Drag queen Fairah Nuff was crowned the winner of Poof Doof Sydney’s drag competition on Saturday night and has used her win to encourage venue patrons to tip drag performers.
This victory marks a significant achievement in Nuff’s dynamic drag career that spans corporate gigs and bingos to regular performances on Oxford Street and elsewhere across Sydney.
With the $3000 cash prize, Nuff plans to invest some of it into her Drag Industry Variety Awards (DIVA) outfit, showcasing her commitment to continually elevating her craft. The awards will be held September 2 and tickets are on sale for $129.95. Nuff was also awarded jewellery from Brisbane Drag Jewels.
A familiar face on Oxford Street for about four years who trained in musical theatre and has danced since she was five-years-old, Nuff (real name Patrick Dibben) expressed her elation over the win, saying, “It feels absolutely amazing! It’s been a while since I’ve done a competition, so to do this comp and come out on top is just insane and wonderful!”
She used the win as an opportunity to promote the idea of tipping drag queens, which is not as common in Australia as it is elsewhere, such as in the United States.
“Obviously drag cultures are very different around the globe so it’s hard to compare. But I say why not make tipping culture a thing here in Australia!” Nuff said.
“Drag is an expensive investment whether it’s your hobby or job. I think whether in a comp or on a regular night, queens get on stage and provide entertainment to clubgoers all week long and don’t really ask for much in return.
“I think it’s such a wonderful show of respect to that performer if you tip them [when] they’ve done something that’s entertained, gagged or impressed you! You’re investing in that person’s career even with that small tip. If 10 people tipped a queen $10 that’s a new wig for that performer. That’s how I see it.”
While Nuff has made doing drag a full-time gig, she said it was not easy having it as your only source of income at times, but she had found a way to make it work.
The final performance that clinched the title for Nuff was a disco-themed extravaganza featuring iconic hits like Disco Inferno by The Trammps, some Donna Summer classics, Madonna, and a finale with music from the Bee Gees.
Originally created for a cancer charity gala, Nuff adapted the show for the competition. The effort paid off, securing her victory.
This performance was not just a spectacle of music and dance but also a personal milestone for Nuff. “It’s the first solo show I have produced!” she said, highlighting the significance of this moment.
The choreography, crafted in collaboration with Eli Crawford and performed alongside dancers James Vidigal and Nicholas Jancho, left a lasting impression on both the judges and the audience.
Kirsten Dammed, a well-known designer for drag performers in Sydney and a performer herself, made Nuff’s disco costume. “I was inspired by an iconic Bob Mackey fire dress that Cher, Tina Tuner and Beyoncé have worn,” Nuff said.
“I drew up a sketch and Kirsten took the design / final garment to the next level.”
Nuff’s journey to the top was not without its challenges. As a regular performer on Oxford Street, she faced the pressure of constantly having to evolve her act to keep audiences engaged.
“People get used to seeing what you do, so it’s a challenge to beat expectations,” she explained. However, Nuff’s ability to push her creative boundaries and reinvent herself on the Poof Doof stage paid off.
Reflecting on her drag journey, Nuff described it as a “blessed and wild ride”.
This victory, she says, feels like “the ‘receiving of flowers’ for the last 4 years of hard work I have put into being ‘Fairah’ and building a name and reputation for myself in the drag community.”
To get her start in drag, Nuff competed weekly in Universal’s Slay4Pay and the Burdekin Hotel’s Tuck for a Buck in her first year. “Then, in a very short time, I had a quick rise in the scene to being a working queen.”
For those looking up to her, Nuff’s advice is grounded in patience and perseverance. She encouraged aspiring drag artists to “work hard, show up, pay your dues and when the time is right you will be rewarded … Also GO TO A DANCE CLASSES! (It’ll change your life!)”
Nuff’s victory is not just a personal achievement but a celebration of the support she has received from the drag community and her fans.
“Without the support of the drag community, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today, full stop,” she said, expressing gratitude for the friendships and chosen family she has found along the way.
“The way the generations of queens before me have embraced me as their sister, provided me with words of wisdom, love, costumes, job opportunities and most importantly friendship is priceless.”
You can catch Nuff regularly at Stonewall on Fridays in its cocktail bar, or understudying on Saturday nights. Nuff is also on rotation at Poof Doof and recently opened her first Universal production show on Fridays at Sanctuary called “Slurp” with fellow performers Sia Tequila and Ivy League.
Nuff also hosts bingo at Highfield Caringbah pub every second last Tuesday of the month and at the Illawarra yacht club every two months.
Gay Sydney News editor