Child drag queen Jackaranda brings bullies and trolls to heel
He’s been trolled on social media and called vicious names like a “freak” and “fairy” but 10-year-old Jack Khan, who performs in full drag as Jackaranda, prefers to tackle haters head on to raise awareness about bullying. VIDEO: JACK’S TRANSFORMATION
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He’s been called “a freak”, “a fairy” and trolled on social media but 10-year-old Jack Khan tackles the haters and bullies head on, wearing glitzy high heels, a perfectly-set wig and bright pink lipstick.
“I want people who have been bullied to know they’re not alone,” the Mount Ousley Public School student said.
“There are a lot of us out there, and while it makes me sad when people say mean things who don’t even know me, I’ve learnt how to brush it off.”
Jack, who performs in full drag as Jackaranda, has become a rising star in the Wollongong art scene — only ever performing at G-rated venues and events, at the insistence of his mum Ally.
He’s tickled pink to reveal that, unlike most drag queens and kings who traditionally lip synch, he uses his own voice.
“My favourite singers are ABBA, Queen, Adam Lambert, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis,” he said.
“I love jazz, old crooners, I love vinyls. I’m not a good singer yet but I wanna get good.”
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The vivacious Year Six student has a supportive mum who shields him from much of the trolling on social media.
“People have said things about me, but mum doesn’t like me looking at that stuff,” Jack said. “She looks at my social media before I do so, she protects me from it.
“It makes me feel sad people feel they have to say stuff, but I think it’s also that people don’t understand me.
“I would say to them that this is the person I am, this is what’s happening, you don’t have to accept it. But you don’t have to be mean.
“I’m just a performer that likes to sing and dress up. I love the way singing makes me feel inside and the way the audience reacts to it. I wear dresses because I feel more comfortable and it gives me confidence. And besides, I’m better at walking in heels than my mum and my sister.”
Jack’s school community is supportive.
“My friends at school basically, everyone in my class, they’re just like: ‘Cool’, they don’t make a big deal out of it.”
Jack recently held a show in Wollongong, supported by other drag queens and entertainers, to raise awareness about bullying.
He sang one of his favourite songs, Mad World, presented a “poster story” on self worth and resilience and raised more than $1000 for Kids Helpline.
Originally published as Child drag queen Jackaranda brings bullies and trolls to heel