Rayne Baron, known professionally as Ladyfag, is a New York City-based writer, performer, nightlife personality, and events producer.

Background

Born in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

, Canada, she ran a store selling

vintage clothing Vintage clothing is a generic term for garments originating from a previous era, as recent as the 1990s. The term can also be applied in reference to second hand retail outlets, e.g. i''n vintage clothing store''. While the concept originated ...

and antiques. After becoming involved in the Toronto club scene, she was a resident performer at Will Munro's Vazaleen parties. Canadian writer R. M. Vaughan in his article 'Generation V', about gay and lesbians revolutionizing the city's underground art scene says, "a statuesque model and vintage clothing dealer who dominated the stage like a Russian Jewish Grace Jones." In 2006, she relocated to New York City assuming the name Ladyfag. Moving to New York in 2006, she was discovered by NYC nightlife icon Kenny Kenny and started dancing at the famed party "Happy Valley" thrown by him and Susanne Bartsch. She has since become her own events producer, known for holding parties for the downtown, underground and international fashion scene.

Nightlife and events

In the spring of 2010, she started East Village based party Family Function with her

resident DJ In the DJ culture, a resident DJ or local DJ refers to a DJ is part of the staff of employees of the club, unlike a guest artist, who works as freelancer, which means that he or she plays on several clubs (including several countries). Obtaining ...

and friend Michael Magnan. In the fall of 2010 she produced the now infamous Clubber Down Disco party with resident DJ

Miss Honey Dijon Honey Redmond (known professionally as Honey Dijon) is an American DJ, producer, and electronic musician. She was born in Chicago and is based in New York City and Berlin. She has performed at clubs, festivals, art fairs, galleries and fashion ...

. It was one of the last of the parties at the legendary

Hotel Chelsea The Hotel Chelsea (also the Chelsea Hotel or the Chelsea) is a hotel in Manhattan, New York City, built between 1883 and 1885. The 250-unit hotel is located at 222 West 23rd Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, in the neighborhood of Ch ...

before it was sold in the summer of 2011. Clothing store Opening Ceremony selected the party as one of the top six of the decade, and had her help host their 10-year anniversary celebration at

Webster Hall Webster Hall is a nightclub and concert venue located at 125 East 11th Street, between Third and Fourth Avenues, near Astor Place, in the East Village of Manhattan, New York City. It is one of New York City's most historically significant ...

. In 2013 she and her partner Seva Granik started producing a series of secret warehouse parties in Brooklyn called Shade, which have become a nightlife phenomenon. For a party celebrating the launch of

Maurizio Cattelan Maurizio Cattelan (born 21 September 1960) is an Italian artist. Known primarily for his hyperrealistic sculptures and installations, Cattelan's practice also includes curating and publishing. His Satire, satirical approach to art has resulted in ...

and Pierpaolo Ferrari's ''Toilet Paper'' magazine and the unveiling of their billboard on the

High Line The High Line is a elevated park, elevated linear park, greenway (landscape), greenway and rail trail created on a former New York Central Railroad spur on the West Side (Manhattan), west side of Manhattan in New York City. The High Line's ...

, she produced an evening at the famed leather bar The Eagle. In 2012, she co-emceed with Legendary Vogue Ball MC Jack Mizrahi at the

AmfAR amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, known until 2005 as the American Foundation for AIDS Research, is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of ...

and the

W Hotel W Hotels is an American upscale lifestyle hotel chain owned by Marriott International that is marketed towards a younger age group. History W Hotels was launched in 1998 with W New York, a conversion of the former Doral Inn hotel on Lexington ...

's inaugural Love Hangover Ball fundraiser event. The event was hosted by

Kelly Osbourne Kelly Michelle Lee Osbourne (born 27 October 1984) is an English television personality, singer, actress, model, and fashion designer. The daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, she appeared on the reality show ''The Osbournes'' (2002–2005) w ...

