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Minnesota Now with Cathy Wurzer
Cathy Wurzer and Lindsay Guentzel

A breakout star of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' hails from just outside Rochester

a drag queen in a photoshoot
Utica Queen of Minneapolis competed in season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Courtesy of Trevor Beaty

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If you’re a fan of “RuPaul's Drag Race,” you likely already know and love season 13 star Utica Queen.

Raised in Utica, Minnesota — a town of about 300 just east of Rochester — Ethan Mundt started performing drag in the Twin Cities while a student at Hamline University. Then, just as the world began to shut down because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the 26-year-old auditioned for “RuPaul's Drag Race.” He spent the summer of 2020 competing on the show inside a precautionary bubble in Los Angeles.

Utica Queen was in the top 6 before being eliminated in the 12th episode.

Fans of Utica Queen here in Minnesota have a new way to connect with the drag queen. A new exhibit at the Rochester Art Center called “Homecoming Queen” takes visitors into the world of Utica Queen; showcasing garments, designs and accessories Mundt created on the Emmy Award-winning reality TV show.

Mundt gave host Cathy Wurzer a sneak peek at the exhibition and shared some stories from his time on “RuPaul's Drag Race.”

“Homecoming Queen” runs through April 4 at the Rochester Art Center. If you’re a Utica Queen fan but can't make it to Rochester, you can attend the exhibit through a fully navigable virtual gallery to get in on the fun.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.