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Alexis Michelle

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Alexis Michelle
Michelle at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2023
Born
Alexander J. Michaels[1]

(1983-10-16) October 16, 1983 (age 41)
SoHo, Manhattan, New York, U.S.[2]
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BFA)
Occupation(s)Drag queen, singer
Years active2003–present
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race (season 9) RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 8)
RelativesLisa Loeb (cousin)

Alexander J. Michaels (born October 16, 1983),[3] stage name Alexis Michelle,[4] is an American drag queen and singer who came to international attention on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. As of 2019, she stars in the TLC transformational makeover television series Dragnificent as the makeup and body image expert. She released her debut album, Lovefool, in 2018.

Early life

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Michaels was raised on Long Island, New York. His cousin is singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb,[5][6] and he is of Romanian-Jewish descent.[7] After high school, he attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Green Lake Township, Michigan. He later received a BFA in musical theatre from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.[8]

Michaels began doing drag when he was 10 years old, and began booking paid, professional gigs in 2003, by the time he was 20 years old.[9] He was mentored by the same drag mother as season 10 contestant Dusty Ray Bottoms,[10] and was seen wearing a "Dusty" T-shirt in the workroom during an episode of season nine. Later, on season ten, Dusty Ray Bottoms could be seen wearing an "Alexis" T-shirt. Michaels auditioned for RuPaul's Drag Race eight times, beginning with the show's earliest seasons, before being selected for season nine.[11]

Career

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Alexis Michelle at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2018

As Alexis Michelle, Michaels originated a role in the one-act campy comedy show Rags to B***hes: A Battle of Wits & Wigs.[12] Michelle was announced as one of the fourteen contestants selected to compete on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race on February 2, 2017.[13] She was the winner of the celebrity impersonation and improv challenge, "Snatch Game" (based on classic game shows Hollywood Squares and Match Game), in which she portrayed actress Liza Minnelli.[14] Two episodes later, she was in the bottom-two for her performance in the comedy roast challenge, but ultimately sent-home Farrah Moan to a lip sync-battle of Dolly Parton's "Baby I'm Burning".[15] In episode eleven, she was in the bottom, again, with Peppermint; Michelle lost the lip sync to Peppermint, performing to the Village People's "Macho Man". This ultimately put Michelle in fifth place for her season.[16]

Michelle still frequently performs at the Feinstein/54 Below cabaret with her show about Broadway, Alexis, I Am!.[17] She also appeared with fellow Drag Race alumni BeBe Zahara Benet, Jujubee and Thorgy Thor in the TLC show Drag Me Down the Aisle which aired on March 9, 2019.[18] The special was subsequently given a full series-order under the new name Dragnificent! which premiered in April 2020.[19] In 2023, she was chosen to return and compete on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, in which she placed fourth overall.[20]

In 2024, Michelle performed the role of Albin in the Barrington Stage Company production of La Cage aux Folles.

Michelle is the drag-mother of Jan Sport, who placed eighth on the twelfth season (2020) of Drag Race. The next year, Jan returned for the sixth season (2021) of All Stars, placing seventh overall.[citation needed]

Music

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Michelle teamed with Sasha Velour, Aja and Peppermint for the single "C.L.A.T." in April 2017.[21]

Michelle released her ten-track debut album, Lovefool, on May 11, 2018.[22] A music video for the single of the same name, a cover of the 1996 song by The Cardigans, was available on May 17, 2018.[23]

Filmography

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Theatre

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Year Production Role Venue Ref(s)
2024 La Cage aux Folles Albin Barrington Stage Company [24]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2017 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself (contestant) Season 9, 5th place [13]
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Season 9
2019–20 Dragnificent! Herself Also known as Drag Me Down the Aisle [18]
2019 The Rachael Ray Show Guest [25]
2020 Hot Ones: The Game Show Contestant [26]
2021 Blue Bloods Oscar/Bartender Episode: "Guardian Angels" [27]
2023 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Herself (contestant) Season 8, 4th place [28]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked Herself Season 8
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Guest [29]

