Mo Heart, formerly Monique Heart, is the stage name of Kevin Leandrew Richardson (born May 22, 1986), an American drag queen, reality television personality, and recording artist best known for competing on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2018), the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars (2018–2019), and the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022). Since first appearing on Drag Race in 2018, Mo Heart has appeared in a number of web series produced by World of Wonder, including a starring role in Manic Moments With Monique Heart, and hosted her own podcast, Ace of Hearts with Monique Heart. In January 2019, she released her debut single "Brown Cow Stunning", and later released her debut extended play Beloved SoS 6.3 in 2020.
Early life Richardson was born on May 22, 1986, on Long Island, New York. He spent time in areas in Long Island which includes Roosevelt, New York and Freeport, New York. He also stayed in Bedford-Stuyvesant with his father when he was growing up. Richardson was often teased at school for being different. He moved to Virginia in 2000 before moving to Kansas City, Missouri after graduating from high school and studied the Bible at the International House of Prayer University in Grandview, where he experienced conversion therapy.
Career
Richardson's original drag name was Monique Kutabetch Heart and later changed to Monique Heart. Some other rejected drag names were Ariana Styles, Nevah, Jiz Zonra, and Kisha Amillion. He created "Monique Heart" in 2011, and began a career as a drag queen at Hamburger Mary's, emceeing bingo and hosting Sunday drag brunch.
Mo Heart first auditioned for the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race but was unsuccessful. Two years later, she would audition for the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and this time succeeded in qualifying to be a contestant. Before being accepted on the season, Mo Heart was ready to quit drag, but decided to continue. She placed eighth overall, after losing a lip sync to "Cut to the Feeling" by Carly Rae Jepsen against The Vixen. Mo Heart was confirmed to be one of the contestants competing in the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars on November 9, 2018. After not winning any challenges in her original season, Mo Heart won three main challenges during All Stars, eventually reaching Top 4. She was a runner-up alongside Naomi Smalls, finishing in joint 3rd/4th place to Monét X Change and Trinity the Tuck. Mo Heart's catchphrases on the show were quoted by Rihanna, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Lizzo.
Mo Heart was announced as part of the cast for the first season of RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race, a Drag Race spin-off where Drag Race alumni transform celebrities into drag queens. On March 5 and 6, Mo Heart performed alongside fellow drag race alumni Bebe Zahara Benet, Bob the Drag Queen, The Vixen, Peppermint, and Shea Couleé in the Nubia Tour, a live drag show featuring and produced by Black drag queens. In August, Mo Heart will start in her very own World of Wonder Presents web series called Manic Moments with Monique Heart.
In June 2021, Mo Heart was a featured performer for the second annual It Gets Better: A Digital Pride Experience. She hosted her own podcast, Ace of Hearts with Monique Heart.
Mo Heart hosted the Amazon Music original fashion-themed TV series, The Walk In, where she interviewed celebrities as they show off some of their iconic fashion moments throughout their careers. Featured guests included Lil Nas X, Rico Nasty, and Jax. Mo Heart owns her own beauty company, MoBeauty.
In January 2022, Mo Heart was announced as one of the nine contestants on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World, now going by her new name. Regarding the name change, she said:
In the penultimate episode, Mo Heart placed in the Top 2, and lip-synced to "Toy" by Netta, but lost to Jujubee. Mo Heart went onto compete in the Top 4 finale, and placed second to Blu Hydrangea.
Music Mo Heart performed her debut single "Brown Cow Stunning" on the premiere episode of RuPaul's Drag Race: All-Stars, and was released on January 4, 2019. A music video for the song was released the same day. Mo Heart appeared in the music video for "Soak It Up" by fellow Season 10 contestant Monét X Change and season 8 winner Bob the Drag Queen. On September 4, Mo Heart released another single, "SUKM (Kiss Me)", as well as an accompanying lyric video, the debut single for her EP, Beloved SoS 6.3, which was released in 2020.
Personal life Richardson first realized he was gay at the age of 17 while working a shift at Burger King. He is a Christian. In 2019, he moved to Los Angeles, and as of 2021, currently resides in Palm Springs.
Discography EPs Title Details Beloved SoS 6.3 (with KOIL) Released: January 24, 2020 Label: Self-released Formats: digital download Redemption Released: June 25, 2022 Label: Self-released Formats: digital download
Singles
As lead artist Title Year Album "Brown Cow Stunning" 2018 "SUKM (Kiss Me)"2019Beloved SoS 6.3"Hot Sauce & High Heels" 2020"Redemption"2022Redemption"God's Been Good to Me""Come See About Me"
Featured singles Title Year Album "Errybody Say Love" (RuPaul featuring Naomi Smalls, Monique Heart, Farrah Moan, and Monét X Change) 2018 rowspan="6" "Super Queen" (RuPaul featuring Naomi Smalls, Monét X Change, Monique Heart, & Trinity the Tuck) 2019 "I'm a Drag Queen" (feat. Leland, Freddy Scott, Brooke Villyani, Alyssa Edwards, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, and Monique Heart) 2020 "Better by Myself"(JORDY and Monique Heart) "Living My Life in London (Cast Version)" (RuPaul featuring the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World) 2022 "The Big Opening"
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2020Nubia: Amplified Herself OutTV original 2021 Being Bebe Herself Archive footage
Television Year Title Role Notes 2018 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself Contestant (8th place); Season 10 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked 2018–2019 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Contestant (3rd/4th place); Season 4 2019KSHB-TVGuest2020AJ and the QueenMiss Terri ToryGuest appearanceHey Qween!HerselfGuest RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag RaceMentor For Christmas Sake: The Movie MusicalCupidMusical short film 2022Nubia Amplified: The Series Herself PanelistRuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the WorldHerselfContestant (Runner-Up); Series 1 iCarlyAuntie HistamineGuest appearance Trixie MotelHerselfGuest appearance Huluween DragstravaganzaHerselfHulu original
Music videos Year Title Artist 2018"Soak It Up"Monét X Change 2019"Brown Cow Stunning"Herself 2020"Hot Sauce and High Heels (Kinky Boots Remix)"Herself "Keep That Same Energy"Widow Von'Du ft. Shilow "Sitting Alone in the VIP"Alaska Thunderfuck featuring Kandy Muse
Web series Year Title Role Notes 2017Crazy X GirlfriendHerselfGuest 2018Cosmo QueensGuest Queen to QueenAlongside The Vixen Countdown to the CrownSeason 10 2019Review With a JewGuest Whatcha Packin'?Season 10, All Stars 4 Radio AndyGuest Queen's CourtGuest The Stan GameGuest Yvie's Odd School Episode: "Quick Drag with Monique Heart" Drag Queens React Episode: "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" Envy of My Boogie Episode: "Dancing for Your Tips with Monique Heart" 2020Bobbin' AroundEpisode: "Nubia"Alyssa's SecretEpisode: "Manic Moments with Monique Heart"Elevate Your SlayGuestWorking Out Is a DragTransformationsManic Moments with Monique HeartStarThe X Change RateEpisode: "Monique Heart"2021The Pit StopGuestBingePodcast by Entertainment Weekly 2021–presentThe Walk In Host; produced by Amazon Music 2022 Bring Back My Girls Guest
References
External links