Naia Black | |
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Born | Timothy Brian Black Las Piñas, Metro Manila, Philippines |
Nationality | Filipino |
Education | University of the Philippines Diliman |
Occupation | |
Years active | 2022–present |
Television | Drag Den (season 1) |
Timothy Brian Black, better known as Naia Black or mononymously as Naia, is a Filipino drag performer. She[a] is best known for winning the first season of Drag Den and was crowned as "Filipino's First Drag Supreme".
While attending college at University of the Philippines Diliman, Black first discovered drag from watching the American reality series, RuPaul's Drag Race. Originally, he considered the name "Tanya Sativa" before choosing "Naia Black" as his drag name.[1]
I only came here with love and passion for drag... I hope that my story inspires young queer artists who are afraid of putting themselves out there, because I was afraid. But thank you, Manila, for giving this platform because I was able to prove that growth is what you need to become the next Drag Supreme.
— Naia Black, thanking Manila Luzon for inspiring her, in a Manila Bulletin interview.[2]
On 17 November 2022, she was revealed as one of the contestants competing in the first season of Drag Den.[3] Despite never winning a challenge, she was in the finale with Shewarma and Maria Cristina. In the finale episode, she had to compete in three rounds and a lip-sync battle to Sarah Geronimo's "Kilometro" (2014).[4] On the night of the finale, Naia was crowned by Manila Luzon at a viewing party in Taguig, as "Filipino's First Drag Supreme".[5][6] She received a cash prize of ₱1,000,000, a one-year supply of Téviant Beauty cosmetics, and an "all-inclusive" trip to Palawan, Philippines.[7]
In June 2023, Naia Black was invited as a guest speaker for a TEDx conference, at the Ateneo de Manila University, to discuss the "significance of embracing one's authentic self and the power of non-conformity."[8]
Black is gay, and uses the pronoun he/him out of drag and she/her in drag. He also set charity events to "raise funds for HIV research and awareness" in the Philippines.[9]
Title | Year | Album | Ref. |
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"May Kapa" with the cast of Drag Den (season 1) |
2023 | Non-album promotional single | [10] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Third World Romance | Trixie | [11] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Drag Den | Herself/Contestant | Season 1 — Winner | [12] |
2023 | Herself/Judge/Guest | Season 2 — "Kalyeah Culture" | [13] | |
Season 2 — "Reyna ng Gabi" |
Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
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Nylon Manila Big Bold Brave Awards | 2023 | Gen Z Approved Drag Queen | Naia | Nominated | [14] |
Season | |||||
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Contestants |
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