Coco Montrese
{{Short description|American drag queen and entertainer (born 1974)}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Coco Montrese
|image = File:Coco Montrese (cropped).jpg
|caption = Coco Montrese in 2014
|birth_name = Lenwood Martin Cooper{{cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/273660296:62209 |title=Lenwood Martin Cooper |website=Ancestry Institute |publisher=Ancestry |access-date=November 12, 2022}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|07|02}}
|birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.
|education = Alabama State University (BA)
|occupation = Drag queen
| website = {{URL|misscocomontrese.com}}
|predecessor =
|successor =
| spouse = Alfonzo Hestle
| title = Miss Gay America 2010
| known_for = {{plainlist|
}}
}}
Coco Montrese (born July 2, 1974) is the stage name of Lenwood Martin Cooper,{{cite press release|url=http://www.pr.com/press-release/687086|title=International Drag Artist, CoCo Montrese Says Marriage is No Drag|publisher=KeepLoveLovely.com|via=PR.com|date=September 13, 2016|access-date=June 16, 2017|archive-date=June 16, 2017|archive-url= https://archive.today/20170616202216/http://www.pr.com/press-release/687086|url-status=live}} an American drag queen, entertainer, and reality television personality. Montrese came into the spotlight after being crowned Miss Gay America 2010 when Alyssa Edwards' title was revoked. She subsequently appeared on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race as well as the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
Early life
Montrese was born on July 2, 1974, in Miami, Florida.{{cite book|last1=Baines|first1=Jenettha J.|title=100 of the Most Influential Gay Entertainers|date=2010|publisher=a-argus books|isbn=9780984619559|page=178}} She grew up in a "very religious home" as the child of a Pentecostal pastor.{{cite news|last1=Holland|first1=Scott|title=RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 – Coco Montrese|url=http://www.hotspotsmagazine.com/2013/04/10/rupauls-drag-race-season-5-coco-montrese/|access-date=15 June 2017|publisher=Hot Spots Magazine|date=10 Apr 2013}} Montrese studied theater and education at Alabama State University.{{cite news|title=Coco Montrese is crowned Miss Gay America 2010|url=http://www.watermarkonline.com/2010/03/03/coco-montrese-is-crowned-miss-gay-america-2010/|access-date=15 June 2017|publisher=Watermark Online|date=3 Mar 2010}}
Career
Montrese became interested in drag around age 19 or 20 and was named by her drag mother Mokha Montrese. She entered pageantry, eventually becoming runner up in the 2010 Miss Gay America pageant. The titleholder, Alyssa Edwards, was stripped of her crown for conflicting business dealings. On February 27, 2010, Montrese was then crowned as Miss Gay America 2010.
Before appearing on RuPaul's Drag Race, Montrese worked at Walt Disney World for 11 years as an entertainer for the Fantasmic show. Working there allowed her to be able to work during the day and do drag during the evenings.{{cite news|last1=Hartlage|first1=Kirk|title=Homecoming Queen: Coco Montrese returns to her roots for Gay Days|url=http://www.watermarkonline.com/2014/05/22/homecoming-queen-coco-montrese-returns-to-her-roots-for-gay-days/|access-date=16 June 2017|publisher=Watermark Online|date=22 May 2014}} She then moved to Las Vegas, where she appeared in a number of shows as a Janet Jackson impersonator.{{Cite web|title=Becoming Britney: How Your Favorite "Drag Race" Stars Mastered Their Divas|url=http://www.newnownext.com/drag-race-divas-impersonators/07/2018/|last=Miksche|first=Mike|date=2018-07-11|website=NewNowNext|access-date=2020-05-29}}
Montrese applied just once for RuPaul's Drag Race and was accepted for their fifth season as one of fourteen contestants. The series aired during January–May 6, 2013. During the show, Montrese was criticized for her orange makeup, which inspired many internet memes.{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Saeed|title=Coco Montrese, The Fiercest Orange In Drag Race History|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/saeedjones/coco-montrese-the-fiercest-orange-in-drag-race-history|access-date=16 June 2017|publisher=Buzzfeed|date=3 May 2013}} She was placed in the bottom four times, eventually sending her "arch rival" Alyssa Edwards home during their lipsync.{{cite news|last1=Coffey|first1=Leland|title=One on One with RuPaul's Drag Race All Star Coco Montrese!|url=http://www.manhattandigest.com/2016/08/23/one-on-one-with-rupauls-drag-race-all-star-coco-montrese/|access-date=15 June 2017|publisher=Manhattan Digest|date=13 Aug 2016}} Montrese ended up being sent home by Detox Icunt the next week, garnering a fifth-place finish.{{cite news|last1=Fossum|first1=Melissa|title=Our 10 Favorite Moments from RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 5|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/our-10-favorite-moments-from-rupauls-drag-race-season-5-6557258|access-date=15 June 2017|publisher=Phoenix New Times|date=3 May 2013}}
