Michelle Visage at a Glance
- Categories: Celebrities, Celebrities > DJs
- Net Worth: $5 Million
- Birthdate: Sep 20, 1968 (55 years old)
- Birthplace: Perth Amboy
- Gender: Female
- Profession: Singer, Actor
- Nationality: United States of America
Michelle Visage: Net Worth, Career, Early Life, and More
What is Michelle Visage’s Net Worth?
Michelle Visage, a multifaceted American entertainer, boasts a net worth of $5 million. She has achieved recognition as a singer, actress, radio DJ, television personality, producer, and author. Visage’s career spans various domains of the entertainment industry, from music to television, and she remains a prominent figure with a devoted fanbase.
Michelle rose to prominence as a member of the R&B dance vocal trio Seduction during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The group achieved success with their album “Nothing Matters Without Love” (1989) and hit singles such as “(You’re My One and Only) True Love” and “Two to Make It Right,” which gained traction on the “Billboard” Dance charts. Notably, Visage also contributed lead vocals to The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.’s “It’s Gonna Be a Lovely Day,” featured on “The Bodyguard” soundtrack, and topped the “Billboard” Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Beyond her musical endeavors, Visage co-hosted VH1’s “The RuPaul Show” from 1996 to 1998, solidifying her presence in television. She has also co-hosted the popular podcast “RuPaul: What’s the Tee?” and various radio programs, demonstrating her versatility as a media personality.
As an actress, Michelle Visage has appeared in films, including “Maybe It’s Me” (2002) and “God Save the Queens” (2022), as well as the TV movie “The Bitch Who Stole Christmas” (2021). Additionally, she has been featured in the web series “The Most Popular Girls in School” (2013–2015). In 2015, Visage showcased her competitive spirit on “Celebrity Big Brother 15,” where she secured fifth place and later released her book, “The Diva Rules.”
Her theatrical credits include a role as Miss Hedge in the West End production of “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” from 2018 to 2019. In 2019, she participated in “Strictly Come Dancing,” reaching seventh place with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
Visage’s talent extends to production, earning her three Primetime Emmys as a producer of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Furthermore, she has produced “Maybe It’s Me,” the documentary “Explant” (2021), and the TV series “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” (2016–2022), “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” (2019–2022), “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race” (2020), “RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under” (2021–2022), “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World” (2022), and “Whatcha Packin'” (2022). This demonstrates her significant influence and success within the entertainment industry.
Early Life
Michelle Lynn Shupack, later known as Michelle Visage, was born on September 20, 1968, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Her upbringing was marked by a diverse background. She was born to a Jewish father and an Italian Catholic and Irish mother and was subsequently adopted by Jewish parents. This cultural blend shaped her identity.
During her formative years, Visage received a Jewish education, attending Hebrew school and celebrating her Bat Mitzvah. She graduated from South Plainfield High School in 1986. At the age of 16, she gained recognition by winning a Madonna lookalike contest, foreshadowing her future in the entertainment world.
Visage pursued her passion for performing arts by studying at Manhattan’s American Musical and Dramatic Academy for two years. She decided to remain in New York City to pursue an acting career. Her mother, Arlene, provided a fake ID to help her navigate the city’s nightlife and network. Arlene sadly passed away when Michelle was 30.
During her early days in New York, Visage immersed herself in the vibrant drag ball scene, where she learned the art of voguing from prominent figures like Willi Ninja. In 1988, she vogued with Cesar Valentino on the TV program “The Latin Connection,” marking a significant moment as one of the first times voguing was shown on national television. Her stage name, “Visage,” was a result of her nickname “cara,” which is Spanish for “face.” This evolved to “visage,” the French word for “face,” after people repeatedly mispronounced her nickname. Her journey further intertwined with RuPaul’s in the late 1980s, as they attended events hosted by Susanne Bartsch. In 1989, Visage performed at the Design Industries Foundation For AIDS benefit, “The Love Ball,” a notable event where Madonna is said to have first witnessed voguing, which inspired her to write the hit song “Vogue.”
Career Highlights
Michelle Visage’s career is a testament to her talent and versatility. She started in the music industry as a member of the vocal trio Seduction alongside April Harris and Idalis DeLeón. The group’s album “Nothing Matters Without Love” (1989) achieved Gold certification in the U.S. and peaked at #36 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. The album spawned hit singles, including “(You’re My One and Only) True Love” and “Two to Make It Right.” “Two to Make It Right” soared to #1 on multiple “Billboard” charts, including Hot Dance Club Play, Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales, and Top 40/Dance, while also reaching #2 on the “Billboard” Hot 100.
