Detox (drag queen)

Last updated
Detox
RuPaul DragCon 2022 (52073736880) (cropped2).jpg
Detox at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2022
Born
Matthew Dail Sanderson

(1985-06-03) June 3, 1985 (age 39)
Other namesDetox, Sebastian Ford
Occupation(s)Drag performer, reality television personality
Years active2012–present
Known for
Website theonlydetox.com

Matthew Dail Sanderson, [1] [2] better known by the stage name Detox Icunt or simply Detox, is an American drag performer and recording artist. Detox was a fixture of the Southern California drag scene before coming to international attention on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race , as well as the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars .

Contents

Career

Detox has appeared in music videos with Ke$ha and Rihanna and is a member of Chad Michaels' Dreamgirls Revue, the longest-running female-impersonation show in California. [3] She is also a member of the band Tranzkuntinental. The band was started by Charlie Paulson and Xander Smith and features drag queens Kelly Mantle, Rhea Litré, Vicky Vox, and Willam Belli. [4] [5]

Detox modeled as part of the Tranimal Master Class Workshop at the Machine Project. The event was photographed by Austin Young. [6] In 2011, Detox acted in Showgirls in Drag, a live adaptation of Showgirls . The production was directed by Stephen Guarino and played at the Dragonfly nightclub in Hollywood. [7] [8]

She started doing drag at 15 when working with her sister, and originally went by the name Cornanda Cobb. [9] In March 2012, Willam Belli released "Chow Down," a parody of "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips. [10] The song featured Detox and Vicky Vox, who co-wrote the parody's lyrics. [11] The three began performing under the name DWV, a dual reference that takes note of their first initials (Detox, Willam and Vicky) while also parodying the group SWV. Together they released several other singles: "Boy is a Bottom", a parody of "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys [12] which debuted at number six on Billboard 's Comedy Digital Songs, selling 3,000 downloads in its first week.; [13] "Silicone", a parody of "Dancing on My Own" by Robyn; and "Blurred Bynes", a parody of "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke. [14] In April 2019, Lizzo released a second music video for her song "Juice", in which Detox makes an appearance. [15]

RuPaul's Drag Race

Detox performing in 2014 Detox Icunt Drag Stars.jpg
Detox performing in 2014

In November 2012, Logo announced that Detox was among 14 contestants who would be competing on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. [16] Detox won the children's TV show-themed main challenge in the episode "Draggle Rock". [17] As part of the show, Detox sang on the "We Are the World"-inspired song "Can I Get an Amen?", with the song's proceeds benefiting the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. [18] Detox placed fourth overall, and was the last queen eliminated before the finale. [19]

In 2016, Detox was announced as one of the cast members on the second season of RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race. [20] She ultimately finished as a runner up in the competition alongside Katya. [21] In 2017, Detox appeared in the film Cherry Pop, directed by Assaad Yacoub, alongside fellow Drag Race alumni Tempest DuJour, Mayhem Miller and Bob the Drag Queen. [22] In 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine placed Detox 14th on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former Drag Race contestants. [23] She was one of 37 queens to appear on the cover. [23]

Personal life

Detox came out as transgender in August 2024 and uses the pronouns she/they. [24] [25] She comes from a military family and grew up in Mesa, Arizona, Hope Mills, North Carolina, Wilson, North Carolina, and Anna Maria Island, Florida as a kid and teen. She has a twin brother and an older sister. [26]

Discography

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US Comedy
"Chow Down"
(Willam Belli featuring Detox and Vicky Vox)
201212 The Wreckoning
"Boy Is a Bottom"
(Vicky Vox featuring Detox and Willam Belli)
20136Non-album singles
"Can I Get an Amen?"
(RuPaul featuring the Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5)
"Silicone"
(Detox featuring Willam Belli and Vicky Vox)
"Blurred Bynes"
(Detox featuring Willam Belli and Vicky Vox)
"This Is How We Jew It"2015Christmas Queens
"Supersonic"2016Non-album singles
"She's Gotta Habit"2017
"#SueList"2018
"I Like It Like That"
"El Camino"
(with Ellis Miah)
2020
"Fleuressence"
(featuring Danny Boy Steward)
2022

Other appearances

SongYearAlbum
"Pretty Lady" (Kesha featuring Lady Lloyd and Detox) [27] 2012N/A (Unreleased Track)
"Starfucker" (Willam Belli featuring Detox and Vicky Vox) [28] The Wreckoning
"Read U Wrote U" (RuPaul featuring Detox, Katya, Alaska & Roxxxy Andrews)2016Non-album singles

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself Season 5 (4th place)
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
NewNowNext Awards
2014 Drag Queens of London Episode 2
2015 Skin Wars [29]
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 2 (Runner-up)
2017 Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul
2018 Botched Season 4, episode 19
2023 Drag Me to Dinner Hulu original [30]

Web series

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2012–13 Neil's Puppet Dreams Drag performerEpisode 5: "Dream Bump" [31]
2014-2018 Hey Qween! HerselfGuest; 3 episodes
2015Oh, Pit Crew!Host
2020Werq the WorldHerselfFeatured queen [32]
2022-2024 Very Delta Episode 3: "Are You Beguiled By a Bargain Like Me?" [33]
Episode 98: "Are You A Fashion Wellness Queen Like Me?" [34]
2023The Pit StopGuest [35]
2024Give It to Me Straight [36]

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2017Cherry PopWhite ChocolateCredited as Detox
Direct to video

Music video appearances

YearSongDirector
2008"Disturbia" (Rihanna) [37] Anthony Mandler
"Undead" (Hollywood Undead) [37] Jonas Åkerlund
2010"Backstabber" (Kesha) [37]
"Miami" (Foals) [37]
"Take It Off" (Version 2) (Kesha) [38] SKINNY
"Sleazy Remix 2.0: Get Sleazier" (Kesha) Nicholaus Goossen
2011"S&M" (Rihanna) [39] Melina Matsoukas
2012"Gimme All Your Blood" (Jackie Beat) [40] Austin Young
"Prom Night" (Jeffree Star)Robby Starbuck
2013"Applause" (Lyric video) (Lady Gaga) [41] Lady Gaga
2015"Love Slave" (Pearl) [42] Michael Serrato [43]
"Hieeee" (Alaska Thunderfuck) [44] Ben Simkins
2018"Juice" (Lizzo) [15] Pete Williams
2020"Nerves of Steel" (Erasure) [45] Brad Hammer
2020"Cum" (Brooke Candy ft. Iggy Azalea) [46] Dejan Jovanovic

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