Trixie Mattel

Trixie Mattel
Mattel performing in 2018
Born Brian Michael Firkus
(1989-08-23) August 23, 1989
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Residence Los Angeles, California
Alma mater University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Occupation
Years active 2008–present
Known for
Predecessor Alaska
Musical career
Genres Country folk
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • autoharp
Associated acts

Brian Michael Firkus (born August 28, 1989),[1] known by the stage persona Trixie Mattel, is an American drag queen, singer-songwriter, comedian, and television personality from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mattel is best known as a contestant on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race and for winning the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, as well as appearing on the web series UNHhhh and its Viceland follow-up The Trixie & Katya Show alongside co-host Katya Zamolodchikova. Mattel's first studio album, Two Birds, was released in 2017, followed by her second album, One Stone, in 2018.

Early life

Firkus was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] He is half Ojibwe, and comes from a Native American family living in Crivitz, Wisconsin.[2][3] He had an abusive stepfather who would call him a "trixie" when he acted feminine, which would later inspire his drag name.[4] After graduating high school, Firkus attended the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee,[5] where he was introduced to drag while performing in a production of The Rocky Horror Show at the Oriental Theatre.[6]

He first performed in drag in 2008, at LaCage NiteClub in Milwaukee.[7] Firkus became a staple among the Milwaukee drag scene, whilst also performing in Chicago.[8] In 2014, Firkus attended The Institute of Beauty and Wellness before dropping out later that same year to participate in RuPaul's Drag Race.[9]

Career

RuPaul's Drag Race

Mattel competed in Season 7 of RuPaul's Drag Race. She was controversially eliminated in episode four, before being brought back to the show in episode eight, winning the "Conjoined Twins" challenge with Pearl Liaison. Mattel was once again eliminated in episode 10,[10] ultimately placing sixth overall and becoming the first queen to last more than one episode after returning to the competition.[10]

Mattel later returned for the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, which started airing on January 25, 2018. Mattel was crowned the winner in the season finale on March 15, 2018, where her fellow competitors voted for her to advance to the final two, and where she beat out runner-up Kennedy Davenport in the final lipsync battle.[11][12]

Other ventures

Mattel with co-host of The Trixie & Katya Show, Katya Zamolodchikova, in 2017

After appearing on Drag Race, Mattel appeared in the web series UNHhhh on WOWPresents with fellow season seven contestant Katya Zamolodchikova. The duo later went on to star in The Trixie & Katya Show, which premiered on Viceland on November 15, 2017.[13][14] In November 2017, Trixie and Katya starred in a drag stage adaptation of the 1997 cult film Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, entitled Trixie and Katya's High School Reunion.[15][16]

Mattel has toured around the world with her stand-up comedy show called "Ages 3 and Up".[17] In October 2017, Mattel streamed on the live video gaming platform Twitch alongside 8BitDylan to raise money for the GaymerX foundation.[18] She has also toured on the "Haters Roast: The Shady Tour" with other queens from RuPaul's Drag Race for their 2017 and 2018 alumni tours. In February 2018, she announced her new comedy tour "Now with Moving Parts", set to begin in April 2018.[19]

Music

Mattel released the folk/country music album Two Birds in May 2017.[20] Her second album, One Stone, was released on March 15, 2018, the same night as the RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars finale.[21]

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Mattel listed her primary influences as June Carter Cash and Dolly Parton and states that she grew up on the music of George Jones, Conway Twitty and Johnny Cash. They are also a fan of both Jason Isbell and Kacey Musgraves.[22]

Personal life

Firkus is openly gay .[23] He is a vegetarian.[24][25]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself (Contestant) Season 7, 6th place [26]
2016 American Horror Story: Roanoke Herself Season 6, Episode 10: "Chapter 10" [27]
2016–present Gay for Play Game Show Herself Season 1, Episode 5: "Featuring Mindy Cohn"
Season 2, Episode 2: "Featuring Frankie Grande"
2017–present The Trixie & Katya Show Host 14 episodes [28]
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Herself (Contestant) Season 3, Winner [12]
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself (Guest) Season 10, Episode 1: "10s Across The Board" [29]

