Kylie Sonique Love[1] (born May 2, 1983), formerly known as Sonique, is an American entertainer, singer, dancer, model and reality television personality. She rose to prominence as a contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2009, and achieved further popularity by winning the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars eleven years later in 2021.[2] Love was the first person to ever come out as transgender on any reality TV show. Upon winning All Stars 6, Love became the second transgender winner in the Drag Race franchise and was the first trans woman to win an American series of Drag Race. Additionally, in 2020, she co-hosted Translation Season 1, the first talk show on a major network hosted by an all-trans cast.[3] Her first single, "Santa, Please Come Home", was released in 2018.[4]
Kylie Sonique Love | |
---|---|
![]() Kylie Sonique Love at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2022 | |
Born | Albany, Georgia, U.S. | May 2, 1983
Other names | Sonique |
Alma mater | Albany Technical College |
Occupation(s) | Entertainer, dancer |
Television | |
Predecessor | Shea Couleé |
Successor | Jinkx Monsoon |
Website | kyliesoniquelove |
Early life
editKylie Sonique Love was born on May 2, 1983, in Albany, Georgia.[5][6] She came out as transgender to her mother at 15 and later was sent to military school Fort Stewart[7] to become "more masculine". She received a GED at the Albany Technical College.[5] Her "drag mother" is retired Atlanta performer The Goddess Raven, a national pageant titleholder.[8]
Career
editDrag
editLove was announced to be one of twelve contestants for the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race on February 1, 2010.[9] She was placed in the bottom two in episode four and was eliminated after losing a lip sync to "Two of Hearts" by Stacey Q against Morgan McMichaels.[10] She later revealed that she is a transgender woman during the reunion episode of that season.[11][12] In 2015, Love was one of the 30 performers that appeared as a backup dancer for Miley Cyrus's Video Music Awards performance.[13]
In June 2018, Love was a backup dancer with McMichaels and Farrah Moan for Christina Aguilera at Los Angeles Pride.[14] She subsequently appeared in the RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular with seven other Drag Race alumni on December 7, 2018.[15][16] She also appeared as a guest for the first challenge in the premiere episode of season eleven of Drag Race.[17] Love appeared in a music video for Lizzo's song "Juice", which was released on April 17, 2019.[18]
In 2020, Love co-hosted Translation on Out TV, the first talk show on a major network to be hosted by an all-trans cast.[19] Love was announced as one of thirteen contestants competing on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars on May 26, 2021, where she competed under the name Kylie Sonique Love, after previously competing under the mononym Sonique.[20][21] On September 2, she was announced as the winner, becoming the first transgender winner in a U.S. version of the show.[22]
Music
editKylie contributed to Tammie Brown's 2018 EP A Little Bit of Tammie.[23] She released her first single, "Santa, Please Come Home", the same day as the premiere of the Holi-slay Spectacular.[24] She released her second single, "Hey Hater", on April 24, 2019.[25]
Other ventures
editIn June 2022, she was a featured model for Playful Promises' lingerie Pride Campaign.[26]
Filmography
editFilm
editYear | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2021 | The Bitch Who Stole Christmas[27] | Dolly Parton |
TBA | Dope Queens[28] | TBA |
Television
editYear | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010-2019 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Contestant | Season 2, 5 episodes (9th place) | [9] |
Herself | Guest; Season 11, episode 1: "Whatcha Unpackin?" | [29] | ||
2010 | RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | Season 1, 4 episodes | [9] | |
The Real Housewives of Atlanta | Guest; Season 3, episode 3 | |||
2018 | RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular | Contestant | 1 episode (Joint Winner) | [15] |
