Tandi Iman Dupree
{{short description|American drag queen}}
{{Infobox person
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1978|8|13}}
| birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, US
| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|12|31|1978|8|13}}
| death_place =
| occupation = Drag queen
| notable_works =
}}
Tandi Iman Dupree (August 14, 1978 – December 31, 2005) was an American drag queen best known for her "Wonder Woman" performance at the Miss Gay Black America pageant in 2001, the video of which went on to become an Internet viral hit after it was uploaded to YouTube in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://queermagnet.com/qmw/?p=7494 |title=In Loving Memory of Tandi Iman Dupree - QueerMagnet.com |website=queermagnet.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009101544/http://queermagnet.com/qmw/?p=7494 |archive-date=2011-10-09}}
Biography
Dupree was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee.{{Cite web|url=http://inmagazine.ca/2021/01/the-story-of-the-legendary-drag-queen-tandi-iman-dupree-and-her-epic-holding-out-for-a-hero-performance/|title = The Story of the Legendary Drag Queen Tandi Iman Dupree and Her Epic "Holding Out for a Hero" Performance|date = 16 January 2021}} Dupree began her dance career in high school when she was co-captain of the majorette squad until her graduation. She first began competing at the N-Cognito nightclub in Memphis, where she created original routines with other dancers in the area. Dupree's drag mother was Tamisha Iman. Dupree died from complications of AIDS in December 2005.{{Cite web|url=http://danceontherunway.blogspot.com/2007/12/associated-press-tandi-iman-dupree.html|title=Dance on the Runway: The Associated Press: Tandi Iman Dupree makes the "greatest" entrance of all time|date=29 December 2007}}
2001 Miss Gay Black America pageant
At the 2001 Miss Gay Black America pageant, Dupree and her dance partner Dee St. James performed a routine to the song "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler. During the performance, Dupree was dressed as Wonder Woman, with St. James dressed as Superman. Dupree notably entered the performance by dropping from the ceiling, landing on the stage, breaking the heel of her shoe in a split.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-16|title=The Story Of The Legendary Drag Queen Tandi Iman Dupree And Her Epic "Holding Out For A Hero" Performance|url=http://inmagazine.ca/2021/01/the-story-of-the-legendary-drag-queen-tandi-iman-dupree-and-her-epic-holding-out-for-a-hero-performance/|access-date=2021-01-19|website=IN Magazine|language=en-CA}} In 2009, this video was uploaded to YouTube, where it went viral.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/WrW0kySM6CE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716022319/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrW0kySM6CE&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrW0kySM6CE&ab_channel=BryanGruver| title = Best Drag Queen Entrance EVER! | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
Accolades
Jake Coyle, an entertainment reporter for The Associated Press, described Dupree’s stage entrance at the 2001 pageant as the greatest entrance of all time.{{cite news| url= http://www.decaturdaily.com/life/a-year-end-grab-bag-of-strange-bizarre-links/article_e3c8676d-078e-5176-95a2-00c4cde222c0.html | work=The Associated Press | first1=Jake | last1=Coyle | title= A year-end grab bag of strange, bizarre links | date=January 1, 2008}}
The Dallas Voice expressed admiration for Dupree’s performance at the 2001 pageant, particularly describing the stage entrance as the "Best Drag Queen Entrance Ever."{{cite news | url=http://www.dallasvoice.com/drag-queen-entrance-1037048.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225190851/http://www.dallasvoice.com/drag-queen-entrance-1037048.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 25, 2010 | work=The Dallas Voice | title=Best Drag Queen Entrance Ever | date=August 2, 2010 }}
Influence on popular culture
Dupree's performance at the 2001 pageant inspired a tribute on the television series Glee, where Kitty Wilde began her dance performance to "Holding Out for a Hero" by landing on the floor in a split, an imitation of Dupree's performance at the 2001 pageant. In its review of the Glee episode, Out magazine referred to Dupree's stage entry as an "epic entrance."{{cite news| url=http://www.out.com/entertainment/popnography/2012/11/23/glee-drag-queen-dynamic-duets-marley-kitty | work=Out| first1=Andrew| last1=Villagomez | title=Glee's Drag Queen-Inspired Performance of 'Holding Out For A Hero' | date=November 23, 2012}}
Dupree's performance was referenced in episode three of the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, in which Dupree's drag mother, Tamisha Iman, is a competitor. Kate Kulzick of The AV Club described the acknowledgement of Dupree's legacy as "wonderful to see".{{Cite web|title=The Pork Chop queens take center stage in RuPaul's Drag Race's third, hopefully final premiere|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-pork-chop-queens-take-center-stage-in-rupaul-s-drag-1846072097|access-date=2021-01-16|website=TV Club|date=16 January 2021 |language=en-us}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tandi-Iman-Dupree/20017684966
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dupree, Iman Tandi}}
Category:African-American drag queens
Category:AIDS-related deaths in the United States
Category:American female dancers
Category:20th-century American dancers
Category:20th-century African-American women
Category:20th-century African-American people
Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century American women
Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people