Em Li【Herr Maphrodite】

Goodness me, I'm 23! • The past year has been one of equal parts tumult and reassurance, of uncertainty and discovery. So grateful to all the wonderful humans I got to share a chat, drink, dance, embrace or set with. Although we've yet to complete our festival run, I've decided to release the final cut of @fantabulousfilm online (link in bio✨), as my birthday gift to myself this year is getting to finally share the hard work of our Fantabulous Family with the world. I've already gushed in the wrap post about our magnificent cast and crew and the safe, inspiring space they created and upheld. Their magic enabled Fei to take flight to corners near and far (incidentally, "Fei" means fly in Chinese); Picking up an Audience Award from across the Atlantic, bringing home gold at the Magic Circle, qualifying for BAFTA consideration and invading stranger's smart TVs by ending up on Channel 4 for a whole year🎪 All this to say I'm endlessly proud and in awe of what we've managed to achieve with this film, deeply touched by the people with whom it's resonated, and oh so honoured that I got to tell such a personal story with the most talented team. Fear not, the Fantabulous journey is yet to be over! More screenings and festival announcements to come soon, plus posters & stickers for our Kickstarter backers (don't worry, we haven't forgotten you!) will be in the works imminently. But for now, and always... May fortune follow your every footstep🔮🐇🪄

To all the Dick's I had in Seattle🥵 ~ Felt fierce and fantabulous wearing VILIANA KORUEVA on Opening Night @vilianak 🥀⚔️~ Words cannot express the love and gratitude I have for my time at @nfftyfilm . So far from home yet I found the most vibrant, supportive and talented community of makers and dreamers to exist and thrive amongst. I return a little intimidated but ultimately inspired by the quality of work and strength of stories on display overseas. I'll always be proud to be among the NFFTY Class of '24, and peer eagerly into my crystal ball at the brilliant things to come for all of us - I hope we meet again in the vast, unknowable future🔮✨ As if this absolute dream of a festival wasn't enough, @fantabulousfilm came home with an Audience Award. Real magic happens not in the hands of the conjurer but in the mind of the spectator, so I'd like to heartily thank all the real magicians who believed in and voted for our film🪄 • - #FantabulousForever#NFFTY#NFFTY2024#FilmStartsHere#IndieFilm#YoungFilmmakers

I'm 20 now. What the fuck. To mark this harrowing occasion, I've decided to finally release MUSIC FOR THE END OF THE WORLD after a positively surreal festival run. Linkin bio or just search for it on YouTube x Now, it's my birthday so do indulge me as I get long-winded and soppy... MFTEOTW is easily one of my most personal films, speaking not only to my feelings brought about by the pandemic but also my experience growing up as an 'outsider', a Chinese immigrant (peep the red-yellow colour scheme🇨🇳) who wasn't able to "speak back", as Freddie laments in the film - but finding solace and companionship through imagination, art and creativity. I don't think I even fully comprehended at the time I made this how much of myself I was putting out there. That it's even screened at festivals around the globe and been so warmly received is a huge honour and surprise. Immensely grateful to everyone who helped make or supported this project, not least the artists who lent their tunes to the titular MUSIC🎶 So while MFTEOTW was conceived and made during lockdown, it was never meant to be just about lockdown, Covid or me. Instead touching on more timeless, universal ideas of loneliness, social anxiety and trying to find a connection in a world that seeks to separate and isolate us (with or without a global pandemic). That said, the pandemic forced us all to confront mortality in the face, and perhaps change the way we see the world. It certainly sent my worldview into orbit for it to then come crashing back down, and the result is this film. I wanted to express how crucial art is to our existence; how song, dance, nature and stories can transcend space, time, language barriers... and help us to do the same. Even if it's "just for one day". Even if we have to return to reality at the end of that day. Which is why it's all the more important that we save the arts and protect freedom of expression. Because if we lose that, we lose our humanity. And that would truly mean the end of the world. Drink?🍸

Whimsy-maxxing at Moi Ko Mondays❤️‍🔥 🎥@jcantdomath - . . . . . #cabaret#emcee#karaoke#musicaltheatre#clown

look out @mcmcomiccon we're coming for ya!! we'll be materialising on the fabulous Fringe Stage on SATURDAY AFTERNOON (3:05pm) to inject some camp cosmic cabaret into your con, starring @reece_connolly_ @carrotdrag @marianatrenchdrag and guests @willpower.drag & @em.li____ 🛸🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️💫 PLUS! come visit our timey-wimey (definitely wibbly-wobbly) booth in the CREATOR PAVILLION across the whole weekend - peruse our wares (incl. some MCM exclusives... 👀💋) and have a lil natter ~~~ find us at CP-30 x we'll see you THERE! ♥️♥️✨ (image description pinned in comments)

