Tenika Watson
In 1982, singer, Teddy Pendergrass, was involved in a car accident that changed his life forever. The car wreck would leave, Pendergrass, an entertainer known for his singing and dancing, paralyzed. Immediately, reporters began reporting on a "mystery woman."
Pendergrass met Tenika Watson at a popular club and offered her a ride home. Within days of the wreck, the press dug into Tenika's background reporting that she was a transsexual, deadnaming her, discussing her gender affirmation surgery, and sex work that she'd done in the previous 5 years.
Tenika's headshot appeared in newspapers all around the country.
As people read the news they probably weren't thinking about how much the story through her life into a tailspin.
Tenika Watson: Living beyond Pendergrass’ tragedy
Philly Gay News: I read a Jet article with the headline, “Teddy’s Transsexual Passenger,” in which they call you a “confessed transsexual.” It seems like it really tilted the trajectory of your life, your modeling career, etc.
Tenika Watson: Tilted it? It destroyed it. I was told so by potential employers and it really made me doubt myself. It was a tough time. I had one reporter come to my house and try to force her way in the door. There were some very ugly things printed. I had to move out of the city. Which is sad because I love this city. I love the people, I love the neighborhoods … There are so many places to hide!
Ms. Watson wrote a book called, My Life is No Accident: A memoir by Tenkia Watson. Tenika is also a self-taught painter.
