Delta Work
Delta Work in 2017
Born
Gabriel A. Villarreal

(1976-01-23) January 23, 1976
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
AwardsPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (2018)

Delta Work is the stage name of Gabriel A. Villarreal,[1][2] an American drag performer and stylist, best known for competing on the third season of the reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race.

Work received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special at the 70th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards (2018) for her work as a personal hairstylist for Drag Race.[3]

Work hosted the podcast Very That alongside fellow drag performer Raja.[4] She currently hosts the podcast Very Delta following the end of Very That.

Career

Work's drag mother is Miss Coco Peru; they met in Los Angeles, early in Delta Work's drag career.[5] He started drag on Halloween at age 22.[6] Her drag name originates from when she attended a drag show and the performing group of queens, who were making a spoof of Designing Women, needed a "bigger woman" to play the role of Delta Burke's character Suzanne Sugarbaker. After her performance, one queen commented that "you are not Delta Burke, you are Delta Work!"[7]

Drag Race

Work was selected among thirteen contestants for the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which was announced on January 24, 2011.[8] During the season, she impersonated Cher for the "Snatch Game" episode, where contestants were required to imitate a chosen celebrity. Bowen Yang wrote "Delta barely made an attempt at all... Points for the wink at Bob Mackie with her look, but otherwise Delta just waded around in her nothing-doing. Snap out of it!"[9] She placed seventh overall, losing a lip sync performance to Manila Luzon on Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park".[10] Out called the battle "certainly one of the most famous lip syncs" of the show.[11] Outside of season three, she was an audience member for the season five and season six reunions,[12][13] and was a guest with other Drag Race alumni for the first challenge of season ten.[14] Work became RuPaul's personal wig stylist for her judging panel attire beginning with the second episode of the ninth season, with season two alumnus Raven styling her makeup.[15] Work appeared as a guest for the first challenge in the premiere of season eleven.[16]

In a 2023 interview with Joseph Shepherd, Work revealed that she did not work as RuPaul's wig stylist beyond the eleventh season. This was largely because of contractual disagreements over her involvement in RuPaul's Netflix series AJ and the Queen that led to another wig stylist being brought in, who continued to work with RuPaul after that. Work also stated that World of Wonder, the producers of RuPaul's Drag Race, intentionally refrained from submitting her name for Emmy consideration for the eleventh season, despite her having done the same job as the tenth season when she won the award, because she was no longer working with them.[17]

Post Drag Race

Work appeared on a 2011 episode of E!'s The Soup with RuPaul, Raja, and Shangela.[18] She makes recurring appearances on WoWPresent's internet show Fashion Photo Ruview, filling in for Raja or Raven to critique looks from Drag Race alumni, with her first appearance on November 19, 2014.[19] She also makes regular appearances on the web show The Pit Stop, which reviews the episodes of Drag Race. She was on its debut episode on August 27, 2016.[20]

Work appeared on the cover of Skorch Magazine in 2013.[21] In August 2015, she headlined Palouse Pride in Moscow, Idaho.[22] On August 6, 2016, she was invited on stage by Adele in a Los Angeles concert, while in full drag as an Adele impersonator. They took a selfie, which quickly went viral.[23][24]

Work received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special at the 70th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards (2018) for her work.[3] She portrayed Adele in the music video for Taylor Swift's "You Need to Calm Down" (June 2019).[25]

From September 2020 to May 2023 Work co-hosted the conversational podcast Very That on the Forever Dog and Moguls of Media networks, alongside her RuPaul's Drag Race season three castmate Raja,[26] where the duo discussed recent news and answer questions from fans. The podcast's executive producers included fellow RuPaul's Drag Race alumni Alaska Thunderfuck and Willam Belli.

