Shane Jenek, better known as Australian drag queen Courtney Act, spoke to BuzzFeed about his friendship with Chaz Bono, dealing with anxiety over his gender identity, and how RuPaul’s Drag Race changed his life.
Over ten years ago, Shane Jenek stepped up to the plate to audition for the first season of Australian Idol in 2003. He was rejected.
Courtney Act (far right) with (L-R) Andrew G, Jamie Durie, Warren Sonin, Gavin Atkins, Mark Holden and Marcia Hines at the 2004 TV Week Logie Awards nominations in Sydney.
Patrick Riviere / Getty Images
The next day, a determined Jenek returned – but this time, as his drag persona, Courtney Act.
Act sufficiently wowed the judges to not only make it onto the show, but also end up a semi-finalist. Her appearance on the show led to a record deal, a host of live performances, and the introduction of drag to many households across Australia.
In the ensuing decade, Courtney cemented herself as a stalwart of the Australian LGBTI community. Both a vibrant performer and an actual singer – as opposed to many other drag queens who are talented mimes – Courtney performed regularly, participated in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and released singles as a recording artist.
But it wasn't until her appearance on RuPaul's Drag Race in 2014 that she rose to global stardom.
Anna Mendoza / BuzzFeed
Her drag name – a play on the words "caught in the act" – didn't translate well to the American accent, she jokingly tells BuzzFeed News. But everything else was perfect, and Courtney was one of two runners up in season 6 of the widely-watched show.
Since then, the charismatic drag queen, now 33, has toured the globe, dealt with a flurry of increased media interest, and has experienced what she terms "an epiphany" about gender itself.