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Jeffree Star (born Jeffrey Steininger, November 15, 1986) is an American model, fashion designer, make-up artist and singer-songwriter residing in the Los Angeles area. He is known for his popularity on MySpace, from his gender-bending appearance as a transgressive , who dubs himself "Queen of the Internet"Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). and "Cunt: Queen of the Beautifuls". Star has leveraged his fame as an androgynous model and aesthetic talents to launch his own clothing line and forays into acting and DJing.

Early life

Star was born in Orange County, California. Star recalls that he "discovered that he was gay in his early childhood". His father died in his childhood thus Star was left alone while his working model mother went on assignments. He began experimenting with his mother's makeup at a young age, leading to an obsessive compulsive interest, and convinced his mom to let him wear make-up to school when he was in junior high.

Club scene

Star's make-up artist career was started at age fifteen as an "underage gender-bending club kid" wearing make-up, dying his hair in day-glo colors and cross dressing which in turn lead to receiving large amounts of attention from people both in and out of school. Star popularity came from wearing women's clothing and accessories in high school. Star recalls that his obsessive compulsive disorder as a child pushed him into wearing his mother's makeup and clothes.

On weekends, Star recounts using a "fake ID to attend Hollywood clubs dressed in mini dresses and nine inch high heels where celebrities would contract him for make-up work at their homes", or "hiring as a model." He reports that his weekend partying at clubs and the make-up advice he gave was the foundation to his modeling career.

Make-up, modeling, and Internet fame

Star was referred to celebrities including Kelly Osbourne, Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, AFI frontman Davey Havok and Jessicka from the band Scarling.

Star gained a cult following from posting outrageous photographs of himself on Internet forums and later MySpace, who began sending him gifts including expensive cameras to take more pictures.

On August 1, 2006, Los Angeles's GLBT magazine Frontiers featured Star on its cover.

On November 17, 2006 Star and several contestants from "America's Next Top Model" were a part of Black Chandelier's "Fall 2006 Runway Show" at Salt Lake City's Union Pacific Depot. Star was also a guest on "America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7".

On March 16, 2007, Star was one of the featured runway models for BOXeight's production of designer Jared Gold’s flamboyant "Quiet Army show", regarded as "the wildest front row in all of Fashion Week." The shows 2007 theme was "Mormon chic", effectively using the Los Angeles Theater as a backdrop during L.A. Fashion Week. He has appeared in several music videos including Good Charlotte's The River and Godhead's Push. Most recently he appeared in the video for Aiden's "One Love".. He also kissed Chris Crocker in his latest video. .

MySpace celebrity

Jeffree Star used popular social networking website MySpace to further both his music as well as fashion design career. Star also used MySpace for blogging about his life while making social commentary on "self-image and confidence", fame, beauty and life. Using the nickname of "cunt" while using "cyanide-laced wit" in his online rants to attract attention, Star had built up a fan base on several websites but convinced many to join him on MySpace, giving his MySpace profile a large number of "friends" from the beginning. His MySpace friend base has since grown to over 632,000 as of October 2007 with each new photo shoot getting over 50,000 comments when posted, and by November 2006, he was recognized as MySpace's most connected profile personality.

Star has also gained fame as one of the most popular unsigned artists with the daily rankings placing him in the top tier on MySpace.

Buzznet.com video-blogging

On March 28, 2007 at Project Runway's Jeffrey Sebelia fashion show Star was a front row "celebutante" where he revealed details of Buzznet.com’s “Queen Needs a Princess Contest” which had "a day of femme-licious fun with Star" as the grand prize. The social-networking, music-news site specializes in new-media (integrated photoblog and videoblog capabilities) which Star has capitalized on to dovetail his modeling and music interests. Stars' social trendsetting participation at Buzznet and his success at growing online fan-base was noted in Buzznet's six million financing in May 2007. Star regularly uploads video-blog segments including music reviews, event reports as well as posting news about his upcoming music release.

Music career

Star's music career as an electronica and hip-hop vocalist began when he befriended Peaches' drummer who encouraged him to make music.

His first two tracks Straight Boys and We Want Cunt, (named in tribute to his former screen name Cunt: Queen of the Beautifuls) were co-written with Hole and one time Mötley Crüe drummer, Samantha Maloney and singer Jessicka from Scarling. Star asked MySpace co-founder Tom to convert his MySpace profile into a music page so he could showcase his music.

On November 1, 2006 Star performed on the same bill as Los Angeles's Dirty Sanchez at the LA bar Key Club’s post-Halloween show. Star has toured with electro musician Peaches.

On June 24 2007, Jeffree was banned from Toronto's Gay Pride Parade for punching a female fan in the face after spectators standing near her threw bottles onstage.

Also featured in Aiden's video 'One Love' in 2007.

Discography

On March 13, 2007, Star released his first EP, Plastic Surgery Slumber Party. Immediately, it debuted March 20, 2007 at No. 1 on iTunes’s dance charts and "has consistently topped the iTunes dance charts at #1, hovering high above household names such as Justin Timberlake and Cascada." Separately Star's MySpace page has an impressive 25 million listens off Plastic Surgery Slumber Party.

Two songs recorded by Star that were not released on Plastic Surgery Slumber Party are "Louis Vuitton" and "Don't Cha (Sex Change Remix)", the latter of which featured Lady Pop Quiz and Diamond Girl. Star also recorded a song with Hollywood Undead in 2005 for their 7 Song Sampler, titled "Turn off the Lights". A remix of "Plastic Surgery Slumber Party" is featured on his MySpace and may be on the upcoming CD as a bonus.

