‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Alum Mimi Imfurst Is The First American Drag Queen To Perform In Cuba

There’s nothing like New Year’s Eve than spending it with champagne and someone to smooch when the ball drops! But what about, a drag queen?! On New Years Eve Dec 31, 2016 Mimi Imfurst became the first American drag queen to perform in Cuba.

A former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant and 2017 current reigning Miss’d America, Mimi Imfurst met with with the  Cuban government  LGBT organization, El Proyecto Divino, to organize the performance.

Check it out:

Mimi was provided 8 dancers and a short 90 minute rehearsal to put the performance together- with the help of a translator.  The dancers had never even heard Madonna’s “Express Yourself” before- as a lot of American Pop Culture has been withheld during the embargo.

There were a lot of challenges as the dancers did not speak English and Mimi Imfurst did not speak Spanish- however everyone worked hard to come together to put together the historic performance in hopes that it will inspire American and Cuban relations to continue to improve.

“The moment was overwhelming, the idea that we can come together to create a piece of art- to come together- to “Express Ourselves” and encourage others to think about the possibilities that lay before us when we try to bridge the divides that stand between us.    My trip to Cuba was life changing- I got to experience the rich history and culture of Cuba by living in their houses and spending the week disconnecting the outside world.  More importantly the Cuban people are incredible- they have fought through a strict embargo and have thrived with nothing more than the tenacity of the human spirit. That is inspiring for us all and at the end of the day- that will always win.”