Maxi Shield, RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Star, Dead at 51

by

The Drag Race family is mourning the loss of one of their brightest stars.

Maxi Shield, a performer known from the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, has passed away at the age of 51, following a battle with throat cancer. The news was confirmed by the nightclub where she regularly performed.

Universal Sydney’s Dillon Shaw shared news on Instagram on February 22nd of the passing of Maxi Shield, saying they were shocked and deeply saddened. Shaw described Maxi as an iconic figure in the community, adding with humor that she wouldn’t have appreciated being called ‘old’.

Maxi performed at queer venues all over Sydney, and her appearance on Drag Race Down Under helped her connect with fans across Australia and internationally.

I’ll always remember Maxi – or Kristopher Elliot, as many knew her – for being incredibly quick-witted and just having this amazing, vibrant spirit. She truly lit up a room!

The statement described Maxi as a vibrant and kind person. It expressed deep sadness that her energetic performances would be missed, and that the author would no longer share joyful moments with her friend. Her legacy of love, humor, and influence will continue through the many talented people in Sydney she mentored and the creative community she passionately helped build.

The statement fondly remembered Maxi, describing her as a powerful and brilliant woman who will be deeply missed. It concluded with a loving farewell, saying, “Fly high, incredible queen. We love you.”

After Maxi’s passing, her fellow cast members from the reality show, including head judge Michelle Visage of Drag Race Down Under, remembered and shared stories about her.

She shared a heartfelt tribute to Maxi on Instagram on February 23rd, posting a picture of the two of them. She described Maxi, who finished sixth in the first season, as a wonderful person, both inside and out, and said her love, kindness, talent, and spirit would be deeply missed. She ended the post with a message of remembrance, calling Maxi her ‘angel’ and ‘one of a kind.’

Another competitor on Drag Race Down Under, Karen From Finance, posted a photo of herself with Maxi and wrote, “Our girl.”

Five months before she passed away, Maxi revealed she had been diagnosed with throat cancer. She shared that the cancer had a good chance of being treated successfully – around 70 to 80 percent – and promised her fans she’d be back to performing drag after completing treatment.

In January, Maxi shared encouraging news: despite still recovering from chemotherapy and radiation, she planned to return to performing on February 5th.

I have some exciting news! I’m coming back to perform on stage this Thursday, February 5th, at Palms for Karaoke Bare, and then on Friday, February 6th, at the Oxford.

She explained that drag has always been a huge part of her life, and being unable to perform for so long was difficult. Simply having a performance date scheduled gave her a much-needed mental boost and helped her stay motivated.

Read More

2026-02-23 22:48