The Vivienne's family tell vigil 'we're so proud'
The family of drag icon The Vivienne said they "brought the sparkle to life" and will be missed "for eternity" during an emotional vigil in Liverpool on Sunday night.
Hundreds gathered on the steps of St George's Hall to pay their respects to the TV star, also known as James Lee Williams, who died last week aged 32.
The landmark was lit up in green to honour The Vivienne's role in Wizard of Oz and crowds swayed with their phone torches shining to a moving rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
The Vivienne was catapulted to fame after winning the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019.
"As a family we are completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for James, The Vivienne," the family said in a statement read by The Vivienne's friend Bobby Musker.
The family paid tribute to a "son, brother, uncle and true icon".
"From an early age it was evident he was destined for the stage... he was determined to pave his own way in this world," they said.
"The road was not easy but the dream never, ever changed and James would always tell us that they would make it happen and they did."
The family said they were "so unbelievably proud of everything they achieved".
"We will miss you for an eternity and for an eternity we will all love you," they said.
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Shortly before the statement was read, The Vivienne's young niece Isabella took the microphone.
"Thank you for being here to celebrate my uncle," she said to the crowd. "I love you Uncle James."
Crowds heard performances from Joey & the Hot Tub Boys, who sang Heart of Stone by Cher and Heroes by David Bowie, and speeches from a host of friends and colleagues.
Danny Beard, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK series four, called The Vivienne a "truly larger than life" character who could "never be confined by the ordinary".
They described them as a "shining beacon of light for the LGBT community".
"The performances weren't just acts, they were celebrations of life," they said.
"They taught us it was OK to live out loud."
The vigil was organised with the help of Sahir House, Liverpool's oldest LGBTQ+ charity. The Vivienne was an ambassador of the charity.
