Brita Filter

{{Short description|American drag queen}}

{{About|the drag queen performer|the water filter company|Brita (company)}}

{{Infobox person

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| name = Brita Filter

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| birth_name = Jesse Carl Havea{{cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/145436265:62209 |title=Jesse Carl Havea |website=Ancestry Institute |publisher=Ancestry |access-date=November 12, 2022}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|9|16}}

| birth_place = Anthem, Arizona, U.S.

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| occupation = Drag queen

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Brita Filter, the stage name of Jesse Carl Havea, is an American drag queen who has appeared on Shade: Queens of NYC and the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, ultimately placing 9th.

Early life and career

Havea was born in Anthem, Arizona before moving to Dover-Foxcroft, Maine as a kid. He is of Tongan descent.{{Cite web|date=2020-03-06|title=RuPaul's Drag Race gets its first Pasifika contestant in Brita Filter — but she's 'anything but pure'|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-07/rupauls-drag-race-gets-its-first-pasifika-star-in-brita-filter/12032130|access-date=2021-02-03|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}

Havea was born and raised Mormon.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOgIfTW-Gsw|title=The X Change Rate: Brita Filter & Nikita Dragun|publisher=BUILD Series|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2020}}

Havea grew up as a child performer, and later went on to book national tours with theater companies and eventually studied acting at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.{{Cite news|url=https://bedfordandbowery.com/2019/10/heres-how-much-it-costs-to-dress-like-a-drag-queen/|title=Here's How Much It Costs to Dress Like a Drag Queen|last=Thomas|first=Jae|date=October 23, 2019|work=Bedfordandbowery.com|access-date=April 1, 2020|language=en}} He later became a stage actor and performed in various regional and national productions. He landed the role of a stepsister in the musical production of Cinderella. On the last night of his tenure with this production, Havea met a girl named "Brita" and decided to make "Brita Filter" his stage name that night.{{cite web|url=http://getoutmag.com/brita-filter/|title=Brita Filter|author=Eileen Shapiro|publisher=Get Out!|date=March 21, 2017|access-date=March 24, 2019}} He then returned to Manhattan and started his business performing as Brita Filter, a drag queen,{{cite web|url=http://money.com/money/5076128/nyc-drag-queen-brita-filter/|title=DRAG QUEENS - Meet Brita Filter, the New York City Drag Queen Spending Thousands on Being Fabulous|author=Will Linendoll|publisher=Money|date=December 31, 2017|access-date=March 24, 2019}} stating, "So after that finished, I came back to New York that day, and I decided I was going to take over New York!"

In 2016, Havea won the 2016 Glam Awards for Best Duo alongside fellow drag artist Terra Hyman.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecoconet.tv/coco-talanoa/entertainment/meet-ru-pauls-drag-race-first-pacific-island/|title=Meet 'Ru Paul's Drag Race' first Pacific Island contestant - BRITA|author=Coco Talanoa|publisher=Thecoconet.tv/|access-date=April 1, 2020}} In 2018, she won the Best Host and the NYC Entertainer of the Year Award at the Annual Glam Awards.{{Cite news|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/brita-filter-rpdr|title=Brita Filter Appeared in 'Broad City' and 'Shade' Before Joining 'RuPaul's Drag Race'|last=Kozma|first=Leila|date=January 23, 2020|work=Distractify.com|access-date=January 26, 2020|language=en}} In 2020, Havea co-hosted the 21st annual GLAM Awards, alongside Bob the Drag Queen.{{Cite news|url=https://getoutmag.com/glam-awards-2020/|title=Glam Awards 2020|last=Shapiro|first=Eileen|date=January 21, 2020|work=GetOutMag.com|access-date=April 2, 2020|language=en}}

Havea performed alongside Katy Perry on Saturday Night Live, performing her song "Swish Swish".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2017/may/25/katy-perry-drag-queen-on-fake-news-frontline|title=How Katy Perry and her drag queens found themselves on the fake-news frontline|work=The Guardian|date=May 25, 2017|access-date=January 23, 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.queerty.com/identified-performers-katy-perrys-swish-swish-snl-20170522|title=We identified the performers in Katy Perry's 'Swish Swish' on SNL|work=Queerty|access-date=2018-12-10|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/katy-perry-swish-swish-snl-drag-queens/05/2017/|title=Drag Queens and Club Kids "Swish Swish" with Katy Perry On "SNL"|website=NewNowNext|access-date=2019-01-28}}

Havea starred in a segment called "How Drag Queens Are Getting Out the Vote" on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, along with RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 co-stars Jaida Essence Hall, Heidi N. Closet and Jackie Cox.

Havea is a co-chair of [http://dragoutthe.vote Drag Out The Vote], a nonpartisan nonprofit that works with drag performers to promote participation in democracy.

