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 has candidly described the mental anguish she experienced after being crowned runner-up on the gruelling reality show.

The Sydney-based drag performer, whose real name is Chris Collins, made the painful admission on the Mental As Anyone podcast and revealed she struggled with multiple mental health conditions.

‘Depression, she called up her little sister, anxiety. The time after Drag Race, I hated it. I was so depressed, miserable. I hated getting into drag, going to gigs,’ Hannah, 33, began.

Hannah was runner-up on series two of the Stan reality competition in 2022 and said she had mixed memories from her time on the show – which resulted 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 have been many times I have tried to end it all and be done with it.’

Hannah added the somewhat negative public reception her drag act received and accusations of ‘cultural appropriation’ and claims she should be ‘cancelled’ did not help her mental state.

Fortunately, Hannah received mental health treatment from professionals and is now in a much healthier state of mind. 

‘The last year or so really solidified my comfort in myself. Being out of drag is not a scary thing for me anymore. I don’t care because this is how I look. This is who I am.’

The vibrant performer was a finalist on the Down Under version of the show as well as UK versus The World.

Earlier this year, Hannah said that the hugely successful RuPaul franchise does not translate to mainstream acceptance in Australian television.

‘Off the back of RuPaul, I find myself feeling a little bit jaded by the media landscape in Australia,’ she said.

‘I had a conversation with someone who was a higher up in a TV company and they said “Australia’s not ready to see this queer stuff”.’

The Sydney-based drag performer, 33, made the painful admission on the Mental As Anyone podcast and revealed she struggled with multiple mental health conditions

But the drag queen said she believed the television executive was very wrong. 

As a result of this conversation, Collins became disappointed with the Australia’s entertainment scene.

If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

Hannah was runner-up on series two of the Stan reality competition in 2022 and said he had mixed memories from her time on the show – which resulted in some very dark thoughts