RuPaul’s Drag Race season 12 winner Jaida Essence Hall is giving Aaliyah fans all the feels. The season 12 champion debuted her stunning tribute to the late singer, donning a replica of Aaliyah as Akasha from the 2002 film Queen of the Damned.
“Well I’ll be DAMNED, It’s Halloween!!!” Hall captioned a video of her emulating the singer and fashion icon as her on-screen character in an Instagram post. “Hope y’all enjoy this tribute to @aaliyah as Akasha.” She also shared the video to Twitter, setting social media ablaze.
Well I’ll be damned y’all it’s Halloween! Tribute to @AaliyahHaughton as Akasha from Queen of the Damned! Thank you @JOSHUANAPONTE for make this vision so delicious! Check out more on my insta now #akasha #queenofthedamned #aaliyah #skin pic.twitter.com/8GtgVCWLDe
— Jaida Essence Hall (@jaidaehall) October 17, 2020
Hall wore the costume first on Friday, Oct. 16 for the drive-in Drop Dead Drag Pageant, which also featured other Drag Race stars. She later wore the costume during performances outside of Chicago’s Adler Planetarium.
Hall also shared a number of shots captured by photographer Jose Rondon.
The film marked Aaliyah’s final appearance on film. Released six months after her death in 2001 death, the film is a pseudo-sequel to Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt’s 1994 box office smash Interview with the Vampire.
Other celebs have honored Aaliyah similarly in the past, but never as her role in the film. Kim Kardashian West and Keke Palmer both dressed as Aaliyah from her famous “Try Again” music video for Halloween in recent years.
Photo: Getty Images
