Stephanie “Tanqueray” Johnson’s story was as dazzling as the New York lights she once danced beneath. Born in 1944 in Albany, she grew up in hardship and left home as a pregnant teen, chasing freedom and reinvention in Manhattan.
There, she became a legend. In the smoky clubs of the 1960s and ’70s, Tanqueray crafted her own rhinestone costumes and built a name that couldn’t be ignored. She wasn’t just performing—she was rewriting the rules. Her shows blended burlesque, drag, and fearless self-expression at a time when few dared to stand out.
Her famous line summed it up best: “Back in the seventies, I was the only Black girl making white girl money.”
More than an entertainer, Tanqueray was a trailblazer. She turned pain into art and broke barriers for performers who came after her. Her influence stretched far beyond the stage, inspiring countless artists to embrace who they are—unapologetically.
Even now, as fans mourn her loss, her spirit lives on in every performer who dares to shine a little brighter. Tanqueray’s story reminds us that courage, creativity, and resilience can turn even the hardest beginnings into a life that sparkles forever.