Erica Andrews

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Erica Andrews
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Erica Andrews at the Tribeca Film Festival, 2010
Born Eddie Salazar[1]
(1969-09-30)September 30, 1969
Allende, Nuevo León, Mexico
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Cause of death Complications from lung infection
Nationality Mexican, American[citation needed]
Other names Erica Hutton, Erica Hutton Andrews
Occupation Actor, drag performer, entrepreneur
Years active 1988–2013
Known for Drag performance, beauty pageant winner, stage and film performance
Home town San Antonio, Texas, United States

Erica Salazar (September 30, 1969 – March 11, 2013), better known by the stage name Erica Andrews, was a Mexican male to female transgender performer. He was an international and national beauty pageant title winner, drag performer, actor, entrepreneur, and activist.

Early life and career

Erica Andrews was born Eddie Salazar[1] on September 30, 1969 in Allende, Nuevo León, Mexico.[2][3][4]

He grew up on a small ranch called Los Aguirres in the rural outskirts of Allende, where there was little electricity.[5] He changed his name to Erica, a name he derived from a phonetic pronunciation of Eddie. He attached a colloquial ca to the end of Eddie so that it sounded like Eddieca and formed the name Erica.[6] Consequently, he became Erica Salazar.[7] Beginning around 1989–1990, he took on the stage name Erica Hutton.[5][8] He named himself after Lauren Hutton, whom he admired.[5] After he met Tandi Andrews, who became his drag mother and mentor,[1][5] he changed his stage name to Erica Hutton Andrews and subsequently to Erica Andrews.

Andrews was born into a family with two older brothers and a younger sister.[2][9] During his childhood, his father was sentenced to ten years in prison for a drug offense.[10] Andrews spent his childhood in Allende through the age of 8, when his mother and siblings crossed the border and settled in Laredo, Texas.[2] Though Andrews maintained a relationship with his mother and siblings, he became estranged from his father and never saw him again. Upon leaving home, Andrews attended college for two years, earning an associate degree. He attended cosmetology school and became a licensed cosmetologist. He began to work as a make-up artist and consultant at department store makeup counters for MAC Cosmetics and also for Glamour Shots.[2][4]

In an interview with Ambiente Magazine in 2005, Andrews recalled a difficult childhood. He described being referred to as a little girl instead of a little boy by a guest speaker at his elementary school and being laughed at by the students. He also remembered in high school returning home from a volleyball game and being taunted by two guys who threw him down, kicked dirt on him, and punched him a couple of times.[3] On the Tyra Banks Show as well as in an online radio interview with Richard Curtin, Andrews discussed a time when he was about 17 when he ran away from home and struggled because of the challenges he faced as a trans woman.[4][6][11] Andrews was pre-operative (pre-sex reassignment surgery).[7] He began his estrogen hormone replacement therapy when he was 18. He had undergone silicone and electrolysis treatment. Andrews said he had never had any plastic surgery on his face or body,[10] implying that he retained his penis. Of course his sex chromosomes were also unaltered, as there is no way to change them.

Career

At 18, he was introduced to drag and female impersonation through his then boyfriend who was a female impersonator and drag pageant contestant.[2][4] In 1988, at 18, Andrews moved with him to San Antonio, Texas,[7] where he made a name for himself in the drag circuit.[12] His first performance was at a club named Las Gueras to the song Break Away.[3] He began performing on amateur nights at the now defunct Paper Moon night club (later The Saint) on Main Avenue in San Antonio. Andrews won the Paper Moon talent of the week and talent of the month contests. This led to his participation in Paper Moon's Newcomer of the year contest in which he placed third.[12][13] At the encouragement and support of Raphael Ruiz de Velasco (owner of The Saint night club), Andrews entered the Miss San Antonio USA pageant.[12]

Beauty pageants

Andrews actively participated in beauty pageants. He was a celebrated multi-national and international titleholder. According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, he was considered "one of the most decorated queens on the pageant circuit".[13] He was called "the most beautiful drag queen in captivity".[14] The first pageant title that Andrews won was Miss Just Us (1989).[15] He was a promoter for the Miss Texas Continental franchise.[16]

Andrews won numerous pageant titles.[17] His titles include:

Year Title Location Notes
1997 Miss Gay Texas USofA[18] Houston, Texas Event venue was called Inergy Club (then known as Rich's Houston) presently now called Crystal Night Club.
1999 Miss Gay USofA[18] Dallas, Texas Event venue was Dallas Grand Hotel Ballroom.
2001 Miss Texas Continental[18] San Antonio, Texas Event venue was The Saint. (before Paper Moon)
2004 Miss Florida Continental[18] Miami, Florida Andrews also won the best gown and talent awards.
2004 Universal ShowQueen[18] Honolulu, Hawaii Event held on June 26, 2004 at the Pacific Ballroom of the Ilikai Hotel.
2004 Miss Continental[18] Chicago, Illinois Event sponsored by Baton Show Lounge and held at the Park West Theater. Andrews had competed for Miss Continental in 1998 (top 12) and in 2001 (5 Runner up).
2006 Miss International Queen[18] Pattaya City, Thailand The world's most prestigious and largest beauty pageant for international transgender women. Event held on October 29, 2006 at Tiffany's Show Theater, Pattaya City, Chonburi, Thailand. Andrews competed under the Mexican flag. He chose to compete for his country of origin/birth. He presented the Miss International Queen organization with his birth certificate and was allowed.
2006 Miss National Entertainer of the Year[18] Louisville, Kentucky Event venue was the Connection Complex.

