Michell’e Michaels, also known as Miss_Shalae, walks with her head held high and Beyonce stamina strong as she inspires trans people “to follow their hearts and dreams.” Miss_Shalae is a Beyonce impersonator and performer based in Los Angeles and the star in the film.
If you’ve been too bogged down with the unsettling news cycle of the past few weeks, we would love to introduce you to the magic genius of the Glass Wing Group. They are an all trans creative team that produced the 11-minute version of Beyonce’s hit calling it “Lemonade Served Bittersweet.”
While everything from the choreography to costumes is stunning, we also celebrate the freedom and joy it embodies.
More Radical Reads: Visibility and Vulnerability as a Trans Woman
There have been at least 15 black trans women murdered this year alone and their deaths go swept under a rug, as Black trans women often live in fear of being “outed” and having to live in a society that manifest an abundance of body terrorism. The Glass Wing Group’s work is a reminder of the allegiance we must have to our own identities and honoring just how fierce we are regardless of the many isms faced.
The short film adaptation was shot by Q Burdette, while Miss_Shalae held the producer title and directed it along with Ading Goodings. The video has been viewed over 70,000 times on Facebook, took only 16 hours to shoot and has received tons of love since it’s debut this past week.
Miss_Shalae spoke with the The Daily Mail and shared that her love for Beyonce runs deep. She is not sure if Beyonce has seen the video, but hopes that if so she is inspired to partner and help “eliminate the hate between cisgender women and trans-women.” And though the video was mostly well received, there were certainly still a mass of hate that we’ve seen all too often.
Popular hip hop gossip site Bossip also reposted Miss_Shalae’s video, but the comments section was soaked in painful rhetoric.
“Some how Bossip got a hold to the video which is amazing! It only helps but as I’m reading the comments it’s 98% hate. What happen to live and let live. “If you don’t have anything nice to say do say it at all.” Love is the conquer. We are conquers. Hope you’re having an amazing day! Love and light! Too my 2% I Love and Thank You,” Miss_Shalae wrote on her Facebook page in response.
More Radical Reads: A Letter to The Women Who Exclude Trans & Non-binary People from “Safe Spaces“
We are so grateful for Miss_Shalae and all of you with marginalized voices that continue to speak out, stand up and create dynamic art. Simply living your life out loud is part of the resistance and revolution.
“I hope to inspire other trans-women and people to follow their hearts and dreams no matter who is against them. Instead of judging accept us as human beings because that’s what we are first regardless of gender or sex,” said Miss_Shalae.
Check out the gorgeous video here .
Are you coming into your own gender identity and learning how to love and celebrate your identity? Join us for our next workshop 10 Tools to Radical Self Love.
[Feature Image: A black white image of Miss_Shalae standing outdoors wearing a long white dress with long blonde hair as two other women sit among rocks in the background also wearing white dresses. Facebook Video Screenshot ]
Share your thoughts
You must be logged in to post a comment.