Mercedes Iman Diamond Explained

Mercedes Iman Diamond
Birth Date:12 December 1987
Birth Place:Mombasa, Kenya
Other Names:Curran
Occupation:Drag queen
Television:RuPaul's Drag Race (season 11)

Mercedes Iman Diamond is the stage name of Curran,[1] a Kenyan-American drag performer who competed on season 11 of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race. Curran was born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya, and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he created the drag persona Mercedes Iman Diamond and competed in pageants. Mercedes Iman Diamond was the first Muslim contestant on Drag Race; Internet memes of her appearance on the show went viral, and her lines in a parody film challenge inspired a dance remix by Adam Joseph.

Early life

Curran was born on December 12, 1987,[2] [3] in Mombasa, Kenya. He moved to the United States at the age of eleven and created his drag persona Mercedes Iman Diamond at the Minneapolis club Gay 90s a decade later.[4]

Career

Mercedes Iman Diamond has a background in pageantry; she won the Miss Gay 90s pageant in 2016.[5] She was also named Miss City of the Lakes, and was the second alternate in the pageant Miss Minnesota Continental.[6]

Mercedes Iman Diamond was the first Muslim contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race; she competed in season 11 (2019).[7] On the first episide "Whatcha Unpackin?", she performed poorly in the photo shoot mini-challenge and wore an outfit for the runway that was inspired by former Drag Race contestant Bianca Del Rio.[8] The acting challenge on the second episode "Good God Girl, Get Out" required Mercedes Iman Diamond to dance and recite dialogue in a parody of Get Out (2017) that was inspired by the film Paris Is Burning (1990).[9] Internet memes of Mercedes Iman Diamond struggling to pronounce "opulence" went viral,[10] [11] and her vocals received a dance remix from American singer-songwriter Adam Joseph.[12] During a lip-sync battle to "Work Bitch" (2013) by Britney Spears, Mercedes Iman Diamond subsequently eliminated her partner in the challenge Kahanna Montrese from the competition.[13] [14]

Despite her initial reluctance to discuss her identity,[15] on the third episode ("Diva Worship"), Mercedes Iman Diamond described her experience of being racially profiled and placed on the No Fly List for years because she was from Kenya.[16] [17] [18] She also said she had suffered from a stroke during a pageant as a result of demanding travel requirements.[19] On the fourth episode "", Mercedes Iman Diamond portrayed Ivanka Trump in the Grease-inspired Rusical (musical theatre challenge) about Donald Trump and the women in his life.[20] [21] Mercedes Iman Diamond's performance placed her in the bottom two and she was eliminated from the competition after losing a lip-sync against Ra'Jah O'Hara to James Brown's "Living in America" (1985).[22] [23]

Mercedes Iman Diamond continues to perform in drag shows and has large followings on social media.[24] She and Drag Race contestant Jaidynn Diore Fierce performed at the first drag brunch in Ely, Minnesota, in 2022.[25]

Personal life

Curran lives in Minneapolis.[26] He is gay.[27]

Mercedes Iman Diamond is the "drag daughter" (mentee) of Prada Diamond.[28]

