Torres Strait Queen Cerulean crowned Miss First Nation

Jarred Cross Published March 1, 2023 at 2.30pm (AWST)

lifestyle

Cerulean crowned Miss First Nation 2023. image: Rob Hookey

Everyone was a winner at World Pride's Miss First Nation Supreme Queen grand final on Tuesday.

Following three nights of competition a "coronation" finally came in front of a packed audience at Pride's Marri Madung Butbut First Nations Gathering Space.

The field of the finest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island and global First Nation drag stars, including three former winners and a Ru Paul's Drag Race star, competed over three nights from Sunday.

Home grown Queens Chocolate Boxx, Lasey Dunaman, Josie Baker, Timberlina, Cerulean and Pomara Fifth met Aeoteroa's Trinity Ice and Vietnamese international entry Feilibing iCE Queen.

Miss First Nation 2023 at World Pride February 28, 2023. image: Rob Hookey

A painstaking pause to count judges' votes finally passed with Meriam & Erub Kebi Le Torres Strait Queen Cerulean taking out the honour.

While still glowing, and despite previous wins, she said hearing her name "felt amazing", particularly among "so many amazing drag artists".

It was a nervous wait after all seven other Queens were draped with a winning sash across a range of categories.

"(While) everyone else is getting a sash I thought 'oh no it's not going to happen, am I gonna get one?' Then once the runner up was announced I was like, surely!" Cerulean said.

Miss First Nation founder, producer and Party Passport events co-director Marzi Panne (aka Daniel Cunningham) said it's pretty much the point; to create a celebratory environment.

"We want to make sure that everyone gets a sash," she said.

Since the inaugural Miss First Nation six years ago, Ms Panne said it's incredible to see how it's grown, hosted by World Pride and being able to bring in international contestants.

It's all the more fulfilling after such humble beginnings as a Darwin pub warm-up act.

"They did let us do it because we'd be a good base crowd for the jelly wrestling," Ms Panne said.

"Luckily they did because to see where it's grown is really, really incredible.

"It's grown into something really beautiful."

As the architect behind Miss First Nation, Ms Panne's background choreographing beauty pageants overseas spurred the idea of "subverting" the formula to something a little more fun.

The infectious environment cast onto audiences extends backstage.

"I think drag is all about twisting popular culture," Marzi Panne said.

"One of the most unexpected and the best ancillary thing that came out of it was the relationships that they (the Queens) make and the sisterhood and the camaraderie. That's all really touching.

"We've had queens say 'I'm the only queen where I am from. To be able to come here and connect with these people, connect with the community makes me feel like I'm not the only one out there.'''

"That's kind of the ethos of the competition."

Cerulean said she's proud to represent her culture, particularly on the global stage at World Pride.

"I feel really proud to be First Nations queer representation," she said.

"We'll be able to do things for the community and dealings with my community and other First Nations communities around the country."

Miss First Nation 2023

WINNER - Cerulean

Runner Up - Chocolate Boxx

2nd Runner Up - Lacey Dunaman

Miss Charm - Trinity Ice

Miss Congeniality (contestant voted) - Chocolate Boxx

Miss Deadly - Lacey Dunaman

Miss Personality - Pomara fifth