James Insell (born November 10, 1982), better known by the stage name Jimbo, is a Canadian designer and drag queen who competed in the first season of Canada's Drag Race (2020),Mike Devlin, "Victoria's Jimbo seeks drag-queen crown" . Victoria Times-Colonist, July 2, 2020. was in the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022), and won the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2023).
Early life and education From London, Ontario, Insell, his brother Jeff, as well as sisters Samantha and Jennifer, were born to Mary Insell and James Peter Insell (1947–2018), both boys being interested in creative pursuits from childhood, including early drag play.Mollie Kaye, "James and his giant peach add sparkle to Victoria" . Focus on Victoria, September 6, 2019. His father received his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Western Ontario in 1983. Respecting his father's wishes that he pursue a career-oriented education, he studied biology at the University of Western Ontario; following graduation, however, he opted not to pursue employment in the field and instead moved to Victoria, British Columbia, where he began working as a costume and production designer. He is married to Brady Taylor.
Career Insell has worked predominantly in local theatre, including productions of James and the Giant PeachAdrian Chamberlain, "James and the Giant Peach goes high-tech" . Victoria Times-Colonist, November 10, 2016. The Rocky Horror Show,Travis Paterson, "Rocky Horror returns to the stage Wednesday" . Victoria News, October 13, 2017. and Ride the Cyclone but has also had credits on a number of television films produced by Front Street Pictures for the Hallmark Channel, and on the children's television series Pup Academy. He appeared in the music video for Victoria musician Adrian Chalifour's single "Open Heart".Don Descoteau, "Chalifour bringing Joy to Victoria this weekend" . Monday Magazine, November 25, 2019. He also appeared as the drag mother to British Columbian rapper bbno$ for the music video for his song "imma".Bryen Dunn, "Canada's Drag Race – and then there were three!" . The Buzz, August 2020.He appeared on the first season of Canada's Drag Race in 2020, emerging as a popular fan favouriteJoey Nolfi, "Jimbo ate sandwiches, the runway, and our hearts on Canada's Drag Race" . Entertainment Weekly, August 27, 2020. and winning the key Snatch Game challenge for his performance as Joan Rivers,Kevin Ritchie, "Canada's Drag Race queen Jimbo on hyper-sexualized drag, the judging backlash and eating on the air" . Now, August 28, 2020. but was eliminated from the competition in fourth place behind finalists Priyanka, Scarlett BoBo and Rita Baga.Sarah Taher, "After the Sashay: All the world loves a Jimbo" . Daily Xtra, August 28, 2020. For Fierté Montréal's special online edition of its annual Drag Superstars show, which featured all of the Canada's Drag Race queens in prerecorded video performances, Jimbo performed a drag recreation of The Buggles' 1979 hit "Video Killed the Radio Star".
Following Canada's Drag Race he toured the United Kingdom as part of the Klub Kids show with Rock M Sakura and Erika Klash,Markus Bidaux, "'Canada's Drag Race': Jimbo spills the tea on Judge Jeffrey, Untucked and coming to the UK" . Attitude, August 28, 2020. and was the only queen from the season not to appear at any dates on the Canada's Drag Race Live at the Drive-In tour;Tyler Jadah, "Canada's Drag Race is coming to Montreal's drive-in venue this month" . Daily Hive, September 10, 2020. however, he did participate alongside Priyanka, Scarlett Bobo and Rita Baga in an online panel discussion as part of the Just for Laughs festival.Jenelle Riley, "For Montreal's Just for Laughs, the Show Will Go On(line)" . Variety, October 2, 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, he also created a line of face masks through his design studio, with every purchase matched by a donation of a free mask to a homeless or low-income person, and launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of House of Jimbo, a comedy and variety series he hopes to launch in the future.Graham Cox, "Local brewery collaborates on new beer with popular Vancouver Island drag queen, Jimbo" . CHEK-DT, October 8, 2020. Insell has described House of Jimbo as "the framework of a kids show, but really made for adults", comparable to Pee-wee's Playhouse or The Hilarious House of Frightenstein,Michael Cook, "Canada's Drag Race Standout Jimbo: 'We Have An Opportunity To Showcase Our Unique Take On Drag & Who We Are'" . Instinct, September 6, 2020. and the show reached its Kickstarter goal by the end of October 2020. At the same time the Chemainus-based Riot Brewing Company introduced Jimbo, a boysenberry-flavoured craft beer whose profits will go in part to funding House of Jimbo.
