The Vixen (drag queen)
The Vixen | |
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![]() The Vixen for Chicago Reader magazine, 2021 | |
Born | Anthony Prince Taylor December 11, 1990[1] |
Education | Columbia College Chicago |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2013–present |
Known for | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 10) BlackGirlMagic Drag Show |
Website | thevixensworld |
The Vixen is the stage name of Anthony Prince Taylor,[2][3] 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.[4][5][6][7] She is the founder of Black Girl Magic, a drag show consisting of only African-American queens. In August 2020, she released Commercial Break, her debut album.
Early life
[edit]Taylor was born to Sheri Jones.[8] He started doing drag at a local bar called the Jeffery Pub in April 2013. His drag mother is Savannah Westbrooke.[9] The drag name "The Vixen" comes from his love of 1920s vintage wear, and the word "vixen" comes in those searches.[10]
Career
[edit]The Vixen is known for blending political activism and queer advocacy into her drag performances.[11][12] 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”.[12]
In November 2016, Taylor founded "Black Girl Magic", a drag show consisting of only African-American queens. Drag Race alumni Dida Ritz and Shea Couleé were part of the first show.[13][14] 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.[15][16]
The Vixen was announced as one of fourteen contestants for season ten of RuPaul's Drag Race on February 22, 2018.[17] She won the episode two main challenge.[18] In the third episode, she engaged in a verbal back-and-forth with fellow contestant Aquaria, which left Aquaria crying and The Vixen noting that the exchange “created the narrative [of] an angry black woman who has scared off the little white girl".[5] Although Aquaria eventually conceded the point and later came to her defense, the Vixen received online death threats from Drag Race fans afterwards.[19] She faced more backlash after quarreling with competitor Eureka O'Hara in multiple episodes, most notably in episode 4 of Untucked.[20][21][22] She was eliminated in seventh place after losing a lip sync to "Groove Is in the Heart" against Asia O'Hara.[23] 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.[24] Season six alum Courtney Act later criticized RuPaul for a lack of compassion during the exchange.[25][26]
Outside of Drag Race, The Vixen had a booth covered with the Black Girl Magic logo for the first annual Wakandacon in August 2018.[27]
She became a sponsor for Grindr's "Kindr" public service announcement in September 2018, in an effort to stop racial discrimination in the app.[28]
Music
[edit]Before her stint on Drag Race, The Vixen was a featured guest on Couleé's 2017 song "Cocky".[29] She released her first solo single, "Room pt. 1," in March 2018.[30] She released "Room pt. 2" on September 28, 2018, with Couleé featured on the track.[31] The Vixen was featured with other Chicago drag queens on the song "Drag" by Dorian Electra.[32] On October 17, 2018, she released the song "Demons, Witches & Bitches" with DJ Shilow and Aja. [33] The Vixen's single "Tea Party" was released on December 11, 2018.[1] She released her debut album, Commercial Break, on August 4, 2020.[34][35]
Personal life
[edit]The Vixen is openly gay.[36] Her former drag daughter is Delikate Doll.[37] In 2023, she announced that she had moved from Chicago to New Orleans, Louisiana.[38]
Filmography
[edit]Movies
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Lipstick City[39] | Red Dancer | Short film by Shea Coulee |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 10) | Herself | Contestant (7th place) | [17] |
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (season 10) | ||||
ABC 7 Chicago | Guest | [40] | ||
The Jam | Guest | [41] | ||
2019 | Empire | Drag queen | Episode: "Never Doubt I Love" | [42] |
Music videos
[edit]Year | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
2017 | "Cocky" | Shea Couleé |
"Ride" |
Web series
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Cooking with Drag Queens | Herself | [43] |
2018 | Watcha Packin'? | [44] | |
Cosmo Queens | [45] | ||
Queen to Queen | [46] | ||
Countdown to the Crown | [47] | ||
2019 | Hey Qween! | [48] | |
Behind the Drag | [49] | ||
Detailz | [50] | ||
2020 | Queer Table | [51] | |
2021 | Bambi Bakes | [52] |
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2020 | Commercial Break | Featuring Lucy Stoole and Dida Ritz |
Singles
[edit]Lead artist
[edit]Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2018 | "Room pt. 1" | |
"Room pt. 2" | Featuring Shea Couleé | |
"Tea Party" |
Featured artist
[edit]Year | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
2017 | "Cocky" | Shea Couleé (featuring Lila Star and The Vixen) |
2018 | "Drag" | Dorian Electra (featuring Imp Queen, Lucy Stoole, Eva Young, The Vixen and London Jade) |
"Demons, Witches & Bitches" | Aja (featuring DJ Shilow and The Vixen) |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Crowley, Patrick. "The Vixen Serves Scalding Hot Bars On 'Tea Party': Listen". Billboard. No. December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ Dazed (2018-04-24). "Vote for The Vixen on the #Dazed100". Dazed. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ "Tea Party". music.apple.com. Apple Inc. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ "How The Vixen Exposed the Racism of RuPaul's Drag Race". them. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ a b "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Alum React to The Vixen Breaking Down Racial Narratives Created by Fans". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ Rodriguez, Mathew (21 June 2018). "INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World". Into. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Reunion Put A Spotlight On The Show's Race Problem". NYLON. 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ @TheVixensworld (February 2, 2014). "its My Mommy's Bday!! LOVE U XOXO!!! Sheri Jones <3<3<3" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Johnson, The TRiiBE, Tiffany Walden, Morgan Elise. "The Vixen revisits the starting line of her personal drag race". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Queens for a Day: Fall Fashion Goes Drag". Chicago magazine. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ Blanton, Kayla. "The Vixen Has Big Plans After 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ a b Tucker, KT Hawbaker, Sunshine. "Chicago's black drag queens are upholding a radical gender-bending tradition". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Morgano, Anthony. "That 'Black Girl Magic' has us in its spell". ChicagoPride.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ Forman, Ross. "Black Girl Magic shows unite Queens of Color: 'We are stronger together'". ChicagoPride.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ "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. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
