The Vixen (drag queen)

The Vixen
The Vixen performing in 2018
Born Anthony Taylor
Chicago, Illinois
Nationality American
Alma mater Columbia College Chicago
Occupation
Years active 2013–present
Website thevixensworld.com

The Vixen is the stage name of Anthony Taylor,[1] an American drag performer, best known for competing on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and placing seventh. Her appearance on the show was notable for raising a conversation around racial dynamics both among her fellow drag queens and in the show’s fandom.[2][3][4][5]

Early life

Taylor started doing drag at a local bar called the Jeffery Pub in April 2013. His drag mother is Savannah Westbrooke.[6] The drag name "The Vixen" comes from his love of 1920s vintage wear, and the word "vixen" comes in those searches.[7]

Drag Race and career

The Vixen is known for blending political activism and queer advocacy into her drag performances.[8][9] She has been an outspoken critic about anti-black sentiment in America, including in white queer communities, stating, “you [often] have to choose between calling out racism or homophobia”.[10]

In November 2016, Taylor co-founded "Black Girl Magic", a drag show consisting of only African-American queens. Drag Race alumni Dida Ritz and Shea Couleé are part of this show.[11][12] Her fellow season ten contestants Asia O'Hara, Monét X Change and Monique Heart were added to the line-up of the "Black Girl Magic" cast in June 2018.[13][14]

The Vixen was announced as one of fourteen contestants for season ten of RuPaul's Drag Race on February 22, 2018.[15] She won the episode two main challenge.[16] In the third episode, she engaged in a verbal back-and-forth with fellow contestant Aquaria, which left Aquaria crying and The Vixen angry that the exchange “created the narrative [of] an angry black woman who has scared off the little white girl.[17] Although Aquaria eventually conceded the point and later came to her defense, the Vixen received online death threats from Drag Race fans afterwards.[18] She faced more backlash after quarreling with competitor Eureka O'Hara in multiple episodes.[19][20][21] She was eliminated in seventh place after losing a lip sync to "Groove Is in the Heart" against Asia O'Hara.[22] During the final reunion episode, she walked offstage after feeling cornered by moderator RuPaul who kept pressing her to revisit past confrontations with Aquaria and Eureka.[23] Season six alum Courtney Act later criticized RuPaul for a lack of compassion during the exchange.[24][25]

Outside of Drag Race, The Vixen had a booth covered with the Black Girl Magic logo for the first annual Wakandacon in August 2018.[26]

She became a sponsor for Grindr's "Kindr" public service announcement in September 2018, in an effort to stop racial discrimination in the app.[27]

Music

Before her stint on Drag Race, The Vixen was a featured guest on Couleé's 2017 song, "Cocky".[28]

The Vixen released her first solo single, "Room pt.1", in March 2018.[29] She released "Room pt.2" on September 28, 2018, with Couleé featured.[30]

She was featured among other Chicago drag queens on the song "Drag" by Dorian Electra.[31]

Personal life

The Vixen is openly gay.[32] Her drag daughter is Delikate Doll.[33]

References

  1. ↑ Dazed (2018-04-24). "Vote for The Vixen on the #Dazed100". Dazed. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  2. ↑ Nast, Condé. "How The Vixen Exposed the Racism of RuPaul's Drag Race". them. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  3. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Alum React to The Vixen Breaking Down Racial Narratives Created by Fans". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  4. ↑ "INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World". www.intomore.com. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  5. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Reunion Put A Spotlight On The Show's Race Problem". NYLON. 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  6. ↑ Johnson, The TRiiBE, Tiffany Walden, Morgan Elise. "The Vixen revisits the starting line of her personal drag race". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  7. ↑ "Queens for a Day: Fall Fashion Goes Drag". Chicago magazine. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  8. ↑ Blanton, Kayla. "The Vixen Has Big Plans After 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  9. ↑ Tucker, KT Hawbaker, Sunshine. "Chicago's black drag queens are upholding a radical gender-bending tradition". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  10. ↑ Tucker, KT Hawbaker, Sunshine. "Chicago's black drag queens are upholding a radical gender-bending tradition". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  11. ↑ Morgano, Anthony. "That 'Black Girl Magic' has us in its spell". ChicagoPride.com. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  12. ↑ Forman, Ross. "Black Girl Magic shows unite Queens of Color: 'We are stronger together'". ChicagoPride.com. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  13. ↑ "Black Girl Magic with Asia O'Hara, Monét X Change, Monique Heart, the Vixen, Shea Coulee, Dida Ritz, Bambi Banks, Eva Styles, Lucy Stoole, and Sasha Love". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  14. ↑ "Black Girl Magic". ShowClix. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  15. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 10: Meet the 14 fierce drag queens". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  16. ↑ Koch, Drew. "Why The Vixen Could Absolutely Win 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  17. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Alum React to The Vixen Breaking Down Racial Narratives Created by Fans". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  18. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queen Aquaria Calls Out Racist Fans for Threatening The Vixen: 'Jump Off the Aquaria Train'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  19. ↑ "Everyone Was In Love With Eureka's Snatch Game Performance as Honey Boo Boo...Except For The Vixen". VH1 News. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  20. ↑ "'Drag Race' Exclusive: Monique Heart Takes a Side in Vixen/Eureka Feud". FANDOM. Wikia, Inc. 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  21. ↑ "'Drag Race:' The Vixen Sends Her Haters a Message: 'You're Uncomfortable Because I Am Creating Change'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  22. ↑ "Drag Race Season 10 Episode 8 Review: Cher The Rusical!". PopBuzz. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  23. ↑ Swift, Andy (2018-06-22). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10 Reunion: Who Made Nice? And Who Walked Off?". TVLine. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  24. ↑ "INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World". intomore.com. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  25. ↑ "Courtney Act calls Drag Race a 'social experiment on unconscious bias'". Metro. 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  26. ↑ "The Vixen Showed Up and Showed Out at Chicago's First Ever Wakandacon Convention". VH1 News. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  27. ↑ Wheeler, André (2018-09-11). "Can Grindr Make Itself Less Racist?". GQ. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  28. ↑ Shea Couleé (2017-06-22), Shea Couleé - Cocky [ft. Lila Star + The Vixen], retrieved 2018-06-22
  29. ↑ Drag Music (2018-03-01), The Vixen - Room pt.1 (Official Audio), retrieved 2018-06-22
  30. ↑ "The Vixen and Shea Couleé Trade Rap Bars On Vogue-y 'Room Pt. 2': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  31. ↑ Drag (feat. Imp Queen, Lucy Stoole, Eva Young, The Vixen & London Jade) - Single by Dorian Electra, 2016-12-05, retrieved 2018-08-03
  32. ↑ "The Vixen: 'A Drag Queen Is Safer in This World Than a Black Man'". 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  33. ↑ "The Vixen on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.