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Mimi Imfurst

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Mimi Imfurst
Imfurst at RuPaul's DragCon in May 2019
Born
Braden Stewart Chapman

(1983-03-02) March 2, 1983 (age 41)
Hanson, Massachusetts, U.S.
EducationMarymount Manhattan College
Occupation(s)Drag performer, singer-songwriter

Mimi Imfurst (born March 2, 1983[1][2]), the stage name of Braden Stewart Chapman[3] (or Braden Stewart Maurer-Burns[4][5]), is an American drag performer. She appeared on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars and was a founding member of the girl group Xelle. In 2017, he became the first U.S. drag queen to perform in Cuba, lip-syncing to Madonna's "Express Yourself" with a group of local dancers.[6]

Early life

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Imfurst was born in Hanson, Massachusetts, and raised in Maine from an early age.[7] In his teens, Imfurst was homeless after he was kicked out of his parents' home allegedly due to his sexuality.[8] He later was adopted by a lesbian couple and started doing drag at the age of 16.[9] Imfurst attended Marymount Manhattan College.[7]

Career

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Mimi Imfurst originally went by the drag name Delilah DeMistra, which was inspired by Hedy Lamarr's character in Samson and Delilah.[7]

Mimi Imfurst is perhaps best known for his annual Christmas show where he portrays Jesus's mother Mary, for which he appears in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.[10] Despite this, Imfurst's role has been met with controversy. In 2005, the Catholic Advocacy Coalition named him one of the top 10 anti-Catholic people. One of his shows in Times Square was protested by over 600 people.[9]

In 2010, Imfurst acted in several Off-Broadway plays, including Boylesque, a parody of the film Burlesque, which opened at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.[11] She also acted in Mayo on Your Breakfast at Tiffany's at the Bowery Poetry Club, Ilja Sapiroe's The Diary of Anne Frankenstein at 13th St. Repertory Theatre ,[12][13] and Thank You for Being a Friend, a parody of The Golden Girls.[14][15] Imfurst starred in the title role in Rhoda Heartbreak.[16]

Imfurst was featured in the web series Queens of Drag: NYC by gay.com in 2010. The series featured fellow New York drag queens Bianca Del Rio, Dallas DuBois, Hedda Lettuce, Lady Bunny, Peppermint, and Sherry Vine.[17]

Mimi Imfurst auditioned three times before becoming a contestant on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[18] He placed high in the first two challenges but was eliminated in the episode "Totally Leotarded" after lifting fellow contestant India Ferrah over his head during their lip-sync.[19] Imfurst was among 12 former contestants brought back for RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars. He was partnered with Pandora Boxx to form Team Mandora, but was eliminated in the first episode.[20] In the show's fifth season, Jinkx Monsoon impersonated Imfurst for the main challenge during the episode "Lip Synch Extravaganza Eleganza".[21]

In 2011, Imfurst appeared in an Entertainment Weekly photo spread along with Pandora Boxx that featured Melissa McCarthy channeling Divine.[22] Imfurst also appeared on the cover of Next with Carmen Carrera and Manila Luzon.[23] The same year, Imfurst starred as Rodney in the Off-Broadway play My Big Gay Italian Wedding.[24]

In December 2014, an animated version of Imfurst appeared in the RuPaul's Drag Race: Dragopolis 2.0 mobile app.[25]

Mimi Imfurst has appeared on Celebrity Apprentice and The Howard Stern Show. Imfurst also performs as a stand-up comedian, having opened for Kathy Griffin and Mo'Nique.[26]

In 2017, Mimi became the first American drag queen to perform in Cuba since the embargo.[27]

In May 2018, Mimi engaged in ongoing unwanted sexual advances toward several young gay men in the Philadelphia scene that feared they would be blacklisted from the community if they did not comply. He admitted to these allegations.[28]

Xelle

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Xelle (stylized as XELLE, pronounced excel) is an American pop "girl group", originally consisting of members Mimi Imfurst, JC Cassis, and Rony G. The group first met in 2010 when Imfurst hosted a karaoke bash.[29]

For Xelle's first music video "Party Girl," the group started a successful Kickstarter campaign, meeting their goal of $3,000.[30] "Party Girl" was directed by Hilarion Banks and costumes were provided by Geoffrey Mac.[31] "Invincible," Xelle's second single was released on February 14, 2012, with proceeds of the song going to GLSEN.[8] "Invincible" features fan-submitted videos holding signs that deal with victimization and bullying issues.[32]

Xelle's music video for "Queen", dedicated to the late Sahara Davenport, featured appearances by Imfurst's fellow RuPaul's Drag Race contestants Alexis Mateo, Jiggly Caliente, Jujubee, Manila Luzon, Pandora Boxx, Phi Phi O'Hara, Raven, Shannel, Tammie Brown, and Yara Sofia.[33] Xelle has appeared on Big Ang and Jersey Couture.[34]

Imfurst departed Xelle in July 2013, with an official statement released by the group on their web page August 1, 2013.[35]

Discography

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Extended plays
  • Queens (2012)
Singles
Year Title Album
2011 "Party Girl" (feat. Mimi Imfurst) Queens
2012 "Invincible" (feat. Mimi Imfurst)
"Queen" (feat. Mimi Imfurst)
2013 "Hologram" (feat. Mimi Imfurst)
"Red Flag"
2014 "Sweat"

