Earlier this week, it was announced that plans are in the works with the hope of creating a permanent tribute to drag queen icon The Vivienne in her hometown of Liverpool.

An organisation established by the performer’s family, House of the Vivienne, has announced it hopes to fundraise the money for a lifesize tribute which would be situated at the entrance of Liverpool’s Pride Quarter district.

The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner, real name James Lee Williams, was an established drag artist, actor and singer, having performed in theatres across the country. James also competed on Dancing on Ice back in 2023.

"James gave everything to Liverpool and Liverpool gave everything back to him,” James’ sister Chanel Williams, who is also the Director of House of The Vivienne, said. “This city saw him, accepted him, and helped him become The Vivienne.

“A permanent statue in the Pride Quarter feels like the right way to make sure nobody forgets that, and to remind anyone who might be struggling that they do not have to do it alone. That was what James believed, and it is what we are going to keep saying."

The performer tragically passed away in January 2025 following a silent battle with addiction to Ketamine, with the House of The Vivienne CIC being established to support others facing similar struggles. Alongside the organisation, the Proudly Said LGBTQ+ platform has backed the statue campaign alongside the Liverpool Business Improvement District.

(AI Visualisation of what the statue might look like)

Those behind the project said the statue’s potential location was not only significant for the artist and their family, but also had the aim of becoming a lasting focal point for both the LGBTQ+ community and visitors to the city. It would also help form part of a broader effort to establish the city’s Pride Quarter area.

Proudly Said’s John Hyland added: "The Vivienne was the Pride Quarter, and James had a way of making everyone who walked through any one of those doors feel like they belonged, and that didn't stop when the cameras arrived, and their star shot into the sky.

"This statue is Liverpool acknowledging what the LGBTQ+ community already knows. But it's also the beginning of something bigger. The Pride Quarter deserves investment, attention, and a future, and this is the first statement of intent that it's going to get both."

Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool Business Improvement District, added: "Liverpool has always been a city that celebrates the people who shape and help to define its culture, and The Vivienne was one of them. We are proud to support this project and what it represents, not just as a tribute to James, and all those who loved and supported James, but as a statement about the kind of city Liverpool is."

You can find more details about the project here, whilst you can donate to the fundraiser here.