Joey Jay

Joey Jay is an American drag performer best known for competing on RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 and later RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 11. Hailing from Madison, Wisconsin and now based in Phoenix, Arizona, Joey built her reputation as a high-energy club queen with a campy, unapologetically queer persona. Her signature blend of athletic dance moves, self-deprecating humor, and a running gag about being the first gay person on Drag Race won her a devoted fanbase. As of 2026, she continues to tour nationally, holds the title of Miss Gay Phoenix America 2025, and is an active presence on Instagram and TikTok, where she shares drag looks, comedy bits, and life updates. [edit]

Joey Jay was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and grew up in the Midwest. Before drag, she competed in male talent pageants, which sparked her love for performance. She worked a day job at a software company while starting to do drag one night a week. In 2017, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she became a regular in the local drag scene. She auditioned for RuPaul's Drag Race twice before being cast on her third attempt for season 13. In 2018, she placed as a Top 12 finalist at Miss Gay USofA, a key early achievement. [edit]

Joey Jay's breakthrough came in 2021 when she appeared as a contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race season 13. Her energetic lip-syncs and playful personality stood out, and she became known for frequently saying the word gay, spawning a fan inside joke that she was the first gay person on the show. After the season, she toured across the United States, performing at clubs and pride events. In 2025, she won the title of Miss Gay Phoenix America. In April 2026, she was announced as a competitor on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 11, returning for a second chance at the crown. [edit]

Joey Jay is known for her campy, high-energy drag style and her unabashedly queer persona. She often describes herself as pushing the gay agenda, a tongue-in-cheek branding that resonates with fans. On social media, she posts drag looks, comedy skits, and behind-the-scenes content from shows. Her fandom appreciates her humor, athletic dance moves, and self-aware attitude. Media coverage often highlights her as a club queen with a strong stage presence and a knack for creating viral moments. [edit]

Joey Jay has established a formidable presence in the drag landscape, moving from a Phoenix club regular to a two-time finalist on RuPaul's Drag Race. Her trajectory is quantified by her standing in the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, where she currently holds the position of the 17th most famous person in Drag as of August 2026, a placement that reflects a slight decline from the 14th spot in the previous cycle. This ranking underscores her sustained relevance following her historic run on All Stars 11, where she became the first openly gay contestant to enter the workroom, a narrative detail that fans and critics alike cite as a pivotal moment for franchise representation. While some observers debate the specifics of her bracket performance against eventual winner Crystal Methyd, her status as a resilient competitor who advanced to the semifinals remains undisputed.

The audience surrounding Joey Jay does not operate under a singular, formalized name but rather identifies through seasonal tags like the S13 fam or the AS11 squad, often coalescing around her social media handle @joeyjayisgay. With over 361,000 followers on Instagram and a TikTok presence boasting more than 134,000 users, her community actively engages in streaming campaigns and merchandise support to bolster her visibility during competitive seasons. Fans frequently utilize the hashtag #joeyjayisgay to reinforce her branding as an authentic LGBTQ+ advocate, celebrating her self-deprecating humor and athletic dance moves. The collective memory of her journey from a software company employee performing once a week to a national touring act with the title of Miss Gay Phoenix America 2025 serves as a unifying theme for this digitally organized fanbase, which values her petty yet fabulous attitude as much as her competitive resilience.[edit]

Joey Jay's signature catchphrase regarding being the first gay person on Drag Race began as a running joke during season 13 due to her frequent use of the word gay. Before pursuing drag full-time, she worked at a software company during the day while performing only one night a week. She utilizes he/she/they pronouns and identifies as Jewish, with a social media bio that reads pushing the gay agenda in a city near you. Additionally, she offers personalized video messages through Cameo. A key element of her modern legend involves her return for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 11, where she entered as an openly gay contestant, a distinction fans celebrate as a historic milestone for the workroom dynamic. Despite this unique positioning, she advanced to the semifinals, cementing her reputation for competitive resilience after previously placing as the runner-up on season 13. Fans often recount her journey from a club queen in Phoenix to a two-time finalist, noting how her petty branding and fierce dance moves became iconic traits of her career. While some confusion exists between her and a baseball player of the same name, her folklore remains firmly rooted in her drag achievements and advocacy. The story of her becoming the first openly homosexual contestant in an All Stars workroom is widely retold as a pivotal moment in franchise history, even if other queens had come out prior to her entry.[edit]

Joey Jay has not shared details about her parents, siblings, or family background publicly. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and later moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she currently lives. She has no publicly known children or pets. [edit]

Joey Jay is associated with the RuPaul's Drag Race franchise, particularly season 13 and All Stars 11. She is a fixture of the Phoenix drag scene and has performed alongside many other Drag Race alumni on tour. [edit]

Joey Jay has not publicly confirmed any romantic relationships. She keeps her personal life private, and no partners, marriages, or children have been documented in reliable sources. As of 2026, her relationship status is unknown. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Joey Jay's net worth stands at $500 Thousand as of 2026. This financial estimate attributes value to her television appearance fees for *RuPaul's Drag Race* and *All Stars*, alongside earnings from national touring and club performances. Her income streams further include monetization on Instagram and TikTok, as well as revenue generated from personalized video messages on Cameo. Additional funds are derived from drag pageant prizes and occasional merchandise sales. While exact figures remain private, her consistent bookings and expanding online presence suggest a stable financial trajectory.[edit]

Joey Jay has won the Miss Gay Phoenix America pageant title in 2025. She also placed as a Top 12 finalist at Miss Gay USofA in 2018. Her achievements are primarily in drag pageantry rather than mainstream industry awards. [edit]