RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under champion Spankie Jackzon is selling the drag jewel-encrusted sceptre she won from the show to help fund a new community arts centre in her hometown.
The New Zealand drag performer won season two of Down Under in 2022. She says she’s had a jam-packed couple of years, but recently felt she’d “hit the wall” as a self-funded performer.
“I was feeling lost and sad and disappointed. I should’ve felt more grateful and I feel completely grateful for everything that’s helped me,” Spankie told Radio NZ.
“But what I figured out was the thing that makes me able to do what I do, to the best of my ability, is to bring joy to other people.”
To do that, the drag performer is establishing a new centre called The Jackzon Effect as a creative hub for local artists.
On Instagram, Spankie, a.k.a. Blair Macbeth, has been giving followers updates on the work transforming an old mechanic’s workshop into “a sanctuary for performers, creatives, and wild dreams.”
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Spankie Jackzon is selling her Drag Race sceptre
As a way of raising money for the project, Spankie is putting up for sale the glittering sceptre she received after winning Drag Race Down Under.
The drag performer said she’s keeping the matching crown, but has received a few bids on the sceptre. She’d love to see the sceptre stay in New Zealand.
“I have approached [national museum] Te Papa and I have approached Te Manawa here in Palmerston North as well,” she says.
“All I want to do is bring some joy and give that buffer and give artists a place to thrive in Palmerston North and rural towns.”
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Spankie said the Jackzon Effect will give local artists a space to create free of charge, as well as hosting dance fitness, gym classes and drag classes, she told Radio NZ.
“I want to share some of the Spankie spark,” the drag performer said.
“The world is just getting to a real dark place and joy is free, and I want to be able to give people that place and that safe haven where they can be them.”
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