Kim Chi (drag queen)

Kim Chi is the stage name of Sang-Young Shin[1] (Korean: 신상영; born August 8, 1987[2]), a Korean-American drag queen, artist, and television personality best known for competing on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Kim Chi was the first Korean-American contestant on the show as well as the first Korean-American drag queen on American national television.[3] In June 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine placed her 17th on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former Drag Race contestants.[4]

Kim Chi
Kim Chi at RuPaul's DragCon LA 2017
Born
Sang-Young Shin

(1987-08-08) August 8, 1987
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationDrag queen
Known forRuPaul's Drag Race season 8
Height1.94 m (6 ft 4 1⁄2 in)

Early life

Sang-Young Shin was born in the United States on August 8, 1987, and lived in South Korea as a child.[5][6] His parents, who are divorced, also live in Chicago. As of 2017 his mother did not know he did drag until he reached fame on TV.[7][8] Shin studied graphic design in college before working as an art director and exploring sculpture, fashion design, and painting.[3]

Career

Shin started performing in drag as Kim Chi in Chicago in 2012.[5] His drag name is a pun on "Kimchi", the Korean national dish and is also a valid Korean female name ("Kim" is the surname and "Chi" is the given name). Describing his drag aesthetic, Shin stated, "Kim Chi is a live action anime character whose fashion aesthetic could be described as 'bionic doily.' I imagine my aura to be an array of ultra violet colors that spews glitter. I celebrate all things cute, fun, weird, and exotic."[9] Prior to joining RuPaul's Drag Race, Kim Chi befriended and helped season seven contestant Trixie Mattel get one of her first drag jobs in Chicago, as it was difficult for Mattel to find one in her hometown of Milwaukee.

Kim Chi was one of twelve drag queens accepted for the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which started airing March 7, 2016. Upon joining the show, she became "the first Korean drag queen to be featured on American national television."[10] Kim Chi won the first challenge, which came with a small cash prize. Shin sent the money to his mother, telling her he made it through makeup work.[1] Eventually, Kim Chi made it to the top three along with Naomi Smalls, but lost the title to Bob the Drag Queen. During the finale, she lip synced a song specifically made for her called "Fat, Fem, & Asian", which was a commentary on negative stereotypes in the gay dating world.[11]

Kim Chi in 2017

After Drag Race, Kim Chi partnered with Sugarpill Cosmetics to create different makeup items, including the Kim Chi Liquid Lip Color, a donut-scented lipstick described as a "Matte lavender mauve with a subtle, unique blend of transparent aqua and violet sparkles".[12] Other items included the Kim Chi Electric Teal Eyeshadow.

In November 2016, Kim Chi released a package of Kim Chi emoji called Kimchiji. Emoji included her catchphrases, a burrito bowl, a chicken wing, and a butt being spanked.[9]

In March 2017, Kim Chi was invited to the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Loyola Marymount University for an event called "A Fabulous Evening With Kim Chi: Exploring Gender Identity Through Drag". She was the first drag queen to come to the college, and did so in full drag makeup. Along with a performance, there was a question and answer section during the event.[5]

In April 2017, Kim Chi performed at Arizona State University West campus for their Asian Heritage Week and Pride Week. Emily Kwon, President of the Asian-Asian Pacific American Students' Coalition put on the event, inviting Kim Chi to perform for the students.[13]

In May 2017, Kim Chi performed as part of the Werq the World 2017 tour. The tour, hosted by Bianca Del Rio and Michelle Visage, also featured drag queens Alaska Thunderfuck, Alyssa Edwards, Detox, Latrice Royale, and Violet Chachki.[14]

In December 2018, Kim Chi appeared in the television special RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular, a one-off festive version of the regular Drag Race series.[15]

In September 2019, Kim Chi announced that she was developing her own cosmetics line in collaboration with Bespoke Beauty Brands launched by Toni Ko, the founder of NYX Cosmetics, called Kim Chi Chic.[16]

Discography

Singles
Year Song Ref
2016 "Single" [17]

Filmography

Movies
Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2016 Lipstick City Chic Short film by Shea Coulee [18]

Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 8) Herself Contestant (Runner-Up) [10]
2016 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked 9 episodes
2016 Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul 1 episode
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race (season 10) Guest
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular Contestant [15]
2019 Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star Guest Judge [19]
2020 RuPaul's Celebrity Drag Race RuPaul's Drag Race Spin-Off [20]

Music videos
Year Title Artist
2016 "Fantasy" Acid Betty
2016 The Realness RuPaul
2016 Straight Outta Oz Todrick Hall
2016 Expensive[21] Todrick Hall
2017 Me4U[22] Danny L Harle
2018 Pose[23] Naomi Smalls

