Stacy Layne Matthews

Last updated

Stacy Layne Matthews
Rupaul Dragcon 2018-64 (41356444854).jpg
Stacy Layne Matthews at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2018
Born
Back Swamp, North Carolina, U.S.
Other namesStacy Jones
Alma mater University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Occupation Drag queen
Television RuPaul's Drag Race (season 3)

Stacy Layne Matthews is the stage name of Stacy Jones, [1] a former drag performer who competed on season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race . On the show, she popularized the word "henny", which became a nickname, and she won the Snatch Game challenge for her impersonation of Mo'Nique. Following Drag Race, Stacy Layne Matthews impersonated Mo'Nique in The HoMo'Nique Show, a parody of BET's The Mo'Nique Show , at Manhattan's Laurie Beechman Theater. She has also appeared on season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and Teen Mom OG .

Contents

Originally from Back Swamp, North Carolina, Jones is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. She announced her retirement from drag in 2023.

Early life and education

Stacy Jones is originally from Back Swamp, North Carolina. [2] She attended the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Her first experience in drag was for a Halloween contest as a student at the university, which she won. [1]

Career

Jones competed as Stacy Layne Matthews on season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race , which aired in 2011. She popularized the word "henny", [3] [4] which became a nickname, and placed eighth overall after ranking in the bottom two twice. [4] Stacy Layne Matthews won the Snatch Game challenge for her impersonation of Mo'Nique as her character in the film Precious (2009), [5] [6] and eliminated India Ferrah from the competition after winning a lip sync to "Meeting in the Ladies Room" (1985) by Klymaxx. [7] Stacy Layne Matthews was eliminated on the seventh episode, [8] after placing in the bottom two of the design challenge, and losing a lip sync against Alexis Mateo. [9] [10] [11]

Stacy Layne Matthews performing in 2018 Stacy Layne Matthews.png
Stacy Layne Matthews performing in 2018

Stacy Layne Matthews is referenced in the song "Heather", a parody of Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" (2005), by The AAA Girls, a supergroup with Drag Race contestants Alaska Thunderfuck, Courtney Act, and Willam Belli. "Heather" was released as a single for Access All Areas in 2017 and received a music video, in which Stacy Layne Matthews made a cameo appearance. [12] Stacy Layne Matthews made multiple appearances on season 4 (2018–2019) of the spin-off series RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars , [13] during the "Super Girl Groups, Henny!" musical theatre challenge, the "Jersey Justice" episode in which she played a court reporter, [2] as well as the comedy roast challenge. [14]

Sam Damshenas of Gay Times has said Stacy Layne Matthews is "one of the most beloved" contestants in the Drag Race franchise. [15] Instinct magazine and other publications have described her as a "fan favorite". [1] [16] The "Meeting in the Ladies Room" battle was included in Out 's 2018 list of twelve lip syncs "that define [the show's] queer canon", [17] and Pride.com's 2019 list of the seven closest lip syncs in the show's history. [7] In a 2019 list of Drag Race's most memorable catchphrases, Bernardo Sim of Screen Rant wrote, "It's fair to say that 'henny' has surpassed its Drag Race fame and entered the vocabulary of mainstream media. Overall, it is not rare to hear other celebrities saying 'henny' as an alternative pronunciation of 'honey,' perhaps without even necessarily being familiar with Stacy Layne Matthews." [18] Hugh McIntyre ranked her impersonation of Mo'Nique eighteenth in Bustle 's 2022 list of the show's best Snatch Game performances. [19]

Following Drag Race, Stacy Layne Matthews took her impersonation of Mo'Nique to Manhattan's Laurie Beechman Theater with a three-day run of The HoMo'Nique Show, a parody of BET's The Mo'Nique Show , and interviewed guests included Randy Jones, Amanda Lepore, and Michael Musto. [20] Stacy Layne Matthews also appeared on Teen Mom OG in 2018. [21] [22] She retired from drag in 2023, citing mental health reasons. [23] [24]

Personal life

Jones has called herself a "country queen". [24] She is a member of the state-recognized Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. [3] Jones came out as a trans woman following her appearance on Drag Race. [23] Mo'Nique is among inspirations for her look and style. [1] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jones experienced financial and housing difficulties. [3] She faced eviction and sought treatment for a health condition in 2021. [2] [25] [26] She was hospitalized in 2023 and 2024. [27] [28]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2011 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 3)Herself/Contestant8th place [4]
2018 Teen Mom OG (season 7)HerselfCameo [21]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 4)HerselfSpecial guest [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sahara Davenport</span> American drag queen (1984–2012)

Antoine Ashley, better known by the name Sahara Davenport, was an American drag queen, singer, reality television personality, and classically trained dancer. Davenport was best known as a contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mariah Paris Balenciaga</span> American drag performer and television personality

