Trans* Success

Pandora Boxx is the stage name of Michael Steck, an American drag queen, comedian and reality television personality from Rochester, New York. His stage name is a play on words of Pandora’s box, an artifact found in a mythological Greek story. Best known as a former contestant on the second season of Drag Race. Michael’s humorous and campy style was seen by many, in the media who were monitoring the show’s progress, as a strong candidate to win the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar”. He was eliminated in the eighth episode, “Golden Gals,” which aired on March 29, 2010.

After his elimination, Boxx appeared on the two seasons of Drag Race spin-off series RuPaul’s Drag U. He also appeared in a television commercial for Absolut Vodka that aired during the third season of Drag Race dressed as a Bloody Mary. Michael also hosted and performed in the One Night Stand Up Dragtastic NYC special that aired on Logo in January 2011. Besides appearing on Drag Race, he wrote, directed, produced, and appeared in Mrs. Kasha Davis: The Life of an International Housewife Celebrity starring fellow drag performer from Rochester’s Tilt nightclub, Mrs. Kasha Davis.

He also wrote a play, The Lipstick Massacre, directed by David Henderson and starring himself (as Pandora Boxx) and actress Kasha Davis. The plot follows a commercial actress, Daphne Von Hausenpfeffer, whose career is fading. When other actresses up for the same roles start disappearing, it seems Daphne may be the prime suspect. It was described as “a new murder mystery/B-horror movie/comedy play.” The Lipstick Massacre has played at Rochester’s Multi-use Community Cultural Center, and the Geva Theatre. For his creative roles in his projects, he is usually credited with his legal name, Michael Steck. He announced via his Twitter account that he became engaged on Christmas Day 2010. A former resident of Rochester, he relocated to Los Angeles in the summer of 2011. On 27 September 2011, Boxx released his first single “Cooter!”