Wikipedia

The Vixen (drag queen)

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.

The Vixen
The Vixen for Chicago Reader magazine, 2021
Born
Anthony Prince Taylor

(1990-12-11) December 11, 1990 (age 33)[1]
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
EducationColumbia College Chicago
Occupations
Years active2013–present
Known forRuPaul's Drag Race (season 10) BlackGirlMagic Drag Show
Websitethevixensworld.com

Early life

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Movies

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Year Title Role Notes
2016 Lipstick City[39] Red Dancer Short film by Shea Coulee

Television

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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

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Year Title Artist
2017 "Cocky" Shea Couleé
"Ride"

Web series

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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

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Albums

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Year Title Notes
2020 Commercial Break Featuring Lucy Stoole and Dida Ritz

Singles

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Lead artist

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Year Title Notes
2018 "Room pt. 1"
"Room pt. 2" Featuring Shea Couleé
"Tea Party"
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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

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  1. ^ a b Crowley, Patrick. "The Vixen Serves Scalding Hot Bars On 'Tea Party': Listen". Billboard. No. December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  2. ^ Dazed (2018-04-24). "Vote for The Vixen on the #Dazed100". Dazed. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  3. ^ "Tea Party". music.apple.com. Apple Inc. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  4. ^ "How The Vixen Exposed the Racism of RuPaul's Drag Race". them. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  5. ^ a b "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Alum React to The Vixen Breaking Down Racial Narratives Created by Fans". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  6. ^ Rodriguez, Mathew (21 June 2018). "INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World". Into. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  7. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Reunion Put A Spotlight On The Show's Race Problem". NYLON. 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  8. ^ @TheVixensworld (February 2, 2014). "its My Mommy's Bday!! LOVE U XOXO!!! Sheri Jones <3<3<3" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ 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)
  10. ^ "Queens for a Day: Fall Fashion Goes Drag". Chicago magazine. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  11. ^ Blanton, Kayla. "The Vixen Has Big Plans After 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  12. ^ 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)
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "Black Girl Magic". ShowClix. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  17. ^ a b "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 10: Meet the 14 fierce drag queens". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  18. ^ Koch, Drew. "Why The Vixen Could Absolutely Win 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  19. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queen Aquaria Calls Out Racist Fans for Threatening The Vixen: 'Jump Off the Aquaria Train'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "'Drag Race' Exclusive: Monique Heart Takes a Side in Vixen/Eureka Feud". FANDOM. Wikia, Inc. 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  22. ^ "'Drag Race:' The Vixen Sends Her Haters a Message: 'You're Uncomfortable Because I Am Creating Change'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  23. ^ "Drag Race Season 10 Episode 8 Review: Cher The Rusical!". PopBuzz. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  24. ^ Swift, Andy (2018-06-22). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10 Reunion: Who Made Nice? And Who Walked Off?". TVLine. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  25. ^ "INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World". intomore.com. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  26. ^ "Courtney Act calls Drag Race a 'social experiment on unconscious bias'". Metro. 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ Wheeler, André (2018-09-11). "Can Grindr Make Itself Less Racist?". GQ. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  29. ^ Shea Couleé (2017-06-22), Shea Couleé - Cocky [ft. Lila Star + The Vixen], retrieved 2018-06-22
  30. ^ Drag Music (2018-03-01), The Vixen - Room pt.1 (Official Audio), retrieved 2018-06-22
  31. ^ "The Vixen and Shea Couleé Trade Rap Bars On Vogue-y 'Room Pt. 2': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  32. ^ Drag (feat. Imp Queen, Lucy Stoole, Eva Young, The Vixen & London Jade) - Single by Dorian Electra, 2016-12-05, retrieved 2018-08-03
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ "Commercial Break". Spotify.
  35. ^ @TheVixensworld (4 August 2020). "MY DEBUT ALBUM: Commercial Break 📺..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  36. ^ "The Vixen: 'A Drag Queen Is Safer in This World Than a Black Man'". 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  37. ^ "The Vixen on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  38. ^ @thevixensworld (August 18, 2023). "I keep forgetting to say officially that I've moved from Chicago to New Orleans" – via Instagram.
  39. ^ 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
  40. ^ 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.
  41. ^ 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.
  42. ^ 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.
  43. ^ 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)
  44. ^ 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)
  45. ^ 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
  46. ^ 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)
  47. ^ "Do You Believe in Aliens?" COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10. YouTube. June 27, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  48. ^ Hey Qween (2019-03-18), THE VIXEN on Hey Qween! with Jonny McGovern, retrieved 2019-06-13
  49. ^ "Meet The Vixen, the fearless drag queen whose activism is revolutionizing drag". AOL. 18 January 2021.
  50. ^ IMHO with Chan & Dixie (2019-09-23), Detailz w/ Dida Ritz: Drag Race Review S04E04, retrieved 2019-09-23
  51. ^ Queen Labs Network (June 1, 2020), "What's Your Kinkiest Trait" | Queer Table | Season 1 - Episode 1, retrieved June 10, 2020
  52. ^ Collo-Julin, Salem (June 9, 2021). "Get baked with Bambi Banks-Couleé". Chicago Reader. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
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