American drag performer
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
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
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
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
The Vixen is openly gay.[36] Her drag daughter is Delikate Doll.[37] In 2023, she announced that she had moved from Chicago to New Orleans, Louisiana.[38]
