Aja LaBeija (also known mononymously as Aja) is an American rapper, reality TV personality, and queer nightlife performer.
She was born January 4th, 1994 in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and raised by adoptive parents. She is of Egyptian and Moroccan descent and identifies as a person of colour. Though she considered herself genderfluid when she initially entered the public eye, she later came out as a Transgender woman and currently uses she/her pronouns exclusively.
She started doing drag at the age of 16 as a means of coping with her anxiety and PTSD, performing at well-known NYC bars such as the Stonewall Inn and eventually founding her very own drag house, aptly named the Haus of Aja. The Haus was comprised of Aja and her drag daughters Momo Shade, Janelle No. 5, Dahlia Sin, and Kandy Muse, and while the Haus has since disbanded due to various internal conflicts, its former members are on good terms and still perform together frequently. Aja was cast on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2017, where she placed ninth, and the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars a year later, where she placed seventh.
As a result of the exposure she received from Drag Race, Aja was given the opportunity to appear in a campaign for H&M's Pride OUT, host a talk show called "Ayo Sis" on WOWPresents Plus, and more. In July of 2018, she announced that she no longer wished to be known as a drag queen, though she has since rescinded that statement and returned to nightlife as a Ballroom participant, performing as a member of the House of LaBeija. Along with four other members of her House, she participated in the third season of Legendary in 2022, where the House of LaBeija placed sixth.
In addition to her drag and Ballroom career, Aja is also known for her musical output. She released her first single, titled "Level Ya Pussy Up", in 2017 and featured on the single "C.L.A.T." with fellow Drag Race season nine queens Sasha Velour, Peppermint and Alexis Michelle. A year later, she released her debut EP In My Feelings. Her first album, Box Office, was released in 2019, followed by her second EP, ALL CAPS, and a Halloween-themed EP, Nail In The Coffin. In 2021, she released her second album, Crown.
- Box Office (2019)
- Crown (2021)
EP
- In My Feelings (2018)
- ALL CAPS (2019)
- Nail in the Coffin (2019)
Singles
- "Level Ya Pussy Up" (2017)
- "C.L.A.T" (feat. Sasha Velour, Alexis Michelle & Peppermint) (2017)
- "Finish Her!" (2018)
- "Brujeria" (2018)
- "Demons, Witches & Bitches" (feat. Shilow & The Vixen) (2018)
- "Art Jesus" (2018)
- "Jekyll & Hyde" (feat. Shilow) (2019)
- "Commercial" (2019)
- "Mama Chola" (feat. Amira Wang) (2019)
- "The Purge" (2019)
- "Draw The Blood" (2020)
- "21 Roads" (feat. Katie Jobes) (2021)
- "Tough Love" (feat. GESS) (2021)
- "Crossbow" (2021)
- Femme as Panzy LaRue (2018)
Television Appearances
- RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 (2017)
- RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked (2017)
- RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars Season 3 (2018)
- Tattoo Tales (2019)
- Legendary (2022)
Internet Series
- Hey Qween! (2018)
- Fashion Photo Ruview (2018)
- Ayo Sis (2018)
- Follow Me (2018)
- Call Me Coulee (2018)
- The Pit Stop (2020)