Live performances

Andrews performed on the United States LGBT drag circuit.[1] Andrews performed at San Antonio nightclubs like The Saint, Heat, The Bonham, and The Pegasus.[1]

Andrews imitated Hollywood greats such as Joan Crawford, Cher, top Latin artist Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, and fictional characters like Jessica Rabbit[19] and Wonder Woman.[1][20] His performances[1] included the Mommie Dearest boardroom scene which was accompanied by a Shirley Bassey mix to I (Who Have Nothing) as well as a depiction of Mary Katherine Gallagher, a fictional character who is a sardonic caricature of an unpopular teen Catholic school girl invented by Saturday Night Live cast member Molly Shannon and featured in Superstar.[21]

Drag Family

Erica is the drag mother of Roxxxy Andrews, a drag queen who has appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race.

Activism

In 2010, Andrews was the first model for the Faces of Life photographic project that originated from Dallas, Texas. The project by Jorge Rivas was created to bring awareness to people who are HIV positive or have AIDS.[16]

Later life and death

In 2012, after making San Antonio his home base for many years, Andrews moved to Indiana, to be with his boyfriend.[16]

Andrews died from what were said to be complications resulting from a lung infection on March 11, 2013, at UIC hospital in Chicago, Illinois.[16]

Works

Television

Year Title Episode Role Notes
2001 The Maury Povich Show Sexy, Hot Ladies...Or Are They?[18] Himself Episode aired on January 30, 2001.
 ? The Maury Povich Show Male Or Female![18] Himself
2006 Trantasia[18] Himself Documentary based on The World's Most Beautiful Transsexual Contest.
2007 The Tyra Banks Show[18] Trantasia Himself Season 3, episode 56. Episode aired on Tuesday, November 27, 2007.<

Stage productions

In 2002, Andrews' first stage performance was in Jotos del Barrio, a play written by Jesus Alonzo that explored the lives of young gay Latinos. The play was presented as a series of poems, monologues, and vignettes. He played a transgender character, Janie la Transie. In an interview with the San Antonio Current, Andrews spoke of his ability to relate to the character. He also played an additional role as the biological mother of a young gay male.[7]

In 2004, Andrews played the lead role of The Succubus, a vampire lesbian, in Charles Busch's off-Broadway satirical play Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, produced by the Actors Theatre of San Antonio group.[12]

In 2009, Andrews performed in Jesus Alonzo's play Miss America: A Mexicanito's Fairy Tale at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center in San Antonio.[22] The play was about a nine-year-old boy, Chuy, who dreamed of becoming Miss America. Andrews portrayed Chuy's fairy godmother.[13]

Year Title Role Playwright Location Notes
2002 Jotos del Barrio[7] Janie la Transie
Biological mother to young gay male		 Jesus Alonzo Jump-Start Theater, San Antonio, Texas Andrews played dual roles in the production. Andrews participated in the Jotos del Barrio one-night only encore performance at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, San Antonio, Texas on May 10, 2002. Listed as Erica Salazar on production credits.
2009 Miss America: A Mexicanito's Fairy Tale[22] Fairy godmother Jesus Alonzo Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, San Antonio, Texas

Film

Andrews appeared three times on Maury (the Maury Povich Show)[12] and on The Tyra Banks Show.[6] He was also a make-up artist on the Maury Povich show in New York City.[22] In 2007, Andrews did a cameo in Jennifer Lopez's music video, Do It Well from her Brave album, but does not appear in the final edition; And had a cameo as a street walker on Maroon 5's music video (at the 2:09 mark) Won't Go Home Without You from It Won't Be Soon Before Long album. In 2011, he appeared as the love interest in Deborah Vial's music video for the single Don't Make Me Take It from her debut album, Stages and Stones.[23]

Andrews' screen appearances included the United Kingdom-produced documentary Trantasia (2008) which chronicled Andrews' participation in The World's Most Beautiful Transsexual Contest in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2010, he starred in a supporting role in the revenge-horror-exploitation film Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives.[18][24]

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives[18] Emma Grashun

Music video

Year Artist Album Title Role Notes
2011 Deborah Vial Stages and Stones Don't Make Me Take It As Deborah Vial's love interest[23] Andrews debuts at the 0:42 time marker of the video.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.00 18.01 18.02 18.03 18.04 18.05 18.06 18.07 18.08 18.09 18.10 18.11 18.12 18.13 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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