Courtney Act

Courtney Act, also known as Shane Jenek, is a performer, presenter and advocate from Sydney, Australia. But why does she have two names, you ask? Well, as well as being a drag artist, Courtney also identifies as gender-fluid, meaning that sometimes Courtney identifies as a woman, sometimes she identifies a man, and sometimes she identifies as somewhere in between.  

Courtney first rose to prominence on the drag scene in Sydney. Having moved from Brisbane, a smaller city in Australia, when she was 18, she became a beloved part of Sydney nightlife, being renowned for her singing voice and dazzling performances in night clubs across the city. This culminated in an appearance on the first season of Australian Idol, the Australian version of Pop Idol, which saw her make the Top 12 contestants. She was the first drag queen to ever appear on a reality singing show and paved the way for many others in Australia and across the world.  

Years later she appeared in and subsequently made the Final 3 of Season 6 of Rupaul’s Drag Race which shot her to international stardom. Following a few years of touring shows around the world, she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother UK, which she then won by public vote. She was praised on the show for her patience, empathy and willingness to be open about her struggles as an LGBTQ+ person.  

Beyond being an entertainer, Courtney has been an articulate spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community. She has advocated and spoken candidly on HIV prevention and stigma, racism within the community, transgender equality and more. She frequently releases ‘Courtney Fact’ videos which seek to shed light on particular difficulties within the LGBTQ+ community.  She now lives between London, Sydney and Los Angeles where she continues to perform, release music, and advocate for issues she’s passionate about.