Montrese was chosen to appear on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, which premiered August 25, 2016.{{cite news|last1=Malice|first1=Michael|title='RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Interview: Cuckoo for Coco Montrese|url=http://observer.com/2016/08/cuckoo-for-coco-montrese/|access-date=16 June 2017|publisher=Observer|date=26 Aug 2016}} Montrese was the first contestant cut from the show, being eliminated by Roxxxy Andrews.{{cite news|last1=Winfred|first1=Tim|title=EXCLUSIVE: Coco Montrese Had A Scandalous Night In Tampa, And There's A Video To Prove It|url=https://www.queerty.com/exclusive-coco-montrese-scandalous-night-tampa-theres-video-prove-20160826|access-date=16 June 2017|publisher=Queerty|date=26 Aug 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Nichols|first1=James Michael|title=Last Words: CoCo Montrese Reflects On 'RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race'|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/drag-race-all-stars-coco-montrese_us_57c09a15e4b085c1ff295625|access-date=16 June 2017|publisher=Huffington Post|date=26 Aug 2016}}
At the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, Montrese dressed up as a 1999 Lil' Kim with a purple mermaid-inspired jumpsuit.{{cite news|last1=Quinn|first1=Dave|title=RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Cast Recreate Iconic Looks of VMAs Past|url=http://people.com/tv/mtv-vmas-2016-rupauls-drag-race-all-stars-cast-recreate-iconic-vma-looks/|access-date=16 June 2017|publisher=People|date=28 Aug 2016}}
Montrese's drag daughter is Las Vegas queen Kahanna Montrese, a contestant on season 11 of Drag Race.{{Cite news|url=https://worldofwonder.net/transformationtuesday-qwerrrkout-feat-kahanna-montrese-coco-montreses-daughter/|title=#TransformationTuesday: QWERRRKOUT feat. Kahanna Montrese (Coco Montrese's Daughter)|date=2017-04-04|work=The WOW Report|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-US}}
In September 2019, at RuPaul's DragCon NYC, Montrese was named as one of a rotating cast of a dozen Drag Race queens in RuPaul's Drag Race Live!, a Las Vegas show residency at the Flamingo Las Vegas.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/rupauls-drag-race-live-show-las-vegas-dragcon-rupaul-charles-1202713647/|title='RuPaul's Drag Race' Sets Live Show In Las Vegas|last=Ramos|first=Dino-Ray|date=September 7, 2019|website=Deadline|access-date=2019-09-08}} The show features RuPaul's music and former Drag Race contestants. In March 2022, Montrese, alongside the rest of the RuPaul's Drag Race Live! cast, performed with Katy Perry during her Play concert residency at Resorts World Las Vegas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/katy-perry-returns-to-the-strip-rupaul-cast-rushes-the-stage-2546964/|title=Katy Perry returns to the Strip, RuPaul cast rushes the stage|last=Katsilometes|first=John|date=March 17, 2022|website=Last Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=March 17, 2022}}
In June 2021, she was a featured performer at Nashville's OUTLOUD Music Festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.melodicmag.com/2021/06/10/nashvilles-outloud-music-festival-marks-a-glorious-return-to-live-music/|title=Nashville's OUTLOUD Music Festival marks a glorious return to live music|date=June 10, 2021|access-date=June 11, 2021|first=Jones|last=Willingham|work=Melodic Magazine}}
Montrese also appeared on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars as the 'Lipsync Assassin' of episode 1. She won her lipsync against competitor Yara Sofia, eliminating Serena ChaCha (her fellow competitor from the fifth season of Drag Race).
In July 2022, Coco Montrese headlined the 10th year of Hagerstown Hopes and Hagerstown Pride festival.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/07/09/photos-hagerstown-pride-2/|title=PHOTOS: Hagerstown Pride|date=July 9, 2022|first=Michael|last=Key|website=Washington Blade|access-date=July 15, 2022|archive-date=July 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715155636/https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/07/09/photos-hagerstown-pride-2/|url-status=live}}
=Pageant titles=
- Miss Gay America - first alternate, then winner (2010)
- Miss Gay Heart of America (2009){{cite web|title=Miss Gay Heart of America History|url=http://www.missgayamerica.com/miss-gay-heart-of-america.html|website=Miss Gay Heart America|access-date=16 June 2017}}
- Miss Gay Heart of America - first alternate (2008){{cite news|title=Coco Montrese|url=http://ourcommunityroots.com/?p=672|access-date=8 August 2018|publisher=Our Community Roots|date=20 Jun 2018}}
- Miss Gay Orlando (2008){{cite news|last1=Jung|first1=E. Alex|title=Dancing on the RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race Float at NYC Pride|url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/06/rupauls-drag-race-float-at-nyc-pride.html|access-date=16 June 2017|publisher=Vulture|date=28 Jun 2016}}
- Miss Gay Days (2008){{Cite news|url=http://ourcommunityroots.com/?p=672|title=Coco Montrese|date=2018-04-28|work=Our Community Roots|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-US}}
- Miss Gay Florida America (2007){{cite web|title=Miss Gay America Competition History|url=http://www.missgayamerica.com/coco-montrese--mga-2010.html|website=Miss Gay America|access-date=16 June 2017}}
- Miss Gay Florida USofA (2005)
- Miss Lakeland (2003)
- Miss Hernando County
Personal life
Since at least September 2016, Cooper is married to Alfonzo Hestle.