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2017 Drag Queen Carpool Herself Guest, hosted by RuPaul [30]
Drag Makeup Tutorial Guest [31]
Whatcha Packin' Guest, hosted by Michelle Visage [32]
COSMO Queens Guest [33]
Queen To Queen Guest, with Charlie Hides [34]
How To Makeup Guest [35]
2018 Hey Qween Guest [36]
Transformations Guest; Episode: "Alexis Michelle" [37]
Out of the Closet Guest, Episode 4 [38]
The Pit Stop Guest, Episode: "The B*tchlor" [39]
2019 Bootleg Opinions Guest; Hosted by Yuhua Hamasaki [40]
2020 The Pit Stop Guest [41]
2023 Meet the Queens Stand-alone special
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8 		[42]
EW News Flash Guest [43]
BuzzFeed Celeb Guest [44]
React to TikTok Trends by Allure Guest [45]

Music videos

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Year Title Artist Ref
2017 "Too Funky" Peppermint featuring Ari Gold [46]
2018 "LOVEFOOL" Alexis Michelle [47]
2019 "Rocking Around The Hanukkah Bush" Alexis Michelle [48]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Title
2018 Lovefool

Singles

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Year Title
2017 C.L.A.T. (featuring Sasha Velour, Aja and Peppermint)
2018 Lovefool
[edit]
Year Title
2023 "Money, Success, Fame, Glamour" (Glam Rock version)
(with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, season 8)
2023 "Joan! The Unauthorized Rusical"
(with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, season 8)[49]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Alexander J Michaels". Ancestry Institute. Ancestry. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  2. ^ Vilhena, Arthur (April 8, 2021). "Who's That Queen? Alexis Michelle". draglicious.com (in Portuguese). Draglicious. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  3. ^ @AlexisLives (October 16, 2019). "🎂36🎂. #birthday #happybirthday #cake #alexismichelle #alex #rpdr #dragrace #dragme #libra #libraseason #october #halloween #nyc #newyork @ Chuck E. Che" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "Check Out Alexis Michelle's Best Musical Moments Before She Competes on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  5. ^ "Lisa Loeb on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  6. ^ "Lisa Loeb". Cabaret Scenes. June 13, 2017. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  7. ^ "5 Jewish drag queens slaying the competition". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  8. ^ "Alex/Alexis | U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance". Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  9. ^ "The WERRRK.com Interview: Alexis Michelle -". August 19, 2014. Archived from the original on November 2, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  10. ^ "Dusty Ray Bottoms Opens Up About Progress With Her Family and Her Brand-New Single". Hornet Stories. April 14, 2018. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  11. ^ "'Drag Race' Season 9 Star Alexis Michelle on Drag, Activism & Boyfriends". March 20, 2017. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  12. ^ Wild, Stephi (September 23, 2021). "AMITYVILLE '74 Comes to InterACT Next Month". Broadway World. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "RuPaul's Drag Race Cast | logotv.com". Logo TV. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  14. ^ "Carson Kressley Dishes On Who's Coming Back To 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Next Season". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  15. ^ Sava, Oliver. "RuPaul's Drag Race delivers an undercooked roast of Michelle Visage". TV Club. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  16. ^ Transmitter (June 4, 2017), Alexis Michelle vs Peppermint – RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9, archived from the original on March 6, 2020, retrieved June 28, 2018
  17. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race's Alexis Michelle Returns to Feinstein's/54 Below With New Show Alexis, I Am! | Playbill". Playbill. January 23, 2018. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "'Drag Me Down The Aisle' Is The New Drag Queen Wedding Show We All Need". scarymommy. February 15, 2019. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  19. ^ "4 Beloved Drag Queens Help Fans with Life-Changing Makeovers in TLC's Dragnificent!". PEOPLE.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  20. ^ Nolfi, Joey (April 20, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8' cast of returning queens revealed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  21. ^ DJ Mitch Ferrino (April 21, 2017), Aja, Alexis Michelle, Peppermint & Sasha Velour – C.L.A.T. (Feat. DJ Mitch Ferrino) [Official Video], archived from the original on August 2, 2018, retrieved June 28, 2018
  22. ^ "Alexis Michelle: Lovefool". Broadway Records. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  23. ^ Alexis Michelle (May 17, 2018), Alexis Michelle – LOVEFOOL (official music video), archived from the original on March 5, 2020, retrieved June 28, 2018
