RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7 contestant Kelly Mantle, starred with Gary Busey and Andrew Lawrence in the independent film Confessions of a Womanizer this past year, and she is getting critical acclaim from the highest cinematic office: the Academy Awards!
Check it out:

The Academy Awards has allowed a gender-fluid actor, who many fans may know from RuPaul’s Drag Race, to be nominated for both Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
This is believed to be the first time an actor will be allowed to be considered under two differing gender categories.
Kelly Mantle, who made the mistake of wearing bacon on season six of the Logo competition show, starred with Gary Busey and Andrew Lawrence in the independent film Confessions of a Womanizer.
The film, which shows what happens when a womanizing man working a sunflower shop falls in love, stars Mantle as Ginger. It was screened at 30 film festivals, and won 10 awards.
Miguel Ali, the director and writer, campaigned for Mantle to be considered under both acting categories and it worked.
This doesn’t mean Mantle is automatically nominated for an Oscar. It just means she will be considered to be nominated. Viola Davis for Fences, Naomie Harrie for Moonlight and Michelle Williams for Manchester By The Sea are tipped to be nominated at the 2017 awards in the Best Supporting Actress category, while Mahershala Ali for Moonlight and Dev Patel for Lion are likely frontrunners in Best Supporting Actor.
‘The Academy Awards have kindly gotten back to us and confirmed that Kelly Mantle will be considered for both the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress for her role in Confessions of a Womanizer – this is in recognition of her androgynous identity,’ Ali said.
‘To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time in Oscar history that a person will be considered for an acting Oscar in both gender categories.
‘Of course – I hope we get Kelly nominated. Regardless, we are bringing spotlight to our androgynous and transgendered community. I’m grateful for the path that has already been carved by transgender/androgynous-empowering Oscar-contending films like Tangerine and others.
‘I firmly believe that our androgynous/transgendered acting community is the most untapped resource in Hollywood. We need to bring them more attention, and by doing so, we will create more empathy for our androgynous/transgendered brothers and sisters.
‘I also couldn’t be more impressed by the Academy Awards. What a wonderful institution. There is no doubt in my mind, that amongst Hollywood, they are doing everything they can to spotlight our androgynous and transgendered community. I will be putting up details soon regarding our Oscar qualifying run in Los Angeles. Wish us luck – with love and liberty!’
Responding to the news, Mantle said: ‘So this is happening… Honored & humbled to be considered.’
Watch the trailer below:
We are SO thrilled for this slayage! Even Kelly is:
So this is happening… Honored & humbled to be considered. 🎭 #actor #acting #actorslife 🎬 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/5t9bpIQKu2
— Kelly Mantle (@thekellymantle) December 6, 2016