Filmography

Television

Web series

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kiunguyu . Kylie . 2019-02-27 . First Muslim drag queen on "RuPaul's Drag Race" hails from Kenya . 2023-12-08 . en-US . 2023-09-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054219/https://thisisafrica.me/lifestyle/mercedes-iman-diamond-kenya-first-muslim-drag-queen-on-rupaul-drag-race/ . live . This Is Africa.
  2. 1602509771407597568 . Mercedesiman . It's my birthday Just want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone that wished me a happy birthday I love you guys. . Mercedes Iman . Diamond . December 12, 2022 . March 14, 2024.
  3. Stroude . Will . Meet the queens of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 11 . . January 25, 2019 . December 12, 2023 . 1353-1875 . December 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212234125/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/meet-the-queens-of-rupauls-drag-race-season-11-298102/ . live .
  4. Web site: 2019-01-24 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11 Cast: Meet the 15 Queens Vying for the Crown . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210104132157/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/rupaul-drag-race-season-11-203330405.html . 2021-01-04 . 2023-12-12 . . en-US.
  5. Web site: Holdgrafer . George . 2016-11-23 . Barometer: Mercedes Iman-Diamond Captures Miss Gay 90's 2016 Title . 2023-12-12 . . en-US . 2023-06-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602175358/https://lavendermagazine.com/our-scene/clubs-music/barometer-mercedes-iman-diamond-captures-miss-gay-90s-2016-title/ . live .
  6. Web site: Damshenas . Sam . 2018-12-26 . Is this the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race season 11? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230130013456/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/this-is-the-rumoured-cast-for-rupauls-drag-race-season-11/ . 2023-01-30 . 2023-12-12 . . en-GB . 0950-6101.
  7. Web site: Street . Mikelle . 2019-03-21 . This 'Drag Race' Season 11 Queen Just Got Real About Islamophobia . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190322134337/https://www.out.com/drag/2019/3/21/drag-race-season-11-queen-just-got-real-about-islamophobia . 2019-03-22 . 2023-12-08 . . en . 1062-7928.
  8. Daw . Stephen . 2019-03-06 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11 Power Ranking: Episode 1 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209105338/https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/rupauls-drag-race-season-11-power-ranking-8500862/ . 2023-02-09 . 2023-12-12 . . . en-US . 0006-2510.
  9. Web site: Street . Mikelle . 2019-03-11 . Kahanna Montrese Would Totally Join the 'Drag Race' Pit Crew . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220514020810/https://www.out.com/drag/2019/3/11/kahanna-montrese-would-totally-join-drag-race-pit-crew . 2022-05-14 . 2023-12-12 . Out . en.
  10. Web site: Cook . Michael . 2019-03-26 . Mercedes Iman Diamond eliminated on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' . 2023-12-12 . Out In Jersey . en-US . 2022-08-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220816075224/https://outinjersey.net/mercedes-iman-diamond-eliminated-on-rupauls-drag-race/ . live .
  11. "Opulence" memes:
    • Nolfi . Joey . 2019-03-12 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 11 GIF recap: Ram up the oppalens! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230131135529/https://ew.com/tv/2019/03/12/rupauls-drag-race-season-11-episode-2-recap-oppalens/ . 2023-01-31 . 2023-12-12 . . . en . 1049-0434 . 21114137 . In Mercedes’ world (which we're not complaining about living in, mind you), 'Opulence! You own everything!' translates to 'Oppalens! You. Earn. Everytheeeeeng!' As is tradition in Drag Race, the flub is now an iconic masterpiece of digital art..
    • Web site: Damshenas . Sam . 2019-03-12 . 10 of the best 'Oppalance' memes from Drag Race season 11 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210731192601/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/10-of-the-best-oppalance-memes-from-drag-race-season-11/ . 2021-07-31 . 2023-12-12 . Gay Times . en-GB.
  12. Web site: 2019-03-15 . Drag Race star Mercedes' 'Oppalance' has been given a dance remix . 2023-12-12 . Gay Times . en-GB . 2021-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210804232626/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/drag-race-star-mercedes-oppalance-has-been-given-a-sickening-dance-remix/ . live .
  13. Web site: Guerra . Joey . 2019-03-08 . Kahanna Montrese feels like she won 'Drag Race' despite early exit . 2023-12-12 . . . en . 1074-7109 . 30348909.
  14. Web site: Damshenas . Sam . 2019-03-08 . Drag Race's Mercedes reveals she had a stroke after being racially profiled . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211127083153/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/drag-race-star-mercedes-reveals-she-had-a-stroke-after-being-racially-profiled/ . 2021-11-27 . 2023-12-12 . Gay Times . en-GB.
