About this episode

This episode traces the origin story of Holly Woodlawn, a Warhol Superstar and trans icon.

Send us Fan Mail A lightning strike beside a soda machine. A pair of freshly shaved legs in a roadside motel. A runaway from Miami who would become the source of the first verse of Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side. She was a Warhol Superstar, trans icon, and hilarious writer as exemplified in her autobiography, A Lowlife in High Heels. This is the origin story of Holly Woodlawn—born in Puerto Rico, raised between San Juan, New York, and Miami Beach—and this episode traces how glamour ...

People in this episode

Hosts: Courtney Blomquist, Marissa Rivera

Topics covered

• Holly Woodlawn
• Warhol Superstar
• trans icon
• autobiography
• origin story
• glamour

Keywords

• Holly Woodlawn
• Lou Reed
• Walk on the Wild Side
• Warhol Superstar
• trans icon
• A Lowlife in High Heels
• Miami
• Puerto Rico

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: A Lowlife in High Heels

Places: Puerto Rico, San Juan, New York, Miami Beach

More episodes of Dead and Kind of Famous

• Beige Don't Age, But Grey Face Does : Herb Jeffries Part 2 · May 5, 2026 · 1h 1m
• A Low Life in High Heels to the End: Holly Woodlawn Part 5 · March 21, 2026 · 1h 29m
• A Bottle in Bed and a Beer in the Drawer: Holly Woodlawn Part 4 · February 27, 2026 · 1h 2m
• Miss Donut, the Cemetery Heiress : Holly Woodlawn Part 3 · January 11, 2026 · 1h 7m
• Esoteric Escapades: Holly Woodlawn Part 2 · December 14, 2025 · 1h 19m
• The Gregarious Aquarius : Carroll Righter · November 4, 2025 · 1h 23m

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