Liverpool to honor The Vivienne with statue

A permanent tribute to drag artist The Vivienne, born James Lee Williams, is planned for Liverpool's Pride Quarter. The life-size statue will be commissioned by House of The Vivienne CIC, an organization established by Williams' family. This initiative aims to create a lasting memorial in the city that embraced him.

The statue will be situated at the junction of Victoria Street and Stanley Street. Williams, the inaugural winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019, died in January 2025 at the age of 32. His passing followed a battle with ketamine addiction, a detail his family hopes the tribute will help address.

Chanel Williams, James's sister and director of House of The Vivienne CIC, stated that a statue in the Pride Quarter is a fitting way to ensure his memory endures. She hopes it will also remind individuals struggling with addiction that they are not alone, echoing James's own beliefs.

Williams, who grew up in North Wales, moved to Liverpool as a teenager and honed his craft in the city's clubs. He achieved national fame by winning Drag Race UK and later appeared on its American counterpart. His career also included performances in London's West End and appearances on television.