Discography

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Singles

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Year Title Album
2013 "Another Lie" Non-album single
"Sandwich"
"Someone to Screw"

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2008 Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist Himself
2010 Whorrey Potter and the Sorcerer's Balls Fag Hagrid
2012 Nous York[36] Chanteur hôtel de luxe

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 What Would You Do?[37] Himself
2011 One Night Stand Up[36] Himself Episode 10: Dragtastic NYC
2011 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself 11th Place (Eliminated in Episode 3)
2011, 2012 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Himself
2011 NewNowNext Awards Himself
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Himself 11th/12th Place (Dual Elimination with Pandora Boxx in Episode 1)
2013 Nurse Jackie[38] Season 5, Episode 2: "Luck of the Drawing"

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Queens of Drag: NYC Himself Produced by gay.com

See also

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References

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  1. ^ @MimiImfurst (March 2, 2014). "Happy birthday to my favorite drag queen. Me" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ @MimiImfurst (February 13, 2013). "Don't miss my 30th birthday bash the RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE BAD GIRLS CLUB LIVE! Shangela, Raven, Delta, Tatianna,..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Nash, Suzi (June 5, 2014). "Braden Chapman: From living on the streets to living on stage as Mimi Imfurst". Philadelphia Gay News. Mark Segal. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  4. ^ Reil, Maxwell (October 7, 2017). "Miss'd America to crown fiercest of them all tonight". The Press of Atlantic City. Mark L. Blum. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  5. ^ "ALL THERE IS TO SAY". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  6. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race star Mimi Imfurst makes history in Cuba". BBC News. 11 January 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Second to No One: Mimi Imfurst". Provincetown Magazine. August 10, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Marra, Andy (9 February 2012). "GLSEN is teaming up with Mimi Imfurst and Xelle". Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  9. ^ a b Felion, Marc (19 October 2012). "FOF #1274 – Mimi Imfurst, Second to None". Feast of Fun. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  10. ^ Bonfiglio, Jeremy D (13 December 2012). "Five questions with ... Mimi Imfurst". The Herald-Palladium. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Boylesque-2010". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  12. ^ "The Diary of Anne Frankenstein at 13th Street Rep". Broadway World. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
  13. ^ "Diary of Anne Frankenstein Will Premiere in NYC". Playbill. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  14. ^ "Mayo on Your Breakfast at Tiffany's-2010". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  15. ^ "Thank You for Being a Friend-2010". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  16. ^ Gans, Andrew (20 January 2010). "Rhoda Heartbreak, with Imfurst, Blackwell, Escobar and Gilliland, Begins Jan. 20". Playbill. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Queens of Drag: NYC". www.outwordmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  18. ^ Erbentraut, Joseph (1 December 2010). "ChicagoPride.com interview with Mimi Imfurst". ChicagoPride.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  19. ^ Stransky, Tanner (8 February 2011). "'RuPaul's Drag Race': It's all about the big girls this season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  20. ^ Stransky, Tanner (23 October 2012). "'RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars' react: That twist! Plus: 20 other notable moments from the season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  21. ^ Sava, Oliver (5 February 2013). "Lip Synch Eleganza Extravaganza". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  22. ^ "NEW: Pandora Boxx & Mimi Imfurst Photo Shoot". New Now Next. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  23. ^ Polly, John (12 January 2011). "Behind-the-Scenes Pics: RuPaul's Drag Race Queens Hit the Cover of NYC's Next Magazine! Smile Carmen, Manila & Mimi!". New Now Next. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  24. ^ Bacalzo, Dan (24 May 2011). "Mimi Imfurst, Hedda Lettuce, et al. to Guest Star in My Big Gay Italian Wedding". Theater Mania. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  25. ^ "Dragopolis 2.0 Has Arrived! | NewNowNext". www.newnownext.com. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  26. ^ "About". MimiImfurst.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  27. ^ "Mimi Imfurst Becomes First American Drag Queen to Perform in Cuba". 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  28. ^ "Mimi Imfurst Admits to Initiating Unwelcome Online Sexual Chats with Two Drag Wars Contestants". 11 May 2018.
  29. ^ Moraski, Lauren (19 October 2012). "Xelle reinvents the girl group with "Queens" and help from Janeane Garofalo". CBS News. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  30. ^ "Xelle makes its first music video! by Xelle (deleted)". Kickstarter. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  31. ^ Donovan (25 March 2011). "RuPaul's Drag Race Mimi Imfurst Is a "Party Girl"". Homorazzi. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  32. ^ Xelle (16 April 2012). "When We Band Together, We Are Invincible (Video)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  33. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Alums Star in Xelle's "Queen" Music Video". Instinct. 24 October 2012. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  34. ^ "Press". XelleMusic.com. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  35. ^ Giraffic Themes. "An Important Announcement from Xelle |". Xellemusic.com. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  36. ^ a b "Braden Maurer-Burns - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  37. ^ Sullivan, Andrew (9 December 2010). "What Would You Do? Drag Queens Harassed in a Cafe". ABC News. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  38. ^ Spargo, Chris (22 April 2013). "Mimi Imfurst Stopped By "Nurse Jackie," We Smell Emmy". New Now Next. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
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