Wikipedia

Heidi N Closet

Heidi N Closet is the stage name of Trevien Anthonie Cheek,[1] an American drag queen from Ramseur, North Carolina, best known for competing on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where she placed 6th and won the Miss Congeniality award. She returned to the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, but decided to quit the competition early, citing her mental health and wellbeing as the reason for her withdrawal.[2]

Heidi N Closet
Heidi N Closet in 2024
Born
Trevien Anthonie Cheek

(1994-09-29) September 29, 1994 (age 30)
Ramseur, North Carolina, U.S.
Occupation(s)Drag queen, entertainer
Known forRuPaul's Drag Race (season 12)
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 8)
TitleMiss Congeniality
PredecessorNina West
SuccessorLaLa Ri
Websitetheheidincloset.com

Early life

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Cheek was raised in Ramseur, North Carolina.[1][3] His mother died at a young age,[3] and he is estranged from his father. He was raised by his grandmother.[4]

Career

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In 2014, shortly after turning 18, Cheek's sister invited him to a drag show in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Cheek has said of seeing his first drag show, "I saw the glamour of being able to do whatever you want to do."[5] Cheek said his drag name "came from a joke. It started out as a lot of men from my hometown are closeted and they would always try and get my goodies and whatnotries. I was like, 'There's no need to be hiding in the closet.'"[1]

Cheek's participation as a cast member on season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race was announced on January 23, 2020.[6] He is the third contestant on the show from North Carolina, following Victoria "Porkchop" Parker (Season 1) and Stacy Layne Matthews (Season 3), and had not previously auditioned for the show.[7] Heidi experienced an allergic reaction on her first day of shooting, but finished safe. During the competition, RuPaul expressed disapproval with her name choice,[8] stating during episode 10: "I don't know if you've heard the story, but she came here as Heidi N Closet. Rotten!"[9] With each episode RuPaul refers to Heidi by different names, including Heidi Ho,[3] Heidi N Seeky, Heidi Hydrates,[9] and Heidi Afrodite.[9][10] Despite this, Heidi revealed during the Season 12 reunion episode that she had decided to keep her name.

 
Heidi N Closet at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2023

Heidi was dubbed the "heart" of the season by Out.[11] During the competition, she placed in the top three times, winning one challenge. She also placed in the bottom two on four occasions. Her first two times in the bottom she survived the lip sync, sending home Nicky Doll and Brita respectively. Her third time in the bottom she lip-synced against Jackie Cox, and both were saved by RuPaul in a double shantay. She was eliminated in the eleventh episode, placing 6th overall in the competition, after losing her fourth lip sync to eventual winner of the season Jaida Essence Hall. During the season finale, she was named Miss Congeniality as voted on by her peers.[12]

Cheek has experienced extreme poverty in his life and career, having indicated that he made $9,000 the year before competing on Ru Paul's Drag Race, while working at a gas station.[13] When talking on her show Gap Chat, Heidi said, "When I went to Drag Race, I actually had only 33 cents in my bank account the day I showed up [...] Even to just pay for the suitcases to get there was stressful." Many queens join the show hoping that experience will pay out for them, but they first need to have a significant amount of money upfront to pay for their looks. Cheek borrowed money from his boyfriend and friends for materials, then sewed all his looks with his drag sisters. The quality of the looks came up during the season during various moments but the different financial starting points were never openly acknowledged. The show does not give any financial support to participants, they must all come with their costumes and are only compensated a few hundred dollars an episode. Heidi recounted the experience, "I’m sitting up here spending between $4,000 and $5,000 on everything. Whereas some girls spent 20, 30, 40, even $50,000 on garments [...] Yeah, my garments just aren’t gonna stand up to their outfits. It’s just not gonna happen.”[14]

Heidi N Closet competed on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2023).[15] She decided to quit the competition early, self-eliminating in Episode 5 of the series.[2]

In 2024 Heidi N Closet starred as Robin Banks in the Tubi horror comedy film Slay, alongside fellow Drag Race alumni Cara Melle, Crystal Methyd and Trinity the Tuck.[16]

Music

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In February 2021, she released a music video for her first single, G.A.P, a parody of "WAP", featuring fellow RuPaul's Drag Race season twelve alum Widow Von'Du.[17] In 2021, Cheek was featured in Tiger Queens: The Tiger King Musical, a TikTok musical parody of Tiger King, starring as the tiger.[18]

