Draft:Riley Knoxx

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Riley Knoxx
BornApril 24, 1981[1]
Hartsville, SC[2]: 00:47 
Other namesEpiphany B. Lee
CitizenshipUnited States
Occupation(s)Beyoncé impersonator, fashion designer, trans activist
Notable workThe Illusion of Queen Bey; You Need to Calm Down
Awards2019 MTV Video of the Year, You Need to Calm Down
Websitehttps://rileyknoxxcouture.net/

Riley Knoxx, formerly known as Epiphany B. Lee,[3] (born April 24, 1981)[1][4][5] is an African-American dancer and R&B singer, and is known as the world's top Beyoncé impersonator.[6][7][8][9][10] She appeared alongside many well-known LGBTQ celebrities, such as Todrick Hall, RuPaul and Ellen DeGeneres, in Taylor Swift's You Need to Calm Down. The video won 2019's MTV Video of the Year as well as Video for Good.[11] Knoxx stood directly to Swift's left on stage for the acceptance of the award.[12]

Knoxx hosts her own show titled The Illusion of Queen Bey,[13] and has performed at Capital Pride, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and at 40/40 Club.[5][14]

In 2020, she became the first openly transgender woman to perform during a National Basketball Association halftime show.[15][16] She also started her own fashion line in 2021,[9][17] and has designed clothing that has been seen on television, including dresses worn by Ts Madison at both the VMAs and the Emmys.[18]

Early life[edit]

Knoxx was born in Hartsville, South Carolina[2]: 00:47  but later moved to California. She ran away from her childhood home in California as a teenager due to her family shunning her after she came out as a transgender woman.[14] She went to South Carolina to live with her grandmother, but was not accepted there, and moved to Washington, D.C. by herself.[2][14]

Career[edit]

Performer[edit]

She started her career at D.C.'s Mr. P's, a famous gay bar, at 19, performing Janet Jackson songs.[19]

Knoxx became a Beyoncé impersonator in 2003,[5][20] and has since performed at the annual Capital Pride, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and at 40/40 Club.[5][14] She does not identify as a drag performer, stating, "I’m literally a Beyoncé impersonator. That’s what I do. There’s no need for me to do anybody else. Nobody comes to see me do anybody else, they come to see me do Beyoncé."[19]

She states that while it was never her goal to perform with drag queens, she attributes her success to the lessons she learned from them.[5] Knoxx performed alongside Shi-Queeta-Lee at a drag brunch hosted at Chateau Remix[21] in shows running from February 17, 2018 through September 15, 2019.[22] In years past, Knoxx performed under the name Epiphany B. Lee as part of Nellie's Drag Brunch with Shi-Queeta-Lee.[23][24] The two performed in "Drag Salute to the Divas" in 2013.[25] She was also a regular at Town Danceboutique, a D.C. LGBTQ hotspot that closed on July 1, 2018.[26]

In 2015 she performed alongside Demetri Davis in DJ Richie Skye's "Scrub the Ground", released on the album Thirst Trap.[27]

She did receive some backlash from Beyoncé fans in 2017 after sharing photos taken at a performance on May 7, 2017 on her Instagram.[28]

In 2019, Knoxx appeared in the music video for Taylor Swift's song You Need to Calm Down, portraying Beyoncé.[29][30][31] At the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won both the Video of the Year and the Video for Good categories.[11] She stood alongside Swift, Todrick Hall, Hannah Hart, Dexter Mayfield, Tatianna, Jade Jolie, and other members of the video's cast when accepting the award for Video of the Year.[12][32] She credited Swift with making certain each person who was in the video received one of the signature "moon man" trophies.[33] The making of the music video was featured in Swift's 2020 documentary film Miss Americana.[34]

As a backup dancer, she has performed with Jennifer Hudson, Faith Evans, and Miley Cyrus.[8][14][35]

In 2020, Knoxx performed as Beyoncé impersonator at a halftime show during a Washington Wizards game against the Atlanta Hawks, accompanied by the Wizards Dancers, becoming the first openly transgender woman to perform during a National Basketball Association halftime show.[14][36][37]

She is the top Beyoncé impersonator in the world.[10][14][38] She created her own stage show called The Illusion of Queen Bey, featuring dances to thirty-two Beyoncé songs, at the City Winery in Washington, D.C.[39] She has also made appearances on the American reality television series R&B Divas, The Real Housewives of Potomac, and Braxton Family Values.[14]

