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Naomi Smalls

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Naomi Smalls
Smalls at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2018
Born
Davis M. Heppenstall[1]

(1993-09-08) September 8, 1993 (age 31)
Fresno, California, U.S.
Occupations
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race (2016)
RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars (2018)
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Websitenaomismallsduh.com

Naomi Smalls is the stage name of Davis M. Heppenstall (born September 8, 1993), an American drag queen and reality television personality,[2] best known as one of the runners-up on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race as well as RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 4.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Heppenstall was born on September 8, 1993, in Fresno, California, and was later adopted in Redlands.[4][5] He has eight brothers and three sisters, many of whom were also adopted.[6]

Career

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Naomi Smalls in 2017

The name Naomi Smalls comes from supermodel Naomi Campbell and rapper Biggie Smalls.[7][8]

RuPaul's Drag Race

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Smalls was announced as one of twelve contestants for the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race on February 1, 2016.[9] At 21 years old, she was the season's youngest contestant. Smalls was in the bottom two in the fifth episode after she played Tiffany Pollard for the annual "Snatch Game" competition. She lip synced to "Causing a Commotion" by Madonna against Acid Betty and won, saving herself from elimination.[10] She won the makeover challenge the following episode, where she designed an outfit for one of the Little Women: LA cast members.[11] She reached the final three in the season, but lost to Bob the Drag Queen, and tied with Kim Chi for runner-up.[12][13][14]

On November 8, 2018, it was announced that Smalls would be returning to compete in the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[15] Smalls placed high for the first four episodes, doing incredibly well but just shy of winning. She was in the bottom for the roast of Lady Bunny in episode five but won against Gia Gunn in a Lipsync in the episode six "LaLaPaRuZa" to keep her place.[16] She was in the bottom the following episode, but was saved by Latrice Royale. She won the makeover challenge, becoming the first ever queen to win two makeover challenges, and the only one to only win the makeover challenge on each of her seasons, but she controversially eliminated front-runner Manila Luzon from the competition[17][18] after Luzon had been the only queen that season to never previously land in the bottom two. Smalls reached the final, and finished as the Runner up with Monique Heart.[3] She became the first Drag Race contestant to finish as Runner up to both of her seasons since Raven.

After Drag Race

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Outside of Drag Race, Smalls was a co-host with Kim Chi for the WoWPresents internet series M.U.G. where they critique queens makeup looks.[19] She makes recurring appearances on the internet series "Fashion Photo RuView" filling in for Raja or Raven.[20] Smalls did an interview with Cardi B for Cosmopolitan in February 2018.[21][22] She started her own YouTube series, Small's World, where she documents her life touring across the country.[23] The first episode premiered on February 16, 2018.[24]

In September 2019, at RuPaul's DragCon NYC, Smalls was named as one of a rotating cast of a dozen Drag Race queens in RuPaul's Drag Race Live!, a Las Vegas show residency at the Flamingo Las Vegas.[25] She is one of the most followed queens from Drag Race, and has accumulated over 1.6 million Instagram followers as of October 2021.[26] In 2024, she was announced as one of eight former Drag Race contestants participating in Painting with Raven, a spin-off of the WOW Presents Plus series Painted with Raven.[27][28]

Smalls released a music video for her first single, "Pose", on December 16, 2018.[29] She also appeared in Manila Luzon's music video for "Go Fish".[30]

Filmography

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Smalls during the Werq the World Tour (2023)

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 A Queen for the People Herself Documentary by Bob the Drag Queen

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself Contestant (Runner-Up)
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
2016–2017 Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul Guest
2018–2019 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Contestant (3rd/4th Place)
2020 RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue[31]
2023 Drag Me to Dinner Hulu original[32]

Music videos

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Year Title Artist
2018 Pose Herself
2019 Go Fish Manila Luzon

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Herself Season 8 [33]
2017 Fashion Photo RuView Guest Host [34]
2017-18 M.U.G. Co-Host [35]
2017 Cosmo Queens Guest by Cosmopolitan [36]
2018 Small's World Host [37]
Sibling Rivalry Guest, Episode 10
Call Me Coulee Cameo [38]
2019 Whatcha Packin' Guest [39]
Runway Rewind Guest, hosted by Violet Chachki [40]
2020 Werq The World Featured Queen [41]
2021 Binge Podcast by Entertainment Weekly [42]
Beauty Secrets Guest by Vogue [43]
2022-23 The Pit Stop Guest [44][45]
2023 Sloppy Seconds Podcast; Episode: "#318" [46]
2024 Monét's Slumber Party Guest [47]
The Bald and the Beautiful Podcast; Episode: "Queen of the Amazons with Naomi Smalls and Katya" [48]

Discography

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Singles

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As lead artist

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Year Title
2019 "Pose"
[edit]
Title Year Album
"Errybody Say Love"[49]
(RuPaul featuring Naomi Smalls, Monique Heart, Farrah Moan, and Monét X Change) 		2018 non-album single
"Super Queen"[50]
(RuPaul featuring Naomi Smalls, Monét X Change, Monique Heart, & Trinity the Tuck) 		2019

