Lila Martinez (born July 10) also known as Lila Star Escada and known professionally as Lila Star is an American transgender actress, cosmetologist, recording artist, pageant competitor, and performer. She is known for being "the world's first transsexual Latina rapper."[1]
Lila Star | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 10 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Education |
|
| Occupation | Actress, cosmetologist, recording artist, performer |
| Years active | 2011–present |
Lila Star was born as Lila Martinez in Chicago, Illinois. She lived in the Humboldt Park area until the age of eight when she moved to the Albany Park area, where she currently resides. She graduated from Roosevelt High School and attended Truman University.[2] She also briefly attended The Second City.
Lila has been performing for many years as an illusionist at bars and nightclubs in Chicago's Boystown district. She is set cast at The Baton Show Lounge and Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club, where she is known for her impersonations of: Lil' Kim, Jennifer Lopez, and Toni Braxton.[3] In 2011 Lila made her debut on the rap music scene with the release of her hip-hop single, I'm a Killa. She has since self-released the singles The Truth and Feeling Like Cunt. In 2017 Lila appeared on the hip-house song, Cocky with Shea Coulee and The Vixen.[4][5][6] The music-video for the song has since amassed over 3 million views on YouTube. On September 23, 2017 Lila's film debut in the neo-noir short film Lakeshore Drive was released for a one-time-only screening at The 400 Theater in Chicago.[7] The movie is about a transsexual escort named Kim, played by Star, who is trying to escape prostitution and a controlling pimp behind. Lila says of her character Kim "I connected with the fact that the character wore sunglasses even at night because she was hiding something," said Star. "I was never comfortable in my own skin, so I would wear sunglasses even at night."[8] Lila will complete her scenes for the 1970s period piece A History of Wise Men after funding is complete.
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | I'm a Killa | Non-album single |
| 2015 | The Truth | Non-album single |
| 2017 | Feeling Like Cunt | Non-album single |
| TBR | Hourglass Body (Runway Walk) | Non-album single |
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Cocky" (featuring Lila Star) |
2017 | Shea Coulee & The Vixen | Couleé-D |
| "Ni Santa (Remix)" (featuring Lila Star) |
2018 | Lester Rey | TBA |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Lakeshore Drive | Kim | Short film, film debut |
| 2019 | TranHeist | Morgan | Short film, lead role |
| A History of Wise Men | Geneve | Short film, supporting role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Jerry Springer Show | Herself | Episode: "Hush Hush Affairs" |