The Lady Chablis
The Grand Empress
About The Lady Chablis
The Lady Chablis, also known as The Grand Empress and The Doll, was an American actress, author, and transgender club performer. Through exposure in the bestselling nonfiction book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and its 1997 film adaptation, she became one of the first trans performers to be introduced to a wide audience.
Born on March 11, 1957, Chablis grew up in Quincy, Florida. Her parents divorced when she was five, and she was supported by her aunt, Katie Bell, and grandmother, Anna Mae Ponder, after her mother moved to Chicago to be a nurse. She did not meet her mother until she was nine, or her father until she was 12. She went on to live with her father in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, in 1969. She changed her name to “The Lady Chablis” when she was 16 years old and living in Atlanta. “My mom was going to have a baby and she miscarried. The baby’s name was going to be La Quinta Chablis and she told me to take the name. I didn’t even know what Chablis was.”
Filmography
Renowned as the “Grand Empress of Savannah,” she brought her witty, charismatic stage persona from Club One to mainstream attention, with filmography highlights including Partners (1999) and appearances on Bizarre Foods America and Real Housewives of Atlanta
Awards & Titles
In her early career as an entertainer, under the name Brenda Dale Knox, she won multiple titles in drag pageantry
Licensing
As the exclusive licensing agent for The Lady Chablis, CMG Worldwide is dedicated to maintaining and developing a positive brand image for our client. CMG is a leader and pioneer in its field, with over four decades of experience arranging licensing agreements for hundreds of personalities and brands in various industries, including sports, entertainment, music, and more. We actively seek out commercial opportunities that are consistent with our brand positioning goals, and we are committed to pursuing strategies that meet the goals of our clients, as well as our licensing partners.
Please contact us today if you are interested in licensing opportunities with The Lady Chablis. For a full list of CMG Clients, please visit our website here.