Paul Jason Dardo (born June 13, 1992), known professionally as Violet Chachki,Sources for Chachki's birth name:
Sources for Chachki's date of birth: is an American drag performer, model, entrepreneur and recording artist who rose to prominence after winning the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Chachki is known for her high-fashion aesthetic, burlesque performances incorporating aerial dance, and appearances in music videos for artists such as Sam Smith, Mareux, Allie X and Alice Glass.
Early life Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Dardo has an Ecuadorian parent. She was raised Catholic and attended St. Pius X Catholic High School. During her upbringing, she also lived in Stone Mountain and Lilburn.
Career Dardo began performing in drag as Violet Chachki at the age of 19. The name "Violet" was inspired by Jennifer Tilly's character of the same name in the film Bound, while "Chachki" is a variant of the Yiddish word tchotchke, used to name a strictly decorative small collectible item or describe a beautiful young lady. She first performed at the bar LeBuzz in Marietta, Georgia. Using a fake ID to perform in local drag shows, she eventually won Miss New Faces at Friends on Ponce in Atlanta and was adopted as a "drag daughter" by drag queens Dax Exclamationpoint (who competed on the eighth season of Drag Race) and Genre Monster. Later, Violet Chachki was enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design at the Atlanta campus for fashion design, but dropped out to focus on doing drag. She became a regular cast member of The Other Show at the bar Jungle in Atlanta which gave her exposure locally and allowed her to perform with Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, Amanda Lepore, and Lady Bunny.
In 2013, she was photographed for "Legendary Children". The project focused on Atlanta's drag scene and was exhibited at Gallery 1526. Two photos that featured her genitals and gaff were covered up after complaints. Later, the censorship controversy caught the attention of Vice.
In 2014, she appeared on the cover for the single "Cosplay" by Captain Murphy (AKA Flying Lotus). She 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.
In 2015, Violet Chachki was announced as a contestant on seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race, after having unsuccessfully auditioned for season six. On the show, she was noted for excelling in fashion and design related challenges and her focus on aesthetics and confident demeanor. On June 1, 2015, she 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, she became the first drag queen in a major lingerie ad campaign, for the brand Bettie Page Lingerie.
In January 2018, she walked for Moschino in their Fall 2018 Collection at Milan Fashion Week.
In April 2019, she became the first international drag queen to have ever performed in India.
In May 2019, she attended the Met Gala, where the theme was Camp: Notes on Fashion, wearing a glove-shaped Moschino dress which was altered by Jeremy Scott. Thus, she became one of the first drag queens at the event, alongside Aquaria and RuPaul. In June 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine placed Violet Chachki 16th on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former Drag Race contestants.
In November 2019, she teamed up with perfume brand Heretic Parfum as collaborator and muse for the genderless fragrance "Dirty Violet".
In 2023, she was featured on an alternate cover for the March 2023 edition of Vogue Czechoslovakia, and became the first Drag Race alum to be featured on the cover of the magazine.
In May 2023, while at a party in Santa Monica, California, Violet Chachki and frequent collaborator, fellow drag queen, and RuPaul's Drag Race alum Gottmik were asked by rapper Cardi B to direct her next music video. The duo accepted, and the completed video is to-be-announced.
In June 2023, she walked in the British Vogue x Luisa Via Roma fashion show in Florence, Italy. The same month, Violet Chachki was awarded the Cultural Icon Award from the Tom of Finland Foundation, which was presented to her by Dita Von Teese.
In 2026, she launched her clothing brand Dardo.
Music On June 2, 2015, Violet Chachki released "Bettie" as the lead single from her debut EP Gagged. The EP was released on June 30, 2015. In May 2018, she released her fourth single, "A Lot More Me", a burlesque track independent from an album.
In July 2021, Violet Chachki released the single "Mistress Violet" with pop singer Allie X. The song was produced by French producer Lecomte De Brégeot and written by Allie X. The accompanying 1980s influenced music video was shot on analog and features themes of power play and BDSM, with the two appearing in haute couture outfits by Schiaparelli. Violet Chachki had previously appeared in Allie X's 2016 music video for "All the Rage".