Visage’s musical collaborations extended to several of RuPaul’s albums, and she appeared in the music videos for “From Your Heart” and “New York City Beat.” She also collaborated with Steps on the song “Heartbreak in This City” in 2021.
Beyond her musical contributions, Visage has made a name for herself in radio. She co-hosted the WKTU morning show in New York City with RuPaul from 1996 to 2002. She then worked at Hot 92 Jamz in Los Angeles from 2002 to 2005 and “The Morning Mix” on WNEW-FM in NYC from 2005 to late 2006. From 2003 to 2006, she hosted “The Beat 66” on Sirius Satellite Radio. She also co-hosted the SUNNY 104.3 morning show in West Palm Beach, Florida, and “MIA Morning Show” on 93.9 MIA in Miami. In 2014, Visage began co-hosting the podcast “RuPaul: What’s the Tee?.” She hosted BBC Radio 2’s “Michelle Visage’s Fabulous Divas” in December 2019 and August 2020, and in July 2022, she received her weekly show on BBC Radio 2.
Visage’s television career includes co-hosting “The RuPaul Show” on VH1 from 1996 to 1998. In 2011, she became a permanent judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She has also appeared on spin-off shows such as “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK,” “Canada’s Drag Race,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under,” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs the World.” Moreover, she hosted red carpet coverage for the Grammys for VH1 and for the “Grease” 25th-anniversary re-release event. In 2017, she and Ross Mathews provided commentary for the Eurovision Song Contest’s Live Grand Final on Logo TV. Visage also served as a judge on “Ireland’s Got Talent” from 2018 to 2019. In 2021, she narrated and appeared in the VH1 movie “The Bitch Who Stole Christmas” alongside RuPaul and other notable actors and drag queens.

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Personal Life
Michelle Visage’s personal life is marked by both joy and challenges. She married David Case in 1997, and they have two daughters, Lillie (born March 2000) and Lola (born February 2002).
Visage has been open about her struggles with anorexia, which began when she was 13 and continued into adulthood. In a 2015 interview with the “Huffington Post UK,” she reflected on her self-criticism during this period. She described herself as a “gluten-free, soy-free vegan who also tries to be sugar-free as much as possible.” She has several tattoos, including a Corvette logo on her thigh and a diamond on her hip. She also had a top hat tattooed on her thigh in memory of her friend Eddie, who died in the tragic 2016 mass shooting at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub.
In a 2019 episode of “What’s the Tee?,” Visage discussed her experiences with women, stating that while she had been with women, she realized that she did not want to be in a relationship with them. She was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease in her late twenties, which led her to have her breast implants removed in 2019 because of the autoimmune disorder. The experience was documented in the film “Explant,” which was an official selection at the 2021 Tribeca Festival.
Awards and Nominations
Michelle Visage’s contributions to the entertainment industry have been recognized with numerous awards and nominations. She has been nominated for five Primetime Emmys for “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” winning for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program in 2019, Outstanding Competition Program in 2020 and 2021.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” also received nominations for Outstanding Competition Program in 2022. Michelle herself received an Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series nomination for “RuPaul’s Drag Race Whatcha Packin’ With Michelle Visage” in the same year. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” earned her PGA Awards for Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
She received Critics’ Choice Real TV Award nominations for Female Star of the Year in 2015, 2020, and 2021.
In 2015, Visage won the Straight Ally Award at The Icon Awards. She was nominated for the Deutsche Bank – Celebrity Ally award at the 2020 British LGBT Awards. “RuPaul: What’s the Tee?” won WOWIE Awards for Best Podcast in 2017 and 2019, as well as a Webby Award for Best Host (Podcast) in 2018. Michelle has also won WOWIE Awards for Best Twitter (2017) and Best Documentary for “Explant” (2022).
In 2020, she received the Ally Award at the Attitude Awards. Furthermore, she earned a British Academy Television Award nomination for Best Reality and Constructed Factual for “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK,” a Queerty Award nomination for Drag Royalty, and a National Television Award nomination for the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award for “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.” Visage has also received National Television Award nominations for Talent Show as a “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” producer in 2021 and 2022. These accolades underscore her remarkable impact on the entertainment landscape.
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