From Kings of Joy to Award-Winning Drag King: Kaizer’s Journey

Last Friday night at Bois Night Out, our monthly Drag King show, Kaizer stepped onto the stage again.

And it felt like a full-circle moment.

Because this wasn't just another performance.

Kaizer now lives in Aotearoa, New Zealand. He's gone on to win awards as a Drag King. He's built a name for himself beyond Sydney.

And yet - this story didn't start there.

It started in a backyard. Watching Queers of Joy. Feeling something stir. Not quite knowing what to do with it.

And then saying yes anyway.

The Moment Before It All Changed

When Kiki first encountered Kings of Joy, she was in a wobbly place.

Coming out of a significant relationship. Navigating the aftermath of lockdown. Readjusting after moving from Berlin to Australia. Feeling disconnected from creativity and direction.

Not the moment most people would choose to step onto a stage.

But that's often exactly where something new begins.

What she found inside Kings of Joy wasn't just a performance opportunity. It was a space to be held. To experiment. To try something new without needing to have it all figured out.

Becoming Kaizer

The name came first.

Kaizer - inspired by the German word for "emperor," and shaped into something visually striking, something that felt right in the body.

From there, the persona unfolded. Not forced. Not constructed from the outside in. But discovered.

Through music. Through movement. Through trying things on and noticing what felt most like home.

Spandex. Chains. Energy. Expression.

A Drag King persona that wasn't about becoming someone else - but about amplifying what was already there.

From First Performance to Momentum

Kaizer's debut performance with Kings of Joy was on 24 February 2022.

It was his first time on stage. And Kiki’s first time performing as a Drag King.

And something shifted.

Not just in confidence, but in what felt possible.

Within a week, she had applied for a solo performance. Then another. And another.

What started as a group experience quickly became a creative pursuit. A pathway into performance, artistry, and community.

And now, years later, that same person is performing internationally and being recognised for her work.

More Than Performance

This isn't just a story about drag.

It's a story about permission.

About not needing the perfect timing. About not needing the perfect label. About not needing to have it all worked out before you begin.

I had the honour of being Kiki's first Drag King Coach. Witnessing her step into Kaizer - watching that persona unfold, seeing the confidence build, being there for that first performance - it's one of the privileges of this work. The joy of watching someone discover what's possible when they give themselves permission to explore.

Inside Queers of Joy and Kings of Joy, Kaizer found something deeper: a space where gender could be fluid. Where sexuality didn't need to be boxed in. Where self-expression wasn't questioned - it was celebrated.

And that changed everything.

Watch the Full Episode

If you want to hear Kiki aka Kaizer tell this story in her own words - the nuance, the emotion, the turning points - you can watch the full episode here:

Watch Kaizer's story on YouTube

Or listen here or wherever you listen to podcasts

Start Your Own Drag King Journey

If something in this story is stirring for you - that curiosity, that pull, that quiet "maybe" - you don't need to have it all figured out.

You can start here: Find your Drag King name

Kings of Joy is a global Drag King community helping LGBTQIA+ people break free from constraints around gender, sexuality, and self-expression so we can be 100% at home in our own skin.

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 Claim Your Drag King Name in 4 Simple Steps - 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.