Mariah Balenciaga

Mariah Balenciaga, born Elijah A. Kelly on February 13, 1981, in Gainesville, Georgia, began her journey in the drag scene at age 18. She moved to Atlanta at 19 and quickly became involved in the ballroom scene, where she was recruited into the House of Armani. Her drag name, Mariah, was chosen for its phonetic similarity to her birth name. She later became a founding member of the House of Balenciaga, adopting the name Mariah Balenciaga, with “Paris” coming from her drag family.

Balenciaga rose to prominence competing on the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2011, where she placed 9th. Her performances on the show demonstrated her skills as a drag artist. She also appeared as a drag professor on RuPaul’s Drag U in 2011 and 2012. Following her initial appearance, she continued to build her career through guest roles in web series produced by World of Wonder, such as “Wait, What?” and “Fashion Photo RuView.” These appearances showcased her expertise and expanded her reach within the entertainment industry.

In 2020, Mariah Balenciaga returned to reality television as a contestant on the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, where she finished in 8th place. During this season, her spoken word performance on racism garnered significant acclaim, being praised by guest judge Ricky Martin for its timeliness and message. Beyond television, she has released music, including her single “Mug 4 Dayz” in 2013, and has been featured in music videos for artists like Lizzo and Aly & AJ. She has also served as a backup dancer for notable performances, including Miley Cyrus’s 2015 VMA performance and Rita Ora’s Lip Sync Battle appearance in 2018. Her career reflects consistent engagement across various facets of the entertainment and drag industries.