While Raja was absent traveling after appearing on season seven of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Work began hosting the spin-off podcast Very Delta, described as a "luxury public access podcast". The podcast continued after the eventual conclusion of its parent show Very That. On Very Delta, Work interviews celebrities, drag performers, and nightlife personalities from the Southern California area. Notable interviewees include Bianca Del Rio, Candis Cayne and Margaret Cho.[27]

In July 2023 Work began hosting More Very Delta, a supplement to the main podcast available exclusively to MOM Plus Gold subscribers.[28] In the same month Work won the award for Best Local Radio/Podcast Personality for the Orange County, South Bay and Westside areas in the 2023 Best of the Southland awards, presented by the Los Angeles Times.[29][30][31]

Music

Delta Work released her debut solo single, "The Walkin' Blues (Walk Right In, Walk Right Out)", on May 12, 2015.[32] She had previously recorded music as part of The Heathers, with Manila Luzon, Raja, and Carmen Carrera. The group released their debut single "Lady Marmalade" on June 6, 2014.[33]

On November 16, 2023, Work released the collaborative single "I Want House" with dance music duo BOY2K, based on a viral monologue from Very Delta.[34]

Personal life

Work works and lives in Norwalk, California, as of 2011.[35]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 3) Herself Contestant (seventh place)
2011 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
2011 The Soup
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 1) Guest (1 episode)
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 10) Guest (1 episode)
2019 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 11) Guest (2 episodes)
2021 NewsBeat Correspondent [36]

Music videos

Year Title Artist Notes Ref.
2014 "Lady Marmalade" The Heathers [37]
2019 "Go Fish" Manila Luzon
"You Need to Calm Down" Taylor Swift Adele impersonator
2020 "Ass Like Mine" Morgan McMichaels Herself [38]
"Nerves of Steel" Erasure Herself [39]

Web series

Year Title Role Ref.
2013 Ring My Bell Herself [40]
2013 Cooking With Needles [41]
2014-19 Fashion Photo Ruview
2015 Dear Delta [42]
2016-19 The Pit Stop
2019 Hey Qween [43]

Podcasts

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016 RuPaul: What's the Tee? Guest Episode: "Theraposer with Delta Work" [44]
2019, 2021 Race Chaser with Alaska and Willam 3 episodes; Moguls of Media production [45][46][47]
2020-2023 Very That with Delta and Raja Co-host With Raja; 115 episodes; Moguls of Media production [48]
2020-2022 Sloppy Seconds with Big Dipper and Meatball Guest 3 episodes; Moguls of Media production [49][50][51]
2022-present Very Delta Host Moguls of Media production [48]
2023-present Fierce Rivalries Co-host With Kelsey Padgett; Somethin' Else and Sony Music Entertainment production [52]
2023 I've Had It Guest Episode: "Is It Still Mansplaining If You're in Drag? with Delta Work" [53]
2023-present More Very Delta Host Moguls of Media production; MOM Plus Gold exclusive extension of Very Delta [28]

Discography

Singles

Year Title Album
2014 "Lady Marmalade"
(with Raja, Manila Luzon and Carmen Carrera, as The Heathers)		 Non-album singles
2015 "The Walkin' Blues (Walk Right In, Walk Right Out)"
2023 "I Want House"
(with BOY2K)[34]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2018 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special RuPaul's Drag Race
(Episode: "10s Across the Board")		 Won [54]
2019 MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year "You Need to Calm Down"
(as creative producer)		 Won [55]
Video for Good Won
2023 Los Angeles Times Best of the Southland Awards Best Local Radio/Podcast Personality (Orange County) Very Delta Won [29]
Best Local Radio/Podcast Personality (South Bay) Won [30]
Best Local Radio/Podcast Personality (Westside) Won [31]
Best Local Radio/Podcast Personality (Overall) Won [56]