  15. Web site: Kile . Meredith B. . 2019-03-22 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race': Mercedes Iman Diamond on Her Legacy as the Show's First Muslim Queen (Exclusive) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212234126/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/apos-rupaul-apos-drag-race-023000717.html . 2023-12-12 . 2023-12-12 . Yahoo Entertainment . en-US.
  16. Web site: Damshenas . Sam . 2019-03-08 . Drag Race's Mercedes reveals she had a stroke after being racially profiled . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211127083153/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/drag-race-star-mercedes-reveals-she-had-a-stroke-after-being-racially-profiled/ . 2021-11-27 . 2023-12-08 . Gay Times . en-GB.
  17. Web site: Sultana . Rashad . 2019-03-29 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 11: Mercedes Iman Diamond on queer Muslim representation & being wrongly put on the 'no fly list' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220128092309/https://www.queerty.com/mercedes-iman-diamond-queer-muslim-representation-wrongly-put-no-fly-list-time-drag-race-20190329 . 2022-01-28 . 2023-12-08 . Queerty.
  18. Web site: Henderson . Taylor . 2019-03-07 . 'Drag Race's' First Muslim Queen Says Religion Put Her on No-Fly List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207080918/https://www.pride.com/tv/2019/3/07/drag-races-first-muslim-queen-says-religion-put-her-no-fly-list . 2022-12-07 . 2023-12-08 . . . en.
  19. Web site: Damshenas . Sam . 2019-03-29 . Drag Race star Mercedes on 'Oppalance' and advocating for the Muslim drag community . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210730160616/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/drag-race-star-mercedes-on-oppalance-and-advocating-for-the-muslim-drag-community/ . 2021-07-30 . 2023-12-12 . Gay Times . en-GB.
  20. Nolfi . Joey . 2019-03-22 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' eliminee on fainting goats and bonding with Brooke Candy . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230526231023/https://ew.com/tv/2019/03/22/rupauls-drag-race-mercedes-iman-diamond-elimination-interview/ . 2023-05-26 . 2023-12-08 . Entertainment Weekly . en.
  21. Web site: Guerra . Joey . 2019-03-21 . 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11: Trump the Rusical . 2023-12-12 . Houston Chronicle . en.
  22. Daw . Stephen . 2019-03-22 . Mercedes Iman Diamond Talks 'Opulence' Memes, Politics & More After 'Drag Race' Exit . 2023-12-08 . Billboard . en-US . 2022-05-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220524084642/https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/mercedes-iman-diamond-exit-interview-drag-race-8503772/ . live .
  23. Web site: Holland . Scott . 2019-03-25 . Mercedes Iman Diamond Talks 'Drag Race' Season 11 . 2023-12-12 . Hotspots! Magazine . en-US . 2023-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205021630/https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/03/25/mercedes-iman-diamond-talks-drag-race-season-11/ . live .
  24. Web site: Whittingham . Emily . 2021-10-24 . RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11 Queens: Where Are They Now? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211216024916/https://screenrant.com/rupauls-drag-race-season-11-queens-updates-where-are-they-now/ . 2021-12-16 . 2023-12-12 . . en.
  25. Web site: Johnson . Kenny . 2022-08-07 . Ely's first ever drag brunch brings representation to The Iron Range . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230529190046/https://www.wdio.com/front-page/top-stories/elys-first-ever-drag-brunch-brings-representation-to-the-iron-range/ . 2023-05-29 . 2023-12-12 . . en-US.
  26. Web site: Johnson . Shakeena . 2019-04-14 . Mercedes Iman Diamond Talks Drag Race, Opulence & Representation . 2023-12-08 . AZ Magazine . en-GB . 2023-05-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230508055450/https://azmagazine.co.uk/mercedes-iman-diamond-talks-drag-race-opulence-and-representation/ . live .
  27. Web site: Blanton . Kayla . 2019-03-25 . 'Drag Race' Queen Mercedes Iman Diamond Wants Her Fans To Know It's OK To Be Muslim & Gay . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221007125751/https://www.bustle.com/p/drag-race-queen-mercedes-iman-diamond-wants-her-fans-to-know-its-ok-to-be-muslim-gay-16982361 . 2022-10-07 . 2023-12-08 . . en.
  28. Web site: Most . Becca . 2019-06-26 . Fashion, fabulousness and self-love . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328001305/https://mndaily.com/252038/arts-entertainment/aedrag/ . 2023-03-28 . 2023-12-12 . Minnesota Daily.
  29. Whatcha Packin': Mercedes Iman Diamond S11 E4 RuPaul's Drag Race . March 22, 2019 . Video . . March 14, 2024 . YouTube.
  30. Mercedes Iman Diamond on Look at Huh - Part 1 . February 12, 2020 . Video . . March 14, 2024 . YouTube.
  31. Mercedes Iman Diamond on Look at Huh - Part 2 . October 25, 2017 . Video . . March 14, 2024 . YouTube.