Alexis Michelle
American drag performer
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
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
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
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
Theatre
Television
Web series
Music videos
Discography
Albums
Singles
As featured artist
See also
References
^ "Alexander J Michaels" . Ancestry Institute . Ancestry. Retrieved November 12, 2022 .
^ Vilhena, Arthur (April 8, 2021). "Who's That Queen? Alexis Michelle" . draglicious.com (in Portuguese). Draglicious. Retrieved September 17, 2023 .
^ @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 .
^ "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 .
^ "Lisa Loeb on Twitter" . Twitter . Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2018 .
^ "Lisa Loeb" . Cabaret Scenes . June 13, 2017. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018 .
^ "5 Jewish drag queens slaying the competition" . The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com . Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018 .
^ "Alex/Alexis | U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance" . Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019 .
^ "The WERRRK.com Interview: Alexis Michelle -" . August 19, 2014. Archived from the original on November 2, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018 .
^ "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 .
^ " '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 .
^ 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 .
^ a b "RuPaul's Drag Race Cast | logotv.com" . Logo TV. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2018 .
^ "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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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
^ "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 .
^ 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 .
^ "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 .
^ Nolfi, Joey (April 20, 2023). " 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8' cast of returning queens revealed" . Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved April 20, 2023 .
^ 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
^ "Alexis Michelle: Lovefool" . Broadway Records . Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018 .
^ Alexis Michelle (May 17, 2018), Alexis Michelle – LOVEFOOL (official music video) , archived from the original on March 5, 2020, retrieved June 28, 2018
^ 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 .
^ "Makeup Tutorial: Contouring With Drag Queen Alexis Michelle" . YouTube . March 6, 2019. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023 .
^ 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 .
^ Byrne, Craig (April 9, 2021). "Blue Bloods Tonight: "Guardian Angels" " . KSiteTV . Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021 .
^ Nolfi, Joey (April 20, 2023). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8 cast of returning queens revealed" . Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved April 20, 2023 .
^ "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 .
^ 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
^ 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
^ 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
^ Cosmopolitan (July 19, 2017), Alexis Michelle | COSMO Queens | Cosmopolitan , archived from the original on April 20, 2023, retrieved September 14, 2019
^ 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
^ 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
^ 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
^ WOWPresents (March 6, 2018), Alexis Michelle: TRANSFORMATIONS with James St. James , archived from the original on April 20, 2023, retrieved September 14, 2019
^ 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
^ 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 }}
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^ 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
^ 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
^ 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
^ 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 .
^ The Queens Of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8" Play Who's Who . BuzzFeed Celeb . May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023 .
^ RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars S8 Queens React to TikTok Trends | Allure . Allure . May 30, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023 .
^ 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
^ Alexis Michelle (May 17, 2018), Alexis Michelle – LOVEFOOL (official music video) , archived from the original on March 5, 2020, retrieved August 19, 2019
^ 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
^ "Joan! The Unauthorized Rusical" . Spotify . Retrieved June 29, 2023 .
External links