#medeas

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/melbourne-excellence-in-drag-and-entertainment-awards-album-3/

Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards Album 3

What a night! All the glamour and gorgeous outfits at the second of the second Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards.

Photos by Dean Arcuri.

Check out our third album below.

Then check out albums one and two.

MEDEAs Gallery 3

79 photos

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/melbourne-excellence-in-drag-and-entertainment-awards-gallery-2/

Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards Gallery 2

What a night! All the glamour and gorgeous outfits at the second of the second Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards.

Photos by Dean Arcuri.

Check out our second gallery below.

Then check out galleries one and three here.

MEDEAs Gallery 2

71 photos

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/melbourne-excellence-in-drag-and-entertainment-awards-gallery-1/

Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards Gallery 1

What a night! All the glamour and gorgeous outfits at the second of the second Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards.

Photos by Dean Arcuri.

Check out our first gallery below.

Then check out galleries two and three.

MEDEAs Gallery 1

71 photos

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/all-the-glitz-glamour-sparkle-winners-of-the-medeas/

All the glitz, glamour, sparkle & winners of the MEDEAs

All the glamour and winners of the second Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards (MEDEAs) last night.

Celebrating the vibrant queer performing culture in Naarm has given many quite a headache this morning.

With 30 award categories and a whole lot of sequins, it was a fabulous night at the 2025 MEDEAs.

The awards kicked off with the Trailblazer Award.

“It’s a chance to recognise the performers who helped pave the way and change the face of our communities.” Leasa Mann said.

“It’s my extreme honour to bring to the stage tonight somebody who put AFAB drag on the map here in Melbourne.”

“She received constant pushback from the gatekeepers within our community,

“But always pushed forward to make sure she was seen and heard.”

Congratulations, Bella Nitrate, who received the Trailblazer Award.

“If a 13-year-old me could see me now,” Bella said, who has been doing drag for 13 years.

“It’s taken me a long time to be able to say this, but I was Melbourne’s first AFAB drag queen.”

“When I started drag, there were no AFAB female-presenting queens in Melbourne.

“I was told I shouldn’t be here, that people didn’t like it, and that I wouldn’t win competitions because I was a woman.

“But I stayed simply because I had no choice.

“I was here and I was here to stay.

“And I love drag way too much to let it go.

“13 years ago, the lines of gender were way more divided than they are today.

“And I like to think that I had something to do with that.”

Photo by Dean Arcuri

So many beautiful wins.

Melbourne’s Favourite Drag King was awarded to Freddie Merkin, who stepped on stage and dedicated the award to all the drag kings of Melbourne.

“We all have a point of difference and offer something really different, which is equally fabulous and important,” Freddie said

“There are some amazing Kings in this category out there every week.”

“Hosting gigs, entertaining you all, and I am so in awe of that.”

“Let’s just celebrate that there are more than just two of us in Melbourne.”

Melbourne’s Favourite Drag Queen was awarded to Gabriella Labucci, who simply said thank you when receiving her award.

Bettie Bombshell received Melbourne’s Favourite Burlesque Performer and dedicated and to the entire burlesque community.

Bitch of the Year went to Tash York

“This is for anyone who is bisexual and is not believed,” Tash said,

“For anyone who sings and does drag.”

“This is for anyone who is AFAB and doesn’t feel like they are allowed to be in AMAB spaces.”

“Thank you so much.”

Burlesque Performer of the Year went to Kitty Obsidian.

“I don’t have the words to explain what it means that people do see me,” Kitty said,

“I have worked in this industry for well over a decade now.”

“And I am still the only Aboriginal person up here.

“I am humbled to represent and be the black excellence you need to see.

“But think about that for next year, there should be more than one Mob up here.

“We are excellent.”

