“I’ve Been Adopted By Australia”: Michael Marouli On Winning Drag Race Down Under Vs The World

After taking out the first season in a final showdown with Art Simone, our newest reigning queen is still trying to get her head around what just happened.

“It has not sunk in yet,” she tells Star Observer.

“This has just been the most exciting, insane few days of my life.”

Between a viewing party, a Pride performance and travelling for a friend’s birthday, Michael has barely stopped since finding out the result.

And while the title is officially hers, there’s still one rather important delivery to come.

“There’ll be an unboxing video as soon as she arrives,” she promises of her crown.

“Well, who knows? It could be here now. I’m going to check the front door.”

Michael Marouli finally gets her crown

For viewers, Michael’s victory capped off an impressive run through the competition.

The Drag Race UK season five runner-up entered the finale with four challenge wins and no low or bottom placements, delivering comedy, glamour and plenty of heart along the way.

But watching that journey unfold was a very different experience for the queen who had already filmed it.

“Literally, we find out the same time that the public find out, which is amazing to avoid spoilers. But as you can imagine, it’s hell,” she explains.

“You’ve got to wait all that time. And you go through all the emotions, you know, like, oh, what’s the outcome going to be? Because you’ve just got no idea.”

Even winning the very first episode didn’t convince Michael that the crown was hers.

Instead, it gave her a moment to recognise what returning to the competition meant.

“I’ve wanted to come back to Drag Race and prove to myself that I could win this and that I was worthy of a crown.”

She remembers returning to her hotel after that first victory and trying to take it all in.

“And I remember winning that first episode and thinking, this is exactly what I came here to do.”

However, the talent around her meant there was very little room to get comfortable.

“Everyone was on their A game,” she says.

“So there was never, ever a time that I thought, this is mine.”

Going head-to-head with Art Simone

Of course, one queen kept Michael firmly on her toes.

Art Simone’s return delivered four challenge wins of her own, setting up a final showdown between two performers who understood each other remarkably well.

For Michael, the connection made perfect sense.

“I think UK and Australian drag are so similar. There’s humour. There’s camp. It’s big. It’s bold. And Art does it so perfectly.”

From the moment Art entered the werkroom, Michael knew she would be competition.

“I knew for a fine fact she was going all the way to the end.”

That respect remained throughout the season, even as the pair found themselves chasing the same crown.

“She represents Down Under drag to the highest. So what an honour to get to be in that final two with her.”

Their shared love of comedy and camp also gave us a finale that didn’t need an endless parade of tricks to keep us entertained.

Although Michael is still amused that she ended up providing some of the season’s acrobatics.

“Literally, in what world am I the trick queen? Like, that never happens,” she says.

“I’m 42 years of age. And I’m the one that did the splits in a couple of the episodes. Never in a million years did I think that would be the case.”

The heartbreaking part of winning

Challenge victories brought confidence, but winning lip syncs also came with the responsibility of sending other queens home.

For Michael, that was easily the most difficult part.

“My God, that’s the heartbreaking part of it. It really, really is.”

Knowing the format beforehand did little to soften those decisions once friendships had formed.

Still, she had come to compete, and each success gave her another reason to keep pushing.

“At that point, when I was getting the wins, it gives you that fire,” she says.

“Just like, keep going. Eyes on the prize. Keep going.”

Despite those difficult farewells, Michael remembers a cast who found plenty of joy in being together.

“All of us from day one, we all got on so well.”

As the only UK queen, she had arrived without knowing who she would meet or what to expect. The friendships became one of the things she was proudest to take away.

“Everyone just got on so well, and we just had a laugh. Like, we just howled constantly.”

The pressure of another roast

When it comes to her favourite challenge, Michael doesn’t need much convincing.

The Rappin’ Roast gave her the opportunity to do what she loves, although it also came with some fairly hefty expectations.

Her roast on Drag Race UK had already become a defining moment of her original season.

“It went viral, all the rest of it. I thought, oh my God, there’s a roast challenge. I have to win it, otherwise I’m never going to live this down.”

Adding music to the mix made the challenge even more exciting.

“So for me, getting to do that was a personal highlight that I was proud of.”

Sharing the win with LaLa Ri, a friend outside the competition, made the experience all the sweeter.

“Like in what world am I on stage with LaLa Ri? Like in an All Stars season, lip-syncing it together. It was iconic.”

And anyone imagining she arrived with those lyrics neatly prepared can think again.

“We have no idea what the challenges are going to be, at all,” she explains.

Queens can bring ideas and reads, but the actual task still comes as a surprise.

“So it’s literally, here’s a track, read everyone to filth. And I was like, okay, let’s go.”

That constant change is part of what keeps Michael coming back.

“It is a race. And it’s intense in the best possible way. It’s like summer camp for drag queens.”

“Michelle is mother”

Returning to Drag Race also meant a change at the judges’ table.

After competing in front of RuPaul and Michelle Visage on her original season, Michael joined the Down Under family with Michelle in charge.

And she has absolutely no doubts about her host.

“But Michelle is mother. That’s the thing. And I think she needs more credit for that.”

For Michael, the care Michelle shows between takes matters just as much as what viewers see on screen.

“And there’s such a warm, nurturing side to her that she’ll always stop and talk, like in between takes and stuff, when we’re repositioning cameras.”

“She’s so easy to talk to.”

Michael knows fans can be resistant to change, but she believes Michelle has more than proved herself.

“So to have Michelle at the helm of it and smash it out of the park the way she has, this season has, like, blown up.”

“And I think she’s done a fantastic job. And I loved it.”

As for the suggestion that RuPaul might eventually slow down and hand over more hosting duties, Michael isn’t entirely convinced.

“Do you honestly think RuPaul’s ever going to give it up?”

“I think RuPaul’s going to outlive us all.”

Why Drag Race leaving the BBC matters

While celebrating her own victory, Michael is also watching a significant change back home, with Drag Race UK set to leave the BBC and move to WOW Presents Plus after its eighth season.

For Australian viewers accustomed to streaming the franchise, the importance of that move might not be immediately obvious.

Michael says the BBC gives the show access to people who might never seek it out themselves.

“Because it’s a mainstream platform, it opens up to so many other different people that wouldn’t subscribe to WOW, for example.”

“It’s mainstream, sharing queer stories that are literally in people’s living rooms.”

That visibility matters far beyond the competition.

“And it’s so important for our community to have the spotlight on it and to share these stories.”

However, she remains excited about the franchise’s future.

“But on the flip side of that, what does our community do best? Comes back stronger, bigger, better than ever.”

“And it’s not the first hurdle that a queer TV show has ever had to face.”

Australia has adopted Michael Marouli

For now, Michael has a new reign to enjoy and plenty of Australians ready to celebrate with her.

“And I’ve been adopted by Australia now,” she says.

“Literally, I’ve had so many gorgeous messages from so many people saying, we’re from Australia, but we’re rooting for you. We love you.”

Having toured here before, she is eager to return and reunite with her Down Under sisters.

“And again, it’s the similarity, it’s the sensibility, it’s the humour. We just get each other.”

While she isn’t ready to reveal specific tour plans, she has a message for fans waiting to see her.

“Oh, watch this space, my love.”

“But I definitely am going to come Down Under and see everybody and celebrate.”

And a crown certainly hasn’t dampened her enthusiasm for another invitation from Drag Race.

“If they ask me to do anything, I will do it.”

“And anytime that phone rings, I’m answering it. So yeah, bring it on.”

Until then, our newest queen has one promise for her adopted family.

“And I hope I do you all proud and I can’t wait to come and celebrate in Australia very soon.”