Plans for a life-sized statue to honour James Lee Williams, aka The Vivienne, in Liverpool's Pride Quarter have been revealed. James, who shot to fame as the first winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019, died in January 2025 aged 32 after struggling with a ketamine addiction.
Family's tribute
James' family set up the House of The Vivienne CIC, a support group for those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, to honour the memory of the drag performer. The organisation has now announced plans to commission the tribute at the entrance to Liverpool's Pride Quarter, at the junction of Victoria Street and Stanley Street.
Williams' sister Chanel Williams, who is also the director of House of The Vivienne CIC, said: "A permanent statue in the Pride Quarter feels like the right way to make sure nobody forgets that, and to remind anyone who might be struggling that they do not have to do it alone."
Community impact
John Hyland, who is leading the project, said: "The Vivienne was the Pride Quarter, and James had a way of making everyone who walked through any one of those doors feel like they belonged and that didn't stop when the cameras arrived, and their star shot into the sky."
"This statue is Liverpool acknowledging what the LGBTQ+ community already knows. But it's also the beginning of something bigger. The Pride Quarter deserves investment, attention, and a future, and this is the first statement of intent that it's going to get both."
Career highlights
The Vivienne found fame back in 2015 as the UK Drag Ambassador for the American series of RuPaul's Drag Race. They went on to compete and win the UK series in 2019 before later competing in the seventh series, which was the All-Stars series in 2022.
Away from this, the star also gained a new fanbase after competing on ITV's Dancing On Ice in March 2023, during which they finished in third place. In June 2023, they were presented with Scene of the Year at the 2023 British Soap Awards.
But it wasn't just drag and TV work that The Vivienne was known for – they put their immense talent to the test as they took on the role of The Wicked Witch of the West in the 2011 production of The Wizard of Oz – a role which they later took on in London's West End. They also made an appearance on ITV's Emmerdale in June 2021.
If you have been affected by this story, contact We Are With You, a charity that offers free, confidential support to people in England and Scotland who have challenges with drugs, alcohol or mental health.