References

  1. ↑ "Adele Brought Her Drag Queen Impersonator on Stage with Her". Harper's BAZAAR. August 8, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Gabriel Villarreal". Ancestry Institute. Ancestry. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Creative Arts Emmy Awards Winners: Anthony Bourdain, Craig Zadan's 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Fittingly Lead Way On Night 2; 'SNL' Tops With 7 Wins – Full List". Deadline. September 10, 2018.
  4. ↑ Hecht, Evan (October 28, 2021). "Seven drag artist podcasts you need to check out". DBK News. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  5. ↑ "9 "Drag Race" Drag Mothers And Daughters". LOGO News. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  6. ↑ Holland, Scott (March 10, 2011). "RuPaul's Drag Race Delta Work Interview". Hotspots Magazine. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  7. ↑ Holland, Scott (March 10, 2011). "RuPaul's Drag Race Delta Work Interview". Hot Spots Magazine. Retrieved August 20, 2022. My name was given to me by some queen that hosted a show near where I live. They needed someone to be a Suzanne Sugarbaker character (Delta Burke) and my name came from that. One queen said you are not Delta Burke, you are Delta Work, and the rest is history!
  8. ↑ "Alexis Mateo: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3 Contestant - RuPaul's Drag Race (Video Clip)". Logo TV. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  9. ↑ Yang, Bowen; Rogers, Matt. "Every Snatch Game Impersonation on RuPaul's Drag Race, Ranked". Vulture. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Today in TV History: Manila Luzon, Future 'Drag Race' Lip-Sync Icon, Was Born". Decider. August 10, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  11. ↑ Pitre, Jake (June 7, 2018). "12 Lip Sync Battles that Define 'RuPaul's Drag Race's' Queer Canon". Out. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  12. ↑ "RPDR Season 5 Reunion Red Carpet". Tom + Lorenzo. May 3, 2013. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  13. ↑ Winfred, Tim (May 7, 2014). "Red Carpet Looks: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6 Reunion". Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Watch Katya, Bob the Drag Queen, more return for crazy 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 10 challenge". EW.com. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Look, we've stayed silent long enough: We need to talk about RuPaul's makeup on 'Drag Race'". Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  16. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' 11 episode 1 recap: Which queen was sent packing on 'Whatcha Unpackin'? [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]". Goldderby. February 28, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  17. ↑ Sim, Bernardo. "5 Surprising Things Delta Work Said About 'Drag Race' & RuPaul". Pride. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  18. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race Wins the Soup Award for Best Sexual Double Entendres". April 2, 2011.
  19. ↑ WOWPresents (November 19, 2014), RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Photo RuView w/ Raja & Delta Work - The Instagram Art of Mathu Andersen, retrieved April 15, 2018
  20. ↑ Logo (August 27, 2016), The Pit Stop w/ Raja and Delta Work | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Recap (Season 2 Ep1) | Logo, retrieved April 15, 2018
  21. ↑ Shorey, Eric (November 12, 2013). ""Drag Race" Heather Delta Work On Cover of Magazine For Plus-Sized Women: PHOTOS". NewNowNext. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  22. ↑ Wald, Dominique (August 5, 2015). "Workin' it: Drag Queen Delta Work is the headliner of Palouse Pride". Inland 360. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Watch Adele Invite Her Drag Impersonator Delta Work On Stage". The FADER. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  24. ↑ Rawles, Timothy (August 8, 2016). "'Dreamgirl' Delta Work meets Adele on stage at sold out concert in Los Angeles". San Diego Gay and Lesbian News. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Every celebrity cameo in Taylor Swift's 'You Need To Calm Down' music video". PopBuzz. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  26. ↑ "VERY THAT with Delta and Raja | Forever Dog + Moguls of Media". Forever Dog Podcasts. