Miss Lawrence


Miss Lawrence is an American hairstylist, reality television personality, singer, actor, and LGBTQ activist from South Atlanta, Georgia. She started in the beauty industry as a teenager finding acceptance for being a young gender non-conforming, gay, Black man in the South. Through her celebrity clients she became a semi-regular on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, talking about her experiences on RHOA, and co-hosted the three seasons of Fashion Queens, all three shows on Bravo, which led to cameos on Lee Daniels’ Empire series. From 2016-2019 she co-starred as Miss Bruce in Daniels’ musical drama Star. In 2019 she was cast as Miss Freddy in Daniels’ upcoming biographical drama The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

Early life and education

Lawrence Washington was born circa 1982/1983, and grew up in a working class family in South Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta is the state’s capital, and at around age ten, Lawrence was a House page on the floor of the Georgia House of Representatives. She said “growing up gay and Black on the South side of Atlanta was challenging because I could not find any images of people that resembled me.” While her family did accept her, they would pose questions, and Lawrence felt that her explanations were not understood. They made her join the Boy Scouts, but “that shit didn't work out. They tried all those things and they were of that era.” Later, when in high school, she was made to join the football team, the locker room being the only aspect she enjoyed. Her parents thought the American Dream was to be a white-collar professional, or sports star. She credits them for instilling the strength to be herself, “I exude confidence because my parents made me feel OK with being myself. Of course, they had questions, but they never put me down.”
Her favorite show while growing up was Fame, the 1980s musical drama set in a fictional New York City high school for the performing arts. Lawrence herself was in musical theatre, and the performing arts in high school but said she did not feel accepted compared to other students. In her teens she toured Europe as part of a musical group but did not feel comfortable in the tuxedos they wore. She started experimenting with make-up, and then with fashions, “I loved ostentatious pieces. I loved pieces that were whimsical and that wasn't normal”. In an interview she shared that she’s always been “flamboyant and fashion flexible” but that was not considered acceptable for a young black man in the South, she said “I experienced a lot of psychological dismemberment with my passion because of societal norms”. She feels gay people have to learn how to navigate the streets totally different than straight people. The negative reactions she got persuaded her to pursue the beauty industry instead of performing arts, as she has “always had a keen interest in women and their beauty”.
In the late 1990s, at age fifteen, she started as an intern in the beauty industry, and said it gave her the freedom to explore who she could become; “That is where I realized exactly who I was: where I saw all of my feminine traits and how they crossed paths with my masculine traits.” She trained to be a hairstylist at the Paul Mitchell Institute. Her parents felt hair stylists were not respected, but Lawrence was determined. She felt the salon was a place that as a feminist she found her passion, “being able to go to a salon every day and interact with so many different people allows you a space to be free. It's a very freeing space.” She has loyalty to women, as they were first to accept her, beginning with her mother and sister.
When asked what identifying as gender non-conforming meant, Lawrence states, “Being a gay, gender-non-conforming man means that I’ve never bought into what society thinks a man should look like or act like—or what a woman should look like and act like. I’m a person who is very in-tune with my masculine side and my feminine side. I embrace both and I walk with both. It’s been very important that I display that at every opportunity on a public platform and in my every day walk.”

Ballroom culture

In interviews, Lawrence talks about the history of, and her involvement in drag ball culture, a social network of houses for mainly Black and Hispanic LGBTQ youth. When her biological family did not really understand her, she found family “in ballroom culture or in gay families. Ballroom is one of those things. It's magical.” Her mentor is Raquell Lord, a founding member of The House of Balenciaga, an Atlanta ballroom family. The vogue and ballroom culture, as seen in the FX series Pose, has houses, that stage performative competitions which also provide “support networks, mentorship and a place to sleep” when needed. As of October 2017, Lawrence is a house mother named Mother Balenciaga. In May 2019, Lawrence and Bevy Smith were among the celebrity guests to André Leon Talley’s L’hommage gala which “honored the pioneers and stars of ballroom,” and benefited FIERCE. In June 2019, Lawrence was a celebrity judge at Life Ball III, produced by Susanne Bartsch with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, it marks the 30th anniversary of the first Life Ball, all of which have been fundraisers to end the AIDS pandemic.