, and included judges and presenters such as

Edward Enninful Edward Kobina Enninful (born 22 February 1972) is an English editor-in-chief of British ''Vogue'' and European editorial director of Condé Nast. He was appointed a fashion director of British fashion magazine ''i-D'' at the age of 18, a pos ...

, Fergie,

Mickey Boardman Mickey Boardman is the editorial director and advice columnist for ''Paper'' magazine. Biography Boardman was raised in Hanover Park, IllinoisPat McGrath,

Simon Doonan Simon Doonan (born 1952 He worked at Barneys until it closed in 2019. He writes a column on style for ''Slate''. In his book, ''Eccentric Glamour'', he decried porno chic in Western society in general. Interviewed for an article for the ''New ...

Karlie Kloss Karlie Elizabeth Kloss (born August 3, 1992) is an American fashion model. ''Vogue Paris'' declared her one of the "top 30 models of the 2000s" when she was 17. Kloss was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 2013 until 2015; she resigned to study at ...

Isaac Mizrahi Isaac Mizrahi (born October 14, 1961) is an American fashion designer, television presenter and chief designer of the Isaac Mizrahi brand for Xcel Brands. Based in New York City, he is best known for his eponymous fashion lines. Mizrahi was prev ...

Lily Donaldson Lily Monica Donaldson (born 27 January 1988) is an English model. Career Donaldson was born in London, and educated at the Camden School for Girls, living in Kentish Town with her parents. She has a younger sister named Aurelia. She was scout ...

, Zac Posen,

Derek Blasberg Derek Charles Blasberg (born April 22, 1982) is an American journalist, socialite, author, and television personality who works in the fashion industry. As of 2018, he is the head of fashion and beauty partnerships at YouTube and is a senior staff ...

Richard Chai Richard Chai is an American fashion designer. Career Chai creates clothes for an eponymous label. Before launching his own line, he designed for Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Cristiano Ronaldo for two labels, for underwear and socks from 2013 and ...

and

Jason Wu Jason Wu (; born September 27, 1982) is a Taiwanese-Canadian artist and fashion designer based in New York City. Born in Taiwan and raised in Vancouver, he studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design, and trained under Narciso Rodrigu ...

. Since the fall of 2011, she has organized the popular daytime bazaar, Pop Souk, a one-day market place and party with the tagline "where downtown sells, not sells out". The event is a biannual tradition, taking place with fall and spring editions at such venues as the Hiro Ballroom, Greenhouse, and the Standard Highline. Along with one of her usual partners, producer Josh Wood, they throw a popular party called Pacino during men's fashion week in Paris every season. She annually produces events at

Art Basel Art Basel is a for-profit, privately owned and managed, international art fair staged annually in Basel, Switzerland; Miami Beach; Hong Kong and from 2022, Paris. Art Basel works in collaboration with the host city's local institutions to help ...

in Miami, as well as at the

Life Ball The Life Ball in Vienna is the biggest Charitable organization, charity event in Europe supporting people with HIV or AIDS. The event is organized by the nonprofit organization AIDS LIFE, which was founded in 1992 by Gery Keszler and Torgom Petros ...

party in Vienna raising money for HIV and AIDS research. She was voted Most Welcome Party Presence in the "Best of New York City 2009" by ''

The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the crea ...

'', as well as named Queen of the Scene by ''New York Press''. In 2007, ''

Paper Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, rags, grasses or other vegetable sources in water, draining the water through fine mesh leaving the fibre evenly distributed ...

'' magazine featured her in their annual Beautiful People issue and in 2009 presented her with the Future Face of Nightlife award at their Nightlife Awards.

Art

For the art exhibit "I Want to Go to Africa", curated by

Sook-Yin Lee Sook-Yin Lee is a Canadian broadcaster, musician, film director, and actress. She is a former MuchMusic VJ and a former radio host on CBC Radio. She has appeared in films, notably in the John Cameron Mitchell movie ''Shortbus''. Early and pers ...