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Herself (in drag) [30]
2015-2017 Hey Qween Herself (guest) 2 episodes
2016 Gay of Thrones Herself Recap Season 6, Episode 4: "Thrust of the Stranger" [31]
2016-present UNHhhh Herself (in drag) 3 seasons, 68 episodes
With Katya Zamolodchikova		 [32]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected information
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Folk
[33]		 US Sales
[34]		 US Indie
[35]		 US Heat.
[36]		 AUS
[37]		 NZ
Heat.
[38]		 SCO
[39]		 UK Country
[40]		 UK Indie
[41]
Two Birds 16 68 6 2 — 9 93 5 28
One Stone
  • Released: March 16, 2018
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 16 64 10 1 85 — 66 — 19

EPs

Title Year Songs Notes
Greener 2009
  • "Where the Grass Is Much Greener"
  • "Still Can't Have You"
  • "Hello, Goodbye, Hello"
 as Brian Firkus
Homemade Christmas 2017
  • "Christmas Without You"
  • "The Night Before Contact" (featuring Katya Zamolochikova)
  • "All I Want For Christmas Is Nudes"
 as Trixie Mattel

Compilation albums

List of albums, with selected information
Title Album details
Two Birds, One Stone

Singles

Title Year Album Notes
"Where the Grass Is Much Greener" 2009 Greener as Brian Firkus
"You Belong to Me" 2009 non-album single as Brian Firkus
"Mama Don't Make Me Put On the Dress Again" 2017 Two Birds Credited as Trixie Mattel/Brian Firkus
"Moving Parts (Acoustic)" 2018 non-album single Reached #83 on the Scottish Singles Chart.[42]
"Break Your Heart" One Stone as Trixie Mattel

Other songs

Title Year Other artist(s) Album Ref.
"Geronimo" 2015 RuPaul RuPaul Presents CoverGurlz 2 [32]
"Eggs" 2016 Lucian Piane, Ginger Minj RuPaul's Drag Race: The Rusical [32]
"Drag Up Your Life" 2018 RuPaul featuring Trixie Mattel, BeBe Zahara Benet, BenDeLaCreme, Shangela, & Kennedy Davenport Non-album single
"Kitty Girl" 2018 RuPaul featuring Trixie Mattel, BeBe Zahara Benet, Shangela, & Kennedy Davenport Non-album single

Tours

Title Year Location(s) Ref.
Ages 3 and Up 2015-2017 Chicago, U.S. [43]
Now with Moving Parts Tour 2018 [44]
Super Bowl Cut 2018
Skinny Legend Tour 2019 [45]

