The Vixen (drag queen) explained

The Vixen
Birth Name:Anthony Prince Taylor
Birth Date:11 December 1990
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Education:Columbia College Chicago
Years Active:2013–present
Known For:RuPaul's Drag Race (season 10) BlackGirlMagic Drag Show

The Vixen is the stage name of Anthony Prince Taylor,[1] [2] 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.[3] [4] [5] [6] 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

Taylor was born to Sheri Jones.[7] He started doing drag at a local bar called the Jeffery Pub in April 2013. His drag mother is Savannah Westbrooke.[8] The drag name "The Vixen" comes from his love of 1920s vintage wear, and the word "vixen" comes in those searches.[9]

Career

The Vixen is known for blending political activism and queer advocacy into her drag performances.[10] [11] 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”.[11]

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.[12] [13] 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.[14] [15]

The Vixen was announced as one of fourteen contestants for season ten of RuPaul's Drag Race on February 22, 2018.[16] She won the episode two main challenge.[17] 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".[4] 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, most notably in episode 4 of Untucked.[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". She released her first solo single, "Room pt. 1," in March 2018. She released "Room pt. 2" on September 28, 2018, with Couleé featured on the track.[28] The Vixen was featured with other Chicago drag queens on the song "Drag" by Dorian Electra. On October 17, 2018, she released the song "Demons, Witches & Bitches" with DJ Shilow and Aja.[29] The Vixen's single "Tea Party" was released on December 11, 2018.[30] She released her debut album, Commercial Break, on August 4, 2020.[31] [32]

Personal life

The Vixen is openly gay.[33] Her former drag daughter is Delikate Doll.[34] In 2023, she announced that she had moved from Chicago to New Orleans, Louisiana.[35]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018RuPaul's Drag Race (season 10)HerselfContestant (7th place)
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (season 10)
ABC 7 ChicagoGuest[36]
The JamGuest[37]
2019EmpireDrag queenEpisode: "Never Doubt I Love"[38]

Music videos

YearTitleArtist
2017"Cocky"Shea Couleé
"Ride"

Web series

YearTitleRoleRef.
2016Cooking with Drag QueensHerself
2018Watcha Packin'?
Cosmo Queens
Queen to Queen
Countdown to the Crown[39]
2019Hey Qween!
Behind the Drag[40]
Detailz
2020Queer Table
2021Bambi Bakes[41]

Discography

Singles

Lead artist

YearTitleNotes
2018"Room pt. 1"
"Room pt. 2"Featuring Shea Couleé
"Tea Party"

Featured artist

YearTitleArtist
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)

