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Jayla Sullivan

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Jayla Rose Sullivan is an American dancer, burlesque and drag performer, transgender rights advocate, and television personality. She was a contestant on the 2022 American reality television dance competition show Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.[1]

Biography

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Sullivan was born in Buffalo, New York and moved to Portland, Oregon in 2011.[2][3] She trained in gymnastics, tap dance, jazz dance, modern dance, and ballet.[4][5]

Sullivan performs as a drag queen and burlesque dancer at Hamburger Mary's, Bit House Saloon, Sinferno Cabaret, and at drag brunches around Portland.[4] She was hired by boylesque performer Isaiah Esquire to dance at CC Slaughters and in the cabaret show BOYeurism.[3]

Sullivan competed on the American television reality series Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (WOBG),[6][7][8] an eight episode unscripted series that followed ten women competing to earn a spot as a backup dancer for Lizzo.[9][10] After the airing of the show, she accompanied Lizzo, along with the other dancers, to South by Southwest.[2][11][12] Sullivan took the stage with Lizzo during the 48th People's Choice Awards and was recognized for her work "making sure there’s space for transgender and nonbinary performers in the dance community".[13][14] She won an Emmy Award for WOBG.[15][16] In 2023, Sullivan introduced Lizzo at the Grammy Awards.[17][18]

Sullivan has performed as part of Lizzo's Big Grrrls Squad at Global Citizen Festival, Art Basel Miami, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and Treasure Island Resort & Casino.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Jayla Rose Sullivan Is a Big Deal". Willamette Week. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  2. ^ a b "Lizzo Reality Show Star Jayla Sullivan on Finding Trans Acceptance In Dance World (Exclusive)". Toofab.
  3. ^ a b c Jankowski, Andrew (2022-06-01). "Burlesque Dancer Jayla Rose Sullivan Talks About Competing on "Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls"". Wweek.com. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  4. ^ a b Grey, Charlie (14 June 2022). "Jayla Rose Sullivan is truly the "Big Grrrl" dancer to watch". Queerty.
  5. ^ "Meet Jayla Sullivan, the transgender dancer from Lizzo's Watch Out For The Big Grrrls". Reality Titbit. March 26, 2022.
  6. ^ "'Lizzo's Watch Out For The Big Grrrls' Is Pure TV Serotonin". www.advocate.com. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  7. ^ O’Neill, Shane; Jacobs, Julia (2022-04-06). "Lizzo's 'Big Grrrls' Asks Big Questions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  8. ^ says, Skinly (2022-03-21). "Get To Know The Big Grrrls Cast! The Plus Size Dancers Competing For A Spot On Stage". Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  9. ^ NowThis (16 June 2022). "WATCH: Trans Dancer Jayla Sullivan on Lizzo, Self-Acceptance, & Representation - NowThis". Nowthisnews.com. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  10. ^ "Jayla Rose Sullivan: Dance is Key to Trans Joy". TransLash. 2022-07-29. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  11. ^ "Reality Series Star Jayla Sullivan Spoke About Trans Representation in Dance and Working with Lizzo". Movieweb.com. 2022-03-28. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  12. ^ Stith, Deborah Sengupta. "Lizzo talks 'regressive' Texas laws and the healing power of twerking at SXSW". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  13. ^ "Lizzo Highlights Trans Activists at People's Choice Awards - OUT FRONT". Outfrontmagazine.com. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  14. ^ Madarang, Charisma (2022-12-07). "Lizzo at People's Choice Awards: 'If I'm the People's Champ, I Don't Need a Trophy for Championing People'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  15. ^ "Portland Emmy Winner Jayla Rose Sullivan". KOIN.com. 2022-11-01. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  16. ^ Iftikhar, Asyia (2022-12-08). "Lizzo gives empowering, trans-inclusive People's Choice speech". PinkNews. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  17. ^ "Lizzo Goes to Church With Rousing GRAMMY Performance of 'Special' | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. 5 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  18. ^ "How This Year's Grammys Celebrated LGBTQ+ Artists and Allies". www.advocate.com. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
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