Who is Mariah Balenciaga from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World Season 3?
Mariah Paris Balenciaga (born on February 13, 1981) is a veteran drag queen originally from Gainesville, Georgia, and a standout contestant who competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World Season 3. She also competed on Drag Race Season 3 (US), Drag Race All Stars 5 (US), and is now a mentor on Drag U (US).
How old is Mariah Balenciaga?
Mariah was born on February 13, 1981, in Gainesville, Georgia, making her 44 years old as of 2026. She always celebrates her birthday on February 13 every year, and her zodiac sign is Aquarius. On her 45th birthday, Balenciaga posted a photo of herself on her Instagram account and captioned, “Save a horse, ride my mustache 😝👅‼️‼️ Thank you all for the love, I made it to 45🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🌏 I’m so grateful for the privilege of getting older and the ability to continue to grow.🌈🌈🌈🌏.”
Personal Information Summary
| Real Name | Elijah A. Kelly |
| Drag Name | Mariah Paris Balenciaga |
| Gender Identity | Male out of drag (He/Him), Female in drag (She/Her) |
| Date of Birth | February 13, 1981 |
| Age | 44 years old as of 2026 |
| Birth Place | Gainesville, Georgia, USA |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Net Worth | Estimated to range between $100,000 and $ 1000,000 |
| Occupation | Drag queen, ballroom performer, stylist, hair and makeup artist, television personality |
| Reality TV Appearance | Mentor on RuPaul’s Drag U (Seasons 2 & 3), featured in World of Wonder web series (Wait, What?, Transformations, Fashion Photo RuView) |
| Known For | Competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 3, All Stars Season 5, and UK vs The World Season 3 |
| Music | Released single Mug 4 Dayz in 2013 |
| Social Media | Instagram and Facebook (@Mariah Balenciaga) |
Early Life and Education
Balenciaga, born Elijah A. Kelly on February 13, 1981 (sometimes listed as 1982) in Gainesville, Georgia, USA, grew up in the American South before becoming a prominent figure in drag and ballroom culture. She first began experimenting with drag at the age of 18, reportedly at a Halloween party. This experience sparked her interest in drag performance, and she quickly became involved in the ballroom scene. Outside of drag, Balenciaga works as a full-time hair and makeup artist. However, details about her formal education, parents, and siblings are limited, and not much is known about her personal life.
On May 12, 2025, she mentioned her mom, Linnea Kelly in one of her Instagram posts. She captioned, “The House of Champions “ brought so much joy into my Mother’s Linnea Kelly’s life & I will forever be grateful ‼️♥️🥹.” Balenciaga also posted her mother on her Instagram account on May 14, 2023, where she was wishing her Happy Mother’s Day.
Her sister, Jiggly, on the other hand, passed away, as evidenced by one of Balenciaga’s Instagram posts that was posted on April 27, 2025. She captioned, “My sister will forever have the final say of being the prettiest Bitch‼️💔💔💔💔💔 I’m going to miss you more than I can even say.”
| Parent’s name | Father: Information not available Mother: Linnea Kelly |
| Siblings | Jiggly (passed away) |
Mariah Balenciaga Partner
As of the latest available information, Balenciaga is currently single and not publicly in a relationship. She has had at least one relationship in the past, but details about her dating history are not widely shared.
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Partner | Information not available |
| Children | Information not available |
What does Mariah Balenciaga do to earn a living?
Balenciaga earns her living through a mix of drag performance, television (Reality TV & Drag Race Appearances), and creative work (Ballroom & Pageant Work).
Mariah Balenciaga from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World Season 3
Mariah Paris Balenciaga is a seasoned drag performer from the United States who competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs. the World, Season 3, which premiered on January 27, 2026. She first appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 3, where she placed 9th, and later returned for All Stars Season 5, where she finished 8th. In RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World Season 3, Mariah joined a diverse cast of international queens, all vying for the title of “Queen of the Mothertucking World” and a £50,000 prize.
Mariah entered the competition as one of the most experienced queens in the cast, and her drag is heavily influenced by ballroom culture, giving her a polished, regal aesthetic. In the opening episodes, Mariah struggled to stand out against younger queens. As a result, she placed herself in a precarious position early in the competition, with fans debating whether she could deliver a breakout moment to secure her place. Beyond competing, she has also served as a mentor on RuPaul’s Drag U.
Quick Facts About Mariah Balenciaga
- Mariah appeared as a guest for the first challenge in the premiere of season eleven of Drag Race.
- Balenciaga was also a drag professor for the second and third seasons of RuPaul’s Drag U in 2011 and 2012.
- She released her first single, “Mug 4 Dayz”, on November 19, 2013.
- She makes guest appearances for the WOWPresents Internet series “Fashion Photo RuView.
- Additionally, she makes recurring appearances on another WOW series, “Wait, What?” as the co-host to Kimora Blac.
- Balenciaga was a featured performer during Jennifer Lopez’s performance at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
All I need to know about RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World Season 3
The BBC announced RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World Season 3 on December 24, 2025. The show premiered on January 27, 2026, and officially aired on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in the UK, as well as internationally on WOW Presents Plus. The premiere episode featured the Ruruvision Song Contest, a Eurovision-inspired challenge where queens represented their home franchises with musical performances. Occasionally, the season has brought together 10 international queens from across different countries to compete for the crown, and the tradition of “UK vs The World,” where queens from different Drag Race editions battle for global supremacy, continues.
As in previous “UK vs The World” seasons, the top queens of each week decide who goes home, adding strategic tension. Additionally, queens must impress in both maxi challenges and runway presentations, while lip-sync battles will also determine eliminations. The season will run for 8 episodes, each lasting about 75 minutes. Challenges range from musical performances and comedy skits to fashion runways and acting challenges. As with previous seasons,
RuPaul hosts the season, and Michelle Visage, Alan Carr, and Graham Norton return as judges. A star-studded lineup of guest judges joins them, including Loreen, JADE, Kristen McMenamy, Jayde Adams, and Rag’n’Bone Man, who assists with the Girl Group Challenge. Some of the notable contestants to watch out for include;
- Fontana (Sweden),
- Gawdland (Thailand),
- Kate Butch (UK),
- Mariah Balenciaga (US),
- Melinda Verga (Canada),
- Minty Fresh (Philippines),
- The Only Naomy (Germany),
- Serena Morena (Mexico),
- Sminty Drop (UK)
- Zahirah Zapanta (UK).
How Tall is Mariah Balenciaga?
Balenciaga is approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, equaling 1.75 meters
Mariah Balenciaga Net Worth
Balenciaga’s net worth is estimated to range between $100,000 and $ 1000,000. She has accumulated this wealth primarily through her reality TV earnings and drag performances.
Social Media
Balenciaga is gaining popularity on social media, particularly on Instagram @mug4dayz, where she shares drag content, event hosting updates, and lifestyle posts. You can also follow her on her Facebook account @Mariah Balenciaga, where she has over 40k followers