2019 | Busy Tonight | Herself | Guest; Season 1, episode 80 | [30] |
2020–present | Translation | Co-host | [19] | |
2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Contestant | Season 6, 12 episodes (Winner) | [31] |
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked | Herself | Season 3, 12 episodes | ||
Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch | Jan Brady | [32] |
Music videos
editYear | Title | Artist | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | "Not a Pearl" | Willam | |
"Es Una Passiva (Boy Is a Bottom Español)" | Willam | [33] | |
2019 | "Juice" | Lizzo | [18] |
2021 | "Do It Like Dolly" | Kylie Sonique Love | [34] |
"Gooey" | Cazwell featuring Kylie Sonique Love |
Web series
editYear | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Ring My Bell | Herself | Guest | [35] |
2018 | Hey Qween! | [36] | ||
Cosmo Queens | [37] | |||
2019 | Drag Queens React | Guest, Episode: "Giving Birth" | [38] | |
Bootleg Opinions | Guest, Episode: "Drag Race UK Season 1 Episode 2" | [39] | ||
Follow Me | Episode: "Mayhem Miller" | [40] | ||
Be$tie$ for Ca$h | Guest, WOW+ Exclusive | |||
2020 | Working Out Is a Drag | Guest | [41] | |
2021 | Drag Us Weekly | [42] | ||
Whatcha Packin' | [43] | |||
Ruvealing the Look | [44] | |||
Binge Queens | [45] | |||
Binge | Podcast; guest | [46] | ||
2023 | The Pit Stop | Guest | [47] | |
2023 | Bring Back My Girls | Herself | Episode: "All Stars 6" | [48] |
Discography
editEPs
editTitle | Details |
---|---|
Hey Hater (Erik Vilar Official Remix) |
|
Singles
editAs lead artist
editYear | Title | Album | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | "Santa, Please Come Home" | Non-album single | Wendy Ho | No producer credited | [49] |
2019 | "Hey Hater" | Kylie Sonique Love | Aaron Zepeda, Love | [50][51] | |
"Hey Hater, Pt. 2" | Love | No producer credited | [52] | ||
2020 | "Just Thinking" | [53] | |||
"11:11" | [54] | ||||
"Toxic" | Bloodshy, Cathy Dennis, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback | [55] | |||
2021 | "Straight to the Top" | Love | [56] | ||
"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" | Hank Williams | [57] | |||
"Two Timing Daddy" | Love | [58] | |||
"My Buddy and Me" | [59] | ||||
"Gooey" (with Cazwell) |
Cazwell | Cazwell, Barbeau, Richie Beretta, Craig C | [60] | ||
"Do It Like Dolly" | Love, John Duff | Samjgarfield, KOIL PreAmple, Duff | [61] | ||
"Complete Me" | Samjgarfield, Duff | [62] | |||
2023 | "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)" (with Timo Nuñez) | Love, Timo Nuñez | No producer credited | [63] | |
"Ex Miss" | Drew Louis, Jayelle Gerber, Love | Drew Louis | [64] | ||
2024 | "Lost Angel" | Louis, Love | [65] |
As featured artist
editYear | Title | Album | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | "The Whale Song" (Tammie Brown featuring Michael Catti, Jeff Musial, Alyson Montez, Ricky Rebel, Kelly Mantle, and Bad Dance Crew) |
Non-album single | [66] |
2019 | "Bad Bitch" (Justin Symbol featuring Trash Can Cut) |
[67] | |
2021 | "Show Up Queen" (The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Season 6) |
[68] | |
"This Is Our Country" (RuPaul and Tanya Tucker featuring The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Season 6) |
[22] | ||
2022 | "Escobar (Remix)" (Timo Nuñez, Itslitobbs) |
||
2023 | "Light in the Dark" (Trinity the Tuck featuring Aria B. Cassadine & Kylie Sonique Love) |
Trinity Ruins Christmas: The Musical | [69] |
"Good Enough" (Trinity the Tuck featuring Alaska Thunderfuck, Jimbo, Manila Luzon, Ginger Minj, Aria B. Cassadine, Kylie Sonique Love) |
[70] |
Awards and nominations
editYear | Award-giving body | Category | Work | Results | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Queerty Awards | Drag Royalty | Herself | Nominated | [71] |
2022 | WOWIE Awards | Breakout Stars of 2022 | Herself | Won | [72] |
2022 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Reality Return | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Nominated | [73] |
References
edit- ^ "Kylie Sonique Love (@xosonique) • Instagram photos and videos".
