Trixie Mattel, born Brian Michael Firkus, is a popular drag queen, comedian, singer, and actor from the United States. He gained fame as a contestant on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ and has since become a prominent figure in the mainstream industry. With a background in performing drag and standup comedy, Mattel has released two critically acclaimed studio albums and has been crowned the winner of ‘Drag Race All Stars 3’. Currently residing in Los Angeles, he has a busy schedule of live events and shows planned for the year.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Brian Michael Firkus
- Age: 34 Years, 34 Year Old Males
- Reality TV Personalities
- American Men
- Height: 1.80 m
- U.S. State: Wisconsin
- Notable Alumni: University Of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
- Grouping of People: Gay
- City: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- More Facts
- Education: University Of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Career
Mattel’s career as a drag queen was influenced by his troublesome relationship with his stepfather. His stepfather would insult him by calling him Trixie due to his feminine behavior. At the age of 18, Mattel performed in the musical ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ where he played a character named Trixie. This led him to adopt Trixie as his stage name. Inspired by Barbie, Mattel decided to use ‘Mattel’ as his second name as a homage to the iconic doll. He also chose this name because he was not allowed to own a Barbie as a child. Mattel studied Musical Theatre at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and began performing drag in 2008 at LaCage NiteClub. He quickly became a regular in the drag scene.
In 2014, Mattel enrolled in a program at the Institute of Beauty and Wellness but dropped out to participate in RuPaul’s ‘Drag Race’. He competed in the 7th season and was eliminated early in the fourth episode. However, his elimination was controversial and he was brought back in the eighth episode, only to be eliminated again in episode 10. Despite not winning, Mattel’s controversial exit made him the most popular contestant. He then appeared in the web series ‘UNHhhh’ alongside fellow contestant Katya Zamolodchikova, which ran for 73 episodes. The duo also collaborated on ‘The Trixie & Katya Show’ in 2017 and starred in a stage adaptation titled ‘Trixie and Katya’s High School Reunion’ based on the film ‘Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion’. Since then, Mattel has been touring the world and performing in various venues. His stand-up comedy show titled ‘Ages 3 and Up’ is particularly popular. He also released his first studio album, ‘Two Birds’, in May 2017 and has showcased his singing abilities. Mattel has also participated in the ‘Haters Roast: The Shady Tour’ alongside other RuPaul’s ‘Drag Race’ alumni.
In 2018, Mattel returned to RuPaul’s ‘Drag Race’ for All Stars 3 and ultimately won the competition by defeating Kennedy Davenport in a lipsync competition. He released his second album, ‘One Stone’, in March 2018, which was well received. Mattel also made a cameo appearance as himself in FX’s ‘American Horror Story’. He recently announced his latest comedy tour, ‘Now with Moving Tours’, which began in April 2018. Mattel has expressed his desire to continue working as a stand-up comedian and producing music.
Controversies & Scandals
During his time on ‘Drag Race’, Mattel was eliminated in the fourth episode, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among fans. Many people used the hashtag #JusticeforTrixie to express their disagreement with the competition’s decision. The outcry from fans resulted in Mattel being welcomed back to the series.
Personal Life
Trixie Mattel was born on August 23, 1989, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is of Ojibwe descent and comes from a Native American family. Mattel is openly gay and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Trivia
At the age of nine, Mattel became a vegetarian. He registered on the gay dating app, Grindr, using the name Trixie. However, his profile was deactivated by Grindr because they claimed he was promoting himself when he sent his pictures as GIFs. His primary musical influences include Dolly Parton, June Carter Cash, Jason Isbell, and Kacey Musgraves.