Career

''Real Housewives of Atlanta''

Lawrence owns Pressed For Time, a midtown salon, and Lawrence Washington Salon, both in Atlanta; over time she built up a clientele including corporate professionals. Notable clients include the ladies of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Jennifer Holiday, Ciara, Serena Williams and Kenya Moore, the first celebrity she styled. She came to national attention on RHOA, a Southern regional version of the series focused on upper class women of the city, as a confidante and hairstylist of Shereé Whitfield, and later, Kenya Moore. Lawrence was asked to join as part of a storyline as hairstylist which was her career at that point. According to Paper, she won over audiences with her charm, and “unwavering commitment” to her authentic self.
In March 2011, Lawrence was announced as joining "The Steve Harvey Project," a television behind-the-scenes version of his daily four-hour syndicated radio show, The Steve Harvey Morning Show on BET’s Centric channel. Lawrence hosts “Spilling the Tea With Miss Lawrence,” a segment covering entertainment and fashion, saying “They picked the right girl for this one". Tea is Southern black drag queen slang for gossip or truth. Before these experiences Lawrence had never thought of being an actor, as she had never seen someone like herself represented.
In season three of RHOA, Lawrence was featured performing her first single “Closet Freak,” in RHOA’s Kandi Burruss’ studio where she recorded the “empowering dance anthem” which called out a closeted lover. In a March 2013 interview Lawrence revealed that she had declined the 360 deal to be signed to Burris’ Kandi Koated Entertainment instead of a traditional recording contract. In a 360 deal the label fronts expenses and develops an artist for a significant percentage of all sales. Lawrence reasoned it was unfair as she would not be getting any signing bonus, and was developed as a singer with vocal training, and as an artist before the two met. Even though Lawrence co-wrote “Closet Freak,” she was not paid for singing it or any work she did. She also released "Over It," and in March 2012, “Don’t Stop,” a maxi-single with remixes by Mancias and Craig C. She shared that even though she loves singing, as of 2013, a career in the industry was on hold as she had to be pragmatic about where her income was generated. Lawrence has a line of hypoallergenic lipsticks, Les Levres ; a line of t-shirts, Signed by a Queen, using her own quotes; and, Androgyny Hair, a line of hair extensions.

''Fashion Queens''

Multiple appearances on RHOA led to Andy Cohen asking her to co-host Bravo’s Fashion Queens, filmed in New York City from 2013-2015, along with fellow Atlanta hairstylist Derek J, and New York’s fashion expert Bevy Smith. Lawrence and Derek J had previously found a natural working chemistry working several times at Bonner Brothers Hair Shows—an Atlanta “over-the-top annual spectacular” convention of 20,000 attendees celebrating hair in black culture—doing show commentary. Then RHOA producers paired them again for a one-off show, Real Hairstylists Tell All, without any promotion, according to Lawrence, they had 1.4 million viewers. Bravo’s Cohen asked if they would do a new but expanded show which became FQ.
On FQ the three conducted various segments focused on “praising and critiquing the sartorial choices celebs make each week”. Lawrence said of his personality on the show, “I have always been me, I've always been flamboyant, always been gender non-conforming.” Lawrence counts as friend and mentor television host and “style aficionada” Bevy Smith. They were concerned if the ratings would be enough, given the late time slot and the show being hosted by two flamboyant gay black men and a full-figure woman, but according to Lawrence they never dipped below 700,000 viewers. Lawrence and Derek J also co-host Spilling the Tea, a web series on Bravo.com recapping RHOA each week. Lawrence has also made appearances on talk shows The Real, and Bethenny. As of 2019, she is represented by The Chamber Group.
Lawrence had met openly gay director Lee Daniels in Beverly Hills, later on she was having fun re-enacting an Empire scene in a FQ dressing room, and co-host Smith emailed it to Daniels. He reached out to Lawrence asking for a singing audition tape. She sent him one of her performing Sylvester’s "You Make Me Feel," which she later performed on Empire. Daniels had her filming scenes, as herself, in Chicago in Summer 2015. Of the experience she said, "I'm a very spiritual person. I had to go into a space of thanks. Give thanks to my higher being." Her cameo came in the second season premiere of the show, Lawrence was featured singing the Sylvester hit. Lawrence cites Sylvester, as well as Big Freedia, known as the queen of bounce music, as inspirations.
In late 2015 Lawrence announced she would no longer appear on RHOA due to what she saw as the cast: appropriating LGBTQ culture, acting homophobic, and not holding accountable anyone for homophobic violence as seen on the show; held in tension with her need to be a responsible LGBTQ social activist. She said, “The one episode where Kenya Moore's got beat up at Nene's party, no one was held accountable, there was no real apology put in place. I knew then that was not a place to occupy my time. I knew that there’s no way I can call myself a social activist and be a real activist for my community on that show.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Rodney Ho said it was “one of the most violent fights in the six-year history of the program.” Lawrence was also angry that the RHOA producers just allowed the attack to happen. She also felt she was a “token gay for entertainment purposes” on the show.

