page_title: Violet Chachki
section_title: Career
hierarchical_section_title: Violet Chachki / Career
caption_attribution_description: English: American drag queen Violet Chachki, the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race's seventh season, performing at the RuPaul's Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons Tour in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 1st, 2016.
context_page_description: Paul Jason Dardo, known by the stage name of Violet Chachki, is an American drag queen, burlesque dancer, recording artist, television personality, and model, known for winning the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. In June 2019, New York magazine published the results from their panel of judges and writers which ranked her in the top twenty Drag Race superstars.
context_section_description: Dardo began performing in drag as Violet Chachki at the age of 19. The name "Violet" was inspired by Jennifer Tilly's character in the film Bound, while "Chachki" is a variant of the Yiddish word tchotchke, a small object that is decorative rather than functional. Violet first performed at the bar LeBuzz in Marietta, Georgia. He used a fake ID to perform in local drag shows, eventually winning Miss New Faces at Friends on Ponce in Atlanta. Later, the drag queen and Drag Race Season 8 contestant Dax ExclamationPoint adopted Dardo as his "drag daughter". Dardo was enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design at the Atlanta campus for fashion design, but dropped out to focus on drag. He became a regular cast member of The Other Show at the bar Jungle in Atlanta which gave him exposure locally and allowed him to perform with Drag Race Season 5 contestant Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, Amanda Lepore, and Lady Bunny.
  In 2013, Violet was photographed for "Legendary Children". The project focused on Atlanta's drag scene and was exhibited at Gallery 1526. Two photos that featured his penis and gaff (an undergarment used to conceal male genitals when in drag) were covered up after complaints. Later, the censorship controversy caught the attention of Vice.
  In 2014, Violet appeared on the cover for the single "Cosplay" by Captain Murphy (AKA Flying Lotus). He also appeared in a commercial for the single on Adult Swim. Flying Lotus recorded the song as Captain Murphy for Adult Swim's Single Series.
  Violet was a contestant on seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race, after having unsuccessfully auditioned for season six. On the show, Violet was noted for excelling in fashion and design related challenges and their focus on aesthetics and confident demeanor. On June 1, 2015 Violet won the competition and received a cash prize of $100,000.
  Violet Chachki is known for her burlesque performances and aerial work, including aerial silk and aerial hoop. In January 2017, Dardo joined The Art of Teese, a neo-burlesque show headlined by Dita Von Teese.
  In November 2017, Dardo became the first drag queen in a major lingerie ad campaign, for Bettie Page Lingerie.
  In January 2018, Dardo walked for Moschino in their Fall 2018 Collection at Milan Fashion Week.
  In May 2019, Violet attended the Met Gala, where the theme was Camp: Notes on Fashion, wearing a glove-shaped Moschino dress which was altered by Jeremy Scott.
caption: Violet Chachki on stage in Copenhagen
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