Monica Beverly Hillz
| Monica Beverly Hillz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Juan DeJesus Anaya |
| Residence | Owensboro, Kentucky |
| Occupation | Drag queen |
| Known for | RuPaul's Drag Race |
Monica Beverly Hillz is an American drag queen, reality television personality, and trans activist, originally known for appearing on season 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race. She was the second ever contestant to come out as transgender on the show, after Sonique in season 2, which was also historic in that that was a first for network television as well.
In 2014, she was selected as one of the Windy City Times "30 Under 30" for the "best LGBTQIA activism, business, culture, non-profit work and more" as well as Bustle naming her one of the "most popular" RPDR alum. In 2015, Hillz performed at the MTV Video Music Awards with Miley Cyrus for her live performance of "Dooo It!", along with other well known drag queens and RPDR alum.
Monica Beverly Hillz was born to Elsie De Jesus and raised as Juan DeJesus Anaya. She is of Puerto Rican descent. After the age of four, she was raised by her maternal aunt Gladys in Chicago's Latino Northwest Side. While in school, she was the victim of physical bullying, with other students kicking, punching, and hitting her. Due to the bullying, she attempted suicide as a sophomore and dropped out of school. Gladys died when Hillz was 15, leaving five children behind. At that point, Hillz moved back in with her mother. In Chicago, Hillz started performing at Latino gay clubs before deciding to move back to Kentucky, where she became a performer at Owensboro's only gay bar. She struggled with poverty, compounding issues she faced while as an adolescent and young adult.
At age 17, Hillz attended her first drag show, stating she "loved it." After deciding to perform in drag herself, Hillz chose the name 'Monica', a tribute to Bollywood actress Monica and then Beverly Hills, the city in Los Angeles County, where Hillz wanted to live. Hillz considers her look in drag to be a mix of Aaliyah and Faith Evans, and her look while presenting as a male to resemble singer Bruno Mars. She is inspired by Carmen Carrera, Amanda Lepore, Calpernia Addams, and Maria Roman.
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