Trixie Mattel
A drag queen who fused barbed-wire comedy with earnest folk music to build a pink-laced empire, becoming one of the world's most recognizable and entrepreneurial drag artists.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American drag queen and musician·Birthday: August 23·Millennials
Biography
Trixie Mattel is a study in brilliant contradiction. Born Brian Firkus in rural Wisconsin, she crafted a drag persona that is part plastic fantastic beauty queen, part sharp-tinted comic. After an early exit on 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' she leveraged the platform with sheer hustle, returning to win 'All Stars' and co-creating the wildly popular web series 'UNHhhh' with fellow queen Katya. But her true surprise was her music. Trading sequins for an autoharp, she released albums of sincere folk and country that showcased genuine songwriting chops, proving her artistry extended far beyond the runway. Trixie built a brand that encompasses a cosmetics line, a production company, and even a motel, embodying a new model of drag success—one where the character is a launchpad for multifaceted, unabashedly entrepreneurial creativity.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Trixie was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Trixie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Trixie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the third season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars,' cementing her status as a fan favorite and top competitor.
- Co-created and stars in 'The Trixie & Katya Show' and the Netflix series 'I Like to Watch,' expanding drag's reach on television.
- Founded Trixie Cosmetics, a highly successful makeup brand inspired by her drag aesthetic.
- Released multiple folk-country albums, including 'One Stone' and 'Barbara,' which charted on the Billboard Heatseekers list.
Did You Know?
Her drag name was inspired by a combination of 'Trixie' (a nickname for a girl from the country) and Mattel, the maker of Barbie.
She is a skilled guitarist and autoharp player, instruments central to her musical performances.
She owns and operates the 'Trixie Motel' in Palm Springs, which was featured in a Discovery+ series.
She holds a degree in theater from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
“I'm not a girl, I'm a franchise.”