Personal life

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Cheek is openly gay and currently living in Los Angeles.[7][14]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 The Bitch Who Stole Christmas[19] Gorge Intern
2024 Stan Behavior Cutie Pie
2024 Slay Robin Banks Tubi original horror film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2020 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 12) Herself Contestant (6th Place)
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Contestant
2021 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 13) Guest (2 episodes) [20]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 6) "Lip Sync Assassin" (episode 8) [21]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked (season 3)
2023 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 8) Contestant [22]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked (season 5)
Drag Me to Dinner Hulu original [23]

Music videos

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Year Title Artist Ref.
2020 "Always" Waze & Odyssey [24]
2020 "Gorgeois" Rigel Gemini [25]
2020 "STFUK" Salina EsTitties [26]
2020 "Fallen Angel" Erasure [27]
2021 "G.A.P." Herself [17]
2023 "True Colors" Kylie Sonique Love [28]

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2020 In Touch Weekly Himself Guest [29]
2020 Whatcha Packin' Himself Guest [30]
2020 Review with a Jew Herself Guest [31]
2020 The X Change Rate Herself Guest [32]
2020 Hey Qween! Herself Guest [33]
2020 Countdown to the Crown Himself/Herself Guest [34]
2020 The Pit Stop Herself Guest [35]
2020 Gap Chat Herself Host [36]
2020 RuPaul's Drag Race: Bring Back My Ghouls Herself Host [37]
2021 That's a Gay Ass Podcast Herself Podcast [38]
2021 The Queerties Awards Herself Host [39]
2021 The Pit Stop Herself Guest [40]
2021 Drag Tots Judy Thorns Season 2 [41]
2021 The Awardist Herself Guest [42]
2021 Binge Queens Herself Guest [43]
2021 Out of the Closet Herself Guest [44]
2022 Muff Busters Herself WOWPresents+ Original [45]
2022 Bring Back My Girls Herself WOWPresents+ Original [46]
2022 A Familiar Problem: Sprinkle’s Incredible Journey Clapp Critical Role one-shot episode [47][48]
2022 Tartan Around Herself Guest [49]
2023 Meet the Queens Herself Stand-alone special
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8 		[50]
2023 EW News Flash Herself Guest [51]
2023 BuzzFeed Celeb Herself Guest [52]
2023 React to TikTok Trends by Allure Herself Guest [53]
2023 Give It to Me Straight Herself Guest [54]

Discography

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Title Year Album
"I'm That Bitch"[55]
(with The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12) 		2020 non-album single
"Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical"[56]
(with The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12)
"The Shady Bunch"[57]
(with The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12)
"Money, Success, Fame, Glamour" (Glam Rock version)
(with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, season 8) 		2023

Titles

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Competition Title Year
North Carolina Entertainer of the Year F.I. Won 2019
RuPaul's Drag Race Miss C 2020

