Born in 1979, Alexis Mateo began her drag career in Puerto Rico's gay nightclub circuit before relocating in 2001 to Orlando, Florida, where she worked as a dancer and performer at Disney World.[4] In addition to his drag career, which began in 2006,[5] he is a fashion designer and won the 2001 Inter Fashion Award for Best Fashion Designer.[6][7]
Career
While residing in Central Florida, he won many gay pageants including Miss Florida US of A, Miss Florida Latina, Miss Orlando, Miss Central Florida, Miss Lakeland, Miss Waterside, Miss Suncoast, Miss Suncoast America, Miss ASAP, Miss Lakeland America, Miss Orlando Latina, Miss Florida International, and Sunshine State All American Goddess.[6][8]
Mateo has been active in AIDS awareness and activism. After being featured in a Gilead Sciences ad titled "Red Ribbon Runway" with fellow Drag Race co-stars Manila Luzon, Delta Work, Shangela Laquifa Wadley, and Carmen Carrera,[9] the dress he was featured wearing was auctioned off by Logo in commemoration of World AIDS Day. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the National Association of People with AIDS.[10] In 2012, along with other RuPaul's Drag Race contestants, Mateo appeared in the music video "Queen" by band Xelle (which featured former drag race contestant Mimi Imfurst as a member).[11] She was one of thirty drag queens featured in Miley Cyrus's 2015 VMA performance.[12]
Mateo joined as a cast member on the third season of Logo's reality series, RuPaul's Drag Race, which premiered on the network on January 29, 2011. Mateo won three of the main challenges (Episodes 2, 3, and 8) before making it to the top three, where he was eliminated in the season finale which aired on April 25, 2011.[13]
Mateo served as a guest professor on the third episode of the third season of Drag Racespin-off seriesRuPaul's Drag U.[14] On August 6, 2012, it was announced that Mateo was one of twelve past Drag Race contestants selected to join the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars that premiered on the Logo network on October 22, 2012.[15] Teamed with contestant Yara Sofia to form Team Yarlexis, the duo was eliminated in the fourth episode of the series which aired on November 12, 2012.
Mateo made a guest appearance in the premiere episode of AJ and the Queen in 2020.[16]
On May 8, 2020, Mateo was announced as one of the ten queens competing on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[2] Mateo was eliminated in episode 6, ultimately placing 5th. Her elimination came largely because of accusations from India Ferrah that Mateo had campaigned against eventual winner Shea Couleé. Mateo was vindicated in the series finale when Ferrah's claims were shown to be lies, and the contestants that voted Mateo out apologized.[17]
In March, Alexis Mateo, alongside the rest of the RuPaul's Drag Race Live! cast, performed with Katy Perry during her Play concert residency at Resorts World Las Vegas.[18]
Mateo is also a former Miss Florida Latina, Miss Orlando, Miss Central Florida, Miss Waterside, Miss Suncoast, Miss Suncoast America, Miss Lakeland America and Miss ASAP.[19]
Mateo resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he performs at gay venues and events both locally and throughout the United States. In April 2011, Mateo along with fellow contestant Yara Sofia launched a boycott of a Tampa beauty supply shop after the two claimed they had been told to leave the store because of their sexual orientation.[20] His drag daughter is season 10 and season 11Drag Race contestant Vanessa Vanjie Mateo.[21]
On March 1, 2018, his Instagram account was hacked and deleted, forcing him to make a new one.[22]
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