BeBe Zahara Benet

Nea Marshall Kudi Ngwa (born March 20, 1980), better known by his stage name BeBe Zahara Benet, is a Cameroonian drag performer, television personality, and musician best known for winning the first season of the reality-television drag competition RuPaul's Drag Race in 2009. In 2018, he returned as a contestant for the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, placing in the top four.

His first EP, Face, was released in 2014, followed by his second EP, Kisses & Feathers, in 2017. His third EP, Broken English, was released in 2020. From 2019 to 2020, he starred in the TLC transformational makeover television series Dragnificent, as the event planning expert. In 2021, Being Bebe, a film documenting 15 years of his life, was released.

Early life Ngwa was born and raised in Cameroon. While growing up, his father played the guitar and his mother frequently sang, later inspiring him to create music.

Career Benet's first experience with drag was at a Paris fashion show, where he was asked to put on a dress to walk the runway as a female as a last-minute replacement for an absent model. His first drag performance was alongside Cyndi Lauper in The Gay 90s bar after moving to Minneapolis in 2000. He has participated in drag pageants, including Miss US of A.

RuPaul's Drag Race and other television In early 2009, after a suggestion from RuPaul himself after seeing him perform to "Circle of Life" at Minneapolis Pride, and encouragement from Chi Chi LaRue, Ngwa auditioned for the first season of Logo's reality-TV drag-queen competition RuPaul's Drag Race.

He eventually became one of nine queens cast in the season, having been selected out of thousands of applicants.

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A lot of drag artists do exactly what — or even more than what — mainstream artists do. What we do in terms of our transformation, our music, our comedy, it's just legit artistry salign = right — Ngwa, in a 2018 interview

Benet was revealed as the surprise 10th contestant on the third season premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, becoming the first-ever winner in the show's history to return for an All-Stars season. He reached the season finale, having won two challenges, but was not chosen to advance to the final two by a jury of previously eliminated queens and subsequently finished in joint third place with Shangela.

Benet appeared with Jujubee, Thorgy Thor, and Alexis Michelle in the TLC television special Drag Me Down the Aisle which aired on March 9, 2019, and was later picked up as a series and re-titled Dragnificent. He released his second single, "Cameroon" in July 2010. Benet made a cameo appearance in the music video for Erasure's re-release of their song A Little Respect, in December 2010 (which was a fundraiser for students of the Harvey Milk Institute in San Francisco). He released his third single "Dirty Drums" on April 17, 2012 via iTunes. His fourth single, "Face," was released on March 3, 2014.

Benet recorded a cover of "Little Drummer Boy" for the Drag Race Christmas Queens 4 album.

Other ventures and tours In November 2017, Ngwa was a featured performer in Queens United, a benefit show created by Phi Phi O'Hara in an effort to raise money to people affected by Hurricane Maria. In 2018, Ngwa created "Roar", a monthly show featuring interacting dancing.

In June 2021, Ngwa was featured in "Gospel Brunch Drag Show", an "LGBTQIA+ Youths Of Color Celebrate Black Pride" event, and the virtual "Pride Bigger Than Texas" event livestreamed from the Bonham Exchange. In August 2021, he was a featured performer and in Klub Kids London Presents: NOIR: The Tour, where 25% of the proceeds from the production was donated to the Black Lives Matter movement.

A documentary film titled Being Bebe premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival from June 19–23, 2021, and later screened at the Provincetown International Film Festival on June 23, 2021, and screened for three days. The film documented the past fifteen years of Ngwa's life as Bebe Zahara Benet, including his journey preparing for RuPaul's Drag Race. The film won the 2021 Best Documentary Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival.

Outside of drag, Ngwa is the CEO of The Lavish Labs, an event planning and decor firm.

Personal life Prior to starting drag, he was a choir director and music teacher.

He has named Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, and Alphadi as personal fashion icons. Musically, he has named Yvonne Chaka Chaka as his childhood music icon, and Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Angélique Kidjo, and Davido as musicians he'd like to collaborate with.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2020Nubia: Amplified Himself OutTV original 2021 Being Bebe Himself Documentary about Bebe's life

Television Year Title Role Notes 2009 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself Contestant (Winner) 2019–2020 Dragnificent Also known as Drag Me Down the Aisle 2020Infinity TrainSashayEpisode: "The Parasite Car" 2022 Nubia Amplified: The Series Himself Panelist 2023 Drag Me to Dinner Hulu original reality series

Web series

2019 Follow Me|Episode: "Pangina Heals"

Bobbin' Around|Episode: "Nubia"

2021 Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire presents Drag Queen Summer Glamp''Produced by Jack Daniel's

Music videos Year Title Artist Ref. 2009 "Cover Girl" RuPaul ft. Bebe Zahara Benet "I'm The Shit" Himself 2010 "A Little Respect" (HMI Redux)Erasure "Cameroon" Himself 2014 "Face" 2017 "Fun Tonite" 2018 "Jungle Kitty" "Jolene" Dolly Parton 2018 "Little Drummer Boy"Himself "Body on Me"Himself

Discography Albums Comedy albums Title Details Africa Is Not a Country Released: May 5, 2023 Label: Comedy Dynamics Formats: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays Title Details Face Release date: April 23, 2020 Label: Producer Entertainment Group Formats: Digital download The Christmas Chanteuse Release date: December 10, 2021 Label: Producer Entertainment Group Formats: Digital download

Singles As lead artist Title Year Album "I'm the Shit"2009 "Cameroon"2010"Dirty Drums"2012"Face"2014"Get Fierce (Lose Yourself)" 2017 Kisses & Feathers "Fever" 2021 "Waiting" 2022"Smoke Signals""Pull Over"2023"Heavy""Try"

As featured artist Title Year Other artist(s) Peak chart positions Album US Elec. "Drag Up Your Life" 2018 RuPaul, Trixie Mattel, Kennedy Davenport, Shangela, BenDeLaCreme — "Kitty Girl" RuPaul, Trixie Mattel, Kennedy Davenport, Shangela 18 "Winner Winner (Chicken Dinner Remix)" 2021Yvie Oddly, Brad Kemp, Shea Couleé—

Guest appearances Title Year Album "Cover Girl"(RuPaul featuring BeBe Zahara Benet) 2011 Jealous of My Boogie - The RuMixes "Little Drummer Boy" 2018 Christmas Queens 4