Mimi Imfurst

Mimi Imfurst (born March 2, 1983 ), the stage name of Braden Stewart Chapman (or Braden Stewart Maurer-Burns ), is an American drag performer. He appeared on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the first season of 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.

Early life Imfurst was born in Hanson, Massachusetts, and raised in Maine from an early age. He later was adopted by a lesbian couple and started doing drag at the age of 16. Imfurst attended Marymount Manhattan College.

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

In 2010, Imfurst acted in several Off-Broadway plays, including Boylesque, a parody of the film Burlesque, which opened at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. He 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, and Thank You for Being a Friend, a parody of The Golden Girls. Imfurst starred in the title role in Rhoda Heartbreak.

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.

Mimi Imfurst auditioned three times before becoming a contestant on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race. 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. Imfurst was among 12 former contestants brought back for the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. He was partnered with Pandora Boxx to form Team Mandora, but was eliminated in the first episode. In the show's fifth season, Jinkx Monsoon impersonated Imfurst for the main challenge during the episode "Lip Synch Extravaganza Eleganza".

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

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

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.

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

In May 2018, two Philadelphia performers alleged that Mimi made unwanted advances over Facebook Messenger and said they engaged in sexually explicit role‑play chats because they feared being blacklisted from the local drag scene if they refused. Mimi issued a statement acknowledging initiating late‑night sexual conversations, noting that the exchanges made some people uncomfortable, and apologizing; Mimi stated the chats were believed to be consensual at the time and that the impact was not understood.

Xelle 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.

For Xelle's first music video "Party Girl," the group started a successful Kickstarter campaign, meeting their goal of $3,000. "Party Girl" was directed by Hilarion Banks and costumes were provided by Geoffrey Mac. "Invincible," Xelle's second single was released on February 14, 2012, with proceeds of the song going to GLSEN.

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. Xelle has appeared on Big Ang and Jersey Couture.

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

Discography 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"Non-album single 2014 "Sweat"

Discography

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

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2008 Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist Himself 2010 Whorrey Potter and the Sorcerer's Balls Fag Hagrid 2012 Nous York Himself 2011 One Night Stand Up 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 Season 5, Episode 2: "Luck of the Drawing"

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