Living Doll: Trixie Mattel
After her elimination on Season 7 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Trixie Mattel is back and better than ever
Trixie Mattel might seem prepackaged, but once you tear away that shiny wrapper, she’s a doll you’ll never want to put down.
A fan favorite on the current season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Trixie won the hearts of viewers all over the world. Unfortunately, she’s had to fight to win the favor of the judges. On episode four, Ru told Trixie to sashay away, a controversial decision causing fans to create their own hashtag — #justice4Trixie.
“Drag race tries to artificially create all these hashtags,” she says. “But that one was all the fans.” Thankfully, Trixie’s absence didn’t last long. She returned to the race four episodes later and has been going strong since.
As of now, Trixie is the only Drag Race star to return to the show and last more than one episode. (Not counting Shangela’s multiple appearances.) She’s also currently in production with World of Wonder, taping a children’s show inspired by Pee-Wee’s playhouse.
Yet underneath that sweet face lies a girl who’s been through it all. For her, drag is “laughing through the pain.” She grew up in a house plagued with alcoholism and abuse. Her stepfather used to call her a trixie whenever she acted too feminine. At 15, she was taken out of her house, but Trixie never left her. “I turned it into something else,” she explains. “I took back the night.”
Being a cult personality doesn’t come without complications. Many have criticized Trixie for her Anne Frank Snatch Game impersonation, which she debuted on YouTube. Across social media, words like Anti-Semite have been used to describe her portrayal, but the perennially optimistic queen doesn’t let it get her down. She knows her drag isn’t for everyone.
“I did Anne Frank at a Hamburger Mary’s once,” she recalls. “It was a bunch of straight people, and they didn’t really get it, but I’m always turning my own party. I’m always having fun.”
Trixie will continue having fun at Town this weekend. And who knows? Maybe, she’ll even bring Anne Frank along.
Trixie Mattel performs in the Drag Show at Town, 2009 8th St. NW, on Saturday, May 9th, at 10:30 p.m. Doors open at 10 p.m. Cover is $10 from 10-11 p.m. and $12 after 11 p.m. Visit towndc.com.
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