refused to remove her face mask (years before COVID-19) And while the Mexican-American star (M) ultimately landed in seventh place with only one challenge win under her belt, viewers voted her Miss Congeniality for season nine History repeated itself when Valentina competed on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2018-2019) since she came in seventh place again with only one challenge win The Linda Evangelista lookalike went on to portray HIV-positive drag queen Angel Dumott Schunard in Fox's Rent: Live in 2019 alongside Brandon Victor Dixon (L) and Vanessa Hudgens Valentina made a cameo as a patron of Daniela's salon alongside Orange is the New Black alum Dascha Polanco (L) in Jon M. Chu's 2021 musical, In the Heights History repeated itself when the Linda Evangelista lookalike competed on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2018-2019) since she came in seventh place again with only one challenge win. Valentina went on to portray HIV-positive drag queen Angel Dumott Schunard in Fox's Rent: Live in 2019 alongside Brandon Victor Dixon and Vanessa Hudgens. The Vogue México model made a cameo as a patron of Daniela's (Daphne Rubin-Vega) salon alongside Orange is the New Black alum Dascha Polanco in Jon M. Chu's 2021 musical, In the Heights.
