Mariah Paris Balenciaga
{{Short description|American drag performer and television personality}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mariah Paris Balenciaga
| image = DragCon2024 @DVSROSS (146) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Balenciaga at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2024
| birth_name = Elijah A. Kelly{{cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/12528306:62209 |title=Elijah A Kelly |website=Ancestry Institute |publisher=Ancestry |access-date=November 12, 2022}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|02|13}}
| birth_place = Gainesville, Georgia, U.S.
| occupation = Drag queen
| years_active = 1999–present
| known_for = {{flatlist|
}}
| website =
}}
Mariah Paris Balenciaga, also simply known as Mariah or Mariah Balenciaga, is the stage name of Elijah A. Kelly (born February 13, 1981),{{Cite news|url=https://theabbynormal.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/mariah-paris-balenciaga-it-gets-better/|title=Mariah Paris Balenciaga "It Gets Better!"|date=2014-08-07|work=Abby Normal|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en-US}} an American drag queen, ball performer, and television personality, best known for competing on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2011) and the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2020).{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/rupauls-drag-race-all-stars-vh1-cast-reveal-1234601593/|title='RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Moves Back to VH1 From Showtime, Reveals Cast |author=Adam B. Vary |date=May 8, 2020 |access-date=May 8, 2020 |magazine=Variety |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508164145/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/rupauls-drag-race-all-stars-vh1-cast-reveal-1234601593/ |url-status=live}} Since appearing on the show, she has been featured in a number of web series produced by World of Wonder, such as Wait, What?, Transformations, and Fashion Photo RuView. Balenciaga released her first single, "Mug 4 Dayz", on November 19, 2013.
Early life
Kelly was born on February 13, 1982, in Gainesville, Georgia. She later moved to Atlanta when she was 19, and started doing drag in the ballroom scene, becoming a founding member of the House of Balenciaga.{{Cite news|url=https://www.grizzlykiki.com/podcast/mariah-balenciaga|title=Mariah Balenciaga|work=Grizzly Kiki|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en-US}} She is biracial.{{cite news|url=https://instinctmagazine.com/the-queen-of-the-ballroom-mariah-balenciaga-talks-returning-for-all-stars-what-we-may-not-know-about-the-ballroom-scene/|title=The Queen of The Ballroom – Mariah Balenciaga Talks Returning For "All-Stars" & What We May Not Know About The Ballroom Scene|date=June 24, 2020|first=Michael|last=Cook|website=Instinct|access-date=March 24, 2021}}
Career
Balenciaga was announced as one of thirteen contestants for the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.logotv.com/video-clips/rdgg2j/rupauls-drag-race-alexis-mateo-rupaul-s-drag-race-season-3-contestant|title=Alexis Mateo: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3 Contestant - RuPaul's Drag Race (Video Clip) {{!}} LOGOtv|website=Logo TV|access-date=2018-09-09|archive-date=2021-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127133915/http://www.logotv.com/video-clips/rdgg2j/rupauls-drag-race-alexis-mateo-rupaul-s-drag-race-season-3-contestant|url-status=dead}} She was eliminated in the sixth episode after losing a lip sync to "Looking for a New Love" by Jody Watley against Delta Work.{{Cite news|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/02/22/rupauls-drag-race-season-3-episode-5/|title='RuPaul's Drag Race': How 'Precious' was Stacy Layne Matthews last night?|work=EW.com|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en}} In 2018, she appeared with other Drag Race alumni for the first mini challenge of season ten.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vh1.com/news/fdkyj4/rupaul-brings-back-queens-to-judge-mini-challenge|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515101634/https://www.vh1.com/news/fdkyj4/rupaul-brings-back-queens-to-judge-mini-challenge|url-status=live|archive-date=May 15, 2023|title=RuPaul Brings Back Katya, Porkchop, Kim Chi, Jujubee, Detox, and More to Help Judge the First Mini-Challenge of Season 10|work=VH1 News|access-date=2018-09-09}} She asked a viewer question to Eureka O'Hara during the season ten finale episode.{{Cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-a-v-club-convenes-its-own-judges-panel-for-the-ru-1827237581|title=The A.V. Club convenes its own judges' panel for the RuPaul's Drag Race season-10 finale|last=Club|first=The A.V.|work=The A.V. Club|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en-US}} She appeared as a guest for the first challenge in the premiere of season eleven of Drag Race.