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King Tyra (formerly known as Tyra Sanchez) is a drag performer, makeup artist and the winner of the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Also work under his biological name James William Ross IV[5].

During his time on Drag Race, Ross went by the name Tyra Sanchez. He was also given popular nicknames, The Other Tyra & The New Tyra.

In 2020, James announced on his social media that he actively desires to detach himself from the Drag Race series. He is also retiring his 'Tyra Sanchez' alter ego, and now preferably goes by He/Him pronouns.[3]

In 2022, James announced on his social media that he would make his return to drag, performing exclusively on OnlyFans and not appearing on any other social media platforms. He still does not want to be associated with Drag Race but has stated he "wishes them well in their future endeavors" and he still goes by He/Him pronouns and has confirmed that Tyra be referred to as King Tyra[6]. Despite returning to the drag scene, he still wishes to be detached from the show.

Drag Name Origin[]

Tyra's drag mother was Angelica Sanchez Jones[7], an Orlando-based performer, part of the Haus of Sanchez (founded by Tyra's drag grandmother & pageant legend, Stasha Sanchez). His drag name was Tyra-Symoné Sanchez. Tyra means "God of Battle" and came from his niece's name, Tyra Nicole. Tyra was born prematurely, and her fight for her life greatly inspired him. Symoné came from Raven-Symoné, who he admires. "Sanchez" is from his former drag family.[8]

When James came out of retirement he wanted his name to be something new and fresh but also didn't want to be referred to as a queen either in or out of drag. He ended up changing his name to "King Tyra" to give it that little bit of masculinity, telling people he's a man without actually saying it.[4]

Track Record(s)[]

Tyra Sanchez
Statistics USA Season 2
Ranking: 1st Place
(Winner)
Maxi Challenges Won: 3 (Eps. 3, 5, 9)
Mini Challenges Won: 1 (Ep. 9)
Times as Team Captain: 0
Times in Bottom: 0
Episode Eliminated: N/A

Memorable Quotes[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2[]

  • "I'm not a bitch. I'm America's Sweetheart."
  • "No, not Tyra, James is in the bible."
  • "I actually based it off of my own son. He wakes up in the middle of the night to ask for a glass of water, and by the time I bring the water back to him, he's asleep again."
  • "Beyoncé is just like me."
  • "If you have a problem with me, address it."
  • "It's almost like saying 'shut the fuck up or I'll make you shut up'."
  • "Then why are you talking?" (to Tatianna)
  • "Maybe next time I will sing and maybe she'll wear another horrible dress like she got on now." (referring to Tatianna)
  • "Is this Jujubee here? Let me get to your level. Oh Ru, we got an OVERGROWN orangutan." (reading Jujubee)
  • "Wow! I didn't even know I was nominated."
  • "The fuck does that mean?" (referring to Raven's lipstick message)
  • "I am a star. I am America's Next Drag SUPERstar."
  • "Raven lost. TWICE."
  • "Which one was that one?" (referring to Season 9 Winner Sasha Velour)
  • "I feel great, my dress looks amazing." (referring to her Wedding Eleganza runway look)

Trivia[]

  • James has a biological son[9], being one of seven contestants to have children. The others are Nicole Paige Brooks, Tempest DuJour, Mrs. Kasha Davis, Tamisha Iman Megan Schoonbrood, and Hershii LiqCour-Jeté.
    • She discussed her son with RuPaul and in her confessionals throughout Season 2.
  • RuPaul often called him "The Other Tyra", referring to her sharing a name with Tyra Banks.
  • Tyra was the first winner...
    • ...to have never ended up in the bottom two.
    • ...of Drag Race to retire from drag.
    • ...to win three challenges.
  • Tyra once held the title of being the youngest winner, winning at the age of 21.
    • Krystal Versace of Drag Race UK Season 3 currently holds this record, being 19 at the time of winning.
  • In 2012, a Kickstarter campaign was set up to help fund "Drag Dad", a documentary that would center around James' life as a single father and a drag performer. The Kickstarter raised $20,641, surpassing its initial goal of $14,000. However, it was never announced and has ceased production due to multiple obstacles in Tyra's life.[10][11]
  • During his drag career, James was part of many controversies with fellow Drag Race contestants:
    • In 2017, James made a sarcastic post announcing the death of Morgan McMichaels in an attempt to "throw shade" on her, for her bad behavior with him and other drags in nightclubs, and to promote his SoundCloud account.[12] Morgan denounced the fake announcement and James underwent backlash from fans. Following the controversy, James released her first spoken word EP titled "Dear Drag Race Fans Book I".[13]
    • In late May 2017, James leaked Tatianna's phone number on her Instagram, leading Tatianna to leak James's number too. After receiving calls, James went live on his Facebook while answering them.[14]
    • In April 2018, he was banned from DragCon after threatening Tatianna, Phi Phi O'Hara and some fans online. After that, James started making sarcastic posts saying for people not to go for the event because something bad would happen there. This made some fans believe he would really do something bad.[12]
    • However, in October 2019, James issued a public apology for his negative behavior via social media and had begun to be accepted into the folds of the Drag Race fandom again as a result.[12]
    • In June 2020, James leaked Raven's phone number on her Instagram.[15]
  • On March 26, 2020, as a part of quitting drag[12], James deleted all of Tyra's Instagram posts and changed her name on Instagram to James Ross, but later created a new Instagram due to being unable to change his Instagram username. He indirectly confirmed this in a reply to a comment made by The Vixen on Instagram, and he later confirmed quitting drag on April 2, 2020, on his old Instagram.
    • Later on Tyra's Instagram page, in a letter dated February 13, 2020, James expresses his discontent of people scrutinizing Tyra, and the lack of concern for James, citing difficulties in close relationship when people kept referring to James as Tyra, feeling like Tyra, "a fictionary character," has been living for James for over ten years. He saw being a drag queen as a quick and fun way to earn a living but did not intend to deal with hate in order to be a role model as a drag queen for his fans, the future generation, or his son. James also added that he desires to not worry about whether he looked too masculine in drag, and that he wants to look masculine as he did as a child. James notes that Tyra will only continue to live through his art.
  • On January 24, 2021, James announced that should he decide to perform as the character 'Tyra Sanchez', he wishes to be viewed as James Ross. James also announced that in drag his name should remain as James Ross, and his pronouns should remain He/Him as he is just "James Ross wearing makeup!"
  • On September 14 2022, James announced his return to drag, under the name 'King Tyra', exclusively on his OnlyFans.[16]

