Alyssa Edwards
| Alyssa Edwards | |
|---|---|
| File:Alyssa Edwards.jpg
Alyssa Edwards performing in March 2013
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| Born | Justin Johnson January 16, 1980 |
| Residence | Mesquite, Texas U.S. |
| Occupation | Drag performer |
Justin Johnson, (born January 16, 1980) known by her stage name Alyssa Edwards, is an American drag performer, dance teacher, and businesswoman. Johnson was known for competing in drag pageantry and being dethroned from her title as Miss Gay America 2010, before gaining prominence on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. In 2015 her TV show "Beyond Belief" will start production about her and her dance company.
Contents
Career
Johnson performs under the stage name Alyssa Edwards. She choose her name in homage to Alyssa Milano and to her drag mother Laken Edwards.[1] Johnson is part of the drag family "the House of Edwards" and serves as drag mother to fellow RuPaul's Drag Race contestants Shangela Laquifa Wadley, Laganja Estranja, and Gia Gunn.[1] Johnson was one of the judges of the 2010 California Entertainer of the Year pageant, which Shangela won.[2]
Johnson appeared in the 2008 documentary Pageant.[3] The film focused on the 34th Miss Gay America pageant of 2006[4] On December 9, 2010, Johnson was stripped of her 2010 Miss Gay America title [5] for having business dealings in conflict with obligations to the Miss Gay America organization. First alternate Coco Montrese replaced Johnson as the winner of Miss Gay America.[6] That same year, Johnson was also stripped of her title as All American Goddess.[7]
In November 2012, Logo announced that Johnson was among 14 drag queens who would be competing on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Also performing on the show was pageant friend and rival Coco Montrese.[8] Performing as Alyssa Edwards throughout the season, Johnson won the ballet-themed main challenge in the "Black Swan: Why It Gotta Be Black? episode".[9] As part of the show, Johnson sang on the "We Are the World"-inspired song "Can I Get an Amen?" The song's proceeds helped benefit the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.[10] Johnson was eliminated in episode 9, following a lip sync against Coco Montrese, and finished in 6th place.World of Wonder, the production company behind "RuPaul's Drag Race," has prepared a sizzle reel, "Beyond Belief," for a potential reality series for Logo, centered on Edwards's/Johnson's Mesquite, Texas-based business, Beyond Belief Dance Company.
Titles
Edwards competed in and won numerous pageant titles.[11] They include:
- Miss Gay Texas 2003-2004, first alternate
- Miss Gay Texas America 2004-2005, winner
- Miss Gay America 2005, second alternate
- Miss Northwest Regional Representative 2005, winner
- Miss Gay America 2006, third alternate
- Miss Gay USofA 2006, winner[4]
- Miss Gay Mid East America 2008, first alternate
- Miss Gay America 2009, first alternate
- Miss Gay Heartland America 2009, third alternate[12]
- Miss Gay Heartland America 2010, first alternate[12]
- Miss Gay America 2010, winner (Dethroned)
- All American Goddess 2010, winner
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Pageant | Herself | Documentary |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Season 5 - 6th place |
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | Herself | Companion show to RuPaul's Drag Race | |
| NewNowNext Awards | Herself | ||
| 2015 | Beyond Belief | Himself | post-production |
| 2016 | Skin Wars | Herself |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–present | Alyssa's Secret[13] | Herself | Produced by World of Wonder |
Music video appearances
| N/A |
References
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External links
- Alyssa Edwards on Facebook
- Alyssa Edwards on TwitterLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Justin Johnson at the Internet Movie Database