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Very Delta by Moguls of Media". Apple Podcasts. December 18, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  28. 1 2 "@verydeltapod: "Are you a lady like Delta Work ? Looking for a Very Very experience? Well look no further, the first episode of More Very Delta airs tonight at 6pm PT here"". Twitter. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  29. 1 2 "Delta Work: Local Radio/Podcast Personality - Orange County". Best of the Southland. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  30. 1 2 "Delta Work: Local Radio/Podcast Personality (South Bay)". Best of the Southland. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  31. 1 2 "Delta Work: Local Radio/Podcast Personality (Westside)". Best of the Southland. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  32. ↑ The Walkin' Blues (Walk Right In, Walk Right Out) - Single by Delta Work, May 12, 2015, retrieved April 15, 2018
  33. ↑ Lady Marmalade by The Heathers, June 6, 2014, retrieved April 15, 2018
  34. 1 2 "I Want House - EP by BOY2K & Delta Work". Apple Music. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  35. ↑ Knittel, Shaun (January 28, 2011). "Start your engines! RuPaul's Drag Race returns". Seattle Gay News. 39 (4).
  36. ↑ Del Rosario, Alexandra (May 26, 2021). "'NewsBeat': Drag Queens Nina West, Bianca Del Rio & More Unite For News Show From Politicon, EP Clay Aiken". Deadline. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  37. ↑ Manila Luzon (June 7, 2014), The Heathers "Lady Marmalade" (Carmen Carrera, Raja, Delta Work & Manila Luzon), retrieved June 18, 2019
  38. ↑ Fitzgerald, Christina (March 1, 2020). "The Week In Drag – RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 Is Here! Plus Queerty Winners, Trixie Mattel And Scarlet Envy In The Hot Seat And Sasha Velour Shows Off Their Artistic Side". Socialitelife.com. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  39. ↑ Erasure (August 11, 2020). "Erasure - Nerves of Steel (Official Video)" (YouTube video). Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  40. ↑ WOWPresents (May 9, 2013), Delta Work - Ring My Bell, retrieved January 1, 2020
  41. ↑ WOWPresents (November 13, 2013), Cooking with Sharon Needles - Pad Thai, retrieved June 18, 2019
  42. ↑ WOWPresents (February 12, 2015), Dear Delta: Don't Be a Dick, retrieved September 14, 2019
  43. ↑ Hey Qween (April 8, 2019), DELTA WORK on Hey Qween! with Jonny McGovern, retrieved June 18, 2019
  44. ↑ "RuPaul: What's the Tee with Michelle Visage, Ep 60 - Theraposer with Delta Work". YouTube. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  45. ↑ "Race Chaser with Alaska and Willam - HOT GOSS #17: A Deep Dive with Delta Work". Stitcher. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Race Chaser with Alaska and Willam - HOT GOSS #18 ft. Delta Work: Glass Beads, a Phone Call from Slava, and Team Work Makes the Cream Squirt". Stitcher. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  47. ↑ "Race Chaser with Alaska & Willam: HOT GOSS #107: Hearts, Farts, and Ginger Drick (w/ Delta Work)". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  48. 1 2 "VERY THAT with Delta and Raja". Forever Dog Podcasts. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  49. ↑ "SLOPPY SECONDS #81 "I Haven't Seen Wicked" (Delta Work, Big Dipper, Meatball)". YouTube. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  50. ↑ "No Classic Syrup (w/ Delta Work) from Sloppy Seconds with Big Dipper & Meatball". Podbay. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  51. ↑ "Sloppy Seconds #282 "Her Body Type Is So Brave" (w/ Delta Work)". YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  52. ↑ "Fierce Rivalries, New Podcast From Somethin' Else and Sony Music Entertainment Diving Into the Juiciest Rivals in Pop Culture, Premieres Today". Sony Music. April 18, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  53. ↑ "Is It Still Mansplaining if You're in Drag? with Delta Work". YouTube. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  54. ↑ "Nominees and Winners". Television Academy. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  55. ↑ Smith, Reiss (August 27, 2019). "Taylor Swift made sure MTV gave all her drag queens VMAs too". Pink News. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  56. ↑ "Best Local Radio/Podcast Personality - Best of the Best". Best of the Southland. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
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