References

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  1. ^ "Davis M Heppenstall". Ancestry Institute. Ancestry. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  2. ^ "Naomi's 'Drag Race' behind-the-scenes tour". Washington Blade: Gay News, Politics, LGBT Rights. 2016-06-08. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  3. ^ a b "Op-Ed: Naomi Smalls Is the True Winner of 'All Stars 4'". www.out.com. 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
  4. ^ "TV: Redlands drag queen a finalist on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Press Enterprise. 2016-05-13. Archived from the original on 2021-07-19. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  5. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Snatch Me If You Can". Vulture. 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  6. ^ "15 Drag Queens Who Are Hotter Than You". TheTalko. 2017-03-13. Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  7. ^ Stapelton, John Paul (May 12, 2016). "Naomi Smalls brings her fashionable look and is said to be one of the best fashion queens to enter the world of drag as well as the best from Boston. grooves to Boston". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  8. ^ Nwadiogbu, Ngozi (May 9, 2018). "Drag Heroine, Naomi Smalls, Like You've Never Seen Her Before". Interview Magazine. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  9. ^ "The Cast Of "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 8 Will Be Announced At New Now Next Honors". LOGO News. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  10. ^ "The real Acid Betty: Everything the 'RuPaul's Drag Race' cameras didn't show". Screener. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  11. ^ Sava, Oliver. "RuPaul's Drag Race journeys to Oz for a wonderful makeover challenge". TV Club. Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  12. ^ "And the Winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 8 Is …". Us Weekly. 2016-05-17. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  13. ^ Mason, Charlie (2016-05-17). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 Finale Recap: And the Winner Is [Spoiler]!". TVLine. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  14. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race crowns its eighth Next Drag Superstar – HOTCHKA". hotchka.com. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  15. ^ "Exclusive: Meet the 'RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars 4' cast". EW.com. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  16. ^ "Bow Down, Bitches: Naomi Smalls Just Proved She's No Underdog". www.out.com. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  17. ^ Guerra, Joey (2019-02-18). "'Drag Race' diva Naomi Smalls on that Judy Garland lip sync, chopping Manila Luzon and what's next". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  18. ^ "'Drag Race' Star Naomi Smalls Talks Surviving Social Media Backlash: 'I Have the Thickest Skin Ever'". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  19. ^ "M.U.G. with Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls". WOW Presents Plus. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  20. ^ WOWPresents (2017-05-03), FASHION PHOTO RUVIEW: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 Episode 6 "Kimono She Better Don't", retrieved 2018-08-26
  21. ^ "Watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Naomi Smalls Interview Cardi B About High School, Success & More". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  22. ^ "This interview with Drag Race's Naomi Smalls and Cardi B is a gift". A.Side. Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  23. ^ "Drag heroine Naomi Smalls, like you've never seen her before - Interview Magazine". Interview Magazine. 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  24. ^ Naomi Smalls (2018-02-16), Small's World Episode 1: Pilot, retrieved 2018-08-26
  25. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (September 7, 2019). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Sets Live Show In Las Vegas". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
  26. ^ Juengling, Konrad (October 15, 2021). "Here are the 25 Most-Followed "RuPaul's Drag Race" Queens on Instagram". IntoMore. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  27. ^ Sharpe, Josh. "PAINTED WITH RAVEN Spin-Off Series Coming This Summer". Broadway World. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  28. ^ "Painted with Raven is back with a new format". Pride.com. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  29. ^ Naomi Smalls, Pose - Naomi Smalls (Official Video), retrieved 2018-12-16
  30. ^ Daw, Stephen (February 2, 2019). "Manila Luzon Enlists Naomi Smalls For Campy 'Go Fish' Music Video: Watch". Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  31. ^ Vary, Adam B. (July 22, 2020). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' to Launch New Docuseries on Las Vegas Live Show". Vulture. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  32. ^ Rice, Lynette (May 1, 2023). "'Drag Me To Dinner': Hulu Announces Premiere Date For Unscripted Series From Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  33. ^ Untucked: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 - Episode 1 "Keeping It 100!". YouTube. March 8, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  34. ^ FASHION PHOTO RUVIEW: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 Episode 6 "Kimono She Better Don't". YouTube. May 3, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  35. ^ M.U.G. with Naomi Smalls and Kim Chi - Get Ready with Them!. YouTube. March 5, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  36. ^ "Naomi Smalls | COSMO Queens | Cosmopolitan". YouTube. August 27, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  37. ^ Small's World Episode 1: Pilot. YouTube. February 16, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  38. ^ Shea Couleé - Call Me Couleé: Episode 1. YouTube. April 20, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  39. ^ Whatcha Packin': Naomi Smalls | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 4. YouTube. February 16, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  40. ^ VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW 2003 FT. NAOMI SMALLS | Violet Chachki's Runway Rewind. YouTube. July 5, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  41. ^ Dino-Ray Ramos (May 19, 2020). "World Of Wonder Sets U.S. Premiere Dates For 'How's Your Head, Hun?', 'Canada's Drag Race' And Return Of 'Werq The World'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  42. ^ Nolfi, Joey (July 21, 2021). "Naomi Smalls and Monique Heart dish on THAT shocking RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 4 thrilla for Manila". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  43. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Star Naomi Smalls's 70-Step Drag Transformation | Beauty Secrets | Vogue". YouTube. February 23, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  44. ^ "The Pit Stop S14 E16 | Monét X Change & Naomi Smalls Crown A Winner | RuPaul's Drag Race". YouTube. April 23, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  45. ^ "The Pit Stop S15 E13 🏁 | Bianca Del Rio & Naomi Smalls Pose! | RuPaul's Drag Race S15". YouTube. March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  46. ^ "Sloppy Seconds #318 - Delicious Honey (w/ Naomi Smalls)". YouTube. February 24, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  47. ^ Maas, Jennifer (28 June 2024). "Dropout Sets Drag Queen Monét X Change-Hosted Variety Series 'Monét's Slumber Party' With 'Pee-Wee's Playhouse' Twist (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  48. ^ Trixie & Katya (2024-06-25). Queen of the Amazons with Naomi Smalls and Katya | The Bald and the Beautiful Podcast. Retrieved 2024-08-14 – via YouTube.
  49. ^ "Errybody Say Love-Single". iTunes.
  50. ^ "Super Queen (feat. The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, Season 4) [Cast Version] - Single". iTunes.
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