#Art Simone

[t4yce]

↳ for anon

[qnewsau]

Finalists announced for Melbourne’s drag & entertainment awards the MEDEAs

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/finalists-announced-for-melbournes-drag-entertainment-awards-the-medeas/

Finalists announced for Melbourne’s drag & entertainment awards the MEDEAs

The Finalists have been announced for the 2025 Melbourne Excellence in Drag & Entertainment Awards (the MEDEAs).

With 30 categories celebrating the vibrant queer performing culture in Naarm, finalists have been announced for the second year of the MEDEAs.

“It’s not just about honouring excellence but championing diversity and inclusion in our community,” Leasa told JOY Breakfast.

“There is a whole range of awards you may not see in your typical awards.”

“Giving a spotlight on our Kings and AFAB performers as well.”

The awards also shine a spotlight on those behind the scenes, including the stylist, costumes, technical support and more.

“We have new categories this year to really highlight those that are doing work outside of the nightclubs,” Leasa said.

“People are doing incredible work in all different types of spaces, and I’m excited for that.”

“Everyone doing the best at their job deserves recognition.”

Leasa teased on JOY she already has her outfit planned out for the night, and hopes you’ve started yours as well.

Leasa took to Instagram last night to reveal all the finalists.

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards (@medeawards)

Who’s your favourite finalist?

“Melbourne’s Favourite” is 100% voted by the public.

Melbourne’s Favourite Drag-Related Business (Wig seller/styler, talent booking agency, jewellery/accessory maker, etc.)

Dragged To

Le Wigs by Mimi Le Minge

Offworld Aesthetics

Perfectly Queer

Styled by Ester

Melbourne’s Favourite Burlesque-Related Business (Burlesque school, accessory maker, stoning business, etc.)

Bottoms Up

Eros Embelishments

Maison Burlesque

Now Serving Snacks

Vilena Silks

Melbourne’s Favourite Dancer

Brent Leslie Fox

Egson Ham

Harry Coombes

Keely Wins

Liam Sheppard

Nathan Smith

Melbourne’s Favourite Drag King

Bruno Salsicce

Chorizo Problem

Freddie Merkin

Randy Roy

Roxy Rawhide

Teddy Clitter

The Cockodoodledude

Melbourne’s Favourite Drag Queen

Art Simone

Bathsheba

Gabriella Labucci

Lazy Susan

Little X

Max Drag Queen

Sam Thompson

Tilly Capulet

Melbourne’s Favourite Burlesque Performer

Bettie Bombshell

Evana de Lune

Florence Fable

Juniper Fox

Kitty Obsidian

Melbourne’s Favourite Burlesque Event

Mx. Burlesque Victoria

Smut

The Late Night Show @ The 86

Whoop Dee Doo Review

Yummy

Melbourne’s Favourite Queer Venue

Poof Doof

Pride of our Footscray

Sircuit/Mollies

The 86

The Peel

UBQ/UBQ Upstairs

Melbourne’s Favourite Burlesque Venue

24 Moons

Hail Lillith

Le Bar Supper Club

The 86

The Butterfly Club

Photos by Dean Arcuri

But the categories don’t stop there.

Voting that is split between the public and judge categories includes,

Rising Drag Star

Diloncé

Orion Stone

Melissa Intent

Miss Bobbee Pin

Roxy Rawhide

Sindel Storm

Rising Burlesque Star

Cora Noire

Florence Fable

Johnny Gash

Mae B Wilde

The Cockadoodledude

Best King Event

Dootfest

Genisis

Kong’s Kings

Mushroom Dungeon Crawl

Teddy’s World

Best Variety Event (Bingo, trivia, new and emerging talent showcase, etc.)

Baby Drag

Debutante

Gabriella Labucci’s Drag Bingo

Granny Bingo

Mushroom Dungeon Crawl

New Gigs on the Block

Best Boutique Event (Privately run periodical event)

Bar Kylie

Beers 4 Queers

Club Broadway

Eve Sapphic Party

Popchops

Best Festival

Australian Burlesque Festival

ChillOut

Gaytimes

Victoria’s Pride Street Party

Yass Queen Park

Best Drag Production Show

Fountain Lakes in Lockdown

Hey Henny – Winx Show

Poof Doof – Wet

Poof Doof – The elements Show

The 86 – The Cher Show

Werkin’ 5 – 9

Outstanding Achievement in the Media (Journalism, radio, television, literature, podcast, web series, content creator, etc.)

