First Nations drag artist is 1st queen from Sask. competing to be Canada's Next Drag Superstar

Chelazon Leroux is Saskatchewan's first drag queen called to slay on Canada's Drag Race.

She said the chance to compete on the reality TV show isa big step forward not only for her as an artist but also the wider community.

"Growing up, I never saw anyone like myself in media," said Leroux. She is a two-spirit DeneFirst Nations drag artist and content creatorwho grew up in northern Saskatchewan,but nowlives in Saskatoon.

Leroux, who uses pronouns he/she/they, said the first time she sawanother two-spirit Indigenous person on mainstream televisionwas watching Season 1 of Canada's Drag Race.

"To have someone like me was the most life-changing thing ever."

Throughout the season,Leroux will compete against 11 otherCanadian drag artists who will show off their performance skills as they try to earn the title of Canada's Next Drag Superstar.

Leroux said being part of the show isimportant for young Indigenous two-spirit people, who need to see people who are like themout in the world trying and succeeding.

"Being able to see someone love what they do, and have a life and career out of it, it gives hope for a generation," she said. "It's life-saving."

Leroux said she's following in the footsteps oftwo other queens who haverepresented Indigenous and two-spirit communities in previous seasons on the show.

"I'm just continuing that representation, but I am the first from Saskatchewan, so it's very exciting to tell a different narrative or a different perspective."

Local Dene performer will be the first queen from Saskatchewan to compete in Canada's Drag Race

2 years ago

Duration 1:29

A performer and social media personality from Saskatoon will be the first queen from Saskatchewan to compete in Canada's Drag Race, starting in mid-July. Dene and two-spirit, Chelazon Leroux is about to be the representation their younger self always wanted to see.

She's no stranger to sharing her knowledge. Before TV, there was TikTok for Leroux. She's a social media star,withhundreds of thousands of followers. Sheoften records under her "Auntie" persona, to share both educational and cheeky, comedic content.

The range of content is vast, coveringmental health and social issues, as well asdrag life and beauty.

She also has an ongoing beauty tutorial series titledDeadly Like Auntie,where she shares all kinds of tips, including teaching people howto do a hair bun (to get "snaggable real quick.")

From concept to release, creating these videos is a relatively quick processfor Leroux, who can do it all with a phone. While she can't talk about the show yet, she said generally speaking, being on a professional set means much longer sometimes exhausting hours.

Ultimately, thefocus is still on creation and she saidshe loved working with the other artists, noting this flock of queens is full of diversity.

"You'll see yourself in them," she said. "You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll feel proud."

Leroux said she's feeling the pressure to do well on the show. She added that no matter the outcome, as long as there are people who feel seen and heard she will have succeeded.

"My younger self would probably be terrified, full of anxiety very normal reactions but also very excited," she said.

Leroux encouraged people to tune in and to "stay deadly."

Season 3 of Canada's Drag Race begins on Thursday July 14 on Crave.