Elektra Shock
James Luck (born 30 September 1992), better known by the stage name Elektra Shock, is a New Zealand drag performer best known for competing on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under and the second season of House of Drag.
Elektra Shock | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Luck 30 September 1992 England, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Drag queen |
| Known for | |
Early life
Luck was born in England[1] and raised in Invercargill, New Zealand[2] where he attended Southland Boys' High School.[3] He studied dance at the Urban Dance Centre in Sydney, Australia.[2]
Career
Luck has worked as a backup dancer for acts such as Sia, Jesse James, and Little Mix.[4] He was a backup dancer in the 2012 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony for Annie Lennox.[4]
In 2018, Luck was a guest dancer on Dancing with the Stars and was on the judging panel of Indian-inspired dance competition The Great NZ Dance Masala.[5]
Elektra was a contestant on the second season of the New Zealand drag competition show House of Drag, placing as the runner-up. On the show, she won four challenges, the most in the show's history, and never placed in the bottom. She was eliminated in the final lip sync by that season's winner, New Zealand drag queen Spankie Jackzon.
In March 2021, Elektra was announced as a competitor on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under.[6] House of Drag hosts and judges Kita Mean and Anita Wigl'it competed alongside Elektra, making Elektra the first Drag Race contestant to compete against the judges of a previous show she was on.[6]
Elektra became known as a "lip sync assassin" on her season, eliminating JoJo Zaho and Coco Jumbo in episodes 1 and 3. She won the commercial challenge in episode 5.[7] In episode 7, she landed in the bottom two and was eliminated by season winner Kita Mean.[7]
The name "Elektra Shock" is derived from electric shock; the name was given to her by her drag mother Trinity Ice.[3]
Luck appeared as a judge on the ninth series of Dancing with the Stars.[8]
Personal life
Luck has identified as queer.[9] He lives in the Ponsonby neighborhood of Auckland with his partner Michael.[10]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Dancing with the Stars | Himself | Guest dancer (series 7) |
| 2018 | The Great NZ Dance Masala | Himself | Judge |
| 2020 | House of Drag | Herself | Runner-up (season 2) |
| 2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (season 1) | Herself | 5th place (season 1) |
| 2022 | Dancing with the Stars | Himself | Judge (series 9) |
| 2022 | RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (season 2) | Herself | Guest Choreographer |
References
- "Elektra Shock: Exposed (The Full Interview)". YouTube.
- Crayton-Brown, Kimberley (February 18, 2011). "Hard Work, Not Luck Key to Dancer's Success". Stuff. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- McLean, Matt (June 13, 2021). "The Latest Kiwi Eliminated from Drag Race Down Under". TVNZ. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- Wilson, Aimee (May 8, 2021). "Best of Luck to James in the Drag Race Down Under". What's On Invers. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- Murray, Anna (20 June 2018). "Anna Murray: Indian-inspired dance show eschews celebrities 'in favour of people who actually have rhythm'". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- Nolfi, Joey (6 March 2021). "Say g'day to the Drag Race Down Under queens: Aussies kiki with Kiwis!". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- Yeates, Cydney (2021-06-15). "Drag Race Down Under's Elektra 'cried in hotel room' over bitchy queens". Metro. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
- Simich, Ricardo (10 April 2022). "Spy: Revealed — new judges for DWTS". NZ Herald.
- Lewis, Jessi (June 14, 2021). "Elektra Shock on Being the Focus of Everyone's Shade". Star Observer. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- van der Zwan, Sebastian (June 12, 2021). "Drag Race Down Under's Elektra Shock: From Homeless to Healed". Now to Love. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.