, she wrote and performed a cabaret act entitled "Ladyfag, A Love Story". Her collaboration with artist Paige Gratland on the "Donut Ho's" exhibitions lead to a multimedia piece being acquired by the National Gallery of Canada's "Library Collection". She was selected by the Gladstone Hotel to design one of their artist commissioned rooms. In late 2006, she returned to Toronto for a nearly sold-out multimedia solo show at Paul Petro Multiples and Small Works gallery entitled "Ladyfag: Saint of Female Faggotry." In 2011, she was awarded the FUN Fellowship in the Social Practice of Nightlife by the

Museum of Arts and Design The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), based in Manhattan, New York City, collects, displays, and interprets objects that document contemporary and historic innovation in craft, art, and design. In its exhibitions and educational programs, the mus ...

. She also acted as a key speaker about nightlife at MAD's "Nightlife: An Oral History of NYC Club Culture" program. After many years of referencing the artist

Frida Kahlo Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (; 6 July 1907 – 13 July 1954) was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Inspired by the country's popular culture, ...

in her art and style, she was invited to be the key speaker at the opening night gala of the show "Frida & Diego: Passion, Politics and Painting" at the Art Gallery Ontario.

Additional projects

Ladyfag has been featured in numerous ad campaigns, including for Bulldog Gin and Cafeteria. She has appeared in music videos for artists such as The Ones and Cazwell, short films like

Sephora Sephora is a French multinational retailer of personal care and beauty products. Featuring nearly 340 brands, along with its own private label, Sephora Collection, Sephora offers beauty products including cosmetics, skincare, body, fragrance, n ...

's "Cherchez La Femme" to promote its Film Noir Fall 2009 collection, and in the "There Is No Tomorrow" ad for Built featured in the

Tribeca Film Festival The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by TriBeCa Productions, Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive progra ...

. She appeared in a video for her friend Marcelo Burlon's "County of Milan" T-shirt line and was featured in a video for the art publication ''Toilet Paper'' done in collaboration with art studio Kreemart. She has been shot for fashion editorials in publications such as '' V'', ''Hercules'', ''

BlackBook ''BlackBook'' is an arts and culture magazine A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase ...

'', ''Love'', ''Rolling Stone Russia'', ''Dutch'', ''Candy'', ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'', ''Hunter'', ''

Interview An interview is a structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other provides answers.Merriam Webster DictionaryInterview Dictionary definition, Retrieved February 16, 2016 In common parlance, the word "interview" ...

'', ''Out'', ''Hunter and Cook'', and ''Visionare'', and has worked with photographers

Bruce LaBruce Bruce LaBruce (born January 3, 1964) is a Canadian artist, writer, filmmaker, photographer, and underground director based in Toronto. Life and career LaBruce was born in Tiverton, Ontario. He has claimed both Justin Stewart and Bryan Bruce as ...

Patrick Demarchelier Patrick Demarchelier (; 21 August 1943 – 31 March 2022) was a French fashion photographer. Early life and education Born near Paris in 1943 to a modest family, Demarchelier spent his childhood in Le Havre, Normandy, with his mother and four ...

Mariano Vivanco Mariano Vivanco (born 15 December 1975 in Lima, Peru) is a Peruvian fashion and portrait photographer. He traveled the world with his family, who eventually settled down in New Zealand where his passion for photography took flight. Inspired by t ...

, Ellen von Unwerth, Terry Tsiolis, and Laurence Ellis. She is a regular contributor to ''Paper'' magazine, ''Candy'' magazine, and ''25'' magazine.

Personal life

Ladyfag is engaged to singer

Skin Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other cuticle, animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have diffe ...

and they welcomed a daughter in 2021.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ladyfag 1976 births Living people 21st-century American women writers 21st-century Canadian women writers Canadian LGBT writers Canadian expatriate writers in the United States