Local drag race superstar set to slay Australian TV
By Brittany Drysdale
SERVING charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent, Ashley Madison is ready to wow audiences as a contestant on Rupaul’s Drag Race Down Under season 3. The 25-year-old queen has been slaying the drag scene in Melbourne for years now, but Miss Madison’s origins began in Greater Shepparton.
Growing up in Mooroopna, Ashley attended Mooroopna Highschool, where she co-wrote and co-directed a school play with her drama teacher. After a love at first site experience watching Rupaul’s Drag Race, Ashely decided to incorporate a drag queen character in the play, kickstarting her sickening drag journey. The rest is herstory.
“I had a very supportive community, especially coming out halfway through my high school years. The schooling that I had was incredibly encouraging which made my life a lot easier,” said Ashely.
Since moving to Melbourne at the age of 18, Ashely has performed various gigs, as well as founding a drag queen booking agency. Now, she’s competing against 10 other queens to be crowned the next winner of Drag Race Down Under.
“Being on Drag Race is the amalgamation of everything I’ve wanted to do in my career. It’s brought together all the sacrifices I’ve made, all the energy I’ve put out into the world, and all the money I’ve spent getting to where I am, so competing in the olympics of drag is the epitome of my professional calling,” said Ashely.
As any queen would say, meeting the show’s host Rupaul is one of the highlights of competing on Drag Race, with their genuine first meet with mama Ru depicted on the show.
“Meeting Ru was absolutely beyond. It was very much that feeling of being starstruck. When Ru walks through the werk room door and says “g’day g’day g’day,” that’s the first moment that we see her.”
Ashley says it means the world to be part of Drag Race Down Under, as her and the other queens have put their heart and soul into the show.
“We’ve put in so much time and energy, it’s an emotional rollercoaster and there are a lot of Drag Race herstory firsts. The amazing thing that I can’t wait for people to see is the dynamic between all of us. We really are a group of professional drag queens that love the art of drag,” said Ashely.
Tune in to the first episode of Rupaul’s Drag Race Down Under season 3 on Friday, July 28 on Stan.