Art Simone – Author, Podcast, Television

Ashley Madison – Content Creator

Dean Arcuri – Radio and Print Journalism

Isis Avis Loren – Judge on DRDU S4

Jimi the Kween – Musician

Kick Ons (Art Simone, Fembot XYZ, Laxe Susan, Mum) – YouTube

Community Spirit Award (Activist/advocate, charitable organisation/individual, etc.)

Kitty Obsidian

Lesbirun

Michelle Sheppard

Positive Attitude Inc.

Strewth

Themme Fatale

Photos by Dean Arcuri

But wait, there’s more!

Technical Contribution of the Year (Photographer, lighting designer, stage manager/hand, dresser, etc.)

3 Fates Media

Daniel Sutton

Emily Rose

Mitchel Sheldrick

NoStressIfNot (Leisa Jade Taylor)

Costume Designer of the Year

Coolit Creations

Isis Avis Loren

James Penrose

Polly Filla Productions

Sequin Polarbear

Tamara Keane

DJ of the Year

Argonaught

Fragile Future

Jawbreakers

Jesse Boyd

Jimi the Kween

Popchops

Rosie Rai

MX Congeniality

Amena Jay

D Flowers

Holi Dae Knight

Linh Uendo

Kali Fornicate

Xena Ghost

Choreographer of the Year

Daytona

Egson Ham

Keely Wins

Little X

Nathan Smith

Sabrina Babyslut

Bitch of the Year (Your favourite MC/host – someone who gives good “mic”)

Amena Jay

Art Simone

Bathsheba

Holi Dae Knight

Jacqui Meof

Lexi Gaga,

Sam Thompson

Tahs York

Xena Ghost

Burlesque Performer of the Year

Bettie Bombshell

Cora Noire

Juniper Fox

Kitty Obsidian

Winter Greene

Drag Queen of the Year

Bathsheba

Gabriella Labucci

Lazy Susan

Little X

Mac Drag Queen

Tilly Capulet

Drag King of the Year

Freddie Merkin

Johnny Gash

Randy Roy

Roxy Rawhide

Teddy Clitter

Photos by Dean Arcuri

Don’t miss out on the nights of nights.

  A combination of  “Judge Voted/Nominated” categories includes the following:

Trailblazer Award

Lifetime Achievement Award

Belle of the Ball (so start planning those outfits)

To vote for your favs, head to the MEDEA website.

Remember, voting in every category is not mandatory.

However, you may only vote once, so make sure your vote counts!

Only your first submission will be counted.

Any subsequent submissions will not increase the voting tally.

The MEDEA’s taking place on Monday, 16th June at the Corner Hotel.

Tickets have gone on sale, but all the tables have already sold out, but you can still grab a standing room ticket.

Get your looks ready and book your tickets today.

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards (@medeawards)

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[pickled0ctopus]

for study... of course

[seagiri]

(FLASHING COLORS) Girasol

[thecollectibles]

Art by Simone Ferriero

[spiltspit]

Keeping it tactical ✔️

[riotinyellow]

Their account

[sabertoothwalrus]

wait a second wait a second wait a second wait a second wait a s

[fludderpy]

Sometimes I think I draw his body a lil bit TOO bulky and his waist a bit TOO tiny but then I SEE HIS CANON INGAME MODEL.

I am not okay

[mellounir]

just needed to map out his scars for science reasons, I promise...

[mokeonn]

The Princess Bride is such a funny book to read after ONLY seeing the movie. Like Goldman made up a fake author from a fake country and proceeded to write the book as an abridged version of what the fake author wrote... and then he proceeds to add in notes to the "abridged version" mentioning all the boring world building stuff he skipped because it was boring.

Like shout out to William Goldman, man really did make an entire book that is just "the cool scenes you thought of in your head" and then made up a fake author to abridge so he doesn't have to connect them.

