Danny Noriega

Danny Noriega, also known as Adore Delano, is an American drag queen, singer-songwriter, and television personality. Born on September 29, 1989, Noriega first gained national attention as a contestant on the seventh season of American Idol in 2008. Noriega later achieved further prominence competing on season six of RuPaul's Drag Race and season two of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, alongside building a recording career with multiple studio albums and concert tours.

Noriega was born in Glendora, California, to Bonnie Pimentel Noriega, and grew up in Azusa, California, where Noriega attended Sierra High School. At age 12, Noriega came out as bisexual and later as gay. Between 2017 and 2023, Noriega identified as non-binary before coming out as a transgender woman in July 2023. Noriega announced a relationship with Sasha Allen in December 2024 and has been sober since 2021.

In 2007, at age 18, Noriega auditioned for American Idol season seven under the name Dani Noriega. Airing in 2008, the appearance saw Noriega reach the semi-finals and become known for exchanges with judge Simon Cowell. Following the show, Noriega performed on Rosie O'Donnell's R Family Vacations cruise and appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Noriega built an online following on YouTube through comedy sketches and drag performances under the names Adore Delano and Angel Baby, releasing the music video "24/7" featuring Diamonique in June 2009.

After seeing drag artist Raven perform in West Hollywood, Noriega entered and won a local drag contest, launching a performance career in Southern California. Noriega walked the Marco Marco runway for Los Angeles Fashion Week in 2013 and competed on season six of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2014, winning three challenges and finishing as runner-up. Noriega later appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season two, choosing to leave in the second episode. Subsequent television credits include a guest appearance on the season 11 premiere of Drag Race and joining the cast of Ex on the Beach season four in 2019.

Noriega began releasing music in 2014 with the single "DTF" and the debut album Till Death Do Us Party, which reached number three on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart and number 59 on the Billboard 200. Noriega released a second studio album, After Party, in 2016, followed by the punk-influenced album Whatever in 2017 and the EP Dirty Laundry in 2021. Throughout this career, Noriega headlined extensive concert tours, including the Till Death Do Us Party Tour, After Party Tour, Whatever Tour, Dirty Laundry Tour, and Party Your World Tour.

Noriega's career achievements include ranking sixth on New York magazine's 2019 list of the most powerful drag queens in America and appearing on the cover of Gay Times in August 2019. In 2017, Noriega initiated a lawsuit against former management firm Producer Entertainment Group over unpaid earnings; the legal dispute concluded in 2018 when a judge dismissed both the lawsuit and counter-suit without awarding damages to either party.