Mo Heart
Mo Heart in 2019
Born
Kevin Leandrew Richardson

(1986-05-22) May 22, 1986 (age 37)
Long Island, New York, U.S.
Other namesMonique Heart
EducationInternational House of Prayer University
Years active2011–present
Known forRuPaul's Drag Race (season 10)
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 4)
RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (series 1)
Websitewww.moniqueheart.com

Mo Heart,[1] formerly Monique Heart, is the stage name of Kevin Leandrew Richardson[2] (born May 22, 1986), an American drag queen, reality television personality, and recording artist best known for competing on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2018),[3][4][5] the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars (2018–2019),[6] and the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022). Since first appearing on Drag Race in 2018, Mo Heart has appeared in a number of web series produced by World of Wonder, including a starring role in Manic Moments With Monique Heart, and hosted her own podcast, Ace of Hearts with Monique Heart. In January 2019, she released her debut single "Brown Cow Stunning", and later released her debut extended play Beloved SoS 6.3 in 2020.

Early life

Richardson was born on May 22, 1986, on Long Island, New York.[7] He also spent time in areas in Brooklyn, New York, with his father when he was growing up.[8] Richardson was often teased at school for being different.[8] He moved to Kansas City, Missouri after graduating from high school and studied the Bible at the International House of Prayer University in Grandview,[8] where he experienced conversion therapy.[9]

Career

Mo Heart in 2018

Richardson's original drag name was Monique Kutabetch Heart and later changed to Monique Heart.[10] Some other rejected drag names were Ariana Styles, Nevah, Jiz Zonra, and Kisha Amillion.[11] He created "Monique Heart" in 2011, and began a career as a drag queen at Hamburger Mary's, emceeing bingo and hosting Sunday drag brunch.[8]

Mo Heart first auditioned for the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race but was unsuccessful.[8] Two years later, she would audition for the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and this time succeeded in qualifying to be a contestant.[12] Before being accepted on the season, Mo Heart was ready to quit drag, but decided to continue.[8] She placed eighth overall, after losing a lip sync to "Cut to the Feeling" by Carly Rae Jepsen against The Vixen.[13] Mo Heart was confirmed to be one of the contestants competing in the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars on November 9, 2018.[14] After not winning any challenges in her original season, Mo Heart won three main challenges during All Stars, eventually reaching Top 4. She was a runner-up alongside Naomi Smalls, finishing in joint 3rd/4th place to Monét X Change and Trinity the Tuck. Mo Heart's catchphrases on the show were quoted by Rihanna, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Lizzo.[15][16]

Mo Heart was announced as part of the cast for the first season of RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race, a Drag Race spin-off where Drag Race alumni transform celebrities into drag queens.[17] On March 5 and 6, Mo Heart performed alongside fellow drag race alumni Bebe Zahara Benet, Bob the Drag Queen, The Vixen, Peppermint, and Shea Couleé in the Nubia Tour, a live drag show featuring and produced by Black drag queens.[18][19] In August, Mo Heart will start in her very own World of Wonder Presents web series called Manic Moments with Monique Heart.[20]

Mo Heart in 2022

In June 2021, Mo Heart was a featured performer for the second annual It Gets Better: A Digital Pride Experience.[21] She hosted her own podcast, Ace of Hearts with Monique Heart.[22]

Mo Heart hosted the Amazon Music original fashion-themed TV series, The Walk In, where she interviewed celebrities as they show off some of their iconic fashion moments throughout their careers. Featured guests included Lil Nas X, Rico Nasty, and Jax.[23] Mo Heart owns her own beauty company, MoBeauty.[24]

In January 2022, Mo Heart was announced as one of the nine contestants on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World, now going by her new name.[25][26] Regarding the name change, she said:

The reason I changed my name [is] because I’m growing as an artist [...] I believe that artists should always evolve and grow and I just felt like, I as an individual just want to give more heart, more love, more everything and just for branding, it just makes sense to be just 'Mo'.[27]

In the penultimate episode, Mo Heart placed in the Top 2, and lip-synced to "Toy" by Netta, but lost to Jujubee.[28] Mo Heart went onto compete in the Top 4 finale, and placed second to Blu Hydrangea.

Music

Mo Heart performed her debut single "Brown Cow Stunning" on the premiere episode of RuPaul's Drag Race: All-Stars,[29] and was released on January 4, 2019.[30] A music video for the song was released the same day.[31] Mo Heart appeared in the music video for "Soak It Up" by fellow Season 10 contestant Monét X Change and season 8 winner Bob the Drag Queen.[32] On September 4, Mo Heart released another single, "SUKM (Kiss Me)", as well as an accompanying lyric video, the debut single for her EP, Beloved SoS 6.3, which was released in 2020.[33][34]

Personal life

Richardson first realized he was gay at the age of 17 while working a shift at Burger King.[8] He is a Christian.[8] In 2019, he moved to Los Angeles, and as of 2021, currently resides in Palm Springs.[35]

Discography

EPs

Title Details
Beloved SoS 6.3 (with KOIL)[33]
Redemption
  • Released: June 25, 2022
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Album
"Brown Cow Stunning" 2018 non-album single
"SUKM (Kiss Me)" 2019 Beloved SoS 6.3
"Hot Sauce & High Heels" (Kinky Boots Remix)
(with KOIL) 		2020 Non-album single
"Redemption" 2022 Redemption
"God's Been Good to Me"
"Come See About Me"

