Silky Nutmeg Ganache
Reginald Steele (born December 31, 1990), better known by the stage name Silky Nutmeg Ganache, is an American drag performer from Chicago, Illinois, who came to international attention in 2019 when she competed on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race, and later competed on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2021.
Silky Nutmeg Ganache | |
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![]() Silky Nutmeg Ganache at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2019 | |
Born | Reginald Steele December 31, 1990 Moss Point, Mississippi, US |
Education | Wabash College (BA) Indiana Wesleyan University (MBA) |
Occupation | Drag queen |
Known for | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 11) |
Early life and education
Steele was born on December 30, 1990 in the South but eventually moved to Chicago as a young adult. Steele graduated from Moss Point High School in 2008. Steele has a master's degree in organizational leadership.[1]
She went to Wabash College, an all-male college,[2] where she thought of her original drag name, "Lasagna Frozeen". Her mentor later dubbed her "Silky" because she could be rough around the edges but also classy. Ganache went home where she watched the Food Network. While watching a program, Ganache overheard the phrase "silky ganache." From there, she would hence be known as "Silky Nutmeg Ganache".[3] She earned her MBA in organizational leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University in December 2017.[4] Her drag mother is Vanessa Ryan, who mentored Ganache in drag during her college years in Indiana.[5]
Career
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Ganache has participated in many pageants, and has over 100 competition credits. Her pageant history includes:
- Miss Gay Indiana University 2014 (winner)
- Indiana All American Goddess at Large 2014 (first alternate)
- Miss Unlimited Newcomer 2015 (winner)
- Miss Latina Continental Plus 2017 (winner)
- Miss Continental Plus 2017 (second alternate)
- Miss Illinois Continental Plus 2018 (first alternate)[6]
Prior to her time on RuPaul's Drag Race, she performed drag for six years, working at Hydrate, Roscoe’s Tavern, Splash and Berlin in Boystown.[7]
Ganache was announced to be one of fifteen contestants competing on season eleven of RuPaul's Drag Race on January 24, 2019.[8] She won two main challenges, in episode four and eight.[9][10] Ganache portrayed Oprah Winfrey for her winning performance in Trump: The Rusical.[11] Ts Madison, whom Ganache portrayed in the season's Snatch Game challenge, praised Ganache for her performance.[12] In episode 11, Ganache landed in the bottom two, where she sent home Nina West home to TLC's "No Scrubs".[13][14] In the season finale, held in Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre, Ganache was a part of the final four, and lip-synced against Brooke Lynn Hytes to Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious", which she lost, finishing the competition in 3rd/4th place alongside A'keria Chanel Davenport.[15][16]
On July 24, 2019, Ganache performed alongside Iggy Azalea at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City.[17]
Ganache guest starred in Germany's Next Topmodel, alongside fellow RuPaul's Drag Race alum Derrick Barry and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo.[18]
She appeared in a music video for Lizzo's song "Juice" on April 17, 2019.[19]
From March 26 to September 6, she was a part of the rotating cast for RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 11 Tour, presented by Voss Events and World of Wonder, and hosted by Asia O'Hara.[20] The show kicked off in Los Angeles on May 26 during the RuPaul's DragCon LA wrap party (hosted by Drag Race judge Michelle Visage) and concluded with a final bow on September 6 in New York City (also hosted by Visage) at the top of RuPaul’s DragCon NYC.[20] In April 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ganache was announced as a featured cast member for the very first Digital Drag Fest, an online drag festival for all ages, with attendees given opportunities to interact with the artists, tip them, and win prizes during the broadcast.[21]
In 2020, she was featured in Magnus Hastings' Rainbow Revolution photography book.[22]
Ganache is set to star in her own series on WOWPresents Plus series entitled Shantay You Pray, a series exploring Ganache's relationship with religion.[23] She is also set to star in Nightmare Neighbors with Silky & Vanjie, another WOWPresents series with Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, a docuseries chronicling their life together as they move into the same apartment.[24]
Silky was announced to be one of thirteen contestants competing on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars on May 26, 2021. She was eliminated in the third episode, placing 11th overall.[25] Soon after her elimination, she released Cocktails for a Queen, an alcoholic beverage recipe book inspired by Drag Race alum.[26] She returned in the tenth episode as a part of the "Game Within a Game" twist, making "herstory" as the queen with most lip-syncs in a single episode, with seven, and the most lip-sync wins in a single episode with six.[27]
