Coco Montrese | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Coco Montrese in 2014 | |
| Born | Lenwood Martin Cooper[1] (1974-07-02)July 2, 1974 (age 51) |
| Education | Alabama State University (BA) |
| Occupation | Drag queen |
| Known for | |
| Title | Miss Gay America 2010 |
| Spouse | Alfonzo Hestle |
| Website | misscocomontrese |
Coco Montrese (born July 2, 1974) is the stage name ofLenwood Martin Cooper,[2] an American drag queen, entertainer, and reality television personality. Montrese came into the spotlight after being crownedMiss Gay America 2010 whenAlyssa Edwards' title was revoked. She subsequently appeared on thefifth season ofRuPaul's Drag Race as well as thesecond season ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
Montrese was born on July 2, 1974, in Miami, Florida.[3] She grew up in a "very religious home" as the child of aPentecostal pastor.[4] Montrese studied theater and education atAlabama State University.[5]
Montrese became interested in drag around age 19 or 20 and was named by herdrag mother Mokha Montrese.[4] She entered pageantry, eventually becoming runner up in the 2010Miss 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.[5]
Before appearing onRuPaul's Drag Race, Montrese worked atWalt Disney World for 11 years as an entertainer for theFantasmic show. Working there allowed her to be able to work during the day and do drag during the evenings.[6] She then moved to Las Vegas, where she appeared in a number of shows as aJanet Jackson impersonator.[7]
Montrese applied just once forRuPaul's Drag Race and was accepted for their fifth season as one of fourteen contestants.[4] The series aired during January–May 6, 2013. During the show, Montrese was criticized for her orange makeup, which inspired manyinternet memes.[8] She was placed in the bottom four times, eventually sending her "arch rival" Alyssa Edwards home during their lipsync.[9] Montrese ended up being sent home byDetox Icunt the next week, garnering a fifth-place finish.[10]
Montrese was chosen to appear on the second season ofRuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, which premiered August 25, 2016.[11] Montrese was the first contestant cut from the show, being eliminated byRoxxxy Andrews.[12][13]
At the2016 MTV Video Music Awards, Montrese dressed up as a 1999Lil' Kim with a purple mermaid-inspired jumpsuit.[14]
Montrese's drag daughter is Las Vegas queenKahanna Montrese, a contestant onseason 11 ofDrag Race.[15]
In September 2019, at RuPaul's DragCon NYC, Montrese was named as one of a rotating cast of a dozenDrag Race queens inRuPaul's Drag Race Live!, a Las Vegas show residency at theFlamingo Las Vegas.[16] The show featuresRuPaul's music and formerDrag Race contestants.[16] In March 2022, Montrese, alongside the rest of theRuPaul's Drag Race Live! cast, performed withKaty Perry during herPlay concert residency atResorts World Las Vegas.[17]
In June 2021, she was a featured performer at Nashville's OUTLOUD Music Festival.[18]
Montrese also appeared on thesixth season ofRuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars as the 'Lipsync Assassin' of episode 1. She won her lipsync against competitorYara Sofia, eliminating Serena ChaCha (her fellow competitor from the fifth season ofDrag Race).
In July 2022, Coco Montrese headlined the 10th year of Hagerstown Hopes and Hagerstown Pride festival.[19]
Since at least September 2016, Cooper is married to Alfonzo Hestle.[2]
When asked if queer people should support theBlack 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. "[25]
In 2012, It was announced that Montrese had been cast on thefifth season ofRuPaul's Drag Race.[26] Where she was cast alongsideAlyssa Edwards, who she had fallen out with over Edwards being unable to complete her run asMiss Gay America 2010 due to breaking contractual duties and being replaced by Montrese.[citation needed] 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 alongsideMonica Beverly Hillz, where the two would lip sync toThe Pussycat Dolls'sWhen 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 againstJade Jolie, who Montrese had formed a friendship with in the competition. Montrese won the lip sync toI'm So Excited byThe 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 aTelenovela challenge and fell in the bottom two together, and after a close lip sync toPaula Abdul'sCold Hearted, Montrese emerged victorious and Edwards was sent home.[27] 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 againstDetox toTwo to Make It Right bySeduction and lost the lip sync, finishing in fifth place.
In 2016 it was announced that Coco Montrese had been cast on thesecond season ofRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. The cast included four other queens from season 5, including her season 5 nemesis,Alyssa Edwards.[28] However, upon Montrese's entrance, it is revealed that the pair had since forgiven each other. A weak performance in thetalent 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 savePhi Phi O'Hara andAdore Delano, eliminating Montrese first.[citation needed]
Inepisode 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 astandup comedy routine. Montrese and partner Phi Phi O'Hara performed badly, meaning Montrese was not eligible to return. Montrese finished in 10th place inAll Stars 2.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Toddlers & Tiaras | Herself | Episode: "Las Vegas: LalapaZOOza" | |
| 2013 | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 5) | Contestant | ||
| 2013 | RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | 10 episodes | ||
| 2016 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 2 | Contestant | ||
| 2020 | KTNV-TV | Guest | [29] | |
| 2020 | RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue | Guest | [30] | |
| 2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 6) | "Lip Sync Assassin" (episode 1) | [31] | |
| RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked (season 3) | ||||
| 2023 | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 15) | Special guest; Episode: "Reunited!" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Ring My Bell | Herself | Guest | [32] |
| Bestie$ for Ca$h | Special Guest | [33] | ||
| 2016 | Queen to Queen | Guest, withGinger Minj | [34] | |
| 2020 | Hey Qween! | Guest | [35] | |
| 2024 | RuPaul's Drag Race Live Untucked | WOWPresents Plus original | [36] |
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "The T"[37] | Alaska Thunderfuck |
| 2020 | "Bitch Please" | Derrick Barry, Nebraska Thunderfuck, & Velo |
