The Lady Chablis
The Lady Chablis | |
---|---|
Born |
Benjamin Edward Knox March 11, 1957 Quincy, Florida |
Other names | Brenda Dale Knox |
Occupation | Entertainer, actor |
The Lady Chablis (born March 11, 1957) is an American drag queen entertainer.
Career
Chablis became notable in the early 1990s when she was featured as one of Savannah's colorful characters in John Berendt's book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, based on a true crime story. In the book, Chablis and her larger-than-life adventures provided a counterbalance to the darker narrative of murder that was central to the book.
Chablis played herself in the 1997 movie of the same title, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Kevin Spacey and John Cusack. Chablis made several appearances on talk shows when the book and the movie were released. Chablis frequently performs at her "home" nightclub of Club One in Savannah. Chablis also continues to travel the US performing at various venues and special events, such as gay pride gatherings. She has also appeared on radio shows.
The Lady Chablis was featured in the closing segment of the Savannah episode of Bizarre Foods America on The Travel Channel. She joined host Andrew Zimmern at several Savannah restaurants including Elizabeth on 37th. The Lady Chablis in 2012 was interviewed by "MAMA" Savannah Georgia ([1] )on the local television and internet talk show "MAMA Knows Best Talk Show" season 2 episode 1 [2] and on April 19, 2013 Chablis performed for the grand opening of Mama's Cabaret in Lewiston Maine with "MAMA" Savannah Georgia.
Transformation
According to Berendt's book, Chablis was a transgender woman; Berendt wrote that he met Chablis as she was returning home from having a hormone injection. In her book Hiding my Candy, Chablis said she has not undergone genital reassignment surgery.
Awards and titles
In her early career as an entertainer, under the names Brenda Dale Knox but not The Lady Jonel (who is a separate person), she won multiple titles in drag pageantry including:
- Miss Dixieland 1976
- Miss Gay World 1976
- The Grand Empress of Savannah 1977
- Miss Sweetheart International 1989
The Lady Jonel is a separate person. These titles belong to her.
- Empress of Atlanta 1996
- Miss Cosmo U.S. 1997
- Miss Garden City 1997
- Miss Atlanta Universe 1998
- Miss Georgia National 1998
- Miss Southern States USA 1998
Autobiography
Lady Chablis (1996). Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah. Pocket Books. ISBN 0-671-52095-4. OCLC 37901705.
Filmography
- "Real Housewives of Atlanta"- Herself 2013
- "Bizarre Foods America: Savannah" - Herself 2012
- "Damn Good Dog" (video documentary) - Herself 2004
- "Partners" (TV Movie) - Beverly 1999
- "Midnight in Savannah" - (TV documentary) - Herself 1997
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - Chablis Deveau (as Lady Chablis) 1997
References
- ↑ Brian Kovalski (Savannah Georgia'Mama). "Brian Kovalski - Lowell (Massachusetts)". Facebook. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ↑ http://www.mamaknowsbesttalkshow.com
External links
- Official site
- "Internet radio show". Archived from the original on 2006-11-09.
- Lady Chablis at the Internet Movie Database
- Club One Savannah website
- The Lady Chablis Photos