Personal life
She is a registered Republican. In the Drag Race episode "Trump: The Rusical", she explained that this is because of party gerrymandering and "gentrification and movement of the districts", and stated that despite her official party affiliation, she does not vote for Republican politicians. She says "It's very important that people realize that if you want to stop that within the political process, get smarter than them. Register as a Republican, and they'll have to redo everything."[28]
After her run on RuPaul's Drag Race, Ganache later revealed that due to the online hate and abuse she received, she fell into a depression and nearly quit drag.[29][30]
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Contestant (3rd/4th Place) | [8] |
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | ||||
Germany's Next Topmodel | Guest | [18] | ||
2020 | RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue | Guest | [31] | |
2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 6) | Contestant (11th Place) | [32] | |
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked |
Web series
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Queen to Queen | Herself | With Vanessa Mateo and A'keria Chanel Davenport | [33] |
Whatcha Packin' | Herself | Guest | [34] | |
Countdown to the Crown | Herself | Season 11 | [35] | |
Cosmo Queens | Herself | Cosmopolitan Series | [36] | |
Remember That Time | Herself | Guest | [37] | |
Be$ties for Ca$h | Herself | With Vanessa Vanjie Mateo | [38] | |
2020 | Elevate Your Slay | Herself | Guest | [39] |
Silky's Snack Shack | Herself | Host | [40] | |
Shantay You Pray | Herself | Host | [23] | |
Hey Qween | Herself | Guest | [41] | |
2021 | Whatcha Packin' | Herself | Guest | [42] |
Ruvealing the Look | Herself | Guest | [43] | |
2022 | The Pit Stop | Herself | Guest | [44] |
Music videos
Year | Title | Artist | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | "Juice" | Lizzo | [45] |
2020 | "Hype" | Yvie Oddly | [46] |
2021 | "Wig Remix" | Serena ChaCha | [47] |
2021 | "Silky" | Cuee | [48] |
Discography
Featured singles
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Queens Everywhere"[49] (RuPaul featuring A'keria Chanel Davenport, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Vanessa Mateo, & Yvie Oddly) |
2019 | non-album single |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award ceremony | Category | Work | Results | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | The Queerties | Future All-Star | Herself | Nominated | [50] |
References
- "Miss Vanjie Returns! Meet the 15 Queens Competing in RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11". People. June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on July 9, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- Jerry Nunn (February 24, 2019). "NUNN ON ONE, TV. Silky is latest Chicago contestant to rev up 'Drag Race'". Windy City Times. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- "Mississippi Native 'Silky Nutmeg Ganache' Competes for the Crown on RuPaul's Drag Race". hottytoddy. January 19, 2019. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- Silky Nutmeg Ganache, 24 February 2019
- Wabash.edu Ganache Interview accessed 5/28/201
- "Silky Ganache". Our Community Roots. April 4, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- Tracy Swartz (February 26, 2019). "Meet the Chicagoan competing on the new season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- "Aquaria & Adam Rippon to Announce 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11 Cast in Upcoming 'Ruveal'". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11 Power Ranking: Episode 6". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- Guerra, Joey (April 26, 2019). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11: Los Angeles Drag Patrol". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- Kulzick, Kate (March 21, 2019). "The political gets personal as RuPaul's Drag Race tackles "Trump: The Rusical"". AV Club. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- TS Madison Reacts to Silky Nutmeg Ganache's Snatch Game. YouTube. April 19, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- Blanton, Kayla. "The 'Drag Race' Judges Did Nina West & Miss Vanjie Dirty This Week". Bustle. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
- Swift, Andy (May 10, 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Which Queen Won't Be Twinning Season 11?". TVLine. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
