Lil' Poundcake

Lil' Poundcake
RuPaul's Drag Race character
First appearance
Created by
In-universe information
Full nameGertrude Poundcakenstein
GenderFemale
OccupationDrag performer

Gertrude Poundcakenstein, known professionally as Lil' Poundcake, is a fictional character created by American drag performers Alaska Thunderfuck and Lineysha Sparx. Lil' Poundcake made her first television appearance in "Draggle Rock" on reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race (2013). The character has made subsequent appearances within the Drag Race franchise and Alaska has referenced Lil' Poundcake in other works.[1]

Description and origin

Lil' Poundcake is the stage name of the fictional character Gertrude Poundcakenstein.[2] She has been described as a "deranged and angry" beauty pageant "competitor from hell" created by drag performers Alaska Thunderfuck (or simply Alaska) and Lineysha Sparx during a challenge on the third episode ("Draggle Rock") of the fifth season (2013) of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race.[3][4] Xtra Magazine described Lil' Poundcake as a "snide, bratty little child" and said Alaska "writes a pitch-perfect story of a precocious young dick-pig who loves riding dirty and regularly screams 'you're not my [dad] and you never will be!'"[5][6]

Lil' Poundcake wears a pink dress and a frown painted on her face.[2] According to Screen Rant, Lil' Poundcake is "Alaska's alter ego that has become as loved as the queen, herself. This character costume involves heavy white makeup and dark eye makeup with a bright fuchsia gown ensemble."[7]

Subsequent appearances and influence

The character Lil' Poundcake was co-created by drag performer Alaska Thunderfuck (pictured in 2024)

Alaska later dressed like Lil' Poundcake on the second season (2016) of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[8] The eighth season (2023) of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars included a challenge in which the contestants appeared in a true crime spoof entitled "Forensic Queens: Wha-Ha-Happened to Lil' Poundcake?".[9] The Lil' Poundcake doll is kept in the Untucked lounge.[10] A large version of Lil' Poundcake appeared in the first episode ("Squirrel Games") of the seventeenth season (2025) of RuPaul's Drag Race.[11] During the Squid Game-inspired challenge, Lil' Poundcake throws pies at contestants.[12][13]

In 2016, Alaska released her second studio album Poundcake. The album's title and the song "Puppet" refer to character. The album was promoted by a music video for the lead single "Puppet".[14] The music video, directed by Santiago Felipe, shows Lil' Poundcake "pulling a Wall Street heist with her cohorts and spitting some hilariously foul lyrics"; according to Billboard magazine's Patrick Crowley, "After losing a beauty pageant of sorts, a crazed Gertrude Poundcakenstein goes on a crime spree. Joined by her sidekicks, Juicy Liu and Chocolate Puddin, she robs a bank and wreaks havoc on Lower Manhattan."[15] Adam Salandra of Logo TV's NewNowNext wrote, "When the puppet with daddy issues loses a beauty pageant to Baby Thunder Thighs in the video, she also loses her mind, transforming into an evil version of Lil' Poundcake before our very eyes. With a freshly painted mug and revenge on her mind, she sets out on a crime spree with tragic results."[14]

Alaska also supported the album with her Poundcake World Tour, a rock music show featuring Jackie Beat as an opening act.[16] Billboard included "Puppet" in a 2019 list of the "20 Best Songs from 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queens", saying: "A deliriously upbeat, catchy hook pairs well with the unrepentantly filthy (and hysterical) lyrics on this standout track ... She has a number of excellent songs, but the Lil' Poundcake-inspired 'Puppet' is undeniable."[17]

Alaska released a commercial for her Lil' Poundcake plush doll,[18] featuring Drag Race contestants Jiggly Caliente and Raja.[19][20] Chappell Roan has worn an outfit inspired by Lil' Poundcake.[21]

References

  1. ^ Sim, Bernardo (June 20, 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Alaska". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Who is Lil' Poundcake? Here's all about 'RPDR' All-Star winner Alaska and Lineysha Sparx' 'drag daughter'". Meaww.com. March 19, 2021. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  3. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Winner Alaska Takes Us Behind the Scenes of Her 'Puppet' Video". Billboard. October 14, 2016. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  4. ^ Elbaz, Yael (2019). "Hieeee Israel! RuPaul's Drag Race Winner Alaska Thunderfuck Took Tel Aviv by Storm". Haaretz. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  5. ^ "The Drag Race RuCap: Yo Dragga Dragga | Xtra Magazine". February 12, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  6. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: "Draggle Rock"". AV Club. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  7. ^ Matus, Kyra (January 24, 2022). "10 Terms & Phrases Only True RuPaul's Drag Race Fans Will Understand". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  8. ^ Crowley, Patrick (September 16, 2020). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' All-Star Alaska Drops New Music Video for 'Puppet'". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  9. ^ Ramos, Dina-Ray. "RECAP: 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Season 8 Episode 7: "Eloguent" Forensic Queens". GLAAD. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  10. ^ "'Drag Race' remixes 'Untucked' lounge with fun show references". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  11. ^ Wratten, Marcus (January 3, 2025). "RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 gags fans with wild Squid Game challenge". PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news. Archived from the original on January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  12. ^ Guzzo, Bianca (January 4, 2025). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17 Episode 1 RECAP: Squirrel Games". IN Magazine. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  13. ^ Huff, Matthew (January 3, 2025). "An Old Twist Returns in the 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 17 Premiere". Parade. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Salandra, Adam (September 16, 2016). "Lil' Poundcake Goes on a Crime Spree in Alaska's New Music Video, "Puppet"". NewNowNext. Logo TV. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  15. ^ Crowley, Patrick (September 16, 2020). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' All-Star Alaska Drops New Music Video for 'Puppet'". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  16. ^ Garcia, Keith (May 17, 2017). "A Storm's Brewing: Alaska Thunderfuck Croons About Makeup and, Um, Anuses". Westword. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  17. ^ "20 Best Songs From 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queens". Billboard. June 26, 2019. Archived from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  18. ^ Lil' Poundcake doll:
  19. ^ "Watch Alaska, Raja & Jiggly's Commercial for Lil' Poundcake Talking Doll: Exclusive". Billboard. May 19, 2017. Archived from the original on November 20, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  20. ^ "The Ad for Alaska's Lil' Poundcake Doll Is Campy & Hilarious". www.pride.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  21. ^ Wolper, Caitlin (May 24, 2024). "'How Can We Make It Campier?'". Vulture. Retrieved January 4, 2025.