Photos by Dean Arcuri

Other Award Categories

Melbourne’s Favourite Drag-Related Business – Le Wigs by Mimi Le Minge

Rising Drag Star – Sindel Storm

Melbourne’s Favourite Burlesque-Related Business – Maison Burlesque

Rising Burlesque Star – Florence Fable

Melbourne’s Favourite Dancer – Egson Ham

Best King Event – Dootfest

Melbourne’s Favourite Burlesque Event – Smut & The Late Night Show @ The 86

Photo by Dean Arcuri

Best Variety Event – New Gigs on the Block

Melbourne’s Favourite Queer Venue – Sircuit/Mollies

Best Boutique Event – Beers 4 Queers

Melbourne’s Favourite Burlesque Venue – The 86

Best Festival – ChillOut

Outstanding Achievement in the Media – Kick Ons (Art Simone, Fembot XYZ, Laxe Susan, Mum)

Photo by Dean Arcuri

Best Drag Production Show – Hey Henny – Winx Show

Community Spirit Award –  Themme Fatale

Technical Contribution – Notstressifnot

Belle of the Ball –  Amena Jay

Lifetime Achievement – Doug Lucas 

Photo by Dean Arcuri

Costume Designer – Sequin polar bear

Choreographer of the Year – Sabrina baby slut 

DJ of the Year – Rosie Ray

Mx Congeniality – Linh Uendo 

Drag Queen of the Year – Lazy Susan

Drag King of the Year – Johnny Gash 

Photo by Dean Arcuri

So many outfits.

It was a truly dazzling night at the Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards.

Congratulations to everyone who won, and everyone who turned out a fabulous look.

You can check out our full gallery of photos soon, cos we still have a hangover.

Can’t wait to do it all again next year.

Photo by Dean Arcuri

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/doug-lucas-to-recieve-medeas-lifetime-achievement-award/

Doug Lucas to recieve MEDEAs Lifetime Achievement Award

Tonight at the second annual MEDEAs, drag entertainer Doug Lucas will receive the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.

Now in its second year, the MEDEAs (Melbourne Excellence in Drag and Entertainment Awards) take place tonight.

Celebrating the vibrant queer performing culture in Melbourne, with over thirty award categories, it’s set to be an evening of camp glamour.

Last month, it was announced that drag entertainer Doug Lucas would be this year’s recipient of the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for their “decades of service to the drag industry.”

Doug Lucas was working for Sydney’s famous Les Girls cabaret in the 70 and established Melbourne’s legendary Pokeys in 1977, which ran until the early 90s.

“I never thought that I would end up doing shows,” Doug told QNews.

“It was just a novelty more than anything else.”

“I always loved old musicals, and I’d get up and do it my way.

“And then I realised that people were getting paid and wanted the weekend off.

“They asked me to perform, and the next thing you know, I got offered a job.

“People just seemed to like what I did, so I just kept doing it.”

Source: Australian Queer Archives

And then there was Pokeys.

Having performed predominantly to straight audiences across Australia, Doug was approached by pioneering gay and lesbian bar owner Jan Hillier.

“Jan approached me, she hadn’t done anything for a while, so I think she was missing it and suggested we do something together.”

“I figured, why not, we could make a cute, quiet night.” Doug laughed.

Doug was also running a gay bar at the Union Hotel in North Carlton.

Pokeys turned from a “cute little night” into a world-class stage show, attracting huge crowds with spectacular drag performances.

“I was at a party and was very rude because I said I had to pop out to do the opening number, but I’ll be back in half an hour.” Doug laughed.

“And over the years, it just kept getting bigger and bigger.”

“Because of those large audiences, we could spend more on the show and at one point had five girls and five dance partners onstage.

“And the shows would range from a Broadway production, a movie show or whatever.”

There wasn’t any drag production show on that level, nor is there today.

“Which is sad,” Doug says, “because we deserve bigger stages, that’s what I’m used to.”

What’s in a drag name?

“I’m so glad that I was always Doug Lucas”

“I’m so glad I didn’t do my name like some other queens, because it worked so well in my career.”

“Straight folk wouldn’t be expecting us drag folks on stage and straight guys that have normally been homophobic would say ‘ great show mate'”.

“If my name were Christine or Allura or something like that wouldn’t have wanted photos with me.” Doug laughed.

Doug never had a separate drag identity from who he was.

“It was just like an extension of my character.”

“And I could jump from your sister to your brother and throw it back to the boys.”

‘It’s not like today.” Doug says, “It wasn’t political.”

“We weren’t making statements.

“It wasn’t like patriarchal or society roles or anything like that.

“It was just taking the piss and having a bit of camp fun.”

Source: Facebook

Taking to the stage no matter your age.

In the past decade, Doug created an opportunity for older drag performers to get onstage.

Combining old broads in the northside doing their thing with Broadside.

“I haven’t been doing it for a while because I have a few things I need to do before my time’s up,” Doug says

“That’s the community of drag that I grew up in, and I was trying to plan a reunion.”