- "Who Should Win RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11?". E!. May 23, 2019. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11, Episode 12: We Have Thoughts". Vulture. May 20, 2019. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- Stephen Daw (July 24, 2019). "Silky Nutmeg Ganache Talks Performing with Iggy Azalea, Life After 'Drag Race' & More". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- Jessica Ruhstorfer (March 5, 2019). "Miss Vanjie, Silky and Co: Everything important to the "GNTM" -Drag Queens". Watson. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- Emily Zemler (April 18, 2019). "Watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Stars Join Lizzo in New 'Juice' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- Joey Nolfi (April 2, 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race sets season 11 tour dates with all 15 queens". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- Dzurillay, Julia (March 28, 2020). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queens Take Performances Online During Their Coronavirus Self-Quarantine". CheatSheet.com. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- Rudolph, Christopher (September 25, 2020). ""Drag Race" Queens Make Love to the Camera in "Rainbow Revolution"". NewNowNext. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- Frederick Blichert (June 28, 2019). "World of Wonder unveils drag queen-heavy summer slate". Realscreen. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- Joey Nolfi (June 27, 2019). "Yvie Oddly, Nina West, more Drag Race stars getting new reality shows". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- Damshenas, Sam (July 1, 2021). "All Stars 6 just delivered one of the most hilarious and sickening Drag Race episodes ever". Gay Times. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- Nolfi, Joey (July 1, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race stars sip and react to Silky Nutmeg Ganache's Cocktails for a Queen recipes". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- Damshenas, Sam (August 20, 2021). "Here's how Silky Nutmeg Ganache just made herstory for Drag Race". Gay Times. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- Henderson, Taylor (March 21, 2019). "A Drag Race Season 11 Queen Admits She's a Registered Republican". Pride.com. Here Media. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
- Stephen Daw (May 31, 2019). "'Drag Race' Finalist Silky Nutmeg Ganache Gets Real About Fan Hatred: 'I Fell Into a Depression'". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- Nolfi, Joey (July 3, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 6 queen Silky Nutmeg Ganache deserves peace at last". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- Kulzick, Kate (August 21, 2020). "The queens channel their inner Housewives as RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue hits the strip". AV Club. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- Del Rosario, Alexandra (May 26, 2021). "'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Moves From VH1 To Paramount+; Lineup Of Returning Queens Unveiled". Deadline. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- Queen to Queen: Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, A’Keria Davenport & Silky Nutmeg Ganache | RuPaul's Drag Race. YouTube. May 24, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
- Whatcha Packin’: Silky Nutmeg Ganache | Season 11 Top Four | RuPaul's Drag Race. YouTube. May 28, 2019. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- "Impressions" COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11. YouTube. May 21, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
- E67 Silky N Ganache Makeup Transformation. Facebook. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- That time Silky Nutmeg Ganache was mistaken for Sean Kingston. The FADER. November 15, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- BESTIES FOR CASH - Holiday Edition with Silky and Vanjie. YouTube. December 17, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- "Elevate Your Slay" Season 1; Episode 2 "Silky Nutmeg Ganache". YouTube. January 21, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- Silky's Snack Shack: Episode 1 "Roasted Corn Guacamole". YouTube. February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- SILKY NUTMEG GANACHE on Hey Qween! - Part 1. YouTube. December 7, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- Whatcha Packin’ | AS6 E03 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. YouTube. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- Silky Nutmeg Ganache’s Neon Peacock Look | Ruvealing the Look | RuPaul's Drag Race AS6. YouTube. July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- The Pit Stop S14 E11 | Monét X Change & Silky Ganache Wanna LaLa | RuPaul’s Drag Race. YouTube. March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- Lizzo - JUICE Music Video feat. RuPaul's Drag Race Queens. YouTube. April 17, 2019. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- John Boone (June 18, 2020). "Check Out Yvie Oddly and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo's New Music Video for 'Hype' (Exclusive)". ETOnline. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- WIG REMIX BY SERENA CHACHA ft. Ra'Jah O'Hara & Silky Nutmeg Ganache. YouTube. June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
- Fally Afani (October 8, 2021). "Cuee debuts new music video with Drag Race contestant Silky Nutmeg Ganache". I Heart Local Music. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- "Queens Everywhere (Cast Version) [feat. The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 11] - Single". iTunes.
- "'The 2020 Queerties". Cheat Sheet. February 28, 2020.