Web series
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Cooking w/ Drag Queens Herself Guest [24]
2016 Vanity Fair: 103 Years of Drag Queen Fashion Herself Vanity Fair video short [25]
2016 Bobbin' Around Herself Guest [26]
2016 Ring My Bell Herself Guest [27]
2017 $tranger$ For Ca$h Herself Guest, with Milk [28]
2017–2018 M.U.G. Herself Co-Host [29]
2017 PMB Herself Guest [30]
2018 Pardon My French Food Herself Recurring [31]
2019 The Pit Stop Herself Guest [32]
2019–2020 Werq the World Herself World of Wonder exclusive [33]
2019 Gaymer Guys Herself Guest [34]
2019 Runway Rewind Herself Guest [35]

References
  1. Larkworthy, Jane (2 May 2016). "The Many Faces of the One and Only Kim Chi". W. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  2. Lee, Johnathan (2018). Asian American History Day by Day: A Reference Guide to Events. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-3133-9928-2.
  3. "Drag queen Kim Chi hopes to spread Korean culture to world". AsiaOne. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
  4. The Editors (June 10, 2019). "The Most Powerful Drag Queens in America: Ranking the new establishment". New York. Archived from the original on June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  5. McManus, Gracie (18 Mar 2017). "Kim Chi challenges gender norms in drag performance". The Los Angeles Loyolan. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  6. "Q&A WITH DRAG SENSATION KIM CHI". Center for Asian American Media. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  7. Moore, Chadwick (1 Mar 2017). "Like a Virgin: Drag Star Kim Chi on Their Single-Minded Ambition". Out. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  8. The Try Guys (2018-10-31), My Dad’s First Drag Show (Featuring Kim Chi), retrieved 2019-03-15
  9. Weisenstein, Kara (9 Nov 2016). "Kim Chi Emoji Are Here to Make America Glamorous Again". Vice. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  10. Oksman, Joshua (3 May 2016). "Kim Chi: The First Korean Drag Queen". The Odyssey. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  11. Picardi, Phillip (28 Oct 2016). "Watch as Drag Queen Kim Chi Gives Soo Joo Park an INSANE Makeover". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  12. "Kim Chi Liquid Lip Color". Sugarpill Cosmetics. Archived from the original on 17 April 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  13. Bandala, Marci (6 Apr 2017). "Kim Chi celebrates the art of drag and Asian Heritage Month at ASU West". The State Press. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  14. Crowley, Patrick (26 May 2017). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Werq the World Tour: Kim Chi and Alyssa Edwards Talk Crazy Fan Moments & Unusual Gifts". Billboard. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  15. "Kim Chi, Shangela, Trixie Mattel & More to Compete in 'RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular'". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  16. "A Kim Chi Makeup Line Is Coming". Papermag. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
  17. "Kim Chi Debuts Her New Single, "Single"". 2016-05-16. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  18. Shea Couleé (2017-07-07), Open TV Presents: Lipstick City by Shea Couleé, retrieved 2019-05-22
  19. Edtiro, QUEERTIST. "Kim Chi to appear on Glow Up's next episode and it's a drag spectacular". Queertist. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  20. Desta, Yohana. "RuPaul Announces Drag Race Spin-Off Featuring All-Celebrity Competitors". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  21. Tharrett, Matthew. "Kim Chi, Willam, Mariah, Alaska And Laganja Get "Expensive" With Todrick Hall". New Now Next. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
  22. Gore, Sydney. "Watch Danny L Harle's Cozy Music Video For "Me4U" Starring Kim Chi". The Fader. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
  23. Piedra, Xavier. "'Drag Race' Star Naomi Smalls Strikes a 'Pose' With Kim Chi in New Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
  24. Cooking w/ Drag Queens - Kim Chi - Bi Bim Bap (Korean style mixed rice). YouTube. May 6, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  25. 100 Years of Drag Queen Fashion | Vanity Fair. YouTube. October 12, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  26. Bobbin' Around Ep. 5 (Ft basically everyone). Bob The Drag Queen. July 26, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  27. RING MY BELL with KIM CHI. YouTube. November 25, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  28. $TRANGER$ FOR CA$H: Milk & Kim Chi. YouTube. July 11, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  29. M.U.G. with Kim Chi & Naomi Smalls - RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 2 "Then & Now. YouTube. January 12, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  30. PMB: w/ Kim Chi and WILLAM. YouTube. June 9, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  31. Drag Queens try french "Andouillette" (w/ Latrice Royale, Kim Chi) | Pardon my french food #2 | VF. YouTube. July 15, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  32. The Pit Stop Season 4 Episode 4: Kim Chi Spills the Tea | RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4. YouTube. January 5, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  33. Joey Nolfi (July 14, 2020). "Watch Naomi Smalls, Kim Chi celebrate Drag Race sisterhood by a dumpster". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  34. GAYMER GUYS: Kim Chi!. YouTube. June 22, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  35. LOUIS VUITTON SS 2008 FT. KIM CHI | Violet Chachki's Runway Rewind. YouTube. September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
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