Notes and References

  1. News: Vote for The Vixen on the #Dazed100. Dazed. 2018-04-24. Dazed. 2018-06-22. en.
  2. Web site: Tea Party . music.apple.com . Apple Inc. . October 16, 2023.
  3. News: How The Vixen Exposed the Racism of RuPaul's Drag Race. them.. 2018-10-09. en.
  4. 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Alum React to The Vixen Breaking Down Racial Narratives Created by Fans. Billboard. 2018-10-09.
  5. News: INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World. Into. 21 June 2018 . en. 2018-10-09. Rodriguez . Mathew .
  6. News: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Reunion Put A Spotlight On The Show's Race Problem. 2018-06-22. NYLON. 2018-10-09. en.
  7. TheVixensworld . 430039193189117953 . its My Mommy's Bday!! LOVE U XOXO!!! Sheri Jones <3<3<3.
  8. News: The Vixen revisits the starting line of her personal drag race. Johnson. The TRiiBE, Tiffany Walden, Morgan Elise. Chicago Reader. 2018-06-22. en.
  9. News: Queens for a Day: Fall Fashion Goes Drag. Chicago magazine. 2018-06-22. en.
  10. News: The Vixen Has Big Plans After 'RuPaul's Drag Race'. Blanton. Kayla. Bustle. 2018-10-09. en.
  11. News: Chicago's black drag queens are upholding a radical gender-bending tradition. Tucker. KT Hawbaker, Sunshine. Chicago Reader. 2018-10-09. en.
  12. News: That 'Black Girl Magic' has us in its spell. Morgano. Anthony. ChicagoPride.com. 2018-06-22. en-US. 2018-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20180622084022/http://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/86059984. dead.
  13. News: Black Girl Magic shows unite Queens of Color: 'We are stronger together'. Forman. Ross. ChicagoPride.com. 2018-08-03. en-US. 2018-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20180803104110/http://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/96876244/black-girl-magic-shows-unite-queens-of-color-we-are-stronger-together. dead.
  14. Web site: 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. en. 2018-10-02.
  15. Web site: Black Girl Magic. ShowClix. 26 June 2018 . en-US. 2018-10-02.
  16. News: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 10: Meet the 14 fierce drag queens. USA TODAY. 2018-06-22. en.
  17. News: Why The Vixen Could Absolutely Win 'RuPaul's Drag Race'. Koch. Drew. Bustle. 2018-06-22. en.
  18. 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queen Aquaria Calls Out Racist Fans for Threatening The Vixen: 'Jump Off the Aquaria Train'. Billboard. 2018-06-22.
  19. News: Everyone Was In Love With Eureka's Snatch Game Performance as Honey Boo Boo...Except For The Vixen. https://web.archive.org/web/20230728011907/https://www.vh1.com/news/dzbht0/the-vixen-hates-eurekas-snatch-game-performance. live. July 28, 2023. VH1 News. 2018-06-22.
  20. News: 'Drag Race' Exclusive: Monique Heart Takes a Side in Vixen/Eureka Feud. 2018-05-04. FANDOM. Wikia, Inc.. 2018-06-22. en-US.
  21. 'Drag Race:' The Vixen Sends Her Haters a Message: 'You're Uncomfortable Because I Am Creating Change'. Billboard. 2018-06-22.
  22. News: Drag Race Season 10 Episode 8 Review: Cher The Rusical!. PopBuzz. 2018-06-22. en.
  23. News: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10 Reunion: Who Made Nice? And Who Walked Off?. Swift. Andy. 2018-06-22. TVLine. 2018-06-22. en-US.
  24. Web site: INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World. intomore.com. 12 July 2018 . en. 2018-08-03.
  25. News: Courtney Act calls Drag Race a 'social experiment on unconscious bias'. 2018-08-01. Metro. 2018-08-03. en-GB.
  26. News: The Vixen Showed Up and Showed Out at Chicago's First Ever Wakandacon Convention. https://web.archive.org/web/20180808000336/http://www.vh1.com/news/364815/rupauls-drag-race-the-vixen-slays-wakandacon-chicago/. dead. August 8, 2018. VH1 News. 2018-08-25.
  27. News: Can Grindr Make Itself Less Racist?. Wheeler. André. 2018-09-11. GQ. 2018-09-17. en.
  28. The Vixen and Shea Couleé Trade Rap Bars On Vogue-y 'Room Pt. 2': Listen. Billboard. 2018-10-02.
  29. News: Aja Links With The Vixen For Spooky, Nicki Minaj-Inspired Track: Listen . 2018-10-17 . 2018-10-17 . Bote . Joshua . . Lynne Segall . live . 2018-10-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181017212022/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8480436/aja-demons-bitches-monsters.
  30. Crowley . Patrick . The Vixen Serves Scalding Hot Bars On 'Tea Party': Listen . December 12, 2018 . Billboard . December 11, 2018.
  31. Web site: Commercial Break. .
  32. 1290554375719587840. TheVixensworld. MY DEBUT ALBUM: Commercial Break .... 4 August 2020.
  33. News: The Vixen: 'A Drag Queen Is Safer in This World Than a Black Man'. 2018-06-18. 2018-08-03. en.
  34. News: The Vixen on Twitter. Twitter. 2018-06-22. en.
  35. thevixensworld . CwGOWy9pCX . I keep forgetting to say officially that I've moved from Chicago to New Orleans . August 18, 2023.
  36. Chicago's Vixen talks about RuPaul's Drag Race. YouTube. April 3, 2018. September 21, 2019. November 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201121182944/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dxK5V3Pf6U. live.
  37. The Vixen Talks Chicago and Competing on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'. YouTube. April 19, 2018. September 21, 2019. June 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210613174133/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G2CUQdgllg. live.
  38. News: Empire recap: Jamal gets hitched, the FBI seeks a snitch, and Andre can't catch a break . Luria Freeman . April 25, 2019 . August 22, 2020 . Entertainment Weekly. April 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416165656/https://ew.com/recap/empire-season-5-episode-16/. live.
  39. "Do You Believe in Aliens?" COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10. YouTube. June 27, 2018. August 30, 2019.
  40. Web site: Meet The Vixen, the fearless drag queen whose activism is revolutionizing drag. AOL. 18 January 2021 .
  41. News: Get baked with Bambi Banks-Couleé . June 9, 2021. Salem. Collo-Julin. Chicago Reader. June 23, 2021.