Alaska Thunderfuck 5000

 Alaska Thunderfuck 5000,[1] known mononymously as Alaska on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, is an American drag performer and recording artist.

Justin Andrew Honard was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Fort LeBoeuf High School in 2003.He studied theater at the University of Pittsburgh.

Honard originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Dissatisfied with the auditioning process, he turned to drag and got a job at the West Hollywood club Fubar. He frequently performed in the Trannyshack shows in Los Angeles. In 2009, he performed in Palm Springs Gay Pride with Tammie Brown and Jer Ber Jones.

Honard met future boyfriend Sharon Needles through Myspace and eventually moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to live with him. Along with Sharon Needles and Cherri Baum, he formed the band the Haus of Haunt, which later evolved into a drag troupe based out of the bar the Blue Moon. As part of the Haus of Haunt, he helped present the Pittsburgh debut of fellow drag queen and recording artist Christeene Vale in 2013. Alaska later impersonated Christeene for the music video "RuPaulogize" by Willam Belli and Sharon Needles.

In November 2012, Logo announced that Alaska Thunderfuck was among 14 drag queens who would be competing on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, but would be known by the mononym Alaska. He had previously auditioned every season for the show. Alaska won the fragrance commercial-themed main challenge in the episode "Scent of a Drag Queen" and the main challenge for "Sugar Ball." As part of the show, Alaska sang on the "We Are the World"-inspired song "Can I Get an Amen?" The song's proceeds helped benefit the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. In May 2013, Alaska, along with fellow competitor Roxxxy Andrews, was declared the Runner-Up of the season.

For October 2013, Alaska is set to perform as Dr. Frank N. Furter in the Woodlawn Theatre's production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Sharon Needles played the role the year prior.

Artistry

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 is Jer Ber Jones' drag daughter. Jones is noted for pioneering "tranimal" drag, which originated in Los Angeles and emphasized nontraditional drag influences such as Leigh Bowery and the Cockettes. Honard's drag name is derived from Alaskan Thunderfuck, a strain of marijuana. Alaska counts Divine, Britney Spears, and Marilyn Monroe as influences. His drag character's back story revolves around being an alien who crash-landed from the planet Glamtron.

Honard lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his boyfriend and fellow drag performer, Sharon Needles.