Gallery[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2 Looks[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 Looks[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 Looks[]

Videos[]

Filmography[]

TV[]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2010 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 2 Themself Winner [17]
2010 Drag Race: Untucked! Themself
2010 2010 New Now Next Awards Themself TV special
2011 RuPaul's Drag U Themself as Drag Professor Episode: "Looking for a New Job" [18]
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 4 Themself Episode: "The Final Three" (Guest)
2013 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 5 Themself Episode: "RuPaullywood or Bust" (Archive footage), Episode: "Lip Synch Extravaganza Eleganza" (Archive footage), Episode: "Reunited!"
2015 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 7 Themself Episode: "Grand Finale"
2016 Skin Wars Themself Episode: "Miss Skin Wars", Episode: "Last Looks" (Archive footage) [19]
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 8 Themself Episode: "Keeping It 100" (Special guest), Episode: "Grand Finale"

Web Series[]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Drag Queens React Themself Guest [20]
2015-2017 Hey Qween! Themself Episode: "Tyra Sanchez" (2015), Episode: "Tyra Sanchez" (2017) [21][14]

Music Videos[]

Year Title Artist Ref.
2010 "Jealous of My Boogie" RuPaul [22]
2012 "Hey Jane" Spiritualized [23]


Discography[]

EP's[]

Year Title Notes
2017 "Dear Drag Race Fans Book I" Spoken word EP

Single[]

Year Title Album Notes
2011 "Look At Me"
2016 "Vogue" Non-Album Single

Appearances/Fearures[]

Year Title Artwork Notes
2016 "Why Are You Talking?" The Rusical "RuPaul's Drag Race: The Rusical"
by Tatianna & Tyra


External Links[]

References[]

  1. RuPaul's Drag Race season 2 winner Tyra Sanchez comes out of retirement | Entertainment Weekly — January 26, 2023
  2. RuPaul's Drag Race Moments of Black Excellence | VH1 | YouTube — February 19, 2021
  3. 3.0 3.1 The Tragic Story Behind Former RuPaul's Drag Race Winner Tyra Sanchez | The List — April 29, 2022
  4. 4.0 4.1 James Ross (formerly Tyra Sanchez): Exposed (The Full Interview) | YouTube, Joseph Shepherd — April 5, 2023
  5. Tyra Sanchez: Why Fatherhood Is Fabulous | The Advocate — October 1, 2012
  6. Update to Tyra’s Comeback | Reddit, r/rupaulsdragrace — September 14, 2022
  7. An Homage to Five Generations of Black Entertainers in Orlando | Watermark — March 1, 2018
  8. Tyra Sanchez Interview | Hot Spots Magazine — May 6, 2010
  9. Which Fishy Drag Race Winner Is Getting Ready For Baby #2!? | World of Wonder — August 26, 2017
  10. Drag Dad | Kickstarter
  11. Filmmaker admits after four years "Drag Dad" doc isn't happening... contributors won't get refunds | Livejournal, ohnotheydidnt — February 7, 2016
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 What Ever Happened To Tyra Sanchez? | IN Magazine — June 1, 2020
  13. Tyra Sanchez | Soundcloud, Tyra Sanchez — May 2017
  14. 14.0 14.1 TYRA SANCHEZ Returns To HEY QWEEN With Jonny McGovern Part 1 | YouTube, Hey Qween — August 28, 2017
  15. she's baaaaack Drag Race winner Tyra Sanchez announces their comeback … but on OnlyFans? | QUEERTY — September 15, 2022
  16. What Happened to Tyra Sanchez? The Drag Race Drama Explained | Glamour Buff — December 4, 2022
  17. ‘America’s Next Drag Superstar’ is crowned ... and promptly passes out | Los Angeles Times — April 27, 2010
  18. 'RuPaul's Drag U': Season 2 guest judges include 'Glee' star Dot Jones, Molly Ringwald, Carnie Wilson, and more -- EXCLUSIVE | Entertainment Weekly — May 9, 2011
  19. Kandi Burruss Hosts Kandi Koated Nights with Special Guest Tyra Sanchez (Drag Race) [PHOTOS + VIDEO] | Straight From The A — April 27, 2012
  20. Part 3 | YouTube, WOWPresents — August 25, 2015
  21. RuPaul's Drag Race Winner Tyra Sanchez on Hey Qween! SEASON 3 FINALE With Jonny McGovern | YouTube, Hey Qween — October 12, 2015
  22. RuPaul's Jealous Of My Boogie (featuring Tyra Sanchez, Raven and Jujubee | YouTube, RuTube — May 4, 2010
  23. Spiritualized, Hey Jane | YouTube, doublesixrecords — March 19, 2012

Navigation[]

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