Jimbo (drag queen)

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Jimbo
Born
James Insell

1982/1983 (age 38–39)[1]
EducationUniversity of Western Ontario (BS)
OccupationDrag queen, designer
Years active2000s–present
Known forCanada's Drag Race

Jimbo is the stage name of James Insell, a Canadian designer and drag queen most noted as a contestant in the first season of Canada's Drag Race.[2]

Early life and education[]

Originally from London, Ontario, Insell and his brother Jeff were both interested in creative pursuits from childhood, including early drag play.[1] Respecting his father's wishes that he pursue a career-oriented education, he studied biology at the University of Western Ontario; following graduation, however, he opted not to pursue employment in the field and instead moved to Victoria, British Columbia, where he began working as a costume and production designer.[1]

Career[]

Insell has worked predominantly in local theatre, including productions of James and the Giant Peach[3] and The Rocky Horror Show,[4] but has also had credits on a number of television films produced by Front Street Pictures for the Hallmark Channel,[1] and on the children's television series Pup Academy.

He appeared in the music video for Victoria musician Adrian Chalifour's single "Open Heart".[5] He also appeared as the drag mother to British Columbian rapper bbno$ for the music video for his song "imma".[6]

He appeared on the first season of Canada's Drag Race in 2020, emerging as a popular fan favourite[7] and winning the key Snatch Game challenge for his performance as Joan Rivers,[8] but was eliminated from the competition in fourth place behind finalists Priyanka, Scarlett BoBo and Rita Baga.[9] For Fierté Montréal's special online edition of its annual Drag Superstars show, which featured all of the Canada's Drag Race queens in prerecorded video performances, Jimbo performed a drag recreation of The Buggles' 1979 hit "Video Killed the Radio Star".

Following Canada's Drag Race he toured the United Kingdom as part of the Klub Kids show with Rock M Sakura and Erika Klash,[10] and was the only queen from the season not to appear at any dates on the Canada's Drag Race Live at the Drive-In tour;[11] however, he did participate alongside Priyanka, Scarlett Bobo and Rita Baga in an online panel discussion as part of the Just for Laughs festival.[12]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, he also created a line of face masks through his design studio, with every purchase matched by a donation of a free mask to a homeless or low-income person,[2] and launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of House of Jimbo, a comedy and variety series he hopes to launch in the future.[13] Insell has described House of Jimbo as "the framework of a kids show, but really made for adults", comparable to Pee-wee's Playhouse or The Hilarious House of Frightenstein,[14] and the show reached its Kickstarter goal by the end of October 2020. At the same time the Chemainus-based Riot Brewing Company introduced Jimbo, a boysenberry-flavoured craft beer whose profits will go in part to funding House of Jimbo.[13]

In 2021 he made a return appearance in the second season of Canada's Drag Race, appearing in the third episode as the killer in the slasher film-themed musical challenge "Screech".[15]

Filmography[]

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
2020 Canada's Drag Race (season 1) Herself Contestant

Music videos[]

Year Title Artist Ref.
2019 "Open Heart" Adrian Chalifour [5]
2020 "imma" bbno$ [6]
2021 "Bitch I'm Busy" Priyanka [16]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Mollie Kaye, "James and his giant peach add sparkle to Victoria". Focus on Victoria, September 6, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Mike Devlin, "Victoria’s Jimbo seeks drag-queen crown". Victoria Times-Colonist, July 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Adrian Chamberlain, "James and the Giant Peach goes high-tech". Victoria Times-Colonist, November 10, 2016.
  4. ^ Travis Paterson, "Rocky Horror returns to the stage Wednesday". Victoria News, October 13, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Don Descoteau, "Chalifour bringing Joy to Victoria this weekend". Monday Magazine, November 25, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Bryen Dunn, "Canada’s Drag Race – and then there were three!". The Buzz, August 2020.
  7. ^ Joey Nolfi, "Jimbo ate sandwiches, the runway, and our hearts on Canada's Drag Race". Entertainment Weekly, August 27, 2020.
  8. ^ Kevin Ritchie, "Canada’s Drag Race queen Jimbo on hyper-sexualized drag, the judging backlash and eating on the air". Now, August 28, 2020.
  9. ^ Sarah Taher, "After the Sashay: All the world loves a Jimbo". Daily Xtra, August 28, 2020.
  10. ^ Markus Bidaux, "‘Canada’s Drag Race’: Jimbo spills the tea on Judge Jeffrey, Untucked and coming to the UK". Attitude, August 28, 2020.
  11. ^ Tyler Jadah, "Canada's Drag Race is coming to Montreal's drive-in venue this month". Daily Hive, September 10, 2020.
  12. ^ Jenelle Riley, "For Montreal’s Just for Laughs, the Show Will Go On(line)". Variety, October 2, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Graham Cox, "Local brewery collaborates on new beer with popular Vancouver Island drag queen, Jimbo". CHEK-DT, October 8, 2020.
  14. ^ Michael Cook, "Canada’s Drag Race Standout Jimbo: 'We Have An Opportunity To Showcase Our Unique Take On Drag & Who We Are'". Instinct, September 6, 2020.
  15. ^ Kevin O'Keeffe, "‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 2, Episode 3 recap: Scream, queen". Xtra!, October 29, 2021.
  16. ^ Corey Atad, "‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Winner Priyanka Releasing Debut EP ‘Taste Test’. ET Canada, July 14, 2021.

External links[]

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