The Vivienne

James Lee Williams (12 April 1992 – 3 January 2025), known professionally as The Vivienne, was a Welsh drag queen and media personality. They achieved prominence by winning the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019, having earlier been named the franchise's UK drag ambassador in 2015. Beyond drag competitions, Williams established a career spanning television, musical releases, and theatrical performances.

Williams was born to Cassie and Lee Williams and raised in Colwyn Bay and Towyn. Of Romani heritage, they enrolled in stage school at age five, acting in a staging of Bugsy Malone, and later attended Rydal Penrhos. After coming out as gay at 14, Williams moved to Liverpool at age 16 to pursue work as a makeup artist.

Inspired by online videos of Cher and Britney Spears impersonators, Williams began performing in drag at Liverpool venues such as Pink and Superstar Boudoir. They selected their stage name based on their affinity for Vivienne Westwood fashion. In May 2015, Williams won a contest judged by RuPaul, Katie Price, and Jonathan Ross, receiving the title of UK Drag Ambassador for RuPaul's Drag Race and earning a cameo appearance on the American show's eighth season in 2016.

In 2019, The Vivienne won the inaugural series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK after earning three challenge victories, including a Snatch Game portrayal of Donald Trump. Following their win, they starred in the comedy web series Morning T&T alongside Baga Chipz, featured in the 2020 series The Vivienne Takes on Hollywood, and co-hosted the review series I Like to Watch UK. Their television work expanded to include a cameo on Emmerdale in 2021 and participation in Celebrity Hunted in 2022.

The Vivienne returned to competition in 2022 for the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, winning three main challenges. Later that year, they were cast in the fifteenth series of Dancing on Ice, becoming the first drag artist on the show and finishing in third place in March 2023. In 2024, they toured the UK and performed in the West End portraying the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.

Williams also pursued a music career, releasing their debut dance-pop single "Tonight" in 2020, followed by several tracks including "Bitch on Heels," which were gathered on their 2022 EP of the same name. In December 2019, Williams married David Ludford; the pair separated in April 2023. After surviving a homophobic assault in Liverpool in June 2023, Williams spoke publicly to raise awareness about prejudice facing the LGBTQ community.

Williams died at age 32 on 3 January 2025 following a cardiac arrest linked to ketamine use. Their life and career were honored by peers across the drag and entertainment industries, as well as in the August 2025 memorial documentary Dear Viv.