“I have to be present,” proclaims Rani Ko-HE-Nur. “I have to, because how many people [in India] changed their perspective by looking at me on national television? I became the person I wanted, urged and craved. I had to. I didn’t have a choice.” One of the most prominent LGBTQ+ people in her home country, Rani memorably made history as the first drag artist in India to participate on a reality singing show with her appearance on its longest-running game show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.
Last year, she continued to “nama-slay” on an international scale when she was announced as a contestant on Queen of the Universe, World of Wonder’s singing competition that collects some of the world’s fiercest drag vocalists to compete for $250,000. Hosted by Graham Norton with pop diva judges Michelle Visage, Trixie Mattel, Leona Lewis and Vanessa Williams, Rani - who already boasted over a million followers on Instagram - became an immediate fan-favourite thanks to her powerhouse pipes, infectious breakup duet with winner Grag Queen and deadpan sense-of-humour.
Although she didn’t conquer either competition, Rani says the real “reward” for her isn’t the cash prize: it’s the overwhelmingly positive reactions from fans she meets “on a daily basis”. “People have come up to me and actually said, ‘We were homophobic and transphobic before we saw your performance,’” Rani tells GAY TIMES. “Imagine someone who could have chosen to attack you standing there and saying, ‘Thank you for changing my perspective.’ If I can be the medium for that change,
