Beloved Sydney drag icon and Drag Race Down Under alum Kristopher Elliot — famously known as Maxi Shield — has died aged 51.
The tragic news was confirmed by Dillon Shaw, of Sydney’s Universal, who remembered the star for her “big personality with a heart of gold”.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of our beloved Maxi Shield’s passing,” Shaw wrote.
“In all my years in this community, there has never been a time I can remember when Maxi wasn’t an iconic presence (and she’d absolutely smack you for reminding her of that).
“Maxi worked across every queer venue in Sydney, touching hearts not only across the country but around the world through her appearance on Drag Race Down Under. This Mardi Gras will feel different. It will be more solemn, as so many of us gather carrying the space left by her smile, her quick wit, and her remarkable spirit.”
Shaw went on to add that Shield’s “love, her humour, and her impact” will continue to live through the Sydney talent “she directly influenced”.
“She was a force. She was brilliant. And I will miss my friend dearly,” Shaw continued.
“Fly high, you incredible queen. We love you.”
The cause of Maxi Shield’s death has not been revealed. However, it comes months after she opened up about growth that “is cancerous” in her throat.
“I had tests yesterday, and [saw] specialists today,” she said in a September 2 post.
“This little swollen thing on the side of my throat is cancer.
“They’re working out a plan for me at this stage. I’m going to the hospital this afternoon. I’m going to have lots of steroids, so hopefully they work.”
Tributes flow for Maxi Shield
Following the news, many friends, family, fans and members of the community have shared their own tributes to the Drag Race star.
Fellow Down Under Drag Race star Kita Mean shared an image with Maxi Shield, remembering her as the “kindest queen that has ever been”.
“There will forever be a void in my heavy heart where your fabulousness hit me like a