RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under star was almost cancelled for ‘cultural appropriation’ – as drag queen opens up about depression after going on the show
RuPaul’s Drag Race star Hannah Conda candidly described the mental anguish she felt after coming second on the grueling reality show.
The Sydney-based drag performer, whose real name is Chris Collins, made the painful confession on the Podcast Mentally Like Everyone and revealed that she struggled with multiple mental illnesses.
“Depression, calling her sister, anxiety. The time after Drag Race, I hated it. I was so depressed, miserable. I hated getting in drag, going to shows,” Hannah, 33, began.
Hannah finished second in the second season of the Stan reality competition in 2022 and said she has mixed memories of her time on the show, resulting in some very dark thoughts.
“The thing that brought me so much joy, and that I loved so much, was enemy number one in my mind. There were many times when I tried to end it and be done with it.”
Hannah added that the somewhat negative public reception to her drag act and accusations of ‘cultural appropriation’ and claims that she should be ‘cancelled’ did not help her mental state.
Fortunately, Hannah has received psychological help from professionals and is now in a much healthier state of mind.
“The last year or so has really solidified my comfort level within myself. Being out of drag is no longer scary to me. I don’t care because this is what I look like. This is who I am.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race star Hannah Conda (pictured) has candidly described the mental anguish she experienced after coming second in the gruelling reality show
The energetic performer was one of the finalists in the Down Under version of the show and in UK versus The World.
Earlier this year, Hannah said the hugely successful RuPaul franchise is not leading to mainstream acceptance on Australian television.
“RuPaul has made me a bit cynical about the media landscape in Australia,” she said.
‘I had a conversation with someone who was a senior executive at a television company who said, “Australia is not ready for this kind of gay stuff.”‘
The 33-year-old Sydney drag performer made the painful confession on the Mental As Anyone podcast, revealing that she has struggled with multiple mental illnesses
But the transvestite said she thought the TV director had it all wrong.
This conversation left Collins disillusioned with the Australian entertainment world.
If you or someone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or at lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
Hannah came in second in season two of the Stan reality competition in 2022 and said she had mixed memories of her time on the show, resulting in some very dark thoughts