Vita VonTesse Starr
Vita VonTesse Starr | |
|---|---|
| Born | Byron Rudolph[1] August 1, 1987 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2026–present |
| Television | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 18) |
Vita VonTesse Starr is the stage name of Byron Rudolph (born August 1, 1987), a drag queen and designer known for competing on the eighteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, as well as her designing and sewing abilities.[2]
Career
Rudolph first discovered drag at age 8 after watching the 1995 film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. Inspired by the character Vida Boheme, VonTesse Starr's first name comes as a mash-up of Boheme with Dita Von Teese, a burlesque dancer which also inspired her first last name. Starr comes from her drag mother, Daphne Raquel Starr, who she met in nearby Birmingham, Alabama.[3] VonTesse Starr competed on the eighteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. She was eliminated from the competition on the seventh episode, placing 10th overall.
Personal Life
Her inspirations for drag are art, music, and culture. Diana Ross, Diahann Carroll, Aretha Franklin, and Patti LaBelle are some of the women she looks up to.[4] She used to be emo and gothic as a teen.[2]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 18) | Contestant | 10th place |
| Rupaul's Drag Race: Untucked (season 17) | Herself | 7 episodes |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Whatcha Packin' | Herself | Season 20, Episode 5 |
| Hello Hello Hello | Season 2, Episode 5 |
References
- ^ "Cherries (The Tucked Aways) - The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race". Spotify. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- ^ a b RuPaul's Drag Race (December 2, 2025). Meet The Queens Of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 🤩. Retrieved March 8, 2026 – via YouTube.
- ^ RuPaul's Drag Race (February 13, 2026). Whatcha Packin’ ☀️ S18 E07 | RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 🌟. Retrieved March 10, 2026 – via YouTube.
- ^ The Queer Review (December 11, 2025). Meet RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 queen Vita VonTesse Starr #dragrace. Retrieved March 10, 2026 – via YouTube.