Anastarzia Anaquway

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Anastarzia Anaquway
Born (1982-01-21) 21 January 1982 (age 40)
Nassau, Bahamas
Other namesStarzy
Years active2002–present
TelevisionCanada's Drag Race

Anastarzia Anaquway is the stage name of Jermaine Aranha (born 21 January 1982), a Bahamian drag queen based in East York, Toronto. She is the first and only Bahamian to feature in the Drag Race franchise, competing in the first season of Canada's Drag Race.[1][2]

Aranha was inspired to pursue drag by a local queen Victoria Diamond at a fashion show in 2002. Attending the Rainbow Ball that summer, Anastarzia Anaquway made her pageant debut the following year in Miss Bahamas. The first name is a portmanteau of the word star and the titular character of the 1997 Don Bluth film Anastasia.[3] She has won over 15 pageants, including Miss Styles Bahamas, Miss Canada International, Miss Toronto Gay, and Miss Black Continental at Large.[4]

In July 2021, she performed alongside BOA, Juice Boxx, Farra N. Hyte and TroyBoy at the inaugural Drag Starz at the Manor, a new drag event in Guelph, Ontario.[5]

Personal life[]

Aranha was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas.[6]

Aranha has opened up about his experiences with homophobia and crime in his home country. On 4 July 2013, two men shot at Aranha's car as he pulled into his driveway after work. He drove himself to the hospital with three gunshot wounds. After recovering from the attack, Aranha left for Canada as suggested by a friend.[3] He has continued to advocate for LGBT rights in the Bahamas in general from abroad.

Aranha's story, told on an episode of the show, 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. The police report did not indicate a motivation; LGBT+ advocates Erin Greene and Alexus D'Marco clarified that there is no hate crime legislation in the Bahamas, thus no legal framework for justice.[7][8]

References[]

  1. ^ Damshenas, Sam (17 July 2020). "Anastarzia Anaquway doesn't hold back as she spills the T on Canada's Drag Race". Gay Times Magazine. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  2. ^ Ritchie, Kevin (17 July 2020). "Canada's Drag Race contestant Anastarzia Anaquway on East York, pageant queens, and Bahamas news". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b Bidaux, Markus (17 July 2020). "'Canada's Drag Race': Anastarzia Anaquway opens up about hate crimes in the Caribbean". Attitude. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  4. ^ Ball, Daniel (25 June 2020). "Talking Canadian food and culture with Anastarzia Anaquway of Canada's Drag Race". Eat North. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  5. ^ Lauren Scott, "Queens at the castle: Guelph strip club the Manor to host first drag event in July". Toronto Star, July 16, 2021.
  6. ^ Bernardo Sim, "Canada's Drag Race: Things You Didn’t Know About The Queens". Screen Rant, July 17, 2020.
  7. ^ Smith, Sloan (16 July 2020). "No 'hate crimes' legislation creates barrier to accessing justice". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  8. ^ Hunt, Cara (17 July 2020). "A new star on the rise: Bahamian drag queen withstands backlash in pursuit of success". The Tribune. p. 13. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
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