  24. ^ Levitt, Hayley (May 14, 2024). "Alex Michaels, Best Known as Alexis Michelle, to Star in La Cage aux Folles at Barrington Stage". Broadway Buzz. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  25. ^ "Makeup Tutorial: Contouring With Drag Queen Alexis Michelle". YouTube. March 6, 2019. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  26. ^ Rudolph, Christopher (January 16, 2020). "Alexis Michelle Gets Messy in New "Hot Ones" Game Show Preview". Vulture. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  27. ^ Byrne, Craig (April 9, 2021). "Blue Bloods Tonight: "Guardian Angels"". KSiteTV. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  28. ^ Nolfi, Joey (April 20, 2023). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8 cast of returning queens revealed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  29. ^ "WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE WITH ANDY COHEN Episode 20155 Pictured: Scarlet Envy, Heather Gay, Tina Burner, Jackie Goldschneider, Alexis Michelle". Gettyimages.co.uk. September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  30. ^ Logo (March 26, 2017), Drag Queen Carpool: Alexis Michelle | RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 | Now on VH1!, archived from the original on March 7, 2020, retrieved September 14, 2019
  31. ^ WOWPresents (June 8, 2017), Drag Makeup Tutorial: Alexis Michelle's Iconic Look | RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 | Now on VH1, archived from the original on December 29, 2019, retrieved September 14, 2019
  32. ^ Logo (June 5, 2017), Whatcha Packin' w/ Michelle Visage & Alexis Michelle | RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 9 Episode 11), archived from the original on June 5, 2017, retrieved September 14, 2019
  33. ^ Cosmopolitan (July 19, 2017), Alexis Michelle | COSMO Queens | Cosmopolitan, archived from the original on April 20, 2023, retrieved September 14, 2019
  34. ^ Logo (June 17, 2017), Queen To Queen: Charlie Hides & Alexis Michelle | RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 | Now on VH1, archived from the original on April 7, 2020, retrieved September 14, 2019
  35. ^ WOWPresents (December 25, 2017), Alexis Michelle's Perfect Pouty Mouth: HOW TO MAKEUP, archived from the original on March 5, 2020, retrieved September 14, 2019
  36. ^ Hey Qween (February 25, 2018), ALEXIS MICHELLE on Hey Qween! with Jonny McGovern | Hey Qween, archived from the original on April 20, 2023, retrieved September 14, 2019
  37. ^ WOWPresents (March 6, 2018), Alexis Michelle: TRANSFORMATIONS with James St. James, archived from the original on April 20, 2023, retrieved September 14, 2019
  38. ^ Logo (May 15, 2018), That Liza Life' Out of the Closet w/ Alexis Michelle Ep. 4 | Logo, archived from the original on January 17, 2020, retrieved September 14, 2019
  39. ^ VH1 (February 12, 2018), The Pit Stop: Season 3 Episode 3: 'The B*tchelor' | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3, archived from the original on March 5, 2020, retrieved September 14, 2019{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ YuhuaHamasaki (May 11, 2019), ALEXIS MICHELLE joins BOOTLEG OPINIONS: Season 11 Episode 11!, archived from the original on December 25, 2019, retrieved September 14, 2019
  41. ^ RuPaul's Drag Race (May 11, 2019), The Pit Stop S12 E8 | Alexis Michelle & Bob The Drag Queen Kiki About Droop | RuPaul's Drag Race, archived from the original on April 22, 2020, retrieved April 18, 2020
  42. ^ RuPaul's Drag Race (April 20, 2023), Meet the Queens of All Stars 8! 🌟 | QUEEN RUVEAL | RuPaul's Drag Race AS8 👠✨, archived from the original on April 20, 2023, retrieved April 20, 2023
  43. ^ Alexis Michelle Reflects on Tamar Braxton and Green Pre-Drag Race All Stars 8 | Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly. April 26, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  44. ^ The Queens Of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8" Play Who's Who. BuzzFeed Celeb. May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  45. ^ RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars S8 Queens React to TikTok Trends | Allure. Allure. May 30, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  46. ^ Peppermint (April 14, 2017), Peppermint | Too Funky (ft Ari Gold & the cast of Rupaul's Drag Race season 9), archived from the original on August 2, 2019, retrieved July 9, 2019
  47. ^ Alexis Michelle (May 17, 2018), Alexis Michelle – LOVEFOOL (official music video), archived from the original on March 5, 2020, retrieved August 19, 2019
  48. ^ XS Studios (December 5, 2018), Rocking Around the Hanukkah Bush (Alexis Michelle) [Music Video], archived from the original on March 7, 2020, retrieved August 19, 2019
  49. ^ "Joan! The Unauthorized Rusical". Spotify. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
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