Jermaine Aranha (born 21 January 1982), better known by the stage name Anastarzia Anaquway, is a
Bahamian drag queen
A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses Drag (entertainment), drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate Femininity, female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, drag queens have ...
and television personality based in
Toronto
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
,
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
.
She is the only
Bahamian to featured in the
''Drag Race'' television franchise, having competed in the
first season of ''
Canada's Drag Race
''Canada's Drag Race'' is a Canadian reality competition television series based on the American series ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' and is the Canadian edition of the ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by Blue Ant Studios. In a similar format to t ...
''.
Career
Anaquway, who made her pageant debut in the Miss Bahamas pageant in 2003, has since won over 15 pageants, such as Miss Styles Bahamas, Miss Canada International, Miss Toronto Gay, and Miss Black Continental at Large.
In July 2021, she performed alongside
BOA
Boa, BoA, or BOA may refer to:
Snakes
* Any member of the Boidae, a family of medium to large, non-venomous, constricting snakes
** Any member of the Boinae, a subfamily of boid snakes
*** Any member of ''Boa'' (genus), a group of boid snakes
* ...
,
Juice Boxx
Joseph “Jo” Primeau, better known by the stage name Juice Boxx (born September 20, 1988), is a Canadian drag performer best known for being the first contestant to be eliminated on ''Canada's Drag Race'', the Canadian version of ''RuPaul's D ...
, Farra N. Hyte, and TroyBoy at the inaugural Drag Starz at the Manor, a new drag event in
Guelph
Guelph ( ; 2021 Canadian Census population 143,740) is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Known as The Royal City, it is roughly east of Kitchener, Ontario, Kitchener and west of Downtown Toronto, at the intersection of Ontario Highway 6, ...
,
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
.
In 2023, Aranha competed on the
ninth season of ''
The Amazing Race Canada
''The Amazing Race Canada'' is a Canadian reality competition show based on the American series ''The Amazing Race''. Following the premise of other versions in the ''Amazing Race'' franchise, the show follows teams of two as they race across C ...
'' with fellow ''Drag Race'' contestant Justin Baird (also known as
Kimora Amour
Justin Baird, also known under the stage name Kimora Amour, is a Canadian drag queen, nurse, costume designer, and television personality best known as a competitor in the Canada's Drag Race (season 2), second season of ''Canada's Drag Race,''Kevi ...
).
Personal life
Aranha was born and raised in
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau ( ) is the capital and largest city of The Bahamas. It is on the island of New Providence, which had a population of 246,329 in 2010, or just over 70% of the entire population of The Bahamas. As of April 2023, the preliminary results of ...
and has opened up about his experiences with homophobia and hate crime in his home country.
Aranha moved to
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
, claiming asylum, after allegedly being shot at in 2013 by two men into his driveway. Aranha's story, told on an episode of Drag Race, was met with a mixed response from Bahamians, ranging from support and solidarity to threats and accusations of lying to make the country look bad.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anaquay, Anastarzia
Living people
1982 births
21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people
Bahamian drag queens
Bahamian emigrants to Canada
Bahamian LGBTQ people
Black Canadian LGBTQ people
Canada's Drag Race contestants
Canadian drag queens
Drag performers from Toronto
Entertainers from Nassau, Bahamas
Refugees in Canada
The Amazing Race contestants