Monica Beverly Hillz has been honored as one of the honorees of the Windy City Times’ “Thirty Under Thirty.” Here’s the write up on her story.

Monica Beverly Hillz, 29 has been through many transformations in her life.  The latest one has turned her into an advocate for transwoment everywhere. She came out as a cast member in the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Monica has been telling her story and spinning across dance floors since.

Monica’s glory is a tribute to the two women who gave her life. Elsie De Jesus, Monica’s biological mother, gave birth to Monica when she was impossibly young and tormented by life on the streets.  At the age of 4, Monica-or “Meño,” as she was known as a child-was adopted by her mother’s sister, Gladys. Raised on the rough streets of Chicago’s Latino Northwest Side, Monica-who sashayed and stole her sisters’ clothes and high heels-was like no other boy.

In small-town Kentucky, Monica was the only openly gay person at her high school. Monica soon moved back north to Chicago, where she began performing in drag. By 18, she became the main diva at various Latino gay clubs like Rancho Luna, Mambo Cafe and Club Dulces. When street life in Chicago proved too brutal, Monica followed in her mother’s footsteps and moved to Kentucky. There Monica became a cast mate at her town’s only gay bar. Soon after Monica was called to Hollywood to compete in RuPaul’s Drag Race. The rest, my beautiful humans is history in the making!

DID YOU KNOW? Monica is horrifically scared to get behind the wheel of a car? She would rather ride a bike or get a piggy back ride to her gigs.

We’ve got our whole interview with her coming later today!