Asttina Mandella
Aston Joshua (born 11 February 1993), better known by the stage name Asttina Mandella, is a British drag queen and dancer from East London.[1] She is best known for competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, where she came eleventh on the series.[2]
Asttina Mandella | |
---|---|
Born | Aston Joshua 11 February 1993 |
Nationality | British |
Occupation(s) | Drag queen, dancer |
Years active | 2012–present |
Television | RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 2) |
Career edit
Mandella has been a drag queen since 2012, but before 2020 she was mostly known for being a dancer. Asttina is trained in ballet, tap dance, jazz, voguing, hip-hop dance, waacking and street dance.[3] She has also performed as a backup dancer alongside prestigious performers such as: Hercules & Love Affair, The Pussycat Dolls, Little Mix and Kanye West.[3] Her drag name derives from a hybrid of her birth name, American singer Tina Turner and former President of South Africa and philanthropist Nelson Mandela.[4] In December 2020, Asttina was announced as one of twelve contestants competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, and placed eleventh overall in the competition.[2] Mandella was the eleventh contestant to enter the Werk Room and penned the now synonymous catchphrase 'Rude!",[5] and also won the first episode of the series,[6] and performed well in episode two, however shortly after in episode three she placed in the bottom, and was eliminated in a lip sync challenge against contestant Tia Kofi to the song "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa.[7] In February 2022 Asttina will embark on RuPaul's Drag Race UK: The Official Tour alongside the entire cast of the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, in association with World of Wonder and promoter Voss Events.[8] In August 2021, she will be a featured performer in Klub Kids London Presents: NOIR: The Tour, where 25% of the proceeds from the production will be donated to the Black Lives Matter movement.[9]
Personal life edit
Mandella currently resides in East London. [citation needed] She also drew media attention when discussing the representation of Black Queer icons within the United Kingdom, alongside fellow contestant Tayce, as it was a conversation that "opened up to so many people" according to Digital Spy.[5]
Filmography edit
Television edit
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Drag S.O.S. | Dance Instructor | Series 1 | |
2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race UK | Contestant | Series 2, 11th place | [2] |
2022 | Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud | Herself | BBC documentary | [10] |
2022 | Queens for the Night | Herself | One-off special | [11] |
Music videos edit
Year | Title | Artist | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | "Baby" | Madison Beer | [12] |
2021 | "Good Ones" (Drag Performance Video) | Charli XCX | [13] |
Discography edit
As featured artist edit
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"A Little Bit of Love"[14] (among The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Season 2) | 2021 | Non-album single |
Stage edit
Year | Title | Promoter | Locations | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Squirrel Friends | Klub Kids | London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Newcastle | [15] |
2021 | Noir: The Tour | Klub Kids | Glasgow, Manchester, London, Cardiff, Brighton and Birmingham | [16][9] |
2022 | RuPaul's Drag Race UK: The Official Tour | Voss Events / World Of Wonder | Ipswich, Oxford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Southend, Manchester, Sheffield, Blackpool, Llandudno, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Basingstoke, Portsmouth, Plymouth, London, Derby, Bristol, Bradford, Aberdeen, Southampton, Stockton, Brighton and Newport | [8] |
References edit
- ^ "Drag Race UK star Asttina Mandella reveals her 'controversial and taboo' pick for Snatch Game". Gay Times. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ a b c "RuPaul's Drag Race UK series two". BBC. from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ a b Meet Asttina Mandella | RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 2, retrieved 5 May 2021
- ^ "Who is Asttina Mandella? Meet the RuPaul's Drag Race UK star who comes with pyrotechnics and extravagance". Radio Times. from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ a b Opie, David (29 January 2021). "Drag Race UK star Asttina Mandella talks online controversy and Black queer icons". Digital Spy. from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ RuPaul's Drag Race UK - Series 2: Episode 1, retrieved 6 May 2021
- ^ RuPaul's Drag Race UK - Series 2: Episode 3, retrieved 6 May 2021
- ^ a b . Voss Events. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ a b Damshenas, Sam (8 June 2021). "17 incredible LGBTQ+ friendly events you can attend in the UK this year". Gay Times. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Brocklehurst, Harrison (25 January 2022). "We spoke to Drag Race UK's Cherry Valentine about her 'emotional' new documentary". The Tab. from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Robledo, Jordan (8 June 2022). "Drag Race UK stars Blu Hydrangea and Asttina Mandella join ITV special Queens For The Night". Gay Times. from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Premiere: Madison Beer recruits drag queens Crystal, Asttina, Bimini and Tayce for new Baby video". GAY TIMES. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ Will Lavin (1 November 2021). "'RuPaul's Drag Race UK' stars share Halloween performance of Charli XCX's 'Good Ones'". NME. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ A Little Bit of Love (Cast Version) [feat. The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Season 2] by RuPaul, retrieved 20 March 2021
- ^ "Klub Kids London presents SQUIRREL FRIENDS (ages 14+)". Eventbrite. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Noir: The Tour". Klub Kids. from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.