Diva Awards

04/03/2026

https://www.overtherainbowfunerals.com.au/event-details/celebrating-the-fabulous-life-of-maxi-shield

Please register your details if you wish to attend in-person, at a local venue or via live-streaming.

23/02/2026

In Loving Memory: Maxi Shield
​It is with heavy hearts that the DIVA family acknowledges the passing of a true icon of the Australian stage, Maxi Shield.
​Maxi was the heartbeat of Sydney’s drag scene—a powerhouse entertainer whose legacy is etched into our history. A multi-DIVA Award winner, her peers recognized her brilliance as a Variety Award recipient, a two-time Queen of Hearts, and our prestigious Entertainer of the Year.
​Beyond the rhinestones, Maxi was a fierce protector of our community. From her role as a dedicated sports ambassador to her tireless work as a safety advocate for Oxford Street’s "Golden Mile," her commitment to her craft and her people was absolute.
​Our deepest condolences go out to her partner David, her family, her drag sisters, and her many adoring fans.
​Rest in Power, Maxi. You will always be our Queen of Hearts. 🕊️✨
❤️ Aunty Shags and Lex
Photo: Deepfield Photography

24/09/2025

VALE Mogadonna

The DIVA community is saddened to hear of the passing of Mogadonna, Nicholas Schmich, who left us today surrounded by family in Orange after a period of ill health. We extend our sincere condolences to Nicholas’s family and sister friends.

Mogadonna’s first appearance was as a member of the ‘Stick Ladies’ at the Albury Hotel in 1991, which very quickly lead to her first professional show with Mitzi Macintosh and Trudi Valentine in ‘Tit Bits’ in early 1992. She went on to star at the Albury Hotel until it closed in 2002 and during her exciting and colourful career worked at every venue on Oxford Street.

Many international tourists and locals alike were entertained through the spectaculars of Mogadonna’s Mardi Gras years. Her first appearance was in ‘Celebration’ (1993) where she starred as a Purple Chook and continued with ‘We are Family’ (1994), ‘Slave to The Rhythm’ (1994 Sleaze Ball), ‘I Feel Love’ (1997) and the moving ‘Somewhere’ in 1998 for the 20th Anniversary. No one at the biggest ever Mardi Gras in 1996 will forget the heart stopping excitement of ‘The Boss’, when Mogadonna performed in a ring suspended from the ceiling of the RHI. So great was this triumph that ‘The Boss’ will forever be remembered as Mogi’s signature spot!

By now Mogadonna was Sydney’s big party star performer, so who else could create the ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ extravaganza for the opening of Sydney’s now infamous Harbour Party. Perhaps only topped by returning to perform the lead at the last Harbour Party with ‘Don’t Let this Moment End’ encased in some of the biggest cheers and most stunning fireworks ever seen on any dance floor.

Mogadonna won five DIVA Awards, Bitch of the Year (1994), Best Shows, “Black T” (1994) and ‘Drag Dolls’ (1995 and 1998). In 2004, to celebrate this most fabulous of careers, Mogadonna was inducted into the DIVA Hall of Fame.

One of our great performers, Mogi’s life will be celebrated with a memorial in coming weeks.

Colleen Windsor
24 Sept 2025

13/09/2025

Nominations for Entertainer of the Year
Carmen Geddit .geddit
Coco Jumbo
Etcetera Etcetera
Ruby Royale
Sia Tequila
Vybe

Nominations for Show of the Year
Dogs!
Funkytown
Glamboyance
Kylie Tribute
Love Takeover
Mayhem
Priscilla's Experience

Nominations for Rising Star
Aunty Tamara
Fairah Nuff
Mulan
Ruby Royale
Sour .dq
Victoria Mami .mami_

Nominations for Technical Contribution (Costuming, Wigs)
Costuming - Jacqui St Hyde
Costuming - Kirstin Damned
Costuming - Ruby Royale
Wigs - Ivy League
Wigs - London Briidge
Wigs - Wigged Out
Wigs - Wigs by Vanity

Nominations for Technical Contribution (Artwork/Marketing, Lighting, Choreography, Sound Production)
Artwork - Bettie Blackheart
Artwork - Johnny Smith
Artwork - Ruby Royale
Choreography - Sia Tequila
Lighting - Caine on Lights
Sound Production -

03/09/2025

Please join us in welcoming this year's DIVA Hall of Fame recipient, Ashley Swift!! We've been entertained by Ashely as a creative powerhouse for 40 years, read all about it at the Star Observer, link below.
Thanks to Colleen Windsor for her fantastic words, and Mal and the Team at Star Observer. We'll be officially inducting Ashley on Sep 22 at the Wintle Theatre at this year's DIVA ceremony.
Congratulations Ashley! 🌟🤩

https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/diva-announces-ashley-swift-as-the-2025-inductee-into-the-diva-hall-of-fame/238464

11/08/2025

A fab piece in the Star Observer by our very own Dame Colleen Windsor. Get ready to vote for your favourite venues, DJs, shows, drag performers, and more!