In 2021, he made a return appearance in the second season of Canada's Drag Race, appearing in the third episode as the killer in the slasher film-themed acting challenge "Screech".Kevin O'Keeffe, "'Canada's Drag Race' Season 2, Episode 3 recap: Scream, queen" . Xtra!, October 29, 2021. He returned in the third season of Canada's Drag Race in 2022, appearing as a guest judge in the episode "Bitch Stole My Look".Joey Nolfi, "Brooke Lynn Hytes reunites with Werk Room crush Miss Vanjie on Canada's Drag Race season 3" . EW, June 29, 2022.
In January 2022, he was announced as one of the nine contestants on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World. After winning the first two episodes of the season, Jimbo landed in the bottom in the third episode and was eliminated by Pangina Heals, after Pangina Heals won a lipsync against Dutch contestant Janey Jacké to "We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)" by Vengaboys. Jimbo's early elimination was dubbed one of the most "controversial" in the history of the franchise.
Jimbo returned to the Drag Race franchise to compete on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2023). After winning a record-tying 4 challenges over the course of the season, Jimbo was crowned the winner of the season and earned a cash prize of $200,000 plus $20,000 for the 4 challenges he won, totalling $220,000. After the airing of the season, Jimbo was announced to host her own WOW Presents Plus series, It's my Special Show!, which premiered on August 7, 2023. In November 2023, Jimbo signed with talent agencies WME and Producer Entertainment Group.
In February 2024 Jimbo competed on Family Feud Canada, with a team consisting of his siblings Jeff and Rebecca, and Jimbo's and Jeff's husbands.
At the 2025 Just for Laughs festival, Jimbo and his Canada's Drag Race castmate Lemon taped a roast battle for the fifth season of Roast Battle Canada."Roast Battle Canada: head-to-head savage insult battles, where no punchline is off-limits". The Montrealer, July 10, 2025.
In February 2026, Jimbo was announced as a main judge on Canada's Drag Race All Stars alongside Brooke Lynn Hytes and Priyanka. This makes this panel the first all-drag queen judging panel in Drag Race history.
Filmography Television Year Title RoleNotes2020Canada's Drag Race (season 1)HerselfContestant (4th place)2021Canada's Drag Race (season 2)Guest; Episode 32022RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (series 1)Contestant (7th place)Canada's Drag Race (season 3)Guest judge2023RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 8) Contestant (Winner) RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: UntuckedGMA3: What You Need to Know GuestWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen GuestGood Morning America Guest RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 5) Special guest2024Drag Race Belgium (season 2) GuestRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 9) Guest2025Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian RoyaleGuest judge; 2 episodes2026Roast Battle CanadaRoast battle vs LemonCanada's Drag Race All StarsMain judge
Film Year Title RoleNotes 2026 The Snake Bon Bon Scott
Music videos Year Title Artist 2019"Open Heart"Adrian Chalifour2020"imma"bbno$2021"Bitch I'm Busy"PriyankaCorey Atad, "'Canada's Drag Race' Winner Priyanka Releasing Debut EP 'Taste Test' . ET Canada, July 14, 2021.2022"Don't Call Me"Joseph Shepherd 2023 "True Colors" Kylie Sonique Love2025"Big Top"Self2025"NSFW"bbno$
Internet series Year Title RoleRef.2021Jimbo vs. Peas Herself2022Bring Back My Girls Herself / Guest2023Meet the Queens Herself / Stand-alone special EW News Flash Herself / Guest BuzzFeed Celeb Herself / Guest React to TikTok Trends by Allure Herself / Guest It's My Special Show! Herself / Host The Awardist Herself / Guest2024Drag Me to The MoviesVarious
Discography All credits adapted from Spotify and Apple Music.
Singles As lead artist Year Title AlbumWriter(s)Producer(s) 2022"Free & Horny"rowspan="5" Andrew Taylor, Jimbo InsellAndrew Taylor"Angel""Pumpkin Tits"2023"Stitch"2025"Big Top"James Insell, Drew Louis, Jayelle, Coen HuttonDrew Louis
As featured artist Year Title Album 2020"Not Sorry Aboot It"rowspan="2" 2023"Money, Success, Fame, Glamour" "Joan! The Unauthorized Rusical"(with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, season 8) Joan! The Unauthorized Rusical Album "Trinity Ruins Christmas" (Trinity the Tuck featuring Jimbo) Trinity Ruins Christmas: The Musical "Good Enough" (Trinity the Tuck featuring Jimbo)
References
External links
House of Jimbo