Star announced in late 2007 that recording is underway for an album titled Beauty Killer. The first single, "Heart Surgery Isn't That Bad..." has already been released. Other confirmed tracks include "Mascara + Mistakes = Murder", "Cupcakes Taste like Violence", "Somebody's Watching Me", "Addicted To You" and "So Fierce". It is speculated that it will be released in late 2008. A B-Side Single was released on Star's MySpace and on iTunes titled "I Hate Music" it will not be featured on his upcoming album.

'Albums'

• 2007: "Plastic Surgery Slumber Party"
• 2008: Beauty Killer LP

'Singles'

• 2008:"Heart Surgery Isn't That Bad..."
• 2008:"I Hate Music"

True Colors

During the summer of 2007, Star was advertised as a part of the True Colors Tour 2007, which traveled through 15 cities in the United States and Canada. The tour, sponsored by the LGBT Logo channel, began on June 8, 2007 to coincide with Pride month. Profits from the tour benefited the Human Rights Campaign as well as PFLAG and The Matthew Shepard Foundation. Though he was advertised as a special guest to perform on several West Coast dates, Star did not appear.

Star's Plastic Surgery Slumber Party single will appear on the August 7, 2007 Tommy Boy release of Cyndi Lauper's True Colors tour compilation. Featuring ten tracks from ten of the artists the compilation will benefit the Human Rights Campaign, an organization that fights for civil rights for LGBT people.

Reality show development

Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato's World of Wonders Productions is developing a reality show featuring Star and promise of "glamour and sexual tension." World of Wonders, who are also developing shows such as Allison Margolin: The Dopest Attorney in Town, about an LA lawyer who specializes in medical-marijuana cases, and Beauty School Dropout featuring actor Jim J. Bullock's "second career as the would-be owner of a hair salon."

Merchandise

Star's Tshirts & Hoodies were ranked #1 on Hottopic.com. The company later decided to do an interview on Star.

References

1. "Jeffree Star Tickets". AllGigs.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-07-30. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
2. Catalyst, Clint (Spring 2006). "Jeffree Star". Swindle (magazine). Retrieved 2007-07-20.
3. ^ Dempsey, John (May 22, 2007). "World of Wonders touts reality trio: Jeffree Star, Jim J. Bullock topline new shows". Variety. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
4. ^ Smith, Kevin (May 24 2007). "Queen of the Internet". Arizona Star. Retrieved 2007-06-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
5. ^ Emonds, Craig (April 02, 2007). "MySpace continues to expedite music careers". South End Newspaper. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "MySpace continues to expedite" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
6. ^ Weiner, Jonah (April 11, 2006)."Tila Tequila for President". Slate.com. Retrieved July 29, 2006.
7. ^ Immediato, Linda (9 May 2007). "Jeffree Star: The Fairest One of All". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2007-06-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "Jeffree Star: The Fairest One" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
8. ^ Catalyst, Clint (2006). "The Future is Jeffree Star: Inside the cult-like following of the Internet's most popular queer icon". Frontiers. Retrieved 2007-07-20. Cite error: The named reference "The Future Is Jeffree Star" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
9. "Jeffrey Star: Electro / Pop / Rap". Virb. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
10. ^ Star, Jeffree (7/20/2007). "Jeffree Star's MySpace profile". MySpace. Retrieved 2007-07-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "MySpace" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
11. ^ Spencer, Amy (November 9th, 2006). "Jeffree Star - Queen of the Beautifuls". IN Utah This Week. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
12. Immediato, Linda (March 21, 2007). "L.A. Fashion Week Smackdown". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
13. YouTube - Broadcast Yourself
14. Market News Publishing. (November 1, 2006) Kicks Off Retail Revolution.
15. Lecaro, Lina (April 4, 2007). "In the Kodak, in the Pink". LA Times. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
16. "Buzznet Lands $6 Million Round of Financing Led By Redpoint Ventures and Anthem Venture Partners Same Venture Capital Firm That Pioneered MySpace Backs Leading Next Generation Social Media Company". PR Newswire. May 24, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
17. Lecaro, Lina (October 25, 2006). "Dirty Sanchez: Local bands, man". LA Times. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
18. "Rock Picks For the week of December 14 – 21". LA Times. December 13, 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
19. Ryan Couldrey, Don't Eff with Jeffree Star, BlogTO. June 24 2007. URL accessed June 30 2007.
20. Ryan Couldrey, Jeffree Star Covers Up, BlogTO. June 29 2007 URL accessed June 30 2007.
21. Aiden - One Love (Official Video)
22. Star, Jeffree (7/20/2007). "Jeffree Star: Electro / Pop". MySpace. Retrieved 2007-07-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
23. Naff, Lycia (JUNE 23, 2007). "Britney to Join Cyndi Lauper's Tour for Surprise Show". People. Retrieved 2007-07-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
24. "True Colors: Special Guests". TrueColorsConcerts LLC. 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
25. ^ Spiro, Josh (2007-07-18). "Cyndi Lauper Releases 'True Colors' Comp". CMJ. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
26. Yourse, Robyn-Denise (May 29, 2007). "Tuning In". Washington Times. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
27. YouTube - Hot Topic - Jeffree Star: A Day at HT HQ - 11.07

See also

• Celebutante
• Famous for being famous
• Queercore
• Valley Village, Los Angeles, California
• Video on Trial, Star was a guest juror

External links

• Official website
• Template:MySpace
• Jeffree Star at YouTube
• Jeffree Star on Buzznet
• Jeffree Star Store
• Jeffree Star on PureVolume
• Fashion at the Open Directory Project
• SWINDLE Magazine interview with Jeffree Star

Template:Persondata

• 1986 births
• 2007 albums
• American bloggers
• American electronic musicians
• American Internet personalities
• American make-up artists
• American male models
• American male singers
• California musicians
• Internet personalities
• LGBT musicians from the United States
• Living people
• Queercore
• Drag queens