Artistry Violet Chachki's style is characterized by her "obsession with vintage glamour". She has been referred to as "the living embodiment of a 1950s female archetype" and have cited designers Christian Dior, Thierry Mugler and John Galliano as inspirations, as well as "style icons" such as Lady Miss Kier, Dovima, Dita Von Teese, and Raquel Welch.
The influence of fetish fashion and art is a staple in Violet Chachki's aesthetic, with references to the bondage and latex subcultures, John Willie's illustrations, dominatrix imagery and Bettie Page. They told Design Scene in 2016: "I think drag in itself is kind of a fetish, it's kind of uncomfortable and I think bondage and latex are uncomfortable and they have that same feel... I think especially when you're really feeling it and feeling your look and you're willing to suffer through the pain to kind of present yourself the way you want to present... I think that's kind of a fetish. I think it's exhibitionism almost." Violet Chachki is known for her tightly laced corsets.
Discography
EPs Title Details Peakpositions USDance USHeat USIndie Gagged Released: June 30, 2015 Label: Sidecar Records, Producer Entertainment Group Formats: Digital download 11 16 48
As lead artist Title YearAlbum "Bettie" 2015Gagged "Vanguard" "A Lot More Me"2018 rowspan="4" "Whatever Violet Wants"(featuring Daddy Squad) 2021 "Mistress Violet"(with Allie X) "TKO"(with Gottmik)2025
As featured artist Title Year Other artist(s) Album"Drop That Pimp" 2015 RuPaul, Miles Davis Moody RuPaul Presents: CoverGurlz2"I Run the Runway" Miss Fame Beauty Marked"The Night Before Christmas" Christmas Queens"Rim"2019Brooke Candy, Aquaria Sexorcism
Filmography Films Title Year Role NotesRef.Queer Moxie2016selfDocumentary
Television Year Title RoleNotes 2015 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 7) selfContestant (winner)2016 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 8)Guest in Episode 1 and 102022RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag RaceGuest
Web series Title Year Role Notes Untucked 2015 self Companion show to RuPaul's Drag RaceTransformations with James St. James2016GuestThe Pit Stop2017-2022guest in 4 episodes Iconic2018GuestDigital Drag2019Series from their YouTube channelRunway Rewind Violet DoesHis Vintage TouchGuestWerq the WorldWorld of Wonder's seriesShop Like a Queen HostHuda BossSeason 2, Episode 4
Music videos Title YearArtist(s) Director "Drop That Pimp"2015self rowspan="2" "Get Ready to Clock"themself, Max, Jaidynn Diore Fierce "Born Naked (Stadium Remix)"RuPaul Steven Corfe "Bettie"self Michael Serrato "Vanguard" "I Run the Runway"Miss Fame Ali Mahdavi "All the Rage"2016Allie X Jungle George/Maluko Haus"A Lot More Me"2018self Love Bailey"Mine"Alice GlassLucas David "I Don't Wanna Brag"Aja Assaad Yacoub"Whatever Violet Wants"2021selfAli Mahdavi"The Perfect Girl"2022MareuxMichael E Linn Nedda Afsari"Unholy"Sam Smith and Kim PetrasFloria Sigismondi"L.A. Drags"2025Ultra SunnUltra Sunn & Alejandro Lomeli
Other appearances Title YearRoleNoteRef.#CreateYourStyle2018selfSchwarzkopf campaign videoNeon DreamMarilyn Monroe Impersonator / ShowgirlPrada campaign video Sublime Perfection2019selfPath McGrath Labs campaign videoOops! I LaLiT AgainThe LaLiT London adWerq the World Live Stream2020Voss Events' online showWerq the World Battle RoyaleLe Male Le ParfumJean Paul Gaultier campaign videoDigital FoliesselfSolo live stream showBoys Lie FamilyBoys Lie campaign videoWhen You Wear a Condom2021selfAHF parody ad
Tours Headlining A Lot More Me (World, 2019–present)
Co-Headlining RuPaul's Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons (World, 2015–2016) Werq the World (World, 2017–2020)
References
External links