Mimi Imfurst

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title: "Mimi Imfurst" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["living-people", "1983-births", "20th-century-american-lgbtq-people", "21st-century-american-lgbtq-people", "american-drag-queens", "american-gay-actors", "american-gay-musicians", "drag-performers-from-new-york-city", "lgbtq-people-from-massachusetts", "miss'd-america-winners", "rupaul's-drag-race-contestants", "american-adoptees", "drag-performers-from-massachusetts", "drag-performers-from-maine"] description: "American drag queen (born 1983)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimi_Imfurst" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American drag queen (born 1983) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Mimi Imfurst
image	Mimi Imfurst (cropped).jpg
caption	Imfurst at RuPaul's DragCon in May 2019
birth_name	Braden Stewart Chapman
birth_date
birth_place	Hanson, Massachusetts, U.S.
occupation	Drag performer, singer-songwriter
education	Marymount Manhattan College
::

|name = Mimi Imfurst |image = Mimi Imfurst (cropped).jpg |caption= Imfurst at RuPaul's DragCon in May 2019 |birth_name = Braden Stewart Chapman |birth_date = |birth_place = Hanson, Massachusetts, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |occupation = Drag performer, singer-songwriter |education = Marymount Manhattan College |website =

Mimi Imfurst (born March 2, 1983), the stage name of Braden Stewart Chapman (or Braden Stewart Maurer-Burns), 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.

Early life

Imfurst was born in Hanson, Massachusetts, and raised in Maine from an early age. He had been bullied by his peers and assaulted by a school employee. In his teens, Imfurst was homeless after he was kicked out of his parents' home allegedly due to his sexuality. 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.

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.

In 2010, Imfurst acted in several Off-Broadway plays, including Boylesque, a parody of the film Burlesque, which opened at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. 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 , 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 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 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. "Invincible" features fan-submitted videos holding signs that deal with victimization and bullying issues.

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 ::data[format=table] | 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

Singles

::data[format=table] | Year | Title | | Album | |---|---|---| | 2013 | "Another Lie" | Non-album single | | "Sandwich" | | | | "Someone to Screw" | | | ::

Filmography

Film

::data[format=table]

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	Chanteur hôtel de luxe
::

Television

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2010	What Would You Do?	Himself
2011	title=Braden Maurer-Burns - IMDb	url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4260476/	work=IMDb
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

::data[format=table]

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

References

References

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

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