RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under queens are revealed at Mardi Gras

RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under is set to premiere later this year, only on Stan.

And the 10 Australian and New Zealand contestants competing in the eight-part series were announced at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on Saturday.

With host RuPaul Charles, drag icon Michelle Visage and Australian comedian Rhys Nicholson on the main judging panel, the queens fighting for the crown of Australia’s first-ever Drag Race Superstar will include Art Simone and Coco Jumbo. 

Art Simone – Geelong, Victoria 

The current reigning ‘Queen of Australia’ 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. 

Last year, Art travelled to Los Angeles and New York, representing Australia in the world’s largest drag convention, RuPaul’s DragCon. 

Coco Jumbo – Sydney, New South Wales 

Coco has performed on the Mardi Gras party main stage numerous times and is a multi DIVA (Drag Industry Variety Awards) award-winner. 

She has worked with Absolutely Fabulous’ Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, 2014 Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst, and Australia’s very own Sandra Sully. 

Etcetera Etcetera – Sydney, New South Wales  

A striking non-binary drag artist, Etcetera, at only 22 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, New Zealand  

Elektra is the Dancing Queen of Tāmaki Makaurau! Runner-up on season two of TVNZ House of Drag, and star of Pleasuredome The Musical, the New Zealand Herald describes her as ‘utterly charismatic’. 

She commenced drag in 2012 and is now a resident performer at numerous venues.  

Jojo Zaho -Newcastle, New South Wales

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. 

She made her first television cameo on Get Krackin, competed in the inaugural Miss First Nation Indigenous drag queen pageant, starred in the documentary Black Divaz, and hosted the VIP party for the Newcastle leg of Cher’s Australian tour. 

Karen from Finance – Melbourne, Victoria 

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.  

She has appeared at RuPaul’s DragCon in Los Angeles in 2017, 2018 and 2019 in headlining performances, as well as headlining shows all over the United States, including the Austin International Festival in Texas. 

Maxi Shield – Sydney, New South Wales 

Maxi won ‘Entertainer of the Year’ at the Drag Industry Variety Awards in 2015, and was named Madonna’s national hostess for her Australian Rebel Heart Tour.

Not only has she closed the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, but will also open the Gay Games 11 in 2022.  

Scarlet Adams – Perth, Western Australia

A burlesque performer, pole dancer, costume designer and self-proclaimed ‘party girl’, Scarlet has worked tirelessly to build her reputation and brand as a drag artist.

After only a year of drag, Scarlet won the prestigious title of Queen of the Court, Entertainer of the Year 2016, at the annual Proud Awards. 

Anita Wigl’it – Auckland, New Zealand 

Anita is the owner and resident queen of Auckland’s famous Caluzzi Cabaret, the host of the TVNZ show House of Drag, as well as the monthly comedy show Drag Wars. 

Over the last decade, she has wiggled her way into the hearts of many, winning both Vancouver’s Next Top Drag Superstar and Drag Entertainer of the Year in 2013, before returning to Auckland. 

Kita Mean – Auckland, New Zealand  

Kita co-owns the iconic Caluzzi Cabaret and Phoenix Venue in Auckland.

She has been the host of TVNZ’s House of Drag for two seasons, and has maintained her position as resident Drag Queen at Family Bar and Club.

The 10 fierce queens were introduced at the Mardi Gras parade by judges Michelle and Rhys.    

Commemorating the first Down Under production for the franchise, Stan’s Homecoming Queens float celebrated diversity, inclusion, love and everything else that RuPaul’s Drag Race represents. 

Production on RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under is believed to have started in late January in New Zealand, due to the unpredictable Covid-19 situation in Australia. 

The Stan Original Series RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under will premiere in 2021, only on Stan.  The British and American versions of RuPaul’s Drag Race are available to stream on Stan in Australia.