Shuga Cain
Shuga Cain is the stage name of Jesus Martinez (born November 20, 1977), an American drag queen and baker who came to international attention on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Shuga Cain | |
---|---|
Born | Jesus Martinez November 20, 1977 Magalia, California, U.S |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | |
Known for | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 11) |
Website | shugssweetshop |
Early life
Martinez grew up in Northern California, in a predominantly caucasian neighborhood. His father was Salvadoran, and his mother was Apache with Spanish ancestry.[1] He received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and a Master of Music degree from DePaul University, both in applied voice.[2]
Career
In 2011, Martinez starred in a production of Xanadu, portraying Sonny Malone.[3]
Cain started drag full time in 2017, quitting a six-figure corporate job to pursue it.[4] In March 2018, Cain was a part of Max Emerson's Drag Babies series, hosted by Bob the Drag Queen. She was a Drag Mentor, alongside Peppermint and Chi Chi DeVayne.[5]
Cain was announced to be one of fifteen contestants competing on season eleven of RuPaul's Drag Race on January 24, 2019.[6] In episode 3, Cain was a part of the historic six-way lipsync (the first time in the show history in which more than two contestans had to lipsync to avoid elimination), which she survived.[7] Cain lipsynced once again in episode 5, where she sent home Ariel Versace to Whitney Houston's "I'm Your Baby Tonight".[8] Despite never winning a challenge, Cain placed in the top during the season's Snatch Game challenge, where she portrayed Charo.[9] Finally, Cain was eliminated in the 10th episode after lipsyncing to No More Drama by Mary J. Blige against Vanessa Vanjie Mateo. She finished the competition in 7th place.[10] During her time on the show, Cain released Shuga in the Raw, where she recapped every episode of season 11.[11]
From March 26 to September 6, she was a part of the rotating cast for RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 11 Tour, presented by Voss Events and World of Wonder, and hosted by Asia O'Hara.[12] The show kicked off in Los Angeles on May 26 during the RuPaul's DragCon LA wrap party (hosted by Drag Race judge Michelle Visage) and concluded with a final bow on September 6 in New York City (also hosted by Visage) at the top of RuPaul’s DragCon NYC.[12]
She was announced to host Gimme Some Shuga, a six episode mini-series on WOWPresents Plus. The series focuses on Cain and ace baker Justin Salinas creating cakes inspired by RuPaul's Drag Race legends.[13] She was announced as part of the cast for A Drag Queen Christmas, a Christmas-theme drag show presented by M&P, hosted by Nina West. Other queens in the lineup include Shea Coulee, Willam, Latrice Royale, Thorgy Thor, Manila Luzon, and Lady Bunny.[14]
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Contestant (7th Place) |
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | Companion show to RuPaul's Drag Race | ||
Tales of the City | Drag queen | Extra |
Web series
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Drag Babies | Herself | Drag Mentor | [16] |
2019 | Queen to Queen | With Scarlet Envy and Kahanna Montrese | [17] | |
Da Fuq | Guest, hosted by Honey Davenport | [18] | ||
I've Never Had a ... | Guest | [19] | ||
Countdown to the Crown | Season 11 | [20] | ||
Whatcha Packin' | Guest | [21] | ||
Cosmo Queens | Cosmopolitan Series | [22] | ||
Charo's Pink Room | With Charo | [23] | ||
Shuga in the Raw | Host | [24] | ||
Take a Look Back | Series by Yuhua Hamasaki | [25] | ||
Gimme Some Shuga | Host | [26] | ||
Bootleg Opinions | Guest, hosted by Yuhua Hamasaki | [27] |
Music videos
Year | Title | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|
2020 | "Sweet Love" | [28] |
Discography
Singles
Year | Title |
---|---|
2020 | "Sweet Love" |
Theatre
Year | Production | Role | Venue | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Xanadu | Sonny Malone | New Conservatory Theatre Center | Credited as Jesus Martinez |
References
- "Whatcha Packin': Shuga Cain, Season 11 Episode 10, RuPaul's Drag Race". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
- LinkedIn – Jesus Martinez Jr.
- "'Xanadu' rolling into The City". SFExaminer. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- "Why Shuga Cain Gave Up A Six Figure Job to Do Drag Full Time". Out. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- "Instagram Star Max Emerson's "Drag Babies" Set to Premiere". Metrosource. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- "Aquaria & Adam Rippon to Announce 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11 Cast in Upcoming 'Ruveal'". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
- "'Stink. Stank. Stunk!' Disastrous performance leads to herstoric 6-way elimination on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Yahoo. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- "RuPaul's Drag Race season 11, episode 5 GIF recap: Clever girl, spooky bitch". EW. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11: Snatch Game and a lip-sync for the herstory books". Chron. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- "'RuPaul's Drag Race' 11 episode 10 recap: Which queen didn't make magic on 'Dragracadabra'? [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]". Gold Derby. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- "The Week in Drag: Blair St. Clair, Shuga Cain, Willam & More". Socialite Life. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- Nolfi, Joey. "RuPaul's Drag Race sets season 11 tour dates with all 15 queens". Ew. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- "Miss Vanjie becomes dessert in Shuga Cain's Gimme Some Shuga preview". EW. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- "'A Drag Queen Christmas' coming to El Paso in December". KFoxTV. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- "As 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Wraps Up Its 11th Season, Let's Have A Well Deserved Moment Of Silence For Miss Shuga Cain". We Are Mitu. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- DRAG BABIES: Project #1 "What The Hell Are We Doing?". YouTube. March 13, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- Queen To Queen: Scarlet Envy, Shuga Cain & Kahanna Montrese | RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11. YouTube. May 22, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- Honey Davenport - Da Fuq S1 EP1 with Shuga Cain!. YouTube. March 8, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- Munchies Staff (May 29, 2019). "Watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Stars Try Truffles, Snails, and Caviar for the First Time". Vice. Vice Media. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
- "Impressions" COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11. YouTube. May 21, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- Whatcha Packin’: Shuga Cain | Season 11 Episode 10 | RuPaul's Drag Race. YouTube. May 3, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- "Shuga Cain's Shimmery Makeup Look Is Sweeter Than Dessert". Cosmopolitan. May 8, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- Charo's Pink Room EP 1: Charo & Shuga Cain. YouTube. June 5, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- Shuga In The Raw Episode 1. YouTube. March 7, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- YuhuaHamasaki (July 3, 2019). "TAKE A LOOK BACK: Part 1 Cast RuVeal & What + Why Drag?!" (YouTube video). Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
- Gimme Some Shuga with Shuga Cain & Justin: Miss Vanjie Cake - Coming Soon To WOW Presents Plus!. YouTube. July 30, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- SHUGA CAIN joins Drag Race UK x Bootleg Opinions Season 1 Episode 7!. YouTube. November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- Cook, Michael (September 2, 2020). "Instinct Premiere: Shuga Cain Masks Up For Her Sickening New Single 'Sweet Love'". Instinct. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.