Pepper LaBeija

About

Drag performer and fashion designer known for being the last remaining queen of the Harlem drag balls. She won over 250 trophies as part of her drag work. She suffered from diabetes mellitus type 2, which led to the double amputation of her feet. She died of a heart attack at the age of 54. 

Before Fame

In 1981, she took over the House of LaBeija. 

Trivia

She also taught modeling and produced drag balls. 

Family Life

She was born in the Bronx. She was assigned male at birth and identified as male but preferred to use female pronouns. She had a daughter and a stepson with her partner, Pamela Jackson. Jackson died in 1992, and their children lived with their maternal grandmother when LaBeija's health began to decline. 

Associated With

She appeared in the 1990 film Paris is Burning as herself.