D.J. "SHANGELA" Pierce to host 2018 GayVN Awards

CHATSWORTH, CA--(Marketwired - December 06, 2017) - AVN Media Network announced today that D.J. "SHANGELA" Pierce will host the 2018 GayVN Awards Show, sponsored by CAM4 & iWantEmpire.com. The 2018 GayVN Awards Show is set to take place Sunday, January 21 inside The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas.

"We are excited to have Shangela as our host for this incredible night," said AVN CEO Tony Rios. "Shangela is an incredible entertainer and I am thrilled to have him take the reins of the GayVN Awards for what will be an spectacular show!"

After a seven-year hiatus, the gay porn version of the AVN Awards is back, with 14 industry award - and 13 fan award - categories, which celebrate the very best in adult entertainment within the gay community.

"If there's one thing I'm known for, it's how to make a great comeback," said Shangela, the three-time contestant from Rupaul's Drag Race. "With this being the GAYVN's highly-anticipated return, I plan to bring some extra fun and fabulosity to make it one unforgettable night."

D.J. Pierce, also known as his drag personality "Shangela", is best recognized as the only contestant to compete on three separate seasons of Rupaul's Drag Race, He is a multi-faceted entertainer that continues to captivate audiences on television and stages around the world. Pierce has guest starred on network television shows like "2 Broke Girls," "Glee," "Bones," "X-Files," and more. He has appeared in films including "Hurricane Bianca" (2016), "Kiss Me, Kill Me" (2015) and the upcoming feature "A Star Is Born" directed by Bradley Cooper. In 2012, he co-starred with Jenifer Lewis in a four-part scripted YouTube series called "Jenifer Lewis and Shangela."

Pierce has continued to climb in notoriety. He was named one of OUT Magazine's "100 Most Compelling People" and in 2015 was featured on Forbes.com for his drag management company Say What Entertainment. He has written and released music, performed alongside Miley Cyrus on the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, and toured a self-written stand up comedy show called "Straight Outta Paris." As Shangela, he has toured on six of the seven continents, and has his sights set on Antarctica next!

For more information about the 2018 GAYVN Awards Show, visit gayvnawards.com.

ABOUT THE GAYVN AWARDS:

The GayVN Awards, produced by AVN Media Network, is an annual awards show honoring the gay adult entertainment industry. First launched in 1998, the awards show took a seven-year break after the 2011 event, and is now back at its new home at Las Vegas, Nevada's Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

The 2018 GayVN Awards show is unique in its introduction of the first-ever Fan Awards in addition to its industry-voted categories; gay porn enthusiasts are now able to vote for their favorite website, media stars, cam stars and more in 13 categories at gayvnawards.com.