Ellie Diamond
Elliot Glen (born 20 December 1998), known professionally as Ellie Diamond, is a Scottish drag performer and television personality who gained recognition for competing on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, where he placed fourth overall.[1][2] Originating from Dundee, Glen created the Ellie Diamond persona at age 16 and entered the drag scene locally before auditioning for the BBC Three competition, which aired in early 2021.[3] His performances on the show featured a surreal, cartoon-inspired aesthetic drawing from sources like Alice in Wonderland and Looney Tunes, emphasizing elaborate makeup, ruffled silhouettes, and subversive runway presentations such as a seagull-themed ensemble.[3][2] Although he secured no maxi-challenge victories or RuPeter badges, his technical proficiency in face painting and garment construction—much of which he produced independently—earned praise amid the competition's high standards.[2][3] Post-competition, Diamond received the Entertainment Award at the 2021 Young Scot Awards alongside fellow contestant Lawrence Chaney, highlighting his impact on Scottish youth culture.[4] He maintained a day job at McDonald's during and after filming, reflecting pragmatic financial management amid the uncertainties of emerging fame.[3] By 2023, citing economic pressures including the cost-of-living crisis and inconsistent bookings relative to peers, he announced a hiatus from live drag to prioritize stable employment, underscoring the precarious economics of niche entertainment.[5] No major public controversies have marked his career, though his unedited lip-sync performances and track record sparked fan discussions within drag communities about editing influences and competitive fairness.[2]Early Life
Upbringing and Family Background
Elliot Haefner Glen, professionally known as Ellie Diamond, was born on 20 December 1998 in Dundee, Scotland, and raised in the suburb of Broughty Ferry.[6] He has a twin brother, Bryce Glen, born on the same date.[7] Glen also has at least one older brother, Logan Glen. Glen attended Monifieth High School in the nearby town of Monifieth. Growing up queer in Dundee during the 2000s and 2010s, he encountered notable homophobia in his local environment, which he later characterized as making his early years "quite difficult."[8] Glen's family initially resisted his pursuit of drag performance, which he began at age 17, resulting in him being temporarily kicked out of the home and experiencing a period of homelessness.[9] Relations improved over time, particularly after his 2021 appearance on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, with his father attending a performance in Glasgow and voicing increased understanding of his career, stating he now comprehended "what you're doing" despite initial reservations.[8] His mother had aligned with his father's early stance but supported the eventual reconciliation.[8]Education and Formative Influences
Ellie Diamond, born Elliot Glen on 20 December 1998 in Dundee, Scotland, attended Monifieth High School during her secondary education.[8] Her time at the school, located near Dundee, coincided with her early experiences navigating identity in a regional environment marked by childhood homophobia, though she noted such overt prejudice had diminished by adulthood.[8] Diamond's formative influences drew from childhood media and family traditions, including annual Beano comics featuring Dennis the Menace, a ritual shared with her father, alongside frequent viewings of cartoons that shaped her affinity for playful, exaggerated aesthetics later reflected in her drag style.[8] At around age 17, she began experimenting with drag privately in her bedroom, using borrowed Snazaroo face paints from her aunt and YouTube tutorials for self-taught makeup techniques, initially keeping it secret from family due to tensions, including being temporarily kicked out of home.[3][8] A pivotal influence came from watching RuPaul's Drag Race season six, particularly contestant Adore Delano, which inspired her to pursue performance publicly starting in 2016 at age 18, hosting weekly drag shows at a Dundee venue called Church without prior experience and helping build the local scene over two years.[3][8] These early efforts, combined with post-school work at McDonald's, underscored a trajectory of self-reliance in creative expression amid evolving family dynamics, where initial resistance gave way to support, such as her father's attendance at a later performance.[3][8]Professional Career
Entry into Drag Performance
Ellie Diamond, the drag persona of Elliot Glen, was inspired to enter drag performance after watching season 6 of RuPaul's Drag Race, particularly admiring contestant Adore Delano, whom Glen described as prompting the realization, “oh my god, that’s fabulous, I need to do that.”[3] Glen began experimenting privately in his bedroom around age 17 in 2016, using borrowed Snazaroo face paints from his aunt and following YouTube makeup tutorials, initially keeping sessions secretive and conducted at midnight without public knowledge.[3] [8] Glen's first public drag performance occurred at age 17, hosting the "Bingo Wigs" event at Church venue in Dundee, Scotland, drawing an initial audience of just seven people, which Glen later recalled as an exhilarating start: "we were livin’!"[8] By 2018, two years into public work and after two years of private practice, Diamond launched weekly drag shows at the same venue, collaborating with local performers including Miss Peaches, Anne Spank, and Demi Pointe, thereby establishing a foothold in Dundee's drag scene.[8] These early efforts involved handmade outfits emphasizing ruffles and frills, aligning with Diamond's emerging "Baby Doll of Dundee" persona, characterized by a youthful, Gen-Z aesthetic.[3] Prior to RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Diamond had accumulated nearly four years of drag experience by 2021, refining skills through self-taught methods and advice from established queens in the local circuit.[10] Glen emphasized an independent approach to starting, stating, “I started my career by not listening to anybody,” which facilitated rapid integration into Dundee's performances despite initial small-scale beginnings.[8]RuPaul's Drag Race UK Participation
