It wasn’t the name, the family ties, or even the legacy that made the crowd roar. It was the confidence, the glitter, and the unapologetic pride.
On a balmy Friday night in Los Angeles, an unexpected spotlight shone on Vivian Wilson, not because she’s the daughter of the world’s richest man, but because of what she brought to the stage in her own right. She stepped into the limelight under a new name, a bold look, and a message that left the internet buzzing.
Vivian, 21, and the daughter of tech billionaire Elon Musk and author Justine Wilson, made a powerful public statement Friday night with her drag debut as “Vivllainous” during the “Pattie Gonia Presents: SAVE HER!” environmental drag show in Los Angeles.
Taking the stage in a dramatic, jewel-toned ensemble and proudly raising the trans pride flag, Vivian captivated the audience with both her look and message. The performance marked a rare and empowering public appearance for the transgender daughter of Musk, with whom she has been publicly estranged since legally cutting ties with him in 2022.
A widely shared Instagram clip posted by The News Movement shows Vivian exuding confidence as she walks the runway, smiling and radiating joy as the crowd cheers her on. Fans flooded the comments with praise, applauding her talent and beauty.
“Having seen a few Dragshows, she’s spoon talented and looks incredible 😃😃😃😃 I wish I had her hair 😌👌[sic]” one fan commented.
Another added, “her hair is so beautiful omg, [sic]” while a third gushed, “She so beautiful and her hair so pretty![sic]”
The drag show, hosted by climate activist and eco-drag artist Pattie Gonia, fused LGBTQ+ expression with environmental advocacy. The event spotlighted queer voices in climate justice — a space where such representation is often lacking.
Vivian’s moment wasn’t just viral on Instagram. A reposted video by PinkNews on TikTok garnered even more adoration. Fans remarked, “I’m so in love with the way her hair falls. It’s so ethereal,” while another noted, “She must take after her mother because she is beautiful!” Others praised her talent, “Fabulous! Vivian is super talented and beautiful.”
Meanwhile, some users couldn’t help but reflect on her famous father and their fractured relationship.
On the reposted video shared on The News Entertainment’s TikTok page, one user wrote, “She’s becoming his most famous child,” and another added, “She’s so sci-fi coded🥹 it’s a shame Elon denied his child who reflects so aaaamuch of the good in him. When will parents stop trying to bog their kids down with the same stuff they got wrong?[sic]”
Vivian, who now goes by her mother’s surname, Wilson, legally changed her name and gender in 2022. In her petition, she said she no longer wished “to be related to [her] biological father in any way, shape or form.”
That bold declaration came after years of publicly distancing herself from Musk, even as he increasingly leaned into far-right rhetoric and political influence, including backing now-President Donald Trump.
Despite her lineage, Wilson has carved her path far from the traditional trappings of fame. A self-described “very online” Gen Z-er, she spends hours chatting with friends on Discord, loves “Chappell Roan,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, and books, and runs unapologetically late to Zoom calls — just like many 20-somethings.
She’s also made it clear she’s been financially independent since coming out as trans in 2020. In a rare interview with Teen Vogue, Vivian reflected on the sharp wit she developed in online queer spaces during lockdown:
“You learn how to make a response very quickly, and you learn how to be funny and snap at someone else in a comedic way…. Getting into fights with other queer teenagers — that’s how you learn how to be quick and witty.”
That resilience has likely been tested many times. In 2023, Musk referenced her publicly during an interview with Jordan Peterson, using her deadname and claiming she had been “killed by the woke mind virus.” The moment followed Musk’s tweet:
“Exactly. My son, Xavier, died. He was killed by the woke mind virus. Now, the woke mind virus will die.”
But Vivian has received nothing but affirmation from her mother, Justine. Her mother told Teen Vogue, “Vivian has always had an uncompromising sense of who she is — and who she needs to be. She is big, fierce, wild, multi-layered magic.”
Her debut as “Vivllainous” was more than a performance. It was a reclamation of space, voice, and identity. And judging by the crowd’s cheers and the fans’ praise online, it’s clear she’s only just begun.