LGBTQ+ Sydney’s most glamorous night of the year is nearly here once again — voting for the DIVA 25 community awards opens this week!

08/08/2025

07/08/2025

🎉 DIVA 2025 Has Arrived! 🎉
We’re thrilled to officially launch DIVA for 2025 – the night of nights where we honour and celebrate the very best in drag excellence!

This year’s dazzling awards will be held at the Wintle Theatre, Souths Juniors Kingsford, hosted by none other than our reigning DIVA Entertainer of the Year, the sensational Hannah Conda!

✨ Red Carpet kicks off from 6:30PM
🎟️ Tickets go on sale Friday 15 August at 12PM via www.divaawards.com.au
💵 $134.95 (including booking fee)

Kicking off the season in true style, we’re proud to unveil the much-anticipated and coveted 2025 DIVA Poster, starring our poster girl (and boy!), the multi-DIVA-award-winning creative force that is Ashley Swift

You can catch the poster now in the August edition of the Sydney Star Observer available both online and at all your favourite spots around town.

Voting for this year's DIVA goes live on the Sydney Star Observer website Friday 15 August at 12PM, make sure to vote for your favourite Drag Performers, Shows, Venues, DJs, and more!

We can’t wait for a night of glamour, celebration, and show-stopping drag. Join us as we honour another incredible year of the world’s best drag talent.

Thanks to all our amazing sponsors and supporters, we love you!

https://www.starobserver.com.au/latest-issues/sydney-star-observer-magazine-august-2025-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/237955

06/08/2025

🎉 DIVA 2025 Has Arrived! 🎉
We’re thrilled to officially launch DIVA for 2025 – the night of nights where we honour and celebrate the very best in drag excellence!

This year’s dazzling awards will be held at the Wintle Theatre, Souths Juniors Kingsford, hosted by none other than our reigning DIVA Entertainer of the Year, the sensational Hannah Conda!

✨ Red Carpet kicks off from 6:30PM
🎟️ Tickets go on sale Friday 15 August at 12PM via www.divaawards.com.au
💵 $134.95 (including booking fee)

Kicking off the season in true style, we’re proud to unveil the much-anticipated and coveted 2025 DIVA Poster, starring our poster girl (and boy!), the multi-DIVA-award-winning creative force that is Ashley Swift.

You can catch the poster now in the August edition of the Sydney Star Observer available both online and at all your favourite spots around town.

Voting for this year's DIVA goes live on the Sydney Star Observer website Friday 15 August at 12PM, make sure to vote for your favourite Drag Performers, Shows, Venues, DJs, and more!

We can’t wait for a night of glamour, celebration, and show-stopping drag. Join us as we honour another incredible year of the world’s best drag talent.

https://www.starobserver.com.au/latest-issues/sydney-star-observer-magazine-august-2025-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/237955

06/08/2025

VALE Robyn Lee

The extended DIVA family are saddened to hear of the passing of Robyn Lee. Robyn was in her early eighties and passed in care after a long period of health problems. We extend our sincere condolences to Robyn’s family and her sister showgirls.

Robyn was arguably the ultimate showgirl over an incredible 6 decades. She was referred to as the showgirl's showgirl and will be greatly missed but fondly remembered.

Sometimes you hear that a performer has worked everywhere, this was the absolute case with Robyn. There is no doubt she was a true trailblazer of the showgirl community.

From those early and now historical venues of Ivys Birdcage and the Purple Onion. To the huge success she enjoyed as an original Capriccio's performer, to an original Playgirl in the award-winning Simone and Monique's Playgirls Review. A great friend of Simone Troy and Monica St John, Robyn spent over 10 years in that cast.

Robyn moved on to be a long-time star on the Oxford Street scene both at the Unicorn and Albury Hotels. She worked with many different casts and production shows.

Robyn performed in many of the big spectacular Mardi Gras party shows including the famous ‘I am what I am’ anniversary shows. In the late 80’s Robyn took to the RHI stage for a 6am show, where alone on stage she held the room in the palm of her hand, doing the Taylor Dayne anthem of the time. The place went wild, and she entered Mardi Gras folklore.

Robyn will forever be linked to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the 1994 movie, where Stephan Elliott the director, persuaded Robyn to train the actor Terence Stamp for the tr*******al role of Bernadette Bassenger. If you ever got the opportunity to hear Robyn, tell of her experience it was priceless.

Robyn was a great friend of DIVA through its 34 years. She was inducted to the DIVA Hall of Fame at the very first DIVA Awards at the DCM nightclub in 1991. She performed and appeared in many of the ceremonies over the years.

Robyn requested no funeral, but some of her dear friends, with the blessing of Robyn’s family will hold a memorial at the Stonewall Hotel on a Saturday 23 August at 2PM.

Colleen Windsor