Wikipedia

Utica Queen

Utica Queen
Utica Queen at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2023
Born
Ethan David Mundt

(1995-06-02) June 2, 1995 (age 30)
Olmsted County, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationHamline University (BA)
OccupationDrag queen
Television
Websiteuticaqueen.com

Ethan David Mundt (born June 2, 1995), known professionally as Utica Queen, is an American drag performer and fashion designer. She rose to prominence for competing on the thirteenth season of reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race.

Early life and education

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Ethan David Mundt was born to Robert Duane and Susan Melinda Mundt on June 2, 1995, in Olmsted County, Minnesota.[1] Growing up, he was raised in Utica and while attending St. Charles High School, Mundt joined a teenage improv troupe located at the Mayo Civic Center which involved him to cosplay and create outfits.[2]

Mundt studied costume design and art at Hamline University,[3] meanwhile he received help from older drag performers with his persona. Mundt later graduated in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and theatre production. He began performing under the name Utica Queen, after his hometown.[4]

Career and public image

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Utica Queen was announced to be competing in the thirteenth season of reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race on December 9, 2020.[5] She became the third contestant to represent Minneapolis after BeBe Zahara Benet, who competed and won in its first season, alongside Mercedes Iman Diamond competing in the eleventh season.[6]

During the Snatch Game challenge, she impersonated painter Bob Ross which failed to impressed the judges and was up for elimination against competitor Elliott with 2 Ts; she was declared safe in the lip-sync contest to "Fascinated" (1986) by freestyle trio Company B.[7] Utica Queen was included in a Screen Rant article which ranked her seventh in 2023 for the "worst" impersonations to occur in the series.[8] She eventually won the makeover challenge alongside contestant (and now winner) Symone, where they exchange their looks and garments.[9] The drag performer was then again fell out short for when she had to create and commercialized a soft drink. Utica Queen remained safe after she lip-syncing "My Humps" (2005) by hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas against contestant Tina Burner.[10]

Overall, she was eliminated, finishing in sixth place during a comedy roasting challenge, where she was notoriously given the finger by host and head judge RuPaul. Utica Queen told entertainment news Vulture, "I literally felt like I could die happy, [...] I did the thing."[11] Many fans soon blamed her for "fatphobia" against comedian Loni Love, and she later issued an apology through X (formerly Twitter), stating, "The jokes were in bad taste and my attempt at roast humor [...] making fun of people's size is not okay. I'm truly sorry."[12]

Utica Queen at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2024

The same year, Utica Queen opened her first art exhibition on December 5,[13] titled Homecoming Queen at the Rochester Art Center. This featured approximately twenty garments she created alongside initial concepts and design sketches shown. It lasted for four months, closing until April 3, 2022.[14][15][16] Given its success, it sparked various drag brunch events surrounding the city.[17]

Mundt was announced as a competitor in the twenty-first season of Project Runway, which premiered on July 31, 2025.[18]

Personal life

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Mundt uses he/him pronouns while not performing in drag;[19] his drag persona was based in Minneapolis.[20] During his time on the thirteenth season of Drag Race, Mundt revealed he is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[21] Since late 2021, he has resided in Chicago, Illinois.[22]

Filmography

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Television

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List of television credits, with selected details
Year Title Genre Role Notes Ref.
2021 RuPaul's Drag Race Competition Contestant 6th place [23]
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
2025 Project Runway No notes [24]

References

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  1. ^ "Ethan David Mundt". Ancestry Institute. Ancestry. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  2. ^ Lange, Steve (December 7, 2021). "Utica Queen giving everyone a full-on hug". Post-Bulletin. Forum Communications Company. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  3. ^ Swartzer, Katie (March 24, 2021). "Utica Queen's quintessentially Minnesotan drag persona". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  4. ^ Raihala, Ross (December 12, 2020). "Hamline grad Ethan Mundt, aka Utica Queen, to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race". Twin Cities. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  5. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 9, 2020). "RuPaul's Drag Race Ru-veals queens for season 13, sets premiere date". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  6. ^ "Drag queen from Minnesota competing on RuPaul's Drag Race". WWJO. Townsquare Media. December 11, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  7. ^ Guzzo, Bianca (March 6, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13 Episode 9 Recap: Snatch Game". IN Magazine. Archived from the original on January 22, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  8. ^ Konopka Alonzo, Michelle (February 5, 2023). "The worst RuPaul's Drag Race Snatch Game characters ranked". Screen Rant. Valnet. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  9. ^ McCallion, Paul (March 12, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race recap: Trading Faces". Vulture. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  10. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 13, Episode 11 recap: Brand strategy | Xtra Magazine". March 19, 2021. Archived from the original on March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Curto, Justin (March 29, 2021). "Utica Queen can die happy after getting flipped off by RuPaul on Drag Race". Vulture. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  12. ^ Damshenas, Sam (March 27, 2021). "Utica issues apology following performance in recent Drag Race episode". Gay Times. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  13. ^ "Homecoming Queen: The Wonderful World of Utica Queen". DowntownRochesterMN.com. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  14. ^ "Rochester Art Center to host fashion exhibition with 'Drag Race' star Utica Queen". Med City Beat. September 2, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  15. ^ Molseed, John (December 5, 2021). "Utica draws a crowd in homecoming at the Rochester Art Center". Post Bulletin. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  16. ^ Halliwell, Anne (November 16, 2021). "Utica Queen brings designs to Rochester Art Center exhibit". Post Bulletin. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  17. ^ "Drag brunches coming to Crave in Rochester". Rochester Post Bulletin. January 18, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  18. ^ Malec, Brett M. (June 11, 2025). "Project Runway's season 21 contestants and celebrity guest judges revealed". E! Online. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  19. ^ Tormoen, Erik (December 3, 2021). "The Return of Utica Queen". Minnesota Monthly. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  20. ^ Allaire, Christian (February 11, 2021). "Utica Queen, Drag Race's Breakout Style Star, Is Only Getting Started". Vogue. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  21. ^ McCallion, Paul (January 15, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race recap: Tamisha said I had potential". Vulture. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  22. ^ Nunn, Jerry (October 12, 2021). "Drag Utica Queen finds a home in Chicago". Windy City Times. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  23. ^ Cuby, Michael (March 31, 2021). "Exit interview: Utica on getting cut from RuPaul's Drag Race". Nylon. Bustle Digital Group. ISSN 1524-1750. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  24. ^ Franklin, McKinley (June 11, 2025). "Drag Race alum Utica Queen joins Project Runway season 21 cast, Tyra Banks to guest judge". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. ISSN 0018-3660. OCLC 44653726. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
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