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Here are the queens competing in RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under

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TVNZ

10 queens from across Aotearoa and Australia have been selected to compete in the first-ever RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under.

The three Kiwi contestants competing in the trans-Tasman series – Anita Wigl’it, Kita Mean and Elektra Shock – are the first to represent Aotearoa on Drag Race worldwide.

The eight-part series premieres later this year on TVNZ OnDemand, and will be hosted by RuPaul. with Michelle Visage and Rhys Nicholson on the main judging panel.

RuPaul has been filming this series in New Zealand

The fierce queens competing this year are:

Anita Wigl’it, New Zealand

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. 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. Her favourite performances to date include Mardi Gras (Sydney 2016 and 2019) as well as Adele’s world tour after party in 2017.

Art Simone, Australia

Art Simone is the current reigning “Queen of Australia” and as well as featuring across Australian film and tv, has also been awarded Drag Performer of the Year for the last two years running.

Coco Jumbo, Australia

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

Elektra Shock, New Zealand

Runner up on Season 2 of TVNZ House of Drag, starring in Pleasuredome The Musical, and now a resident performer in venues across Karangahape Rd, Elektra Shock is the Dancing Queen of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Etcetera Etcetera, Australia

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.

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. After walking in Dubbo’s first Central West Pride March in a costume she made with both the gay pride and Australian indigenous flags, she has since featured on Australian television, featured in the documentary Black Divaz, and hosted for the Newcastle leg of (the icon) Cher’s Australian tour.

Karen From Finance, Australia

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.

Kita Mean, New Zealand

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 where the two started a monthly event which gave local kiwi drag artists a platform to perform on called Drag Wars. Kita now co-owns the iconic Caluzzi Cabaret and Phoenix Venue in Auckland and has since hosted two series of TVNZ’s House of Drag as well as maintaining her position as resident Drag Queen at Family Bar and Club.

Maxi Shield, Australia

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, Australia

Scarlet is a burlesque performer, pole dancer, costume designer and self- proclaimed “party girl.” From the age of 18, Scarlet has worked tirelessly to build her reputation and brand as a drag artist. In 2018 Scarlet became the first drag queen to compete in Miss Burlesque Australia – and then went on to win the title.

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