- ^ Clark, C. (September 2, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race just made herstory with the finale of All Stars 6". Gay Times. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' season 6 names winner". Rappler. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
- ^ Laurena, Kobe (2021-09-03). "Kylie Sonique Love crowned winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars". Village Pipol Magazine. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
- ^ a b Fleming, Mike (2014-12-22). "'RuPaul' queen Sonique brings Kylie Love home". Project Q. Archived from the original on 2018-12-01. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ Love, Kylie Sonique (2015-05-03). "Happy birthday to me!!! 32 will be great! ...Yea, I know". @xoSonique. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ @xoSonique (January 16, 2013). "My mom sent me to military school in Ft Stewart when I was 17" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Kylie 'Sonique' Love transitioning into woman he was not born to be". 17 December 2014.
- ^ a b c "Meet the Fierce Contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race!". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ Lee, Josh (2016-04-26). "RuPaul's Drag Race: The 10 best ever lip-syncs ranked". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ "The herstory of trans women on RuPaul's Drag Race". Gay Star News. 2017-05-04. Archived from the original on 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race's Peppermint on What It Would Mean to Be the First Transgender Winner". TVGuide.com. 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ Lamour, Joseph. "Meet All 30 Of Miley's Day-Glo Dancers From Her Insane VMA Performance". MTV News. Archived from the original on August 31, 2015. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ Henry Youtt (2018-06-11). "Christina Aguilera Makes Surprise Appearance at LA Pride, Debuts Special 'Accelerate' Remix". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ a b "RuPaul's 'Holi-Slay Spectacular' Slated For Dec. 7". The Vital Voice. 2018-11-26. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ Harp, Justin (2018-11-02). "RuPaul's Drag Race gets Xmas special with iconic queens". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' 11 episode 1 recap: Which queen was sent packing on 'Whatcha Unpackin'? [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]". Goldderby. 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
- ^ a b "Lizzo - JUICE Music Video feat. RuPaul's Drag Race Queens". YouTube. 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
- ^ a b Ramos, Dino-Ray (March 29, 2021). "OUTtv Media Group Teams With Producer Entertainment Group Launch First LGBTQ+ Apple TV Channel". Deadline. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: All the Transgender Queens (Photos)". TheWrap. 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
- ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 6' queens share best & worst moments, spill on 'chaotic' new season". EW.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
- ^ a b Spencer, Samuel (September 2, 2021). "'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 6' queens share best & worst moments, spill on 'chaotic' new season". Newsweek. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "'Drag Race' Star Tammie Brown Releases Folky 'A Little Bit of Tammie' EP: Listen". Billboard. 2018-10-12. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (December 7, 2018). "Sonique dishes on THAT 'RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular' twist ending". EW.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ "Hey Hater - Single". iTunes. 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
- ^ Yates, Jonny (May 31, 2022). "Drag Race icons Kylie Sonique Love and Valentina stun in Playful Promises' Pride lingerie collection". Pink News. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
- ^ Joey Nolfi (October 29, 2021). "RuPaul's new Christmas movie unites the largest Drag Race cast in history". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ Matt Donnelly (October 17, 2021). "Indie 'Dope Queens' Casts Alexandra Grey, Pierson Fodé and Trace Lysette". Variety. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ O’Keeffe, Kevin (28 February 2019). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11 premiere recap: Queens here, queens there, queens everywhere". Xtra.
- ^ Ungerman, Alex (April 4, 2019). "Busy Philipps Recreates Her Epic 'White Chicks' Dance Battle With Her Co-Stars -- Watch!". ETOnline. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (May 26, 2021). "'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Moves From VH1 To Paramount+; Lineup Of Returning Queens Unveiled". Deadline. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ Hatchett, Keisha (June 23, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race Will Team with Brady Bunch Cast for Crossover Episode — Plus, Watch the First Act of All Stars 6". TVLine. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- ^ Timothy Allen (January 14, 2015). "Willam Has Some Funny Things to Share About His New Spanish Music Video". Queerty. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ Michael Cook (August 21, 2021). "Kylie Sonique Love Drops Some Collab-Heavy New Music". Instinct. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ WOWPresents (16 May 2013). "Sonique Love - Ring My Bell". Retrieved 2019-09-14 – via YouTube.
