The ten drag queens appearing on the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under have been confirmed as they join in Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade.
The highly-anticipated inaugural season of the local spinoff filmed in Auckland, New Zealand earlier this year.
And on Saturday afternoon Art Simone (Geelong), Karen from Finance (Melbourne), Maxi Shield (Sydney), Coco Jumbo (Sydney), Jojo Zaho (Newcastle), Etcetera Etcetera (Sydney), and Scarlet Adams (Perth) all announced on social media they’re appearing on the show.
Joining the seven Australian queens are New Zealand queens Anita Wigl’it, Elektra Shock and Kita Mean.
The local queens joined the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night, as part of streaming service Stan’s “Homecoming Queens” float.
Drag Race Down Under judge Rhys Nicholson said every queen on the inaugural Drag Race Down Under lineup should be “so proud”.
“I mean look at this list. Look at this list of full blown, gleaming, shimmering, phosphorescent, dead-set bloody stars,” he said.
“Week after week I got to bear witness to these entertainers dazzling the other judges with their world class cleverness, uniqueness, nerve and talent.
“There were many times where it was so fabulous it felt like it could be illegal. I have since consulted with my legal team and we are in the clear.”
Rhys said Australians “do a very special kind of drag down here” that we “can sometimes take for granted.”
“I know for a fact that Ru, Michelle and the whole Drag Race team were blown away by the queens,” he explained.
“Each one already a star, but now the world can give them the recognition they deserve.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under is streaming on Stan later this year.
Meet the ten stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under queens below:
Art Simone (Geelong)
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Coco Jumbo (Sydney)
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Etecetera Etcetera (Sydney)
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Elektra Shock (Auckland)
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Jojo Zaho (Newcastle)
View this post on Instagram
Karen from Finance (Melbourne)
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Maxi Shield (Sydney)
View this post on Instagram
Scarlet Adams (Perth)
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Anita Wigl’it (Auckland)
View this post on Instagram
Kita Mean (Auckland)
View this post on Instagram
RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under to premiere later this year
RuPaul and Michelle Visage are both appearing on the local version. Last week, Australian comedian Rhys Nicholson confirmed he is permanent judge on the show alongside them.
Other celebrity guest stars and the premiere date will be confirmed soon.
The highly anticipated series will premiere in Australia on Stan later this year.
For the latest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) news in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
So excited about this.
I only hope that they don’t act like American wannabes in the show, parroting American social norms and terms.