Hannah Conda Vs The World
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Sydney-based drag performer and RuPaul鈥檚 Drag Race Down Under Season Two Runner-up Hannah Conda is representing Australia on Season Two of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World.
In a conversation with 17c起草社区, Hannah spoke about showcasing Australian drag to the world, that iconic Priscilla-inspired lizard look, and what it was like to walk into The Werk Room once again.听
‘Just Enjoy The Ride’
Sharing how she feels representing Australia and New Zealand, Hannah said, 鈥淚t’s overwhelming but it’s an incredible honour.鈥澨�
This time in The Werk Room, Hannah is way more relaxed.听
鈥淚 felt more relaxed,鈥� Hannah said. 鈥淚 think because you’ve been through the machine once before, you know what to expect, you know how it’s all going to work generally. So I just felt a little bit more at ease.听
鈥淚 was excited, which I don’t think I really allowed myself to be while I was at 顿辞飞苍耻苍诲别谤鈥� You’re thinking about everything. You want everything to be perfect. And the reality is, like my song in the first episode, nothing is really perfect.鈥澨�
She added, 鈥淲hy waste any time and energy on being stressed when you can just enjoy the ride for what it is.鈥�
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‘When They Pop Up Those Collars, I Just Lived’
In the series premiere, the runway category was 鈥淨ueen And Country.鈥� The queens were able to celebrate their home country with the world.听听听
Hannah wore a look created by Marrithiyel Aboriginal fashion designer and artist Paul McCann. It was inspired by the 1994 movie, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.听听
Speaking about how the outfit came to be, Hannah said, 鈥淚 wanted to incorporate something to do with our First Nations people. The other thing, for me, as a drag queen and as a Queer person in Australia, the first time we saw ourselves was in Priscilla, and my favourite costume from that was the lizards鈥t’s not a very long scene, but when they pop up those collars, I just lived.鈥�
In order to make the look more extravagant, Hannah contacted McCann, whose artwork has been worn by celebrities such as singer Casey Donovan, journalist Narelda Jacobs, singer Thelma Plum, and Australian MP Linda Burney.
听鈥淸McCann] rang me and he’s like, 鈥業’d love, if you’re okay with it, to put a message on the back鈥�. And I said, 鈥楶aul, this is your piece as much as mine. You put whatever you like on it, and I鈥檒l wear it. I鈥檓 your muse, just go for gold鈥�,鈥� Hannah said.
McCann wrote the word 鈥淭reaty鈥� on the back.听
鈥淚t was really special because when I got it back, he didn’t tell me what [he wrote] until I flipped it around.鈥�
Hannah added, 鈥淚 was really honoured to walk on the BBC saying 鈥楾reaty鈥�, and being able to showcase Aboriginal artwork.鈥�
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‘Wear My Kiss’ by Sugababes
Before moving to Sydney in 2015, Hannah grew up in Perth.
Hannah鈥檚 first drag performance was at an amateur drag night in 2010 at Perth鈥檚 Court Hotel.
Recalling the experience, Hannah said, 鈥淚 did ‘Wear My Kiss’ by Sugababes because I needed to tell this guy that I was hanging out with, that I liked him.听
鈥淚 thought two birds one stone鈥� I’ll do the drag show, but I’ll tell him that I like him while I’m doing the show.鈥澨�
Hannah continued, 鈥淪o the whole concept of the show was that when it said 鈥榳ear my kiss鈥� I went up and I kissed him on the cheek and then he knew that I liked him.”
When asked if the plan worked, Hannah laughed and said, 鈥淣o, it went terribly. The drag was great鈥� everyone loved that. But that relationship really fell apart real quick after that.鈥�
‘I’m Hannah Conda鈥� And It Just Felt Right’
Talking about how she came up with her drag name, Hannah explained that it was inspired by a drunk Irish man in Perth.
While walking from the Court Hotel to Connections Nightclub, she said, 鈥淭his drunk Irish man came up – he just grabbed me and he was like, 鈥榶ou’re an anaconda鈥�. I was like, 鈥楽ure, whatever, no worries鈥�, and I kept walking. Then for the rest of the night, my friends were calling me an anaconda.鈥�
A couple of weeks later, while preparing for her first drag performance, her friend drag performer Ruby Jules suggested the name 鈥淩osie Cheeks.鈥�
鈥溾�楢bsolutely not! That is an awful name. Why don’t I be Anna Conda?鈥�,鈥� Hannah said.
鈥淚 liked the puns, but I like when the puns have a little bit more to it. Anna is a bit basic. 鈥楲et’s just make it Hannah. Like a girl’s name. I’m Hannah Conda鈥欌�� And it just felt right.鈥�
When asked what surprises people about her, Hannah cackled and said, 鈥淲ell they’re not surprised that my lips aren’t real. They鈥檙e very aware of those blow-up things in my face.鈥澨�
Moving forward, Hannah plans to spend a month in the UK and 鈥渄oing some viewing parties and celebrating with the UK fam, because you know, they’re part of our story now.鈥�
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