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2019/rupauls-drag-race-season-11-episode-1-recap-live-blog-news/|title='RuPaul's Drag Race' 11 episode 1 recap: Which queen was sent packing on 'Whatcha Unpackin'? [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]|date=2019-02-28|website=Goldderby|language=en|access-date=2019-03-01}} Balenciaga was also a drag professor for the second and third season of RuPaul's Drag U in 2011 and 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-gascot/rupauls-drag-u-professor-_1_b_909284.html|title=RuPaul's Drag U: Professor Mariah|last=Gascot|first=John|date=2011-07-27|website=Huffington Post|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-09}}
Outside of Drag Race, she makes guest appearances for the WOWPresents Internet series "Fashion Photo RuView" filling in for either Raja or Raven, reviewing looks from Drag Race alumni. Her first appearance was on June 9, 2016.{{Citation|last=WOWPresents|title=RuPaul's Drag Race Fashion Photo RuView with Raja and Mariah Balenciaga: Social Media Ep 39|date=2016-06-09|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSAYdzAw-CM&index=106&list=PLhgFEi9aNUb1EAaAmPyivdOnRdnq-xhvl|access-date=2018-09-09}} She also makes recurring appearances on another WOW series, "Wait, What?" as the co-host to Kimora Blac, where they answer trivia questions. Her first appearance was in the debut episode.{{Cite web|url=https://worldofwonder.vhx.tv/wait-what|title=Wait, What?|website=WOW Presents Plus|language=en|access-date=2018-09-09}}
Balenciaga was with other Drag Race alumni for an episode of Skin Wars in 2015.{{Cite news|url=https://www.channelguidemag.com/tv-news/2015/07/08/skin-wars-season-2-episode-4-recap-drag-queens/|title=Skin Wars season 2 episode 4 recap: Drag Queens are here!|date=2015-07-08|work=Channel Guide Magazine|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en-US}} She was one of the performers for Phi Phi O'Hara's benefit show for the hurricane in Puerto Rico.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newnownext.com/the-drag-race-queens-are-going-all-out-to-raise-money-for-puerto-rico/10/2017/|title=The "Drag Race" Queens Are Going All Out To Raise Money For Puerto Rico|work=LOGO News|access-date=2018-09-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/queens-unitedreinas-unitas-the-ladies-of-rupauls_us_59f3b090e4b06acda25f49e8|title=Queens United/Reinas Unitas-The Ladies of "RuPaul's Drag Race" Hit The Stage For The People Of Puerto Rico!|last=Cook|first=Michael|date=2017-10-28|website=Huffington Post|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-09}}
She was one of the background dancers for Miley Cyrus's 2015 VMA performance.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2256541/meet-miley-vma-dancers-drag-queens/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831110139/http://www.mtv.com/news/2256541/meet-miley-vma-dancers-drag-queens/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 31, 2015|title=Meet All 30 Of Miley's Day-Glo Dancers From Her Insane VMA Performance|work=MTV News|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en}} She was a background dancer again, playing as one of the Spice Girls for Rita Ora on an episode of Lip Sync Battle in March 2018.{{Citation|last=Lip Sync Battle|title=Charli XCX's "Shape of You" vs. Rita Ora's "Wannabe" {{!}} Lip Sync Battle|date=2018-03-29|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoDM697Efrc|access-date=2018-09-09}} She was a backup dancer for Lip Sync Battle again in 2019 for Nico Tortorella.{{Cite web|url=https://instinctmagazine.com/post/watch-younger-star-nico-tortorella-stunned-as-ariana-grande-on-lip-sync-battle/|title=WATCH: 'Younger' Star Nico Tortorella Stunned as Ariana Grande on 'Lip Sync Battle' • Instinct Magazine|date=2019-06-07|website=Instinct Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-07}}
In August 2019, she was featured in Women's Wear Daily magazine, alongside Kimora Blac, Mayhem Miller, and Kameron Michaels.{{Cite news|url=https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/beauty-features/drag-beauty-rupaul-dragcon-beauty-industry-1203244398/|title=How Drag Queens Broke Through the Beauty Barrier|work=Women's Wear Daily|access-date=2019-09-21}}
In 2020, Balenciaga returned for the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, placing 8th overall. Her performance in the first episode was praised for raising awareness of systemic racism and prejudice, made particularly timely in wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, and Balenciaga was even given a shoutout by current guest judge Ricky Martin for her performance.{{cite news|url=https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/mariah-balenciagas-all-stars-5-performance-made-a-statement-about-systemic-racism-22963576|title=The 'All Stars' 5 Premiere Included A Powerful Performance About Systemic Racism|date=June 5, 2020|first=Kayla|last=Blanton|website=Bustle|access-date=March 24, 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/06/24/drag-race-all-stars-5-mariah-paris-balenciaga-lip-sync-lizzo/|title=Drag Race legend Mariah Paris Balenciaga reveals she was 'cringing' over All Stars lip sync|date=June 24, 2020|first=Reiss|last=Smith|website=PinkNews|access-date=March 24, 2021}}
