Coco Montrese

Montrese was born on July 2, 1974 in Miami, Florida. She grew up in a "very religious home" as the son of a Pentecostal pastor. Montrese studied theater and education at Alabama State.

Montrese became interested in drag around age 19 or 20 and was named by her drag mother Mokha Montrese. She entered pageantry, eventually becoming runner up in the 2010 Miss Gay America pageant. The titleholder, Alyssa Edwards, was stripped of her crown for conflicting business dealings. On February 27, 2010, Montrese was then crowned as Miss Gay America 2010.

Before appearing on RuPaul's Drag Race, Montrese worked at Walt Disney World for 11 years as an entertainer for the Fantasmic show. Working there allowed her to be able to work during the day and do drag during the evenings. She then moved to Las Vegas, where she appeared in a number of shows as a Janet Jackson impersonator.

Montrese applied just once for RuPaul's Drag Race and was accepted for their fifth season as one of fourteen contestants. The show aired January 28, 2013 and completedMay 6, 2013. During the show, Montrese was criticized for her orange makeup, which inspired many internet memes. She fell into the bottom four times, eventually sending her "arch rival" Alyssa Edwards home during their lipsync. Montrese ended up being sent home by Detox Icunt the next week, garnering a fifth place finish. Jinkx Monsoon ended up winning the competition.

Montrese was chosen to appear on RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars season 2, which premiered August 25, 2016. It was rumored that she was a replacement for Laganja Estranja, but when asked Montrese stated, "I don't know anything about that." Montrese was the first contestant cut from the show, being eliminated by Roxxxy Andrews. When asked who should have appeared on the season who was not cast, Montrese stated "Trixie Mattel ― I think she’s the life of the party. I love Trixie Mattel, she was so funny on her season and I would love to see her there." Alaska Thunderfuck ended up taking the crown.

At the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, Montrese dressed up as a 1999 Lil' Kim with a purple mermaid-inspired jumpsuit.

Montrese's drag daughter is Las Vegas queen Kahanna Montrese, a contestant on season 11 of Drag Race.

Pageant titles

• Miss Gay America - first alternate, then winner (2010)
• Miss Gay Heart of America (2009)
• Miss Gay Heart of America - first alternate (2008)
• Miss Gay Orlando (2008)
• Miss Gay Days (2008)
• Miss Gay Florida America (2007)
• Miss Gay Florida USofA (2005)
• Miss Lakeland (2003)
• Miss Hernando County

As ofSeptember 2016, Cooper is married to Alfonzo Hestle.

When asked if queer people should support the Black Lives Matter movement, Montrese responded, "I think it’s important the LGBTQ community support all movements that support all people and equality for all. If we don’t start shedding light on these things, younger generations won’t even recognize it. If you don’t bring up the past, you are doomed to repeat it. We’re all fighting for the same thing — they want to be seen as the same as everyone else — so yes, they should support that."