Havea joined the cast of Shade: Queens of NYC at its inception in October 2017, as Brita Filter. The series documents the daily reality of lives as Manhattan drag queens.{{citation|title=New Series Looks at the 'Hustle And Sacrifice' of NYC Drag Queens - "Shade: Queens of NYC" examines the less glitzy side of Manhattan's drag stars |work=HuffPost}}

On January 23, 2020, Havea was announced as one of the thirteen contestants on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, becoming the first Pasifika queen to appear on the show.{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-07/rupauls-drag-race-gets-its-first-pasifika-star-in-brita-filter/12032130|title=RuPaul's Drag Race star Brita Filter says she will 'spread the Polynesian love' as first Pasifika queen|last=Aualiitia|first=Tahlea|date=March 6, 2020|work=abc.net.au|access-date=March 31, 2020|language=en}} To protect copyright, his stage name on the show is shortened from "Brita Filter" to simply "Brita".{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/2020/01/23/rupauls-drag-race-season-12-cast-interviews/|title=Exclusive: RuPaul, Drag Race season 12 cast give first interviews on 'twisted' new season|last=Nolfi|first=Joey|date=January 23, 2020|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=January 23, 2020|language=en}} In the fourth episode, "The Ball Ball", Havea lipsynced for her life against Rock M Sakura, sending them home to "S&M" by Rihanna.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/rupauls-drag-race-recap-season-12-episode-4-the-ball-ball.html|title=RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: It DO Take Balls!|last=McCallion|first=Paul|date=March 20, 2020|work=Vulture.com|access-date=March 20, 2020|language=en}} She later found herself again in the bottom two in episode six, where she lipsynced for her life against Aiden Zhane, to "Let It Go" by Caissie Levy, where Brita also sent Aiden home.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/rupauls-drag-race-recap-season-12-episode-6-snatch-game.html|title=RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Gigi's Drag Race|last=McCallion|first=Paul|date=April 3, 2020|work=Vulture.com|access-date=April 4, 2020|language=en}} She was in the bottom two again on episode seven, where she lipsynced for her life against Heidi N. Closet, to "Burning Up" by Madonna, Havea lost the lipsync and went home.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/rupauls-drag-race-recap-season-12-episode-7.html|title=RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Get Into the GRuve|last=McCallion|first=Paul|date=April 10, 2020|work=Vulture.com|access-date=April 11, 2020|language=en}}

Brita placed 9th overall in the competition.

Personal life

Havea is pansexual and prefers "anything respectful" as pronouns.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pride.com/dragqueens/2020/1/17/20-queer-qs-brita-filter|title=20 Queer Q's with Brita Filter|last=Rodriguez|first=Joe|date=January 17, 2020|work=Pride.com|access-date=January 26, 2020|language=en}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"
Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

! {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}

2010

| The Sorcerer's Apprentice

| Calcutta Peasant

| Uncredited

|{{cite web|url=https://www.backstage.com/u/JesseHavea/|title=Jesse Havea Backstage}}

=Television=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" | Notes

2012

|City of Dreams

|SVU Actor

|Episode: "Pilot"

rowspan="2" |2017

|Shade: Queens of NYC

| rowspan="5" |Herself

|Lead role

Saturday Night Live

|Background dancer

2019

|Broad City

|Guest{{Cite news|url=https://www.out.com/drag/2019/3/05/sasha-velour-shangela-and-jiggly-caliente-were-all-broad-city|title=Sasha Velour, Shangela, and Jiggly Caliente Were All on 'Broad City'|last=Street|first=Mikelle|date=March 5, 2019|work=Out.com|access-date=January 26, 2020|language=en}}

rowspan="4" |2020

|RuPaul's Drag Race

| rowspan="2" |Contestant (8th Place)

RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
Kal Penn Approves This Message

| Herself

| Episode "Kal Penn Approves Education"

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

|Herself

|Episode 3457, August 21, 2020{{Citation|title=How Drag Queens Are Getting Out the Vote {{!}} The Daily Social Distancing Show| date=22 August 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lTpRVl6XIE|language=en|access-date=2021-03-12}}

= Web series =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" | Notes

! style="text-align: center;" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}}

2017

|Daniel's Desk

|Himself

|Episode 1

| style="text-align: center;" |{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02AP3pbxzVw|title=Daniel's Desk- Episode 1: NYC Drag Queens|publisher=YouTube|date=April 6, 2017|access-date=October 19, 2019}}

2019

|Cosmo Queens

|Himself

|Cosmopolitan Series

| style="text-align: center;" |{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoZgqKI2Jkg&t|title=Brita Filter's Stunning Sunset Beauty Look Will Make You Want to Take a Beach Vacay|publisher=Cosmopolitan|date=April 29, 2019|access-date=October 19, 2019}}

2020

|Drag News

|Himself

|Guest

| style="text-align: center;" |{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcfwGADasAA&list=PLyKb7Y3RnnLqwPlQAkIY0XWYtXcktq0v3&index=7|title=Queens Investigate Grocery Store Ghost Sighting {{!}} Drag News {{!}} LX|publisher=NBCLX|date=March 3, 2020|access-date=April 2, 2020}}