Mariah Paris Balenciaga, also simply known as Mariah or Mariah Balenciaga, is the stage name of Elijah A. Kelly, an American drag queen, ball performer, and television personality, best known for competing on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2011) and the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2020). Since appearing on the show, she has been featured in a number of web series produced by World of Wonder, such as Wait, What?, Transformations, and Fashion Photo RuView. Balenciaga released her first single, "Mug 4 Dayz", on November 19, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delta Work</span> American drag performer and stylist

Delta Work is the stage name of Gabriel A. Villarreal, an Emmy Award-winning American drag performer and stylist, best known for competing on the third season (2011) of the reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity K. Bonet</span> American drag queen, performer, celebrity impersonator, actor and singer

Joshua Jamal Jones, better known by the stage name Trinity Kardashian Bonét, is an American drag queen, performer, celebrity impersonator, actor and singer who came to international attention on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2014. Bonet released her first single, "I'm a Drag Queen" on September 6, 2017, and the accompanying music video was later released on October, 18. On May 26, 2021, she was announced as part of the cast for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 6 alongside 12 other contestants.

"Divas Lip Sync Live" is the second episode of the third season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, which aired on VH1 on February 1, 2018. The episode has contestants impersonate famous divas and lip sync to a medley of RuPaul songs. Todrick Hall and Vanessa Williams serve as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Carson Kressley.

<i>RuPauls Drag Race All Stars</i> season 4 Fourth season of RuPauls Drag Race All Stars

The fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars was announced by VH1 on August 22, 2018. Prior to the official announcement, RuPaul confirmed, in an episode of his podcast What's the Tee?, that filming for the fourth season of All Stars currently was underway. All Stars Season 3 winner Trixie Mattel, with special guests Katya and Detox, hosted a special called Trixie's Playhouse to announce the cast for the fourth season. It was scheduled to air on November 8, 2018, but was postponed to the following day due to the Thousand Oaks shooting. The season began airing on December 14, 2018, and ran for ten episodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooke Lynn Hytes</span> Canadian drag performer and dancer

Brooke Lynn Hytes is the stage name of Brock Edward Hayhoe, a Canadian-American drag queen, ballet dancer, and television personality. After working as a dancer with Cape Town City Ballet and Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Brooke Lynn Hytes achieved international recognition for competing on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race; Brooke Lynn Hytes placed second, only to winner Yvie Oddly. Brooke Lynn Hytes is the first Canadian to compete in the series. Since 2020, Brooke Lynn Hytes has been a main judge on the spin-off series Canada's Drag Race, and is the first Drag Race contestant to become a full-time judge in the franchise.

Robbie Turner is the stage name of Jeremy Baird, an American drag queen and writer most known for competing on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snatch Game</span> Recurring challenge within the Drag Race franchise

Snatch Game is a comedy challenge recurring across the Drag Race television franchise and a fixture of the reality competition series. Since the second season of the original American RuPaul's Drag Race series in 2010, the challenge has returned for every subsequent season. Typically arranged as a parody of Match Game, the challenge is a test of the contestants' skills at celebrity impersonation and improvisational comedy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aiden Zhane</span> American drag performer

Aiden Zhane is the stage name of Devin LaMar Lewis, an American drag performer most known for competing on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heidi N Closet</span> American drag queen

Heidi N Closet is the stage name of Trevien Anthonie Cheek, an American drag queen from Ramseur, North Carolina, best known for competing on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where she placed 6th and won the Miss Congeniality award. She returned to the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, but decided to quit the competition early, citing her mental health and wellbeing as the reason for her withdrawal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India Ferrah</span> American drag queen and costume designer

India Ferrah is the stage name of Shane Richardson, an American drag queen and costume designer best known for competing on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Richardson was raised in Roanoke, Virginia, and came out as gay and started performing in drag as India Ferrah during his teens. He later lived in Dayton, Ohio, and performs regularly in Las Vegas. India Ferrah competed on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denali (drag queen)</span> American drag performer, figure skater, and choreographer

Denali Foxx is the stage name of Cordero Matthew Zuckerman , an American drag performer, figure skater, and choreographer best known for competing on the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coco Jumbo</span> Australian drag performer

Coco Jumbo is the stage name of Luke Vito, a Fijian-Australian drag performer who competed on season 1 of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcia Marcia Marcia</span> American drag performer

Marcia Marcia Marcia is the stage name of Marty Lauter, an American drag performer who competed on season 15 of RuPaul's Drag Race.

DeJa Skye is the stage name of Willie Redman, an American drag performer who competed on the fourteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia Babydoll Foxx</span> American drag performer

Malaysia Babydoll Foxx is an American drag performer, make-up artist, and hairdresser who competed on season 15 of RuPaul's Drag Race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DiDa Ritz</span> American drag performer

DiDa Ritz is the stage name of Xavier Hairston, an American drag performer who competed on season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Dida Ritz is based in Chicago, where she performs regularly and hosts Drag Race viewing parties. Her performance of "This Will Be" by Natalie Cole during a lip-sync contest has been deemed among the show's best.