TenRose for Gallifrey Cabaret♥️♥️➕💅 If you know me, you know how much Doctor Who has shaped my childhood and how much I treasure the values of curiosity, kindness, courage and adventure the show has instilled in me. So to be a part of @gallifreycabaret - which stands as a shining example of those values - was nothing short of "an absolute joy", to quote Doctor 15. This was the largest scale show I've had the honour to perform in, and at such an early point in my career too! I was so overwhelmed upon entering the God Complex Hotel Corridors™️ that is the Clapham Grand backstage, but the generosity of my fellow performers, the passion from the audience, the patience of the stage management team and the leadership of @reece_connolly_ and @carrotdrag put me instantly at ease and reminded me why I love being a Whovian. "I won't forget one line of this. Not one day. I swear... I will always remember [Gallifrey Cabaret on the 6th March 2026]!" to lightly paraphrase Doctor 11 Happy 5th Anniversary @gallifreycabaret !🌟 • Show Photos by @jdwmk . . . . . #doctorwho#drag#tenrose#doctorwhofandom #whovian

Herr Maphrodite at A Drag Love Affair ❤️‍🔥 @em.li____ @loveaffairbasement

Just like that, it’s here!! The Finale!! ⭐️🏆 Anyone who has come along for the ride knows how far each of these contestants have come - competing, performing and expanding their horizons as an artist. The Finale will be as always hosted by @cazeleon with Jury Announcements TBA. Find out which of our contestants wins the £500 prize and see them debut their final acts… NOT one to miss. @L.A.B Thursday 21 May Tickets in bio If you are low income message via Outsavvy and we will sort free entry for the door xx

When at the Big Bikini Bottom Bubble Bowl Birthday Bash...🧽👔🫧 Happy 25th @v1v13443 ❤️‍🔥 • 🎥@milkylettuce - . . . . . #spongebob#spongebobmusical#musicaltheatre#fyp#karaoke

Huge news! We have drag ROYALTY joining us for this month’s line up… 👑⁠ ⁠ Winner of Brighton’s Next Drag Monarch; @em.li____ (a.k.a. Herr Maphrodite) is an actor, clown and filmmaker hell bent on bringing mischief, wonder and whimsy to any space afflicted with their creative input. ⁠ ⁠ We were so proud to sponsor @bndmevents , a drag night run by @latosxx at @daltonsbrighton and we are gagged to have the winner of Season 6 performing at The Pink Pound 💕⁠ ⁠ 🩷 The Pink Pound⁠ 🩷 Saturday 30th May | @daltonsbrighton ⁠ 🩷 Tickets on OutSavvy⁠ ⁠ Image description: Promotional poster in bold black and pink design. On the left, large white text reads “The Pink Pound,” with event details below: “Saturday 30th May, 7:30PM–11:59PM,” and “Brighton’s early doors LGBTQ+ club night at Daltons Brighton.” On the right, a person in a clown drag, braces and a ruffled shirt, makes a face with their mouth hanging open, all tinted in bright pink.⁠ ⁠ #ThePinkPound #DancefloorResistance #QueerBrighton #BrightonClubbing #BrightonNightlife

S6 FINALE Congratulations to our new MONARCH @em.li____ !! Thank you to our wonderful finalists @dollylockettt @edenmessdrag @maxy_blackxo @m1ssn0l @missmaggot69 @percynyxdrag Thank you @scarlet_kicks @mummyissue for stage hands. Thank you @skysongaudio for your hard work all season on sound and lighting. Thank you to our judges @mspinabusch @nyongbella_ @tayrismongardi @jacklikethefruit Thank you @emmakelli @treacle_macabre on door! Thank you @kucomusic for filming the finale! Thank you @daltonsbrighton for having us! Thank you @mariedebarbieux for your wonderful photos. U never miss. See u on 7th May for T4T. Bndm forever !!

What a dream it was to bring TenRose home to @gallifreycabaret 🌟 I may have dripped fake tears on the stage but I definitely cried real tears backstage🥹 this show and community remind me why it's so beautiful to be human, and nights like these give me so much life and light ♥️♥️➕🟦 • 🎥@garfunklez @thejessicabainbridgeinsta 📸Cover Photo @jdwmk - . . . . . #doctorwho#doctorwhofandom#drag#cabaret#whovian