''Star''

Lawrence auditioned for Star—a musical drama set in Atlanta about three aspiring young women hoping to be the next Destiny’s Child—even though Daniels already knew she was ideal for the role. Lawrence credits Star, filmed in metro Atlanta, for having a diverse cast and characters. For the first two seasons of Star, Lawrence cites two of her favorite moments as when she sang “Gooder Than A Mother” with Queen Latifah during the first season, and singing Diana Ross’ “The Boss” in the second season. Her character, Miss Bruce, is “outspoken, real, and gutter” and is also gender non-conforming, Black and gay; Lawrence said of her character, “Miss Bruce is a kind of unpolished but very talented person who hasn’t really experienced a fair shot at life because he is very gender fluid.” Lawrence finds the character liberating, as her own insecurities are irrelevant as Miss Bruce is fearless. Her role caused her estranged father of twenty years to reach out.
On October 21, 2016, Lawrence was an invited guest at BET’s “Love & Happiness” farewell party for the Obama’s, the last in a series of concerts the first couple hosted at the White House. In their eight years there, they became known for hosting concerts, including a lengthy roster of hip hop performers. BET’s event was packed with Black celebrities, and was a celebration of Black culture; the crowd celebrated the historic first Black president unaware that Trump would become his successor until a few weeks later. Lawrence wore a gold kimono and gold heels, with long eyelashes and red lipstick; on the dance floor she vogued to The Clark Sisters’ “You Brought the Sunshine,” and noticed the crowd staring. Her friend Bevy Smith told her to look behind, and she saw Barack Obama dancing along with her, later stating in the moment she felt uniquely validated as a Black gay man by the “most famous Black man in the world”. She felt Obama “set a new standard for what love and acceptance looked like”, and it helped her get along with straight black men better. She said it was the “most affirming moment in life”. Later, at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Miami New Year's Eve party, she was shocked to be hugged by Diddy, and realized there are straight Black men who have love for the gays.
In June 2017, Lawrence was the featured performer for the Native Son Awards, an event celebrating “the achievements of Black gay men.” Also in June 2017, Lawrence performed in San Francisco at Soul of Pride’s Pink Ball, part of San Francisco Pride’s events for LGBTQ people of color. In October 2017, Lawrence performed as part of the Atlanta AfroPunk Festival. In May 2018, Lawrence was the featured entertainer at Harlem EatUp!, “recognizing the diversity in arts, culture and food,” an event honoring designer Dapper Dan, and Bevy Smith.

Post-''Star'' projects

In 2019 she was cast as Miss Freddy in Daniels’ upcoming biographical drama The United States vs. Billie Holiday. The film will cover Holiday’s career as she was under federal drug investigation, her addiction issues, struggles with fame and love affairs.

LGBTQ activism

Lawrence’s activism has included National Action Network, the Human Rights Campaign’s “This is Luv,” and the Ali Forney Center, the Black AIDS Institute, and “other local and community foundations focused on uplifting the LGBTQ community.” As of October 2017, she sees her mission as using her platform to get rid of negativity “towards gender fluid and gender non-conforming people”.
In June 2017, Lawrence was a featured speaker in New Orleans at the 2017 Essence Music Festival—the nation’s largest event celebrating African-American culture and music—on the Beauty & Style stage talking about gender fluidity in fashion. In September 2017, at the Pure Heat Community Festival, a part of Atlanta Black Gay Pride, Lawrence was presented a PHCF Legacy Award by Jaime Balenciaga. Also in September 2017, Lawrence was honored as a LGBTQ influencer at the 6th Annual Gentleman's Ball for her commitment to social change within the LGBTQ community. In May 2018 Lawrence was named to the newly formed LGBTQ Advisory Board by Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. In June 2018, along with singer Keri Hilson, Lawrence joined Atlanta’s Fulton County Board of Health as celebrity ambassadors to start StopHivATL, a HIV/AIDS prevention campaign. In January 2019, Lawrence’s work on Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ LGBTQ Advisory Board, her mentorship as house mother for the House of Balenciaga, as well as her acting work, were honored by a Georgia House of Representatives proclamation from queer Representative Park Cannon.
In a June 2019 interview with Essence she questioned the excuses made by people “threatening or perpetuating violence against Black queer, gay, and trans people.” She also called out celebrities who make homophobic jokes without any accountability. In July 2019, Lawrence was one of three panelists on the Gender Justice Matters Fireside Chat in Detroit for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People‘s national conference talking about LGBTQ issues. They focused on two main areas; violent crimes against the black LGBTQ community, and how “anti-gay crimes and suicides of LGBTQ people” are caused within black communities by homophobia.
In June 2020, Lawrence spoke out during the Black Lives Matter protests that started in Minneapolis, Minnesota and have gone global in response to the police murder of George Floyd. Lawrence emphasized that LGBTQ Black lives also matter, and referenced Iyanna Dior, a trans woman “pummeled by multiple men after allegedly causing a fender bender”. Lawrence feels that if the Black community cannot also fight for non-heterosexual and non-gender conforming Black people then the whole movement suffers.