Kim Chi (born August 8, 1987) is the stage name of Sang-Young Shin (Korean:신상영), a South Korean-American drag queen, artist, and television personality best known as a contestant on season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Kim Chi was the first Korean-American participant on the show as well as the first Korean-American drag queen on American national television.
Sang-Young Shin was born in the United States on August 8, 1987, and lived in South Korea as a child. His parents, who are divorced, also live in Chicago. As of 2017 his mother did not know he did drag until he reached fame on TV. Shin studied graphic design in college before working as an art director and exploring sculpture, fashion design, and painting.
Shin started performing in drag as Kim Chi in Chicago in 2012. Describing his drag aesthetic, Shin stated, "Kim Chi is a live action anime character whose fashion aesthetic could be described as 'bionic doily.' I imagine my aura to be an array of ultra violet colors that spews glitter. I celebrate all things cute, fun, weird, and exotic." Prior to joining RuPaul's Drag Race, Kim Chi befriended and helped season seven contestant Trixie Mattel get one of her first drag jobs in Chicago, as it was difficult for Mattel to find one in her hometown of Milwaukee.