She played one of the title characters (Africa) in the three-part film series CHAAW.[40] Knoxx also acted in Octavia Ethridge's The Matriarch, as well as designing the costumes for the production.[41]

Activist[edit]

Knoxx is also an activist in the LGBTQ community.[42] She participated in the 2016 Capital Pride Parade in Washington, D.C,[43] and performed in the 2:00-4:00 P.M. slot in Capital Pride 2017 on June 11.[44] In 2019, she opened the second day of the Youth Action Summit for the Alliance for Youth Action.[45] She served as a co-host for the Wanda Alston Foundation's 2020 virtual fundraising event.[46]

Knoxx also participated as the headline performer at "Coming Out Party: Celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility" on March 31, 2022, an event hosted by the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs, in conjunction with Impulse Group DC and FLUX DC.[47] Pittsburgh Pride 2024 schedules show Knoxx performing a free concert on May 31 at Point State Park.[48]

Fashion designer[edit]

Knoxx started her own made-to-order fashion company in 2021.[9][17] Her designs have been worn on The Real Housewives of Potomac,[49] The Real Housewives of Atlanta,[50] and on Married to Medicine.[51]

Actress Ashley Boalch Darby also wore one of Knoxx's creations when appearing on The Real in 2021,[52] and again when appearing on Watch What Happens Live in 2023.[53] She also opened The Real Housewives of Potomac season 8 reunion in one of Knoxx's designs.[54]