- ^ Hey Qween (27 August 2018). "SONIQUE on Hey Qween! Beach House with Jonny McGovern | Hey Qween". Retrieved 2018-12-08 – via YouTube.
- ^ Cosmopolitan (14 September 2018). "Sonique | Cosmo Drag Queens | Cosmopolitan". Retrieved 2018-12-08 – via YouTube.
- ^ WOWPresents (25 March 2019). "DRAG QUEENS REACT: Giving Birth w/ Aquaria, Derrick, Nebraska, Jade, Sonique, Kimora, & Nicole". Retrieved 2019-08-30 – via YouTube.
- ^ YuhuaHamasaki (15 October 2019). "Drag Race UK x Bootleg Opinions: Season 1 Episode 2 with Sonique Love!". Retrieved 2019-10-15 – via YouTube.
- ^ FOLLOW ME: Mayhem Miller. June 10, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ WOWPresents (July 2020). "Sonique: WORKING OUT IS A DRAG 103". Retrieved July 15, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ UsWeekly (September 4, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Star Kylie Sonique Love On Winning & Near Wardrobe Malfunction". Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ RuPaul's Drag Race (September 5, 2021). "Whatcha Packin': Kylie Sonique Love | S6 Top 4 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars". Retrieved September 5, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ RuPaul's Drag Race (September 9, 2021). "Kylie Sonique Love's Starry Blue Look 💙 Ruvealing the Look | RuPaul's Drag Race AS6". Retrieved September 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Spoiler Alert: Binge Queens - RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 3, Episode 1. WOWPresents. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (September 30, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 6 top 4 reunion reveals which epic moment 'was not a joke'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ "The Pit Stop AS8 E02 🏁 | Bianca del Rio & Kylie Sonique Love Squad Up! | RuPaul's Drag Race AS8". YouTube. 16 May 2023.
- ^ Wratten, Marcus (December 15, 2024). "Drag Race: Kylie Sonique Love calls out 'sh***y attitude' of fellow All Stars 6 queen". PinkNews. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – Santa Please Come Home, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – Hey Hater, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Hey Hater". YouTube. 23 April 2019.
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – Hey Hater, Pt. 2, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – Just Thinking, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – 11:11, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – Toxic, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – Straight To the Top, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – Two Timing Daddy, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – My Buddy and Me, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Cazwell (Ft. Kylie Sonique Love) – GOOEY, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – Do It Like Dolly, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Kylie Sonique Love – Complete Me, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ "God's Child - Kylie Sonique Love". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ "Ex Miss - Kylie Sonique Love". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ "Lost Angel - Kylie Sonique Love". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
- ^ Tammie Brown (Ft. Alyson Montez, Bad Dance Crew, Jeff Musial, Kelly Mantle, Kylie Sonique Love, Michael Catti & Ricky Rebel) – The Whale Song, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Justin Symbol (Ft. Kylie Sonique Love & Trash Can Cut) – Bad Bitch, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ McCallion, Paul (July 29, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars Recap: Girl Gone". Vulture. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ Trinity the Tuck (Ft. Aria B. Cassadine & Kylie Sonique Love) – Light in the Dark, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ Trinity the Tuck (Ft. Alaska Thunderfuck, Aria B. Cassadine, Ginger Minj, Jimbo & Manila Luzon) – Good Enough, retrieved 2024-01-09
- ^ "'The 2022 Queerties". Cheat Sheet. February 24, 2022. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- ^ "Here Are World of Wonder's 2022 WOWIE Awards Winners". World of Wonder. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ MTV News (May 11, 2022). "HERE ARE YOUR 2022 MTV MOVIE & TV AWARDS NOMINATIONS: SEE THE FULL LIST". Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.