In September 2020, Balenciaga was featured alongside many other black RuPaul's Drag Race alum in a "Stop The Racism" PSA, speaking out against toxic, racist fans within the Drag Race community.{{cite news|url=https://www.advocate.com/race/2020/9/21/black-drag-race-stars-urge-fans-stop-racism-psa|title=Black Drag Race Stars Urge Fans to 'Stop the Racism' in PSA|date=September 22, 2020|first=Daniel|last=Reynolds|website=The Advocate|access-date=March 24, 2021}}
She was a featured performer during Jennifer Lopez's performance at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards.{{Cite web |date=March 23, 2022 |title=Drag Race Queens Paid Tribute To Jennifer Lopez At Her iHeartRadio Music Awards Performance |url=https://www.out.com/music/2022/3/23/jennifer-lopez-iheartradio-music-awards-performance-rupauls-drag-race-queens-runway-billy-porter|access-date=March 23, 2022 |first=Raffy|last=Ermac|website=Out.com |language=en}}
= Music =
Balenciaga released her first single, "Mug 4 Dayz", on November 19, 2013.{{Citation|title=Mug 4 Dayz - Single by Mariah Balenciaga|date=2013-11-19|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/mug-4-dayz-single/762091578|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-09}} A remix EP of the song was released on April 11, 2014.{{Citation|title=Mug 4 Dayz Stone Cold Remixes by Mariah Balenciaga|date=2014-04-11|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/mug-4-dayz-stone-cold-remixes/862009358|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-09}} Balenciaga appeared in the music video for Pandora Boxx's "Oops I Think I Pooped" on September 24, 2018.{{Citation|last=Pandora Boxx|title=Pandora Boxx - Oops I Think I Pooped (Official Video)|date=2018-09-24|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kpsuXYKK1A&a=|access-date=2018-09-24}} She appeared in a music video for Lizzo's song "Juice" on April 17, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlFN-2cmpzA|title=Lizzo - JUICE Music Video feat. RuPaul's Drag Race Queens|website=YouTube |date=2019-04-17|access-date=2019-04-17}} She appeared in a music video for pop duo Aly & AJ's song "Star Maps" on June 12, 2019.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/music/2019/06/12/aly-aj-star-maps-music-video/ |title=Watch Aly & AJ's 'Star Maps' music video featuring stars from Shameless, Drag Race, Silicon Valley, The Goldbergs, and more |last1=Huff |first1=Lauren |date=June 12, 2019 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=June 12, 2019}}
Discography
= EPs =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="1" style="width:14em;"| Title
! rowspan="1" style="width:22em;"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Mug 4 Dayz Stone Cold Remixes
|
|
Singles
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Song |
| 2013
|"Mug 4 Dayz" |
| 2020
|"Stains on the Wall" |
As Featured Artist
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="width:20em;"| Title
! Year ! Album |
|---|
| "I'm in Love"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/im-in-love-single/1517891221|title=I'm In Love - Single|work=iTunes}} (with the Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Season 5) |2020 |{{N/A|Non-album single}} |
Filmography
= Television =
= Web series =
= Music videos =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Artist |
| 2016 |
| rowspan="2" |2017
|Expensive (Deluxe Version) |
| Stun{{Cite news|url=https://www.outinperth.com/alaska-gia-gunn-feel-oats-new-music-video-stun/|title=Alaska and Gia Gunn feel their oats in new music video Stun|last=Hill|first=Leigh|date=February 28, 2017|work=OutInPerth|access-date=October 7, 2020}} |
| rowspan="3" |2018 |
| Excuse The Beauty |
| Girly{{Cite news|url=https://hornet.com/stories/girly-john-duff-video/|title=This 'Girly' Pop Singer Just Re-Created Some of Your Favorite Female-Fronted Music Videos|last=Horbelt|first=Stephan|date=2018-08-24|newspaper=Hornet|access-date=2020-03-03}} |
| rowspan="2" |2019 |
| Star Maps |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://mariahbalenciaga.storenvy.com/}}
- {{IMDb name|4250945|Elijah Kelly}}
- [https://worldofwonder.net/rupauls-dragcon-2016-meet-mariah-balenciaga/ RuPaul’s DragCon 2016: Meet Mariah Balenciaga] (2016),The WOW Report, World of Wonder
{{RuPaul's Drag Race}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:African-American drag queens
Category:Drag performers from Atlanta
Category:People from Gainesville, Georgia