Danise Payne

First black woman clown to work in a circus in Europe while performing for Gerry Cottle's Circus. I have a 25-year career, which began with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and have worked on 5 circuses during my 25-year career. Media credits include: Ebony Magazine feature story, Entertainment Tonight feature, NBC Today Show feature. Look me up on www.unclejrproject.com as well. Recipient of The Stuart Thayer Prize of 2023 for my memoir, Elbows in My Ears: My Life with Little People, Tigers, and Wardrobe Trunks, awarded by the Circus Historical Society. To learn more about the real "me" refer to my website: www.danisepayne.com