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- Condragulations! The RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Cast Has Been Ru-Vealed
Condragulations! The RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Cast Has Been Ru-Vealed
What could be anymore Mardi Gras then a fabulous ru-veal!
On March 6, Stan, the home of RuPaul in Australia, revealed the highly anticipated drag queens competing in the Stan Original Series RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under.
In a video played at the 2021 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Michelle Visage and newly appointed Aussie judge, Rhys Nicholson, announced the spectacular line-up which includes queens from both Australia and New Zealand.
With a willingness to show off their charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent, ten fierce queens are ready to make herstory.
Scroll down to meet the queens!
Art Simone (Geelong, VIC)
Instagram: @rtist_
Art Simone is the current reigning “Queen of Australia” and has played roles in Australian feature films, theatrical shows, television programmes, and commercials; as well as being awarded Drag Performer of the Year for the last two years running.
Coco Jumbo (Sydney, NSW)
Instagram: @_cocojumbo
Coco has performed on the Mardi Gras party mainstage many times and is a multi DIVA (Drag Industry Variety Awards) award winner most prestigious Entertainer of the Year in 2017, Sydney’s Favourite Showgirl in 2016-2019 and Rising Star in 2015. She has worked with Absolutely Fabulous’ Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, 2014 Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst, with Australia’s very own Sandra Sully.
Etecetera Etcetera (Sydney, NSW)
Instagram:@etcetera__etcetera
Etcetera is a striking non-binary drag artist, who at only twenty-two years of age has already made a splash within the Australian drag community for her aesthetic and activism. Known as the ‘glamour bug’, she runs the shows at one of Sydney’s iconic establishments: The Imperial Erskineville.
Elektra Shock (Auckland, NZ)
Instagram:@therealelektrashock
Elektra Shock is the Dancing Queen of Tāmaki Makaurau! Runner up on Season 2 of TVNZ House of Drag and star of Pleasuredome The Musical, the NZ Herald describes her as “utterly charismatic”. Starting Drag in 2012, she is now a resident performer at a number of venues on Karangahape Rd. Her amazing dance ability, shocking high kicks and live vocals put her in high demand for corporate events and theatre performances around Aotearoa.
Jojo Zaho (Newcastle, NSW)
Instagram:@jojo_zaho
In 2015 Jojo started her drag career as a political response to a council member stating that homosexuality is not part of the indigenous culture. So for Dubbo’s first annual Central West Pride March she walked the parade in a costumes she made with both the indigenous and gay pride flag and she hasn’t looked back since.
Karen from Finance (Melbourne, VIC)
Instagram:@karenfromfinance
One of the most renowned drag artists in Australia; Karen was one of the original members of the award-winning, cult queer cabaret ‘YUMMY’ and has built an international fan-base, touring the world with her singular brand of office-themed character drag.
Maxi Shield (Sydney, NSW)
Instagram:@maxishield
Maxi has been a drag artist for twenty- three years and is noted for her work within the community, including “Drag Storytime” where drag artists read stories to children, engaging them in fun and creative ways and conveying the overall message of inclusion.
Scarlet Adams (Perth, WA)
Instagram:@scarletadamsdragqueen
Scarlet is a burlesque performer, pole dancer, costume designer and self-proclaimed “party girl.” Since she turned eighteen, Scarlet has worked tirelessly to build her reputation and brand as a drag artist.
Anita Wigl’it (Auckland, NZ)
Instagram:@anitawiglit
Anita is the owner and resident queen of Auckland’s famous Caluzzi Cabaret and the host of the TVNZ show ‘House of Drag’ as well as the monthly comedy show Drag Wars.
Kita Mean (Auckland, NZ)
Instagram: @kitamean
Kita started drag when she dressed up for a New Year’s Eve party and wowed all her friends. Before long she found herself in the thick of the nightlife, firmly making her mark on the Auckland scene. A few years down the line she joined Anita Wigl’it as a drag duo.