2020

|The X Change Rate

|Himself

|Segment: Brita Unfiltered

| style="text-align: center;" |{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X-jnIJwPjA|title=The X Change Rate: Yandy Smith|publisher=BUILD|date=March 5, 2020|access-date=March 5, 2020}}

2020

|Whatcha Packin

|Himself

|Guest

| style="text-align: center;" |{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sId8eVh5Ezc&t|title=Whatcha Packin': SPOILER ALERT {{!}} S12 E7 {{!}} RuPaul's Drag Race|publisher=WOWPresents|date=April 11, 2020|access-date=April 11, 2020}}

2020

|Review with a Jew

|Himself

|Guest

| style="text-align: center;" |{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Z-VnysTH8|title=Miz Cracker's Review with a Jew - S12 E07 Feat. Special Guest!|publisher=Miz Cracker|date=April 12, 2020|access-date=April 12, 2020}}

2020

|Da Fuq

|Himself

|Guest

| style="text-align: center;" |{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWwji4bkuVw|title=Honey Davenport - DA FUQ S2 E2 feat. Brita|publisher=Honey Davenport Official|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2020}}

2020

|Out of the Closet

|Himself

|Guest

| style="text-align: center;" |{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMpXdt6juLQ|title=Welcome to Brita's Room {{!}} S3 E2 {{!}} RuPaul's Drag Race Out Of The Closet|publisher=RuPaul's Drag Race|date=May 26, 2020|access-date=May 26, 2020}}

2020

|Bring Back My Ghouls

|Herself

|Guest

| style="text-align: center;" | {{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_y0q6kMo6Q|title=Bring Back My Ghouls: RuPauls Drag Race Season 12 Queens|publisher=YouTube|date=May 30, 2020|access-date=October 30, 2020}}

2022

|Bring Back My Girls

|Herself

|Guest

|

Theatre

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Production

! Role

! Venue

! class="unsortable"| Notes

! rowspan="1" style="text-align: center;" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}

rowspan="2" | 2014

| Forever Plaid

| Smudge

|Fine Arts Center Theatre Company

|rowspan="2" | Credited as Jesse Havea

|{{Cite news|url=http://theatercolorado.blogspot.com/2014/05/forever-plaid.html|title=Forever Plaid|last=Wheeler|first=Bill|date=May 10, 2014|work=Theatercolorado.blogspot.com|access-date=April 1, 2020|language=en}}

Cinderella: A New Telling of an Old Tale

| Stepsister

|Penobscot Theatre Company

|{{Cite news|url=https://bangordailynews.com/2020/01/23/news/piscataquis/maine-native-and-former-penobscot-theatre-actor-part-of-season-12-of-rupauls-drag-race/|title=Maine native and former Penobscot Theatre actor part of season 12 of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'|last=Burnham|first=Emily|date=March 5, 2019|work=Bangordailynews.com|access-date=April 1, 2020|language=en}}

rowspan="1" | 2017

| The Shards of an Honor Code Junkie

| Starr Lyte

|Metro Baptist Church

|rowspan="1" | Credited as Jesse Havea & Brita Filter

|{{Cite news|url=http://www.newnownext.com/musical-shards-of-an-honor-code-junkie-gay-mormons-suicide/10/2017/ |title=New Musical "Shards Of An Honor Code Junkie" Tackles Gay Mormons, Suicide|last=Voss|first=Brandon|date=April 16, 2020|work=NewNowNext.com|access-date=April 16, 2020|language=en}}

2021

|Hard On Love

|Steve

|The Blank Theater (digital)

|Credited as Jesse Havea

|{{Cite web|author=BWW News Desk|title=HARD ON LOVE Set For The Blank Theatre's Living Room Series|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/HARD-ON-LOVESet-For-The-Blank-Theatres-Living-Room-Series-20210121|access-date=2021-03-12|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}}

Discography

= Featured singles =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;"

! scope="col" style="width:20em;" | Title

! scope="col" style="width:2em;" | Year

! scope="col" style="width:6em;" | Album

scope="row"| "I'm That Bitch"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/im-that-bitch-single/1500510634|title=I'm That Bitch - Single|work=iTunes}}
(with The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12)

| rowspan="4" | 2020

|rowspan="3" {{n/a|non-album single}}

scope="row"| "Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical"
(with The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12)
"The Shady Bunch"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-shady-bunch-bring-back-my-girls-single/1515605900|title=The Shady Bunch / Bring Back My Girls - Single|work=iTunes}}
(with The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12)
"You Brita Vote, Kay?{{Citation|title=You Brita Vote, Kay? (Brita Filter, KayKay Lavelle, Bryce Quartz)| date=29 October 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxXO_QvZIqM|language=en|access-date=2021-03-12}}

(with Bryce Quartz and KayKay Lavelle)

|non-album

single

See also

References

{{reflist}}