And it slaps

[accecakes]

It’s like lookin’ into the ocean~

[qnewsau]

Join Art Simone for Kick Ons after Drag Race Down Under

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/join-art-simone-for-kick-ons-after-drag-race-down-under/

Join Art Simone for Kick Ons after Drag Race Down Under

With a new season of Drag Race Down Under comes a new season of our favourite recap show Kick Ons. We were lucky enough to join Art Simone and Mum the Drag Queen behind the scenes of the brand new season.

“We are now on our third season of Kick Ons,” Mum told us about the long-running companion series celebrating Down Under drag.

“Kick Ons would have started alongside season one of Down Under. But with Art on the show, competitors couldn’t make recaps.”

The team made the YouTube series Art Therapy during DRDU’s first season instead.

But this wasn’t the first time the production team of Art, Mum and Lazy Susan had worked together.

They made the WOW Presents Plus series Highway to Heel after they met on an AAMI ad campaign.

“The response to season one of Down Under wasn’t what it should have been,” Mum said.

“There wasn’t the love or appreciation of down under drag. We decided with season two to put our spin on the YouTube series The Pit Stop.”

Art said, “We were doing it our way while also highlighting guests from the local community.

“When we started, we were prepared for negativity or a small viewership, even some hate.

“But when you look at the comments section of the episodes, there’s so much positivity, joy and excitement.”

Mum laughs, “People engage in Drag Race in the way that they’ve been taught, which means critiquing.

“Many people online don’t have the literacy to know what’s a read and what’s just you being a dickhead.”

Art adds, “That is why we put the disclaimer in each episode. We do this because we love drag, and down under drag in particular.”

Kick Ons Lazy Susan is on season four

The trio have been working together for years, but that’s changed with Lazy Susan in the latest season of Drag Race Down Under, which started on Friday.

To keep it a completely drag-made production, Fembot XYZ has stepped on board to edit the episodes.

“We literally are a three-person team with the help of our tradie of the season, Tro,” Mum said.

“When guests walk up the rickety stairs to our beautiful pink shed, they’re often shocked that all the work is done by a small group of people.”

“Lazy is the filmmaker, so this season’s a crash course for me. We’ve been clear this year that she’s not part of the production.”

Fembot XYZ, Art Simone, Mum & Tro Photo by DEANation Photography

Bring on Season 4 of Drag Race Down Under

Kick Ons is pure love and dedication for drag, as they film sitting on milk crates for a couple of hours.

“With Art at the helm, we have always had a deep respect for the work that goes into Drag Race,” Mum said.

“The show isn’t just about making fun of everything. Michelle Visage and Art have a great relationship and she even commented on our Kick Ons promo video.

“We’re so excited for her as new host of Down Under this season.”

Art said, “We have a beautiful relationship with [streaming service] Stan, who are really supportive of Kick Ons.

Art will be jet-setting from performing her award-winning comedy Fountain Lakes in Lockdown around Australia to the pink shed each week.

“We want to support DRDU and help it rise because it doesn’t get the juice that it deserves at all,” Art said.

“It’s great Kick Ons exists to remind and explain to people why it should be celebrated. But we are completely independent.

Mum said, “Kick Ons relies on Patreon and sponsorships to keep it rolling, so if anyone’s keen to get an ad in the show we’d love to chat!”

Join Art and her guests every week for Kick Ons, the perfect companion to Drag Race Down Under.

Check it out on Art Simone’s YouTube Channel here.

Read more:

Art Simone celebrates our diverse drag history in new book

Brisbane drag mother Mandy Moobs is on Drag Race Down Under

Behind the scenes of Down Under with Freya Armani

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[lipsyncforyourlife]

[jesncin]

Taonui Mun and the King Shark.

A re-imagining of two Hawaiian characters from Superboy's original run. I did as much research as I could, but I know I'm not going to have the authenticity to cover their story like a Native Hawaiian artist would be able to. Nonetheless, I hope I could give these characters more dignity then they're often treated to under DC.

[thecollectibles]

Art by Simone Grünewald