- ^ "Black Girl Magic". ShowClix. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
- ^ a b "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 10: Meet the 14 fierce drag queens". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ Koch, Drew. "Why The Vixen Could Absolutely Win 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queen Aquaria Calls Out Racist Fans for Threatening The Vixen: 'Jump Off the Aquaria Train'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ "Everyone Was In Love With Eureka's Snatch Game Performance as Honey Boo Boo...Except For The Vixen". VH1 News. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ "'Drag Race' Exclusive: Monique Heart Takes a Side in Vixen/Eureka Feud". FANDOM. Wikia, Inc. 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ "'Drag Race:' The Vixen Sends Her Haters a Message: 'You're Uncomfortable Because I Am Creating Change'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ "Drag Race Season 10 Episode 8 Review: Cher The Rusical!". PopBuzz. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ Swift, Andy (2018-06-22). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10 Reunion: Who Made Nice? And Who Walked Off?". TVLine. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ "INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World". intomore.com. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ "Courtney Act calls Drag Race a 'social experiment on unconscious bias'". Metro. 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ "The Vixen Showed Up and Showed Out at Chicago's First Ever Wakandacon Convention". VH1 News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
- ^ Wheeler, André (2018-09-11). "Can Grindr Make Itself Less Racist?". GQ. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
- ^ Shea Couleé (2017-06-22), Shea Couleé - Cocky [ft. Lila Star + The Vixen], retrieved 2018-06-22
- ^ Drag Music (2018-03-01), The Vixen - Room pt.1 (Official Audio), retrieved 2018-06-22
- ^ "The Vixen and Shea Couleé Trade Rap Bars On Vogue-y 'Room Pt. 2': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
- ^ Drag (feat. Imp Queen, Lucy Stoole, Eva Young, The Vixen & London Jade) - Single by Dorian Electra, 2016-12-05, retrieved 2018-08-03
- ^ Bote, Joshua (2018-10-17). "Aja Links With The Vixen For Spooky, Nicki Minaj-Inspired Track: Listen". Billboard. Lynne Segall. Archived from the original on 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
- ^ "Commercial Break". Spotify.
- ^ @TheVixensworld (4 August 2020). "MY DEBUT ALBUM: Commercial Break 📺..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "The Vixen: 'A Drag Queen Is Safer in This World Than a Black Man'". 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ "The Vixen on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
- ^ @thevixensworld (August 18, 2023). "I keep forgetting to say officially that I've moved from Chicago to New Orleans" – via Instagram.
- ^ Shea Couleé (2017-07-07), Open TV Presents: Lipstick City by Shea Couleé, archived from the original on June 29, 2021, retrieved May 22, 2019
- ^ Chicago's Vixen talks about RuPaul's Drag Race. YouTube. April 3, 2018. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ The Vixen Talks Chicago and Competing on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'. YouTube. April 19, 2018. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ Luria Freeman (April 25, 2019). "Empire recap: Jamal gets hitched, the FBI seeks a snitch, and Andre can't catch a break". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- ^ VH1 (2016-08-15), Cooking with Drag Queens: The Vixen - Seafood Gumbo, archived from the original on November 19, 2020, retrieved 2019-08-21
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ VH1 (2018-05-14), Whatcha Packin': The Vixen | Season 10 Episode 8 | RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10, archived from the original on November 11, 2020, retrieved 2019-06-13
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Cosmopolitan (2018-06-30), The Vixen & Monique: Off Camera Relationships & Regrets - Queen to Queen - RuPaul's Drag Race, archived from the original on November 10, 2020, retrieved 2019-07-09
- ^ VH1 (2018-05-20), The Vixen | COSMO Queens | Cosmopolitan, archived from the original on November 10, 2020, retrieved June 13, 2019
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Do You Believe in Aliens?" COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10. YouTube. June 27, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
- ^ Hey Qween (2019-03-18), THE VIXEN on Hey Qween! with Jonny McGovern, retrieved 2019-06-13
- ^ "Meet The Vixen, the fearless drag queen whose activism is revolutionizing drag". AOL. 18 January 2021.
- ^ IMHO with Chan & Dixie (2019-09-23), Detailz w/ Dida Ritz: Drag Race Review S04E04, retrieved 2019-09-23
- ^ Queen Labs Network (June 1, 2020), "What's Your Kinkiest Trait" | Queer Table | Season 1 - Episode 1, retrieved June 10, 2020
- ^ Collo-Julin, Salem (June 9, 2021). "Get baked with Bambi Banks-Couleé". Chicago Reader. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
External links
[edit]- 1990 births
- Living people
- African-American drag queens
- American drag queens
- American anti-racism activists
- American LGBT rights activists
- Columbia College Chicago alumni
- American gay entertainers
- African-American LGBT people
- LGBT people from Illinois
- OnlyFans creators
- RuPaul's Drag Race contestants
- Drag performers from Chicago
- 20th-century American LGBT people
- 21st-century American LGBT people