Dwayne Cooper, also known by the drag persona Milan and as Dwayne Milan, is an American actor and entertainer who competed on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. On stage, Cooper has had roles in multiple national tours, and he performed in Broadway productions of Hairspray and Motown: The Musical. Raised in Florence, South Carolina, Cooper relocated to New York City.

Rita Menu is a New Zealand drag performer who competed on season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Leppo, Skye (2018-07-12). "Drag yourself out to see Stacy Layne Matthews at Reading PRIDE". Reading Eagle . Reading, Pennsylvania: Digital First Media. ISSN   2469-3448. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  2. 1 2 3 "'Drag Race' icon Stacy Layne Matthews admitted to hospital". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  3. 1 2 3 ""Drag Race" Star Stacy Layne Matthews Is in Danger of Losing Her Home". Them . Condé Nast. 2021-08-03. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  4. 1 2 3 Lynch, Amaya (2022-09-22). "RuPaul's Drag Race: 10 Queens That Deserved More Recognition On Their Season". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  5. ↑ "Every Snatch Game Winner on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Out . ISSN   1062-7928. Archived from the original on 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  6. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race': How 'Precious' was Stacy Layne Matthews last night?". Entertainment Weekly . Dotdash Meredith. ISSN   1049-0434. OCLC   21114137. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  7. 1 2 "7 of the Closest Lip Syncs in Drag Race Herstory". Pride.com . Here Media. Archived from the original on 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  8. ↑ Kelleher, Patrick (2022-01-14). "13 trans Drag Race icons who opened doors and left us gagging". PinkNews . Archived from the original on 2023-11-27. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  9. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queens Eliminated After Winning A Challenge". Pride.com. Archived from the original on 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  10. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race': The queens confuse couture with shoulder flair". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  11. ↑ "8 transgender queens who starred on RuPaul's Drag Race". South China Morning Post . Alibaba Group. 2020-08-20. OCLC   648902513. Archived from the original on 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  12. ↑ "AAA Girls Channel Mariah Carey in This Dramatic Stacy Lane Matthews Tribute". Pride.com. Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  13. 1 2 "This iconic queen is making a comeback on Drag Race All Stars 4". Gay Times . 2018-12-18. ISSN   0950-6101. Archived from the original on 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  14. ↑ "Stacy Layne Matthews Doesn't Care About Your Drag Race Rankings". Out. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  15. ↑ "This legendary queen thought she was cast on Drag Race All Stars 4". Gay Times. 2019-01-15. Archived from the original on 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  16. ↑ "Stacy Layne Matthews Turns to Public for Help". Instinct . 2021-08-03. ISSN   1096-0058. Archived from the original on 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  17. ↑ "12 Lip Sync Battles that Define 'RuPaul's Drag Race's' Queer Canon". Out. Archived from the original on 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  18. ↑ Sim, Bernardo (2019-11-03). "RuPaul's Drag Race: 10 Most Memorable Catch Phrases". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  19. ↑ "The 25 Best Snatch Game Performances On 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Ever, Ranked". Bustle . 2022-03-12. Archived from the original on 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  20. ↑ "HoMo'Nique New York". Interview . 2011-07-28. ISSN   0149-8932. Archived from the original on 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  21. 1 2 "Stacy Layne Matthews Cameos On Teen Mom!". Instinct. 2018-01-09. Archived from the original on 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  22. ↑ "Stacy Layne Matthews Gives Farrah Abraham Some Advice On "Teen Mom OG"". Logo TV. Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  23. 1 2 ""This is my only option": Drag Race star Stacy Layne Matthews quits drag and issues apology". Gay Times. 2023-11-23. Archived from the original on 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  24. 1 2 Iftikhar, Asyia (2023-11-23). "Drag Race's Stacy Layne Matthews quits drag due to mental health". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 2023-11-27. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  25. ↑ "Drag Race Star Stacy Layne Matthews Faces Eviction as Moratorium Ends". The Advocate . ISSN   0001-8996. Archived from the original on 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  26. ↑ Tabberer, Jamie (2021-08-05). "Drag Race star Stacy Layne Matthews reaches out to fans as she faces eviction: 'A scary situation'". Attitude . ISSN   1353-1875. Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  27. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race legend Stacy Layne Matthews reveals hospitalisation". Digital Spy . Hearst Communications. 2023-04-15. Archived from the original on 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  28. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (June 17, 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race star Stacy Layne Matthews hospitalized over spinal issue: 'Lost control of my legs'". Entertainment Weekly.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.