Kim Chi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kim Chi atRuPaul's DragCon LA 2017 | |
| Born | Sang-Young Shin (신상영) (1987-08-08)August 8, 1987 (age 38) |
| Occupation | Drag queen |
| Known for | RuPaul's Drag Raceseason 8 |
| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft4+1⁄2 in) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 신상영 |
| RR | Sin Sangyeong |
| MR | Sin Sangyŏng |
| Website | kimchithequeen |
Sang-Young Shin[1] (Korean:신상영; born August 8, 1987),[2] known professionally asKim Chi, is an American drag queen, artist, entrepreneur, and television personality best known for competing on theeighth season ofRuPaul'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] She[a] owns the beauty brand Kim Chi Chic Cosmetics.
Sang-Young Shin was born in the United States on August 8, 1987, and lived in South Korea as a child.[7][8] Her parents, who are divorced, also live inChicago. As of 2016, Kim Chi lived in theAndersonville neighborhood of Chicago.[9] She attendedOkemos High School.[10] As of 2017, her mother did not know she did drag until she reached fame on TV.[11][12] Shin studied graphic design in college before working as an art director and exploring sculpture, fashion design, and painting.[3]
Shin started performing in drag as Kim Chi in Chicago in 2012.[7] Her 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 her 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."[13] Prior to joiningRuPaul's Drag Race, Kim Chi befriended and helped season seven contestantTrixie 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 ofRuPaul's Drag Race, which started airing March 7, 2016.[citation needed] Upon joining the show, she became "the first Korean drag queen to be featured on American national television."[citation needed] Kim Chi won the first challenge, which came with a small cash prize. Shin sent the money to her mother, telling her she made it through makeup work.[1] Eventually, Kim Chi made it to the top three along withNaomi Smalls, but lost the title toBob 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.[14]
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".[15] Other items included the Kim Chi Electric Teal Eyeshadow.
In November 2016, Kim Chi released a package of Kim Chiemoji called Kimchiji. Emoji included her catchphrases, a burrito bowl, a chicken wing, and a butt being spanked.[13]
In March 2017, Kim Chi was invited to the College of Communication and Fine Arts atLoyola 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.[7]
In April 2017, Kim Chi performed atArizona State University West campus for their Asian Heritage Week andPride Week. Emily Kwon, President of the Asian-Asian Pacific American Students' Coalition, put on the event and invited Kim Chi to perform for the students.[16]
In May 2017, Kim Chi performed as part of the Werq the World 2017 tour. The tour, hosted byBianca Del Rio andMichelle Visage, also featured drag queensAlaska Thunderfuck,Alyssa Edwards,Detox,Latrice Royale, andViolet Chachki.[17]
In December 2018, Kim Chi appeared in the television specialRuPaul's Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular, a one-off festive version of the regularDrag Race series.[18]
In June 2019, a panel of judges fromNew York magazine placed her 17th on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 formerDrag Race contestants.[19] In September 2019, Kim Chi announced that she was developing her own cosmetics line in collaboration with Bespoke Beauty Brands launched byToni Ko, the founder of NYX Cosmetics, called Kim Chi Chic.[20]
In 2025, Kim Chi collaborated with Korean-Americanstreetwear brand Sundae School forcannabis edible products, named "Kim Chi Over Flowers".[21]
She is one of the most followed queens fromDrag Race, and has accumulated over 1.8 millionInstagram followers as of June 2023.[22]
| Year | Song | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Single" | [23] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Lipstick City | Chic | Short film byShea Coulee | [24] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | RuPaul's Drag Race(season 8) | Herself | Contestant (Runner-Up) | [citation needed] |
| 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 | [18] | |
| 2019 | Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star | Guest Judge | [25] | |
| 2020 | RuPaul's Celebrity Drag Race | RuPaul's Drag Race Spin-Off | [26] | |
| 2023 | Drag Me to Dinner | Hulu original | [27] |
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Fantasy" | Acid Betty |
| 2016 | The Realness | RuPaul |
| 2016 | Straight Outta Oz | Todrick Hall |
| 2016 | Expensive[28] | Todrick Hall |
| 2017 | Me4U[29] | Danny L Harle |
| 2018 | Pose[30] | Naomi Smalls |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Cooking w/ Drag Queens | Herself | Guest | [31] |
| 2016 | Vanity Fair: 103 Years of Drag Queen Fashion | Herself | Vanity Fair video short | [32] |
| 2016 | Bobbin' Around | Herself | Guest | [33] |
| 2016 | Ring My Bell | Herself | Guest | [34] |
| 2017 | $tranger$ for Ca$h | Herself | Guest, withMilk | [35] |
| 2017–2018 | M.U.G. | Herself | Co-Host | [36] |
| 2017 | PMB | Herself | Guest | [37] |
| 2018 | Pardon My French Food | Herself | Recurring | [38] |
| 2019 | The Pit Stop | Herself | Guest | [39] |
| 2019–2020 | Werq the World | Herself | World of Wonder exclusive | [40] |
| 2019 | Gaymer Guys | Herself | Guest | [41] |
| 2019 | Runway Rewind | Herself | Guest | [42] |
| 2022 | Binge Queens | Herself | Guest, Produced byWorld of Wonder | [43] |
| 2024 | Monét's Slumber Party | Herself | Guest | [44] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
