Chantaize Darius Jeremy Pierce, known professionally as Shangela Laquifa Wadley or simply Shangela, is an American drag queen, reality television personality, producer, and actor who has become one of the most recognizable figures to emerge from the competitive drag circuit. Born on November 22, 1981, Shangela built a career defined by resilience, reinvention, and an unmistakable comedic presence, transforming an early and brief appearance on national television into a multifaceted entertainment brand.

Shangela first entered the public consciousness as the first contestant eliminated in the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Rather than fading from view, she returned as a surprise contestant in the show's third season, where she placed sixth and demonstrated marked growth in her performance abilities. She later competed for a third time on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, finishing in a joint third and fourth place alongside BeBe Zahara Benet, the winner of the show's inaugural season. These repeated appearances cemented her reputation as a persistent and evolving competitor within the franchise.

Beyond the Drag Race universe, Shangela expanded her footprint across television and film. She appeared in scripted series including Community in 2011, 2 Broke Girls in 2012, Glee in 2012, Bones in 2014, The X-Files in 2016, and Broad City in 2019. On the big screen, she appeared in the comedy Hurricane Bianca in 2016 and its sequel Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate in 2018, as well as the musical drama A Star is Born in 2018. Her association with the latter film produced a historic milestone: in 2019, while representing A Star is Born at the 91st Academy Awards, she became the first drag queen to walk the Oscars red carpet in drag.

Between 2020 and 2024, Shangela co-hosted the HBO reality series We're Here alongside fellow Drag Race contestants Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka O'Hara. The series, which received acclaim from critics, followed the hosts as they traveled to small towns across the United States to stage one-night-only drag performances and engage with local communities. The program further established Shangela as a cultural ambassador for drag performance and LGBTQ+ visibility.

In addition to her television and film work, Shangela regularly performs live across the United States and Canada, maintaining an active touring schedule. Her career trajectory, from a first-round elimination to a recurring presence on one of the most prominent reality franchises in the world, illustrates a rare arc of sustained reinvention and professional growth in the entertainment industry.