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2022 WOWIE Awards Best TikTok Herself Nominated [58][59]
2023 Queerty Awards Podcast Hall & Closet Nominated [60]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Fowler, Hayley (March 5, 2020). "One of the new contestants on RuPaul Drag's Race is from a tiny town in North Carolina". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on March 6, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Spilde, Coleman (2023-06-02). "'Drag Race All Stars' Has Another Bombshell Self-Elimination". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  3. ^ a b c "We asked Drag Race's Heidi N Closet if she'll ever change her name". The A.V. Club. April 14, 2020. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  4. ^ Heidi N Closet answers our burning questions and discusses the digital drag revolution. The A.V. Club. April 14, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Biggs, Jamie. "NC drag queen to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race". The Fayetteville Observer. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Amanda Mitchell (January 23, 2020). "See the "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 12 Queens Competing to Take Home the Crown". Oprah Magazine. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Murawski, Katie (21 April 2020). "Heidi N Closet is 'blessed and highly-favored' on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Yes! Weekly. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  8. ^ Swift, Andy (March 14, 2020). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Season 12's First Elimination Poses a 'Problem'". TVLine. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "Watch Heidi N Closet adorably steal more stuff in exclusive 'Drag Race' preview". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  10. ^ McCallion, Paul (May 1, 2020). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Drag Brings Joy". Vulture. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
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  23. ^ Rice, Lynette (May 1, 2023). "'Drag Me To Dinner': Hulu Announces Premiere Date For Unscripted Series From Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
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  25. ^ "Exclusive First Look: LGBT Artist Rigel Gemini Recruits Heidi N Closet & Plastique Tiara for 'Gorgeois' Music Video". Culture Fix. July 23, 2020. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  26. ^ "Salina EsTitties, Heidi N' Closet wants Karens to STFU". Reel 360. October 13, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  27. ^ Martoccio, Angie (October 28, 2020). "Erasure Drop Mystical 'Fallen Angel' Video in Time for Halloween". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  28. ^ "Kylie Sonique Love - True Colors ( Official Video)". YouTube. May 18, 2023.
  29. ^ 'Drag Race' Star Heidi N Closet Reveals Truth Behind 'Untucked' Outburst & Lip Syncing For Her Life. In Touch Weekly. April 17, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020 – via YouTube.
  30. ^ "Whatcha Packin': SPOILER ALERT | S12 E11 | RuPaul's Drag Race". YouTube. May 8, 2020. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  31. ^ Miz Cracker's Review with a Jew - S12 E11 Feat. Heidi Aphrodite. Miz Cracker. May 12, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2020 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ The X Change Rate: Bowen Yang & Heidi N Closet. BUILD Series. May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020 – via YouTube.
  33. ^ HEIDI N CLOSET on Hey Qween At Home Special Edition Part 1. Hey Qween. May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020 – via YouTube.
  34. ^ COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN: Never Before Seen Looks. RuPaul's Drag Race. May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ The Pit Stop S1 E3 | Trixie Mattel Kikis w/ Miss Congeniality Heidi N Closet 🇨🇦Canada's Drag Race. RuPaul's Drag Race. August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020 – via YouTube.
  36. ^ White, Brett (September 1, 2020). "New on WOW Presents Plus September 2020: 'Drag Race Holland,' 'God Shave the Queens,' and More". Decider. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  37. ^ "World of Wonder Presents BRING BACK MY GHOULS Halloween Special". Broadway World. October 31, 2020. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  38. ^ Kevin C. Johnson (March 18, 2021). "'That's a Gay Ass Podcast'". STL Today. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  39. ^ "THE QUEERTIES 2021 Awards Show". Youtube. February 24, 2021. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  40. ^ The Pit Stop AS6 E03 | Trixie Mattel & Heidi N Closet Sell Side Hustles | RPDR All Stars. RuPaul's Drag Race. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021 – via YouTube.
  41. ^ Nolfi, Joey (August 12, 2021). "Watch RuPaul's Drag Tots queens wreak tiny havoc in exclusive season 2 trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  42. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Winners Reunite for Chaotic Emmys Trivia | The Awardist | Entertainment Weekly". Entertainment Weekly. August 25, 2021. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  43. ^ SPOILER ALERT: Binge Queens - RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 3, Episode 1. WOWPresents. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021 – via YouTube.
  44. ^ Heidi: Discovering the Drag Laboratory 😍 S4 E3 | Out of the Closet. RuPaul's Drag Race. May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021 – via YouTube.
  45. ^ Anderton, Joe (March 14, 2022). "New Drag Race spinoffs revealed in exclusive WOW Presents trailer". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  46. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (May 5, 2022). "'Bring Back My Girls': WOW Presents Plus Sets Original Series, Will Film Live At DragCon LA". Deadline. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  47. ^ Hall, Charlie (June 2, 2022). "Critical Role and Honey Heist creators team up for new game, invite Heidi N Closet to play it". Polygon. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  48. ^ "HYPE: New One-Page RPG By Marisha Ray—A Familiar Problem". Critical Role (Press release). June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  49. ^ Topel, Fred (May 6, 2022). "'RuPaul's Drag Race UK' S2 winner Lawrence Chaney takes on Hollywood in 'Tartan Around' trailer". UPI. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  50. ^ RuPaul's Drag Race (April 20, 2023), Meet the Queens of All Stars 8! 🌟 | QUEEN RUVEAL | RuPaul's Drag Race AS8 👠✨, retrieved April 20, 2023
  51. ^ Heidi N Closet Teases Paper Towels, Loofahs on Drag Race All Stars 8 Runway | Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly. April 26, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  52. ^ The Queens Of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8" Play Who's Who. BuzzFeed Celeb. May 15, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  53. ^ RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars S8 Queens React to TikTok Trends | Allure. Allure. May 30, 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  54. ^ HEIDI N CLOSET - "Give It to Me Straight" Ep17 - Hosted by Maddy Morphosis. YouTube. August 18, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  55. ^ "I'm That Bitch - Single". iTunes. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  56. ^ "Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical - EP". iTunes. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  57. ^ "The Shady Bunch / Bring Back My Girls - Single". iTunes. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved Jun 2, 2020.
  58. ^ Nguyen, Nikki (2 May 2022). "World of Wonder's 2022 WOWIE Awards at DragCon: Cast Your Votes Now!". World of Wonder. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  59. ^ "Here Are World of Wonder's 2022 WOWIE Awards Winners". World of Wonder. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  60. ^ "Podcast Winners". The Queerties. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
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