{{Short description|New Zealand drag queen}} {{Infobox person | name = Elektra Shock | image = | caption = | birth_name = James Luck | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|9|30}} | birth_place = England, United Kingdom | education = | occupation = Drag queen | yearsactive = | known_for = {{hlist|''House of Drag''|''RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under''}} | title = | predecessor = | successor = | partner = }}
'''James Luck''' (born 30 September 1992), better known by the stage name '''Elektra Shock''', is a New Zealand drag performer best known for competing on the first season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under'' and the second season of ''House of Drag''.
== Early life == Luck was born in England<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pox3GQBfK4|title = Elektra Shock: Exposed (The Full Interview)|website = YouTube| date=3 February 2022 }}</ref> and raised in Invercargill, New Zealand<ref name="Stuff">{{cite news |last1=Crayton-Brown |first1=Kimberley |title=Hard Work, Not Luck Key to Dancer's Success |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/culture/4671296/Hard-work-not-luck-key-to-dancers-success |access-date=August 12, 2021 |work=Stuff |date=February 18, 2011 |archive-date=August 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812054024/https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/culture/4671296/Hard-work-not-luck-key-to-dancers-success |url-status=live }}</ref> where he attended Southland Boys' High School.<ref name="Breakfast">{{cite news |last1=McLean |first1=Matt |title=The Latest Kiwi Eliminated from Drag Race Down Under |url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=139399354838739 |access-date=August 13, 2021 |work=TVNZ |date=June 13, 2021 |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217053813/https://www.facebook.com/Breakfaston1/videos/139399354838739/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He studied dance at the Urban Dance Centre in Sydney, Australia.<ref name="Stuff" />
== Career == Luck has worked as a backup dancer for acts such as Sia, Jesse James, and Little Mix.<ref name="Dance">{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Aimee |title=Best of Luck to James in the Drag Race Down Under |url=https://whatsoninvers.nz/best-of-luck-to-james-in-the-drag-race-down-under/ |access-date=August 13, 2021 |work=What's On Invers |date=May 8, 2021 |archive-date=August 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812220536/https://whatsoninvers.nz/best-of-luck-to-james-in-the-drag-race-down-under/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was a backup dancer in the 2012 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony for Annie Lennox.<ref name="Dance" />
In 2018, Luck was a guest dancer on ''Dancing with the Stars'' and was on the judging panel of Indian-inspired dance competition ''The Great NZ Dance Masala''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/anna-murray-indian-inspired-dance-show-eschews-celebrities-in-favour-of-people-who-actually-have-rhythm/FLEKHFB5BQ6ER7GS2LEJRQBYCY/ |title=Anna Murray: Indian-inspired dance show eschews celebrities 'in favour of people who actually have rhythm' |date=20 June 2018 |work=New Zealand Herald |first=Anna |last=Murray |access-date=12 August 2021 |archive-date=12 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812145816/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/anna-murray-indian-inspired-dance-show-eschews-celebrities-in-favour-of-people-who-actually-have-rhythm/FLEKHFB5BQ6ER7GS2LEJRQBYCY/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Elektra was a contestant on the second season of the New Zealand drag competition show ''House of Drag'', placing as the runner-up. On the show, she won four challenges, the most in the show's history, and never placed in the bottom. She was eliminated in the final lip sync by that season's winner, New Zealand drag queen Spankie Jackzon.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}
In March 2021, Elektra was announced as a competitor on the first season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under''.<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine |last1=Nolfi |first1=Joey |title=Say g'day to the Drag Race Down Under queens: Aussies kiki with Kiwis! |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=6 March 2021 |url=https://ew.com/tv/rupauls-drag-race-down-under-cast-season-1/ |access-date=14 June 2021 |archive-date=14 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614153240/https://ew.com/tv/rupauls-drag-race-down-under-cast-season-1/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''House of Drag'' hosts and judges Kita Mean and Anita Wigl'it competed alongside Elektra, making Elektra the first Drag Race contestant to compete against the judges of a previous show she was on.<ref name="EW" />
Elektra became known as a "lip sync assassin" on her season, eliminating JoJo Zaho and Coco Jumbo in episodes 1 and 3. She won the commercial challenge in episode 5.<ref name="Metro">{{Cite web|last=Yeates|first=Cydney|date=2021-06-15|title=Drag Race Down Under's Elektra 'cried in hotel room' over bitchy queens|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/15/drag-race-down-under-elektra-cried-after-filming-over-bitchy-queens-14775181/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Metro|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205202/https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/15/drag-race-down-under-elektra-cried-after-filming-over-bitchy-queens-14775181/|url-status=live}}</ref> In episode 7, she landed in the bottom two and was eliminated by season winner Kita Mean.<ref name="Metro" />
The name "Elektra Shock" is derived from electric shock; the name was given to her by her drag mother Trinity Ice.<ref name="Breakfast" />
Luck appeared as a judge on the ninth series of ''Dancing with the Stars''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/spy-revealed-new-judges-for-dwts/CPQFQ2SUK57UEJCVFYGEF2SUKY/ |title=Spy: Revealed — new judges for DWTS |date=10 April 2022 |work=The New Zealand Herald |first=Ricardo |last=Simich}}</ref>
==Personal life== Luck has identified as queer.<ref name="Identity">{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Jessi |title=Elektra Shock on Being the Focus of Everyone's Shade |url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/tv/drag-race-down-under-elektra-eliminated-45023 |access-date=August 13, 2021 |work=Star Observer |date=June 14, 2021 |archive-date=August 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812151223/https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/tv/drag-race-down-under-elektra-eliminated-45023 |url-status=live }}</ref> He lives in the Ponsonby neighborhood of Auckland with his partner Michael.<ref name="Ponsonby">{{cite news |last1=van der Zwan |first1=Sebastian |title=Drag Race Down Under's Elektra Shock: From Homeless to Healed |url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/tv/drag-race-down-under-elektra-eliminated-45023 |access-date=August 13, 2021 |work=Now to Love |date=June 12, 2021 |archive-date=August 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812151223/https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/tv/drag-race-down-under-elektra-eliminated-45023 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2018 | ''Dancing with the Stars'' | Himself | Guest dancer (series 7) |- | 2018 | ''The Great NZ Dance Masala'' | Himself | Judge |- | 2020 | ''House of Drag'' | Herself | Runner-up (season 2) |- | 2021 | ''RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (season 1)'' | Herself | 5th place (season 1) |- |2021 | '' My Life is Murder'' | Ginger Snaps |Season 2 Episode 3 |- | 2022 | ''Dancing with the Stars'' | Himself | Judge (series 9) |- | 2022 | ''RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (season 2)'' | Herself | Guest Choreographer |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Drag Race Down Under}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Elektra Shock}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand drag queens Category:New Zealand LGBTQ dancers Category:New Zealand queer people Category:People educated at Southland Boys' High School Category:People from Invercargill Category:Queer dancers Category:Drag Race Down Under contestants Category:House of Drag contestants Category:Drag performers from Auckland