There is a concept that has been drilled into my brain by various teachers over various years at various learning establishments that goes as follows: don’t show too much bias towards the topic that you’re writing about; “It shows weakness.” Luckily, I don’t listen to lessons that don’t make much sense, and frankly, I would be doing a disservice to my subject if I just simply sat back and gave you the facts. Trixie Mattel is nothing short of a powerhouse and she’s here to take over the world in more ways than one. With blonde hair up to the heavens and a personality to match, this legend, star, and icon not only commands attention, but also deserves it.
Trixie Mattel is the stage name of Brian Firkus, a Milwaukee born drag queen, musician, actor, and comedian. Along with being the CEO of her own makeup brand, Trixie Cosmetics, Mattel has also released three albums – Two Birds in 2017, One Stone in 2018, and most recently, Barbara at the beginning of this month. On top of that, Mattel has co-hosted the ever hilarious web series UNHhhh with fellow drag superstar Katya Zamolodchikova since 2016 and had a brief stint on TV with the Trixie and Katya Show… oh, and a little known television show called RuPaul’s Drag Race. Very niche program, you probably haven’t heard of it. Mattel’s emotional documentary, Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts, was released last year as well. That’s not even scratching the surface of all the other side projects that she’s been a part of, which I’m getting tired just thinking about. This renaissance woman will make you laugh, she’ll make you cry, and you’ll enjoy every moment of it.
The world first met Mattel in 2009 during RuPaul’s Drag Race season 7, in which she ultimately placed 6th. But, the world wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Mattel, and she came back in 2017 to win the crown in season 3 of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. You’d think that becoming America’s Next Drag superstar would be enough, but to that, I would say, “Have you seen Trixie’s wardrobe? Her hair? Oh, honey.” Trixie Mattel couldn’t fade into a “ghost of drag queens past” if she tried.
Mattel’s 2020 tour, titled ‘Grown Up’, is not Mattel’s first rodeo either. “It’s kinda my fourth big tour, and it’s like…it just gets harder,” Mattel revealed in a 2019 interview with Entertainment Tonight. “How about I play my autoharp? And [the fans] are like, ‘Yeah, we saw that.’” Mattel also revealed in a separate interview that for this tour, there would be 5 costume changes in the first song alone. While singing may be a talent illustrated through her music, the showmanship is second to none and we love a good hostess. Having one costume reveal is enough to get the crowd to its feet, but the twists and turns that are rumored to appear in this show will keep them standing for the rest of the night.
Music isn’t the only entertainment that attendees can expect from the night, however, because it would be a crime to let Mattel’s comedic skills take a backseat. “The songs I’m writing go with the jokes. I love sections of stand-up that ends with a bow on it, and that bow on it is a song,” Mattel said in a 2019 interview with Entertainment Weekly. “My goal is to marry stand-up to the music.”
Miss Mattel will be performing in New Orleans at the historic Civic Theatre on March 7th. This will be an all-ages show and tickets are surprisingly still available, so round up the kids and come on down to enjoy a night of entertainment from a true skinny legend. There is no time better than the present to start paying attention to Trixie Mattel, and I promise you’ll be, as the kids are saying these days, “gagged”… and you’ll thank her for it.
Cover Photo: Prime Video
About Mercedes Ohlen
Mercedes was The Crescent’s Editor-in-Chief from 2022-2023. She graduated from Tulane with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She enjoys going to the movies, fashion, and writing about the great city of New Orleans. She will be pursuing a career lifestyle journalism, publishing, or a job within comedy upon her graduation from Tulane. No topic is too obscure, and no story too niche. Roll Wave!
Mercedes was The Crescent’s Editor-in-Chief from 2022-2023. She graduated from Tulane with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She enjoys going to the movies, fashion, and writing about the great city of New Orleans. She will be pursuing a career lifestyle journalism, publishing, or a job within comedy upon her graduation from Tulane. No topic is too obscure, and no story too niche. Roll Wave!