“The older community don’t have that social calendar that we used to anymore.

“There were balls and picnics, and I thought why not bring some campary to a Sunday afternoon.

“It was a good way for friends to catch up and gave the older girls a chance to have access to a stage.

“Because it’s really sad when you’ve got these skills and you don’t use them.”

Receiving the MEDEAs ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ is a lovely honour for Doug.

“Can I tell you I’m really quite honoured.” Doug shared.

“We never did drag with the ambition of becoming famous or expecting a reward.”

“But it’s really nice to be appreciated and valued.

“I know there are a lot of people out there who have a lot of respect and a lot of time for me.

“So I’m honoured, it’s nice to be remembered.”

We can’t wait to see you take to the MEDEAs stage tonight to be celebrated for all your worth, Doug Lucas.

Thank you for what you’ve given our community on and off the stage for many, many years.

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

Nominations open for Melbourne's drag & entertainment awards the MEDEAS

Nominations are now open for the Melbourne Excellence in Drag & Entertainment Awards for 2025, who gets your vote?

With 30 categories celebrating the vibrant queer performing culture in Naarm, nominations have begun for the second year of the MEDEAs.

MEDEAs ‘Favourite Drag King’ winner of 2024 Freddie Merkin urged the community to get nominating.

“Not only did I feel proud of what I have achieved in drag and honoured when I won,”

“But it felt amazing to acknowledge that my journey to that point where I was and am supported and surrounded by amazing drag artists making them proud.”

“Your nominations for acknowledging the fabulous diverse range of Melbourne Drag and entertainment makes everyone feel a great sense of value in the work they do in our community.”

With nominations opening Monday, the community has hit the social media pavement campaigning hard.

With performers, venues and community figures calling to be nominated for their respective categories.

Celebrate as a community, not a scene.

The opportunities to support people, venues and organisations that don’t get enough recognition is what the MEDEAs are all about.

“They are a fantastic opportunity to recognise the work that is done in our community.” Hopeful nominee for Botch of the Year Holi dae Knight told us,

“To recognise the absolute powerhouses of entertainment who are out there bringing joy not just in clubs, but at private gigs, at corporate, online, whatever they might be doing.”

“It can be hard to feel celebrated, so having an opportunity like this bringing everyone together is so special.”

Award-winning burlesque performer Kitty Obsidian used their call for nominations to ask the community to really think about who they were supporting.

“I want the community to think about the perception that these awards give – not just to performers but also to the general population,” Kitty told QNews,

“What do we as an arts community stand for, and what values do we want to show to everyone.”

“The truth is the arts are still an overwhelming white cis classiest area.

“We lose out on so much talent from marginalised groups because the perception of what we do is unsafe,

“Particularly for BIPOC & BIPOC trans artists.

“We need to show loudly and proudly that we champion the artists that have to fight 10x harder to be seen as equal to their wyt & cis counterparts.

“To show the general population that drag, burlesque, and nightlife entertainment IS diverse.

“Will always be diverse no matter how much Trump & Dutton style alt-right politics embolden them to think otherwise.

“So nominate the incredible performers who are BIPOC, trans, queer, disabled and fat.

“Let’s celebrate as a community, not a scene.”

Holi dae Knight & Kitty Obsidian at the 2024 MEDEAs

The nomination categories are…

“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.)

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

Melbourne’s Favourite Dancer

Melbourne’s Favourite Drag King

Melbourne’s Favourite Drag Queen

Melbourne’s Favourite Burlesque Performer

Melbourne’s Favourite Burlesque Event

Melbourne’s Favourite Queer Venue

Melbourne’s Favourite Burlesque Venue

With “Judge Voted/Nominated” categories including,

Trailblazer Award

Lifetime Achievement Award

Belle of the Ball (so start planning those outfits)

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

Rising Drag Star

Rising Burlesque Star

Best King Event

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

Best Boutique Event (Privately run periodical event)

Best Festival

Best Drag Production Show

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

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

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

Costume Designer of the Year

DJ of the Year

MX Congeniality

Choreographer of the Year

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

Burlesque Performer of the Year

Drag Queen of the Year

Drag King of the Year

Nominations for the MEDEAs close Monday, 7th April at midday AEST.

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

Click here to nominate your favourite performers, venues and community members.

Photos by Dean Arcuri