She also designed the wardrobe for Monique Samuels' "Drag Queens".[55] In 2023, she designed the outfits worn by Ts Madison to both the Emmys and the VMAs.[18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Knoxx, Riley [@rileyknoxx] (April 24, 2022). "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME... #chapter41 #rileyknoxx #rileyknoxxcouture #birthday". Retrieved April 2, 2024 – via Instagram.
  2. ^ a b c Haynes, Darren (June 7, 2022). "Beyoncé impersonator chooses life over death as transgender woman". WUSA (TV).
  3. ^ MacIntyre, Alec (May 16, 2017). Singing is Drag: Gender, Voice, and Body in Drag Performance (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Pittsburgh. pp. 89, 203. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  4. ^ Ermac, Raffy (March 6, 2020). "Riley Knoxx to Make NBA History as First Trans Halftime Performer". Out. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e Nett, Danielle (November 19, 2017). "Becoming Beyoncé On Stage Helped One Trans Woman Come Into Her Own". NPR. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Smith, Reiss (March 13, 2020). "This Beyoncé impersonator makes herstory as the first trans woman to perform at an NBA half time show". PinkNews. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Dunn, Derrick (November 29, 2022). "Riley Knoxx continues to live life on top". Reviews And Dunn. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Riley Knoxx, première femme trans à faire le show lors de la mi-temps d'un match de la NBA" [Riley Knoxx, first trans woman to do the show at halftime in an NBA game]. Komitid (in French). March 17, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "World's #1 Beyoncé impersonator Riley Knoxx shares her success". WUSA. November 9, 2022. 3:34. Retrieved February 4, 2024 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ a b Williams, Alexis P.; Kelati, Haben (February 1, 2024). "D.C.'s most significant Black landmarks, according to its Black leaders". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Murphy, Rhodes (August 27, 2019). "Taylor Swift Won Big and Pushed the Equality Act at the 2019 VMAs". Slate. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Wins Video of the Year | 2019 Music Video Awards". MTV. August 26, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2024 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ "Radar: Calendar - 11.30". District Fray Magazine. October 31, 2022. p. 23. Retrieved February 7, 2024 – via Issuu.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h Cruz, Abby (March 6, 2020). "1st openly transgender woman set to perform during NBA halftime show at Washington Wizards game". Good Morning America.
  15. ^ "Washington Wizards | NBA.com". NBA. March 6, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  16. ^ Assuncao, Muri (March 6, 2020). "NBA halftime show will feature its first performance by openly trans woman". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Riley Knox: An Illusion of Queen Bey". Prince George's Suite. November 30, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Carter, Jr., Terry (February 1, 2024). "Ts Madison Got Emotional Reflecting On Beyoncé Sampling Her Voice On The "Renaissance" Album". BuzzFeed. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Marr, Rhuaridh (January 9, 2020). "Spotlight: 'Riley Knoxx: An Illusion of Queen Bey'". Metro Weekly. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  20. ^ "Riley Knoxx celebrates 20 years of impersonating Beyoncé". FOX 5 DC. August 7, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  21. ^ McDonough, Megan (August 1, 2018). "What has booze, bottomless bites and lots of Beyoncé? D.C.'s drag brunches". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  22. ^ "Shi-Queeta-Lee's Drag Brunch @ Chateau Remix 3439 Benning Rd. NE". Eventbrite. February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  23. ^ Bergen, Blake (July 16, 2013). "PHOTOS: Nellie's drag brunch". Washington Blade. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  24. ^ Bergen, Blake (July 18, 2012). "PHOTOS: Drag Brunch". Washington Blade. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  25. ^ Key, Michael (February 15, 2013). "PHOTOS: Salute to the Divas". Washington Blade. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  26. ^ Cooper, Mariah (June 28, 2018). "Town's swan song". Washington Blade. Vol. 49, no. 26. pp. 31, 41. Retrieved February 7, 2024 – via Issuu.
  27. ^
  28. ^ Orcutt, KC (May 9, 2017). "This Beyoncé Impersonator Will Make You Do a Double Take". BET. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  29. ^ Street, Mikelle (June 17, 2019). "All the Drag Queens (and Who They Appear As) in Taylor Swift's Video". Out.
  30. ^ Ramli, Sofiana (June 26, 2019). ""She wants to be an ally, let her be an ally": Beyoncé impersonator Riley Knoxx on Taylor Swift". NME. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  31. ^ Damshenas, Sam (June 17, 2019). "A guide to every celebrity cameo in Taylor Swift's video for You Need to Calm Down". Gay Times. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  32. ^
  33. ^ Knoxx, Riley (December 20, 2019). "My VMA Arrived!". YouTube. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  34. ^ "Full Cast & Crew - Miss Americana (2020)". IMDb. January 31, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  35. ^ Damshenas, Sam (March 12, 2020). "Riley Knoxx makes history as first openly trans woman to perform at NBA game". Gay Times.
  36. ^ "Riley Knoxx becomes first openly transgender woman to perform at NBA game". Washington Blade. March 7, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  37. ^ Webb, Karleigh (March 12, 2020). "Riley Knoxx brings down the house and breaks barrier in NBA". Outsports.
  38. ^ "Riley Knoxx performs LIVE in the Loft". FOX 5 DC. January 8, 2020.
  39. ^ "Beyoncé impersonator Riley Knoxx talks upcoming show at City Winery". FOX 5 DC. December 9, 2021.
  40. ^ "Riley Knoxx | Actress". IMDb. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  41. ^ "The Matriarch: Our Crew". The Matriarch. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  42. ^ Richardson, Riché (2021). "Conclusion: Beyoncé's South and the Birth of a "Formation" Nation". Emancipation's Daughters: Reimagining Black Femininity and the National Body. Durham: Duke University Press. p. 225. doi:10.2307/j.ctv1dv0w3k.10. ISBN 9781478090915. JSTOR j.ctv1dv0w3k.10. LCCN 2020024442.
  43. ^ Key, Michael (June 12, 2016). "PHOTOS: 2016 Capital Pride Parade". Washington Blade. see www.washingtonblade.com/content/files/2016/06/2016_Capital_Pride_Parade_insert_52_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  44. ^ Rule, Doug (June 7, 2017). "Capital Pride 2017: Your Guide to Everyone Performing at Capital Pride". Metro Weekly. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  45. ^ But does your summit have a Beyonce impersonator?? We are literally BLESSED to have the amazing Riley Knoxx kick off day 2 of our Youth Action Summit 👑👑👑... | By Alliance for Youth Action, Alliance for Youth Action, August 7, 2019, retrieved February 4, 2024 – via Facebook
  46. ^ "The Wanda Alston Foundation". DCivitas. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  47. ^
  48. ^ "Opening Night of Pittsburgh Pride Gets Groovy". QBurgh. March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  49. ^
  50. ^
  51. ^
  52. ^ Smith, Morgan (October 19, 2021). "Ashley Boalch Darby Appears on 'The Real' Talk Show Wearing Riley Knoxx Couture Brown Leather Mini Dress". Fashion Bomb Daily. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  53. ^
  54. ^
  55. ^ Cook, Michael (December 28, 2020). "Monique Samuels Drops 'Drag Queens'-& Quits The Housewives". Instinct. Retrieved February 4, 2024.

External links[edit]


Category:Living people Category:African-American female dancers Category:American impressionists (entertainers) Category:American LGBT entertainers Category:Transgender dancers Category:LGBT people from South Carolina Category:People from Hartsville, South Carolina Category:Transgender women

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