150 Kings Strong: Celebrating 5 Years of Kings of Joy

Five years ago, something shifted in Sydney's queer landscape. A space opened up where people could explore masculinity on their own terms, where gender became playground instead of prescription, where complete beginners could step onto a stage and into themselves.

This month, as our newest Gold Stars group takes the stage, we'll celebrate a milestone that still makes me teary: 150 first-time Drag Kings since December 2020.

One hundred and fifty people who said "maybe," then "yes," then "watch me."

What We've Actually Built

When people ask what Kings of Joy is, the simple answer is: a five-week program where you learn to be a Drag King and perform on stage.

But that's like saying the ocean is wet. Technically true, entirely insufficient.

Here's what actually happens:

Max'd Out came in with a phobia of dancing. Now they've done five shows and a solo. They told us: "I have-  no, never had any desire to be onstage or dance. Had a phobia of dancing, actually... I couldn't recommend it highly enough."

Glen Twenty (Laura) arrived thinking Drag Kingship was impossible for someone like her. She left understanding: "Danica is immensely talented and so much fun, but she is also a healer... I've begun to explore more deeply both the masculine and feminine aspects of myself. What a gift!"

Maggot Banks (Kaitlyn) hadn't danced on stage since she was twelve, worried she'd look "overweight or silly." After the show, she wrote: "Watching myself rock out and perform was so surreal and I honestly felt so sexy, empowered, and proud! I am so grateful for how much more confident I feel in my body and in my abilities."

The Patterns That Emerge

After 150 Kings, certain transformations repeat like verses in our favourite songs:

The Confidence Shift

Bobs Bulges (Tori) captured it perfectly: "I presented my first client debrief today and while internally I was freaking out, I kept channelling Bob's energy and reminded myself that if I can dance on stage in drag and in front of 100 people I can do a boring work meeting."

What happens on stage ripples into boardrooms, difficult conversations, and the quiet moments where we choose how we show up.

The Community Hunger

So many testimonials mention the same ache: Martin van Tasmal (Toby) "arrived in Sydney just before lockdown in 2021, and it made making friends and meeting new people an incredibly difficult process. I was a little shy, a little nerdy, and feeling out of place."

Maggot Banks wrote: "Living in Sydney for the last couple of years I've struggled to find my footing in the queer community so I'm so grateful for this experience. I feel more at home than I have since I got here."

We keep accidentally creating families. Chosen, chaotic, devoted families who show up for each other's gigs and gender journeys long after the final bow.

The Gender Revelation

Jim Junkie (Becks) said it simply: "I've made friends, found a creative outlet for my gender expression and found a community to support my gender journey."

Klit Angel (Jade), a transfemme performer, shared: "Before Kings of Joy, I always felt some shame in my masculinity. As a transfemme, there is a societal expectation on how you are meant to express your gender. Freeing myself from that expectation, and reclaiming my masculine side on my terms has been life-changing."

And Hugh F. Bewdy (Lily) reflected: "Being able to step into your femininity and masculinity is something that I haven't experienced before."

The Ones Who Never Thought They Could

These are my favourite stories. The people who signed up half-hoping it wouldn't work out.

BJ Shuvit (Miranda) confessed: "I signed up after attending Drag Kingdom in a fit of anxious adrenaline, half-hoping I wouldn't hear back."

Daddy Mack came to a show on a date, "not so soberly" signed up, and immediately thought: "I'll just do the practice behind the scenes." Instead, she ended up on stage, tearing up as she told the audience: "This is possibly the best thing I've done... A massive, massive shout out to Chris and Danica because it has been such a beautiful, safe space."

Goondiwindi Jones (Sasha) wrote: "I had life challenges and had my doubts I would be good enough, fit enough, just enough. What a lot of bollocks goes on in my mind. I was so enough. We all were. We were amazing!... So, if this stretched beyond their limits, single mama, can get up on stage and show up, so can you."

What Makes It Work

Kaizer (Kiki) nailed it: "Danica has a unique gift for drawing out everyone's unique qualities and potential - then by some feat of magnificence, she synergises them all together in the most incredible way into a show where everyone gets a chance to shine!"

But it's more than choreography and coaching. It's the structure Aashiq Singh appreciated: "It was so structured, and just for five weeks, I had something immensely joyful to look forward to."

It's the safety Bo Radley (Sarah) felt: "I'd say do it. Sign up and try... and see if you can find a place to belong rather than fit in."

It's the transformation Earl Gaye (Jude) experienced: "I haven't started that long... But I've never felt so fully myself and so fully using every part of myself not just kind of masking anything and I... that means the world to me."

The Ripple Effect

What started as a five-week program has become something bigger. Kings return for All Stars. They book solo shows. They become part of Drag Kingdom, our bi-annual showcase where Rainbowgan declared: "It's just the best night ever! Like not even just in my top 10 nights of the year, THE BEST one!"

Trey Verse Ass Professor stood on stage at Queers of Joy and told the crowd: "End of March, I was sitting on the Gold Coast beach and I declared two things. That I wanted to find my queer community and I wanted to be a Drag King. Came back to Sydney and fuck me Kings of Joy came into my Insta feed and I just couldn't believe it... Saved my life."

Five Years, 150 Kings, Infinite Possibilities

Every single one of these 150 Kings started exactly where you might be now: curious, nervous, unsure, hoping.

Dan De Lion (Sally) said it beautifully: "This experience was a step in the direction I've longed to go for many many years. I will forever be grateful to Danica for giving me the opportunity to return home."

That's what this is, really. Not becoming someone new, but returning to parts of yourself you'd forgotten or never knew you had permission to claim.

As David Blowie (Celia) put it: "I loved working on discovering my inner performer and man- two aspects of my being that are going to flourish as a result of this experience."

To the 150 Kings who've trusted this process, who've sweated through rehearsals and shown up for each other and yourselves: you've built something extraordinary. Not just performances, but proof that transformation is possible, that community can be created, that we get to decide who we are and how we move through the world.

To anyone reading this and wondering if this could be for you: BJ Shuvit left you this message: "Sometimes you're scared for a reason; sometimes you're scared because you're scared of trying and failing, scared of hoping for a thing and getting pushed back. If you're in the latter camp, like I was, I want to reassure you: you're in good hands. You deserve your crown!"

Here's to the next 150 👑

Xx

Danica Lani

The King Coach

About Danica Lani, The King Coach

Hey you 👋 I’m Danica Lani—also known as The King Coach. I’ve mentored 150 first-time Drag Kings since 2020, and I’m here to say: if you’re feeling the pull to explore gender through performance, you’re not alone—and you’re not too late.

Whether you’re new to this world or quietly dreaming of stepping into your masculine side on stage, there’s space for you here.

✨ Ready to name your King? Download Step Into Your King—a free guide to choosing your Drag King name.

💫 Want to see what’s possible? Explore Kings of Joy and discover the queer community bringing masculine expression to life with joy, power, and heart.

📸 Sarah Malone.