RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE FINALIST PEARL DEBUTS HER OWN UNISEX FRAGRANCE, FLAZÉDA
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Since clawing her way to the Top 3 on this past season’s RuPaul’s Drag Race, the wildly fashionable Pearl has continued her quest of world domination, debuting at #3 on iTunes with her electronic dance album, Pleasure, and starring in The Transformation of Pearl, a photo project by Wilhelmina Artists, where the 24-year-old nonconformist drag performer channeled past icons Farrah Fawcett, 1960s Barbarella, Charlie’s Angels and more. Now Pearl is releasing her own unisex fragrance, Flazéda, named after the word she coined in Drag Race to broadly describe anything positive (“I’m feeling very Flazéda today”). “The word came as a result of being exhausted after a long day of filming,” explains Pearl. It has since become a commonly used phrase and hashtag among show fans.
Pearl was personally involved in creating Flazéda, consulting with Xyrena perfumers to choose her favorite notes and ultimately selecting the final formula containing top notes of anise, pepper, bergamot, and jasmine; middle notes of amber, lavender, and mandarin; and base notes of sandalwood, vanilla, and vetiver. Pearl describes it as a sexy and exciting fragrance that captures the mood of an opulent night out in New York City. The 1.7 oz. bottle of extrait de parfum (no water added, as opposed to the water-downed eau de toilette commonly sold in department stores) retails for $124. Pearl’s Flazéda is available now for pre-order at Xyrena.com/Pearl and will begin shipping July 15th.
“We reached out to Pearl about creating a scent a long time before she was one of the Drag Race finalists,” explains Xyrena founder Killian Wells. Dubbed “The olfactory rebels”, Xyrena is a Hollywood-based perfumery that specializes in luxury fragrances and cosmeceuticals. “From episode one, we had no doubt Pearl would be the perfect fit as our first brand partner. In drag, she is a classic beauty with an edge. Out of drag, he has that heartthrob look. Pearl’s appeal transcends far beyond that of the average drag performer.”
Wells says he aimed to capture Pearl’s unique duality in the ad campaign for Flazéda. The commercial – or fashion film, as it is being called – features Pearl as both a modern day Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. Shot in a West Hollywood hotel suite, the film is titled “Love Yourself” because the underlying message is to embrace – and fall in love with – who you are, inside and out.
Wells directed along with Xyrena’s Creative Director, Christopher Oroza. “We chose black and white for a classic film noir look and to make Pearl the main focus,” says Oroza.
Pearl became a star on the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, standing out with wildly creative looks.
A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, Pearl got her start in Chicago’s drag scene, where she established herself with an act that broke away from the typical showgirl routine that had been popular in Chicago. Hers was a more conceptual and out of the box style of old school drag, a combination that celebrated wealthy Hollywood stars and club kids.
In December 2014, Logo announced that Pearl was among fourteen drag queens competing on the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. She would go all the way to the show’s finale, vying for the top prize against Ginger Minj and Violet Chachki.
Pearl understands a queen’s time as a Drag Race girl is numbered. “You really just have to take the experience and do anything you can with it. You have to be smart about your future and give the fans what they want.”
“I’ve made a career out of breaking away from the expected,” she continues. “I will never limit myself creatively. I always want to think of something a little more interesting.”
That is exactly what Pearl is doing with Flazéda, making herstory as the first RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant to release a signature fragrance.
Pearl’s Flazéda is available now for pre-order at Xyrena.com/Pearl. Pearl can be found online at Instagram.com/pearliaison, Twitter.com/pearliaison and Facebook.com/pearldragqueen.
