Jayla Sullivan Explained

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

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]

Sullivan performs as a drag queen and burlesque dancer at Hamburger Mary's, Bit House Saloon, Sinferno Cabaret, and at drag brunches around Portland.^[5] She was hired by boylesque performer Isaiah Esquire to dance at CC Slaughters and in the cabaret show BOYeurism.

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]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jayla Rose Sullivan Is a Big Deal . 2023-04-15 . Willamette Week . 5 June 2022 . en.
2. Web site: Lizzo Reality Show Star Jayla Sullivan on Finding Trans Acceptance In Dance World (Exclusive). Toofab.
3. Web site: Jankowski . Andrew . Burlesque Dancer Jayla Rose Sullivan Talks About Competing on "Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls" . Wweek.com . 2022-06-01 . 2023-01-24.
4. Web site: Meet Jayla Sullivan, the transgender dancer from Lizzo's Watch Out For The Big Grrrls. March 26, 2022. Reality Titbit.
5. Web site: Jayla Rose Sullivan is truly the "Big Grrrl" dancer to watch. Charlie. Grey. Queerty. 14 June 2022 .
6. Web site: 'Lizzo's Watch Out For The Big Grrrls' Is Pure TV Serotonin . 2023-04-15 . www.advocate.com . en.
7. News: O’Neill . Shane . Jacobs . Julia . 2022-04-06 . Lizzo's 'Big Grrrls' Asks Big Questions . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-04-15 . 0362-4331.
8. Web site: says . Skinly . 2022-03-21 . Get To Know The Big Grrrls Cast! The Plus Size Dancers Competing For A Spot On Stage . 2023-04-15 . en-US.
9. Web site: NowThis . WATCH: Trans Dancer Jayla Sullivan on Lizzo, Self-Acceptance, & Representation - NowThis . Nowthisnews.com . 16 June 2022. 2023-01-24.
10. Web site: Jayla Rose Sullivan: Dance is Key to Trans Joy . TransLash . 2022-07-29 . 2023-01-24.
11. Web site: Reality Series Star Jayla Sullivan Spoke About Trans Representation in Dance and Working with Lizzo . Movieweb.com . 2022-03-28 . 2023-01-24.
12. Web site: Stith . Deborah Sengupta . Lizzo talks 'regressive' Texas laws and the healing power of twerking at SXSW . 2023-04-15 . Austin American-Statesman . en-US.
13. Web site: Lizzo Highlights Trans Activists at People's Choice Awards - OUT FRONT . Outfrontmagazine.com . 2022-12-13 . 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' . 2023-04-15 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
15. Web site: 2022-11-01 . Portland Emmy Winner Jayla Rose Sullivan . 2023-04-15 . KOIN.com . en-US.
16. Web site: Iftikhar . Asyia . 2022-12-08 . Lizzo gives empowering, trans-inclusive People's Choice speech . 2023-04-15 . PinkNews . en-US.
17. Web site: Lizzo Goes to Church With Rousing GRAMMY Performance of 'Special' Entertainment Tonight . 2023-04-15 . www.etonline.com . 5 February 2023 . en-US.
18. Web site: How This Year's Grammys Celebrated LGBTQ+ Artists and Allies . 2023-04-15 . www.advocate.com . en.