17 Drag Queens From Down Under That Need To Be On "RuPaul's Drag Race"
Courtney Act walked so these queens could strut.
So by now, you've probably heard that there's going to be an Australian version of RuPaul's Drag Race.
We know, we're gagging too.
While we don’t know who will host yet, or when exactly in 2020 it’ll air, we DO know which talented queens we’d love to see sashay their way into the werkroom down under.
1. Art Simone, Melbourne
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Can we take a moment to just admire the sheer ART that is Art Simone? This hard-working queen has already earned a crown after becoming Melbourne’s 2018 Drag Performer of the Year AND starring in AAMI’s Priscilla, Queen of the Desert-inspired ad campaign. With her hilarious personality, eye for glamour and resourceful ability to create a costume out of anything (even Coles Little Shops!), she’ll no doubt have the competition shaking in their heels.
2. Vanity Faire, Sydney
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If you ever see a drag queen with a flawless head of hair, there’s a 90% chance they’re wearing a wig from Vanity. This legendary Sydney queen created the company Wigs by Vanity years ago with business partner and fellow drag icon Courtney Act. Inspired by the seamless wigs RuPaul would wear, they started producing wigs for Australian performers and now RuPaul HERSELF dons their incredible lace front creations. That’s when you know you’ve made it.
3. Chocolate Boxx, Brisbane
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Say hello to Miss First Nation 2019! Brisbane-based drag queen Chocolate Boxx is one to watch. Not only did she take home the grand prize, but she also won the title of Lip Sync Superstar AND Miss Talent. If she gets cast on Drag Race Australia, then she better start making room on her already crowded mantle.
4. Scarlet Adams, Perth
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Talk about body-ody-ody. Scarlet Adams from Perth is a drag queen, costume designer AND burlesque dancer, so it's no surprise she won Entertainer of the Year in 2016. She knows how to perform AND knows her way around a sewing machine, so she's definitely not one to underestimate.
5. Karen from Finance, Melbourne
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If Karen from Finance doesn't get cast on the Australian version of Drag Race, we'll be escalating this issue to HR. This comedy queen from Melbourne has gone from strength to strength. After touring Australia with some of the most famous queens from RPDR, including All Stars 3 winner Trixie Mattel, this September Karen's put in her annual leave and will finally be bringing her first solo show, Out of Office, to clubs around the nation.
6. Eve Elle, Adelaide
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Describing herself as “the Cameron Diaz of Adelaide drag”, Eve Elle is a real chameleon. When she's not transforming into her feminine drag persona, she's recreating classic looks of iconic characters, from Kim Possible and even the damn Grinch. Since she hosts three nights week at Mary's Poppin Bar, we’re confident she’ll be able to hold her own around some stiff competition.
7. Jojo Zaho, Newcastle
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Jojo Zaho has one clear message, “Let your Faboriginality shine through!”. This country town queen is all about making a political statement about Indigenous culture and homosexuality. She took home the title of "Most Photogenic" at the inaugural Miss First Nation 2017 and has represented her community on stations such as SBS, ABC and Triple J.
8. Tayla Mac, Sydney
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In the wise words of Season 9 winner Sasha Velour, "Gender's a construct, tear it apart." We think it's high time the franchise allowed drag artists from all genders to compete, with Melbourne's Tayla Mac proving hyper-queens (those who identify as biological women) are just as awe-inspiring, boundary-pushing and sickening as the rest.
9. Cherry Kills, Sydney
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Cherry Kills is a genderfluid drag artist from Sydney. With Lana Del Rey as one of their idols and the colour red being their signature shade, it’s no surprise their old-Hollywood-meets-punk style of drag is romantic, dangerous and energetic. They're also dating Tayla Mac – talk about an absolute power couple.
10. Sellma Soul, Brisbane
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To quote Willam, if Sellma Soul looks familiar, "you must own a television". This Brisbane-based queen recently belted out ballads from Lady Gaga to Destiny's Child on The Voice Australia. While she didn’t advance past the cut-throat knockout rounds, she’ll no doubt slay a singing challenge on Drag Race Australia. Plus, having experienced one reality competition show might give her an edge.
11. Felicia Foxx, Sydney
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Proudly "Faboriginal", Felicia Foxx started her drag career when she was just 16 years old and is now a powerful trailblazer for her community. She had the honour of leading the 40th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade and uses her platform to remind people that Australia always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land one sequin gown at a time. We just know that if we get an Eleganza Australiana runway theme, Felicia didn't just get ready, she stays ready.
12. Sabrina, Melbourne
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She may be young, but Sabrina is already making her mark on the drag scene. Her sickening looks and high energy performances earned her the title of Best New Talent at the 2018 Melbourne Drag Awards. With her pop diva inspired aesthetic, we can just see her burning up the runway each week.
13. Scarlett Fever, Brisbane
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Hold the antibiotics because this is one Scarlett Fever you’ll WANT to catch. This firey phoenix from Brisbane can lip-sync the house down and looks good while doing it. Even though she's young, she’s a polished performer who has carved out an established career in this competitive industry.
14. Aysha Buffet, Melbourne
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Be right back, just going out to buy blue, glittery eyeshadow so I can look as beautiful as Aysha Buffet. This Melbourne-based drag performer is constantly posting creative looks on their Instagram and can lip-sync the house down when the moment calls for it.
15. Xai, Adelaide
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Xai is a makeup artist from Adelaide and serves a fierce face EVERY! SINGLE! TIME! With a super polished look and endless creativity, it's hard to imagine her faltering, but her incredible dancing abilities means she could be a lip-sync assassin.
16. Fembot XYZ, Melbourne
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This queen has RANGE. Fembot XYZ from Melbourne takes things from cute to horror, back to cute again real quick. With killer performance skills and a unique look, it would be interesting to see how they approach the challenges Drag Race would throw their way.
17. Prozac, Melbourne
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LOOK! AT! THIS! TALENT! Self-described as “a walking bath bomb”, Prozac from Melbourne is constantly creating the most eccentric club kid looks in their own signature way. And we absolutely want to see more of it, so they need to be on Drag Race ASAP.