Ellie Diamond was announced as a contestant for the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK on 16 December 2020, representing Dundee, Scotland, as one of the programme's earliest Scottish participants.[11] The series, produced by World of Wonder for BBC Three and WOW Presents Plus, premiered on 14 January 2021, featuring 12 competitors in challenges testing comedy, design, performance, and drag artistry.[12] Diamond, aged 21 and standing at 6 feet 4 inches, entered with a persona emphasizing glamour and resilience, drawing from her limited prior performances outside Dundee.[13] Throughout the competition, Diamond maintained a consistent mid-pack performance, avoiding early elimination despite not securing any main challenge wins. She participated in standout tasks including a stand-up comedy routine in episode 8, where she won the preceding mini-challenge assigning performance order, and contributed to group performances like the "UK Hun?" parody in week 5.[14] Her sole lip-sync appearance prior to the finale occurred in episode 9 against Tayce, where host RuPaul issued the season's only double shantay, allowing both to advance to the top four.[15] In the finale (episode 10), aired 18 March 2021, Diamond competed in the "Rusical" segment with a verse in the original song "A Little Bit of Love," performed alongside Bimini Bon-Boulash, Lawrence Chaney, and Tayce.[16] Diamond was eliminated directly on the finale runway by RuPaul, without a lip-sync, securing fourth place overall and paving the way for Chaney to win the crown.[17] Her placement highlighted endurance over victory, as she navigated interpersonal dynamics, including tensions with fellow Scottish queen Chaney over strategy, while earning recognition for polished runway presentations and composure under scrutiny.[18] Post-elimination, returning queens praised her growth, though critiques noted her reliance on safe placements amid stronger competitors.[19]Post-Drag Race Engagements
Following her third-place finish on RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 2 in March 2021, Ellie Diamond pursued live drag performances and tours across the UK. In April 2021, she discussed upcoming commitments including a Top 4 tour with fellow finalists Lawrence Chaney, Bimini Bon-Boulash, and Tayce, as well as a solo tour scheduled for mid-year, emphasizing her intent to capitalize on post-show momentum amid a busy schedule of additional touring opportunities.[20] Diamond joined the official RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 2 tour in early 2022, produced in association with World of Wonder and Voss Events, which featured the full cast and played at 19 UK venues.[21] She performed at the tour's London Palladium stop on March 1, 2022, delivering sets that highlighted her season signature looks and comedy routines.[22] She collaborated with Scottish compatriot and Series 2 winner Lawrence Chaney for joint appearances, including a dedicated tour announced in June 2021 that leveraged their shared regional appeal and on-show camaraderie.[23] Diamond maintained an active performance roster through 2023, appearing at events such as Slay Glasgow Pride on July 15 alongside queens like Black Peppa and Choriza May, and hosting the Rocky Horror Drag A Long in Dundee on October 31 with seven other Scottish drag artists.[24][25] Into 2025, Diamond continued engaging in multi-queen tours, reflecting on the professional highs and logistical challenges of road performances while based in Manchester for bookings.[26] Her ongoing work underscores the post-Drag Race viability of drag as a touring profession, though she has navigated its financial precarity by balancing performances with other pursuits.[27]Media Work
Television Appearances
Diamond appeared in the celebrity edition of the BBC Three dating series Hot Property in 2022, enlisting presenter Yung Filly to help her find potential romantic partners in her hometown of Dundee by evaluating three suitors through matchmaking challenges.[28] The episode aired on April 11, 2022.[29] In September 2022, she featured in an episode of the BBC Three documentary series God Shave the Queens, which followed the RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2 contestants on their UK tour, with Diamond's segment exploring her lifelong passion for drag and the realization of her performance dreams.[30][31]Music and Discography
Ellie Diamond's musical output has been limited to featured appearances on singles released by the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 2 in 2021.[32] These tracks were produced as promotional tie-ins to the series, with Diamond contributing vocals alongside other contestants. No solo singles, albums, or independent releases have been documented.[33] Her notable features include:| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | A Little Bit of Love (Cast Version) | RuPaul featuring The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Season 2 | Diamond performed a verse emphasizing her persona, released as a non-album single tied to the show's finale.[33][16] |
| 2021 | UK Hun? (Bananadrama Version) | The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK | Group performance track from the series' promotional content.[32] |
| 2021 | Rats: The Rusical | The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK | Featured in the musical challenge episode, later released as a cast single.[32] |