When asked if queer people should support the Black Lives Matter movement, Montrese responded, "I think it’s important the LGBTQ community support all movements that support all people and equality for all. If we don’t start shedding light on these things, younger generations won’t even recognize it. If you don’t bring up the past, you are doomed to repeat it. We’re all fighting for the same thing — they want to be seen as the same as everyone else — so yes, they should support that. "{{cite news|last1=Reynolds|first1=Daniel|title=Last Words With Drag Race's Coco Montrese|url=https://www.advocate.com/television/2016/8/26/last-words-drag-races-coco-montrese|access-date=16 June 2017|publisher=Advocate|date=26 Aug 2016}}
''RuPaul's Drag Race''
=Season 5=
{{Main|RuPaul's Drag Race season 5}}
In 2012, It was announced that Montrese had been cast on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.{{Cite news |last=Felst |first=Jeremy |date=November 18, 2012 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 cast revealed |work=Xtra Magazine |url=https://xtramagazine.com/culture/rupauls-drag-race-season-5-cast-revealed-25968 |access-date=5 February 2023}} Where she was cast alongside Alyssa Edwards, who she had fallen out with over Edwards being unable to complete her run as Miss Gay America 2010 due to breaking contractual duties and being replaced by Montrese.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} The pair's history led to many arguments and dramatic moments throughout the season. After a poor showing in a children's show-themed acting challenge in the third episode, Montrese fell into the bottom two alongside Monica Beverly Hillz, where the two would lip sync to The Pussycat Dolls's When I Grow Up which Montrese won, eliminating Beverly Hillz. In episode 6, Montrese would be in the bottom two for a second time, this time against Jade Jolie, who Montrese had formed a friendship with in the competition. Montrese won the lip sync to I'm So Excited by The Pointer Sisters and stayed in the competition. In the following episode, Coco won her first and only main challenge in a roast where she was praised by the judges for her entire performance and her look. In the ninth episode, Montrese and Alyssa Edwards would do badly in a Telenovela challenge and fell in the bottom two together, and after a close lip sync to Paula Abdul's Cold Hearted, Montrese emerged victorious and Edwards was sent home.{{Cite news |last=Fernandes |first=Mariana |date=July 29, 2022 |title=15 Best Lip Sync Performances On Drag Race & All Stars |work=Screen Rant |url=https://screenrant.com/drag-race-all-stars-best-lip-syncs/ |access-date=5 February 2023}} Montrese's success wouldn't last long however as in the following episode she would land in the bottom for her fourth time and lip synced against Detox to Two to Make It Right by Seduction and lost the lip sync, finishing in fifth place.
=All Stars 2=
{{Main|RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 2}}
In 2016 it was announced that Coco Montrese had been cast on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. The cast included four other queens from season 5, including her season 5 nemesis, Alyssa Edwards.{{Cite magazine |last=Kickham |first=Dylan |date=June 17, 2016 |title=RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race season 2 cast revealed — exclusive |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/06/17/rupauls-all-stars-drag-race-season-2-cast/ |access-date=5 February 2023}} However, upon Montrese's entrance, it is revealed that the pair had since forgiven each other. A weak performance in the talent show meant that Montrese was up for elimination in the first episode, but remained confident that her fellow season 5 queen, Roxxxy Andrews would not eliminate her; however, Andrews chose to save Phi Phi O'Hara and Adore Delano, eliminating Montrese first.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
In episode 5, a twist was incorporated which allowed eliminated queens to potentially return to the game, the challenge being to pair up with a queen who is still in the game and perform a standup comedy routine. Montrese and partner Phi Phi O'Hara performed badly, meaning Montrese was not eligible to return. Montrese finished in 10th place in All Stars 2.
Filmography
= Television =
=Web series=
= Music videos =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Artist |
| 2016 |
| 2020
|"Bitch Please" |Derrick Barry, Nebraska Thunderfuck, & Velo |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Coco Montrese}}
- {{IMDb name|5478673|Martin Cooper}}
{{RuPaul's Drag Race}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Montrese, Coco}}
Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people
Category:African-American drag queens
Category:African-American LGBTQ people
Category:American LGBTQ musicians
Category:LGBTQ people from Florida
Category:Alabama State University alumni
Category:Drag performers from Las Vegas
Category:Celebrity impersonators