{{short description|British Drag King, performer and host}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}{{Use British English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox person | name = Adam All | image = AdamAllCopenhagen.jpg | caption = Adam All on the main stage at World Pride | birth_name = Jen Powell | alma_mater = Manchester Metropolitan University | occupation = Drag king, performer, host | spouse = Eleanor Burke | website = {{URL|https://www.adamall.co.uk}} }}
'''Jen Powell''', better known by their stage name '''Adam All''', is a British drag king, performer and host.
== Early life and background == Powell was born and grew up in Winchester, and performs as a Drag King under the name Adam All.<ref name="Pink News">{{cite news|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/03/28/drag-king-adam-all-its-the-air-that-i-breathe/|title=Drag King Adam All:'It's the air that I breathe'|date=March 28, 2019|first=Nina|last=LeCourt|website=Pink News|accessdate=April 26, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dgomag.com/contents/meet-the-men-who-outdo-the-drag-ladies-in-style-and-sex-appeal-3068|title=Meet the men who outdo the drag ladies in style and sex appeal|last=O'Brien|date=2018-06-22|website=DGO Mag|access-date=2021-04-26|language=en|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426104730/https://dgomag.com/contents/meet-the-men-who-outdo-the-drag-ladies-in-style-and-sex-appeal-3068|url-status=dead}}</ref> Growing up, Powell was often mistaken for a boy and cites this as one of their earliest inspirations to dress in male clothing. Powell also cites novel Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters, which was adapted into a BBC Dramatization in 2000, as a key inspiration. Powell explained in their TEDX Talk that Drag has been integral to them exploring and finding their own gender identity.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adam All: Using Drag to deconstruct, express and reclaim my gender identity|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/adam_all_using_drag_to_deconstruct_express_and_reclaim_my_gender_identity|access-date=2021-04-26|website=TED|date=9 May 2018 |language=en-UK}}</ref>
Powell studied contemporary arts at Manchester Metropolitan University and has an extensive background in music, having taken lessons on seven instruments, eventually focusing on the saxophone and the ukulele. Singing is Powell and Adam's primary form of musical expression, particularly 80s power ballads and stadium rock. Comedy is also integral to their art.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adam All Website|url=http://www.adamall.co.uk/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=Adam All|language=en-UK}}</ref>
== Career == Powell began their drag career in 2008 in Southampton in England with their first show at local gay bar "The London Hotel." Adam All continued to perform across the UK Drag Circuit, where there were few Drag Kings. In 2009 Adam All was the first Drag King to get to the final of National Drag Competition "Drag Idol".<ref>{{Cite web|title=All Hail The Drag Idols|url=https://www.qxmagazine.com/2014/04/all-hail-the-drag-idols/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=QX Magazine|date=16 April 2014|language=en-UK}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025}}</ref>
Adam All continued to work as a Drag King and in 2013 set up Drag King Cabaret night 'BOiBOX' at legendary lesbian bar 'The Candy Bar' in Soho, London with their partner Apple Derrières to provide a platform for other Drag Kings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Nick |date=18 September 2018 |title=Meet the founders of Boi Box, London's vital drag king talent showcase |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/news/meet-the-founders-of-boi-box-londons-vital-drag-king-talent-showcase-091818 |access-date=26 April 2021 |website=Time Out |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Noyce |first=Eleanor |date=15 November 2022 |title="My mission has always been to disentangle masculinity": Adam All on Queens Of The Metaverse, BOiBOX and gender fluidity |url=https://diva-magazine.com/2022/11/15/adam-all-diva-interview/ |access-date=19 August 2025 |website=Diva |language=en-GB}}</ref> Adam All also co-hosts Europe's biggest Drag King Contest 'Man Up'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paskett |first=Zoe |date=12 April 2019 |title=Man Up 2019: Meet this year's drag king competition finalists |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/london/lgbtq/man-up-2019-the-glory-final-drag-kings-a4116751.html |access-date=26 April 2021 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref>
Adam All has been described as a pioneer for the modern UK Drag King Scene<ref>{{Cite news|last=Muyobo|date=2020-08-27|title=Adam All is eradicating the gender boundaries of drag one pink suit at a time|language=en|work=Gay Times|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/adam-all-is-eradicating-the-gender-boundaries-of-drag-one-pink-suit-at-a-time/|access-date=2021-04-26}}</ref> by 'rewriting the rules of masculinity' and challenging gender stereotypes<ref>{{Cite web|title=New boys in town: the drag kings rewriting the rules of masculinity|url=https://news.trust.org/item/20190228134945-9v4hi/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=Thomson Reuters Foundation News|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and perspectives,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://i-d.co/article/meet-5-drag-kings-challenging-gender-expectations/|title=meet 5 drag kings challenging gender expectations|last=Franklin|date=2017-04-19|access-date=2021-04-26|website=ID Magazine|language=en}}</ref> "redefining Drag."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Elly |date=17 June 2017 |title=We meet the queens and kings redefining drag |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2017/06/02/drag/ |website=Wonderland Magazine |language=en}}</ref> In 2019 Adam All won the award for Best Drag King at the QX Awards.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Jason |date=11 October 2019 |title=The QX Cabaret Award Winners 2019 |url=https://www.qxmagazine.com/2019/10/the-qx-cabaret-award-winners-2019/ |access-date=2021-04-26 |website=QX Magazine}}</ref> and in 2023, Adam All won "Drag Artist of the Year" at the PinkNews Awards of ''Pink News'', becoming the first drag king to win the award. Adam All won the award alongside Drag Queen "That Girl."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hansford |first=Amelia |date=18 October 2023 |title=I Kissed A Boy, Lauren Rowles, Sophie Duker and more win at PinkNews Awards 2023 |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/10/18/pinknews-awards-2023-winners-announced/ |website=Pink News |language=en}}</ref> == Personal life == Powell is nonbinary and is married to actor Eleanor Burke, who performs alongside them as drag queen Apple Derrières.<ref>{{Cite news|title=nonbinary awareness week|url=https://www.instagram.com/tv/CC8CRKvpkAF/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=Pink News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/adam_all_and_apple_derrieres_we_are_more_than_the_sum_of_our_parts |title=We are more than the sum of our parts |date=2019-01-08 |last=Derrieres |first=Adam All and Apple |language=en |access-date=19 August 2025 |via=www.ted.com}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:All, Adam}} Category:English non-binary entertainers Category:British drag kings Category:Living people Category:Non-binary drag performers Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people Category:Alumni of Manchester Metropolitan University