Featured singles

Title Year Album
"Errybody Say Love"[36]
(RuPaul featuring Naomi Smalls, Monique Heart, Farrah Moan, and Monét X Change) 		2018 non-album single
"Super Queen"[37]
(RuPaul featuring Naomi Smalls, Monét X Change, Monique Heart, & Trinity the Tuck) 		2019
"I'm a Drag Queen"[38]
(feat. Leland, Freddy Scott, Brooke Villyani, Alyssa Edwards, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, and Monique Heart) 		2020
"Better by Myself"[39]
(JORDY and Monique Heart)
"Living My Life in London (Cast Version)"[40]
(RuPaul featuring the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World) 		2022
"The Big Opening"
(Ginger Minj and Monét X Change featuring the cast of Huluween Dragstravaganza)

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2020 Nubia: Amplified Herself OutTV original [41]
2021 Being Bebe Herself Archive footage [42]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself Contestant (8th place); Season 10 [12]
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
2018–2019 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Contestant (3rd/4th place); Season 4 [6]
2019 KSHB-TV Guest [43]
2020 AJ and the Queen Miss Terri Tory Guest appearance [44]
2020 Hey Qween! Herself Guest [45]
2020 RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race Mentor [17]
2020 For Christmas Sake: The Movie Musical Cupid Musical short film [46]
2022 Nubia Amplified: The Series Herself Panelist [47]
RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World Herself Contestant (Runner-Up); Series 1 [25]
iCarly Auntie Histamine Guest appearance [48]
Trixie Motel Herself Guest appearance [49]
Huluween Dragstravaganza Herself Hulu original [50]

Music videos

Year Title Artist Ref
2018 "Soak It Up" Monét X Change [32]
2019 "Brown Cow Stunning" Herself [30]
2020 "Hot Sauce and High Heels (Kinky Boots Remix)" Herself [51]
"Keep That Same Energy" Widow Von'Du ft. Shilow [52]
"Sitting Alone in the VIP" Alaska Thunderfuck featuring Kandy Muse [53]

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2017 Crazy X Girlfriend Herself Guest [54]
2018 Cosmo Queens Guest [55]
Queen to Queen Alongside The Vixen [56]
Countdown to the Crown Season 10 [57]
2019 Review With a Jew Guest [58]
Watcha Packin'? Season 10, All Stars 4 [59]
Radio Andy Guest [60]
Queen's Court Guest [61]
The Stan Game Guest [62]
Yvie's Odd School Episode: "Quick Drag with Monique Heart" [63]
Drag Queens React Episode: "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" [64]
Envy of My Boogie Episode: "Dancing for Your Tips with Monique Heart" [65]
2020 Bobbin' Around Episode: "Nubia" [66]
Alyssa's Secret Episode: "Manic Moments with Monique Heart" [67]
Elevate Your Slay Guest [68]
Working Out Is a Drag Guest [69]
Transformations Guest [70]
Manic Moments with Monique Heart Star [20]
The X Change Rate Episode: "Monique Heart" [71]
2021 The Pit Stop Guest [72]
Binge Podcast by Entertainment Weekly [73]
2021–present The Walk In Host; produced by Amazon Music [23][74]
2022 Bring Back My Girls Guest [75]

References

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  2. ^ "BLACK MIRROR ALL EYES ON ME". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  3. ^ Yang, Bowen; Rogers, Matt. "Monique Heart Talks Success on Drag Race: "You Need Money!"". Vulture. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  4. ^ "Monique Heart on racism, conversion 'therapy', and the queen who "peed on the stage"". Gay Times. June 26, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  5. ^ "Monique Heart is reclaiming her time after 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Houston Chronicle. May 4, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Exclusive: Meet the 'RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars 4' cast". EW.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  7. ^ Heart, Monique. "Bio". Monique Heart. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Billhartz Gregorian, Cynthia (April 20, 2018). "KC man goes from Bible studies to drag queen to TV stardom on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". The Kansas Star. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
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  36. ^ "Errybody Say Love-Single". iTunes.
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  38. ^ "I'm a Drag Queen - Single". iTunes.
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  60. ^ VH1 (March 8, 2019). Peppermint & Monique Heart from RuPaul's Drag Race Join Us for the WOW Report for Radio Andy!. Retrieved September 20, 2019 – via YouTube.((cite AV media)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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  62. ^ ET Live (April 18, 2019). RuPaul's Drag Race Trivia Showdown!!! ROUND 1 | THE STAN GAME | feat. Monique Heart & Eureka!. Retrieved August 29, 2019 – via YouTube.
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  64. ^ WOWPresents (October 23, 2019). Drag Queens React: RuPaul's Drag Race UK with Trixie, Katya, Mariah, Morgan & more. Retrieved October 23, 2019 – via YouTube.
  65. ^ WOWPresents (February 20, 2020). Dancing for Your Tips with Monique Heart: ENVY OF MY BOOGIE 102. Retrieved February 21, 2020 – via YouTube.
  66. ^ Bobbin' Around!-Nubia. YouTube. March 8, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020 – via YouTube.
  67. ^ ALYSSA'S SECRET: Manic Moments with Monique Heart. March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020 – via YouTube.
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  69. ^ Kile, Meredith (April 29, 2020). "'Working Out Is a Drag': Watch Celeb Trainer Jason Wimberly Coach Your Favorite Queens! (Exclusive)". ETOnline. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
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External links

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