References

  1. 1 2 Monger, James Christopher (August 2017). "Trixie Mattel: Biography". AllMusic.com (All Media Network). Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  2. ↑ Brooke, Zach (September 8, 2015). "Point of View: Trixie Mattel". Milwaukee Magazine. Quad/Graphics. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  3. ↑ When you are true to yourself amazing things can happen | This We Believe Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  4. ↑ "Living Doll: Trixie Mattel". Metro Weekly. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ Kennedy, Kerrie (June 3, 2015). "For Brian Firkus, a childhood slur became the springboard for success as Trixie Mattel". Wisconsin Gazette. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  6. ↑ Yerxa, Mike (June 25, 2015). "A filthy, starry night with Trixie Mattel". Daily Xtra. Pink Triangle Press. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  7. ↑ Christians, Lindasy (December 10, 2014). "Plan B host Trixie Mattel to strut her stuff on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". The Capital Times. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  8. ↑ Schumacher, Mary Louise (December 7, 2014). "Milwaukee drag queen Trixie Mattel wins spot on "RuPaul's Drag Race"". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Gannett Company. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ Guerino, Adam (June 9, 2015). "Trixie Mattel from RuPaul's Drag Race to perform in Chicago". Time Out. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  10. 1 2 Terrell, Matthew (March 26, 2015). "Trixie Mattel Elimination Casts Doubt on RPDR Reality". The Huffington Post. AOL Inc. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  11. ↑ Swift, Andy (2018-03-16). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Finale: Did the Right Queen Win Season 3?". TVLine. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  12. 1 2 "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3 Crowns a Winner". E! Online. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  13. ↑ Cuby, Michael (August 18, 2017). "Hold On to Your Wigs: Katya and Trixie Mattel Are Getting Their Own TV Show". Paper. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  14. ↑ Fallon, Kevin (15 November 2017). "'Trixie and Katya Show': TV's Best New Talk Show Hosts Are Two Drag Queens" – via www.thedailybeast.com.
  15. ↑ "Trixie Mattel And Katya Recreated The "Romy And Michele" Dance Sequence—And It Was Perfection". newnownext.com.
  16. ↑ "Absolutely Hysterical: Trixie & Katya Recreate that Iconic "Romy And Michele" Dance Sequence". worldofwonder.net. 21 November 2017.
  17. ↑ ""Trixie Mattel: Ages 3 and Up" | Trixie Mattel". Trixie Mattel. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  18. ↑ (8Bit), Dylan (5 Oct 2017). "This Sunday catch @trixiemattel and myself play some games to raise money for the @GaymerX foundation! 6PM CST". @EightBitDylan. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  19. ↑ "First 9 cities announced! DragFans.com". @trixiemattel. 20 Feb 2018. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  20. ↑ "Two Birds by Trixie Mattel on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  21. ↑ "Trixie Mattel Reflects On Her 'All Stars' Performance And New Album 'One Stone'". HuffPost UK. 2018-03-15. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  22. ↑ "Drag Queen Trixie Mattel on Her Country Albums, Kacey Musgraves Obsession". rollingstone.com.
  23. ↑ @trixiemattel (21 July 2017). "I'm a gay person who specializes in gay activities" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ↑ @trixiemattel (15 June 2015). "I'm a vegetarian !" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018 – via Twitter.
  25. ↑ @trixiemattel (30 June 2018). "Triggered. Also I'm a vegetarian" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018 – via Twitter.
  26. ↑ Carpentier, Megan; Rushe, Dominic (March 3, 2015). "RuPaul's Drag Race recap: season seven, episode one – the devil wears nada". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  27. ↑ Avery, Dan (November 17, 2016). "Trixie Mattel Pops Up In The "American Horror Story" Season Finale". NewNowNext. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  28. ↑ McHenry, Jackson (August 18, 2017). "Honey, RuPaul's Drag Race Contestants Trixie Mattel and Katya Are Getting Their Own Viceland Show, Honey". Vulture. New York Media, LLC. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  29. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (March 21, 2018). "Katya, Bob the Drag Queen, more return for crazy RuPaul's Drag Race season 10 challenge". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Untucked: RuPaul's Drag Race Episode 1 Born Naked". WOWPresents. YouTube. 3 March 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  31. ↑ Power, Shannon (May 18, 2016). "RuPaul's Drag Race alum Trixie Mattel goes Gay of Thrones". Star Observer. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  32. 1 2 3 "Trixie Mattel". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  33. ↑ "Trixie Mattel Chart History: Americana/Folk Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Trixie Mattel Chart History: Top Album Sales". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Trixie Mattel Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Trixie Mattel Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  37. ↑ "ARIA Chart Watch #465". auspOp. March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  38. ↑ "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  39. ↑ Peaks in Scotland:
    • Two Birds: "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
    • One Stone: "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. February 2–8, 2018. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  43. ↑ Guerino, Adam (June 9, 2015). "Trixie Mattel from RuPaul's Drag Race to perform in Chicago". Time Out Chicago. Time Out Group. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  44. ↑ Lorusso, Marissa (March 23, 2018). "Trixie Mattel: America's Next Top Folk-Country Comedy Drag Artist". NPR. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  45. ↑ Duke, Simon (May 15, 2018). "Drag Race All Stars champion Trixie Mattel announces UK tour including date in Newcastle". Evening Chronicle. Reach plc. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  • Brian Firkus on IMDb
  • Mar, Pollo Del (May 30, 2016). "'Drag Race' Star Trixie Mattel's Campy Look, Quirky Style Saved Her Love for Drag". The Huffington Post. AOL, Inc. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  • Mar, Pollo Del (April 22, 2015). "Returning 'Drag Race' Star Trixie Mattel: My Elimination Made Fans Think the Competition Was Scripted". The Huffington Post. AOL, Inc. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  • "Milwaukee drag superstar Trixie Mattel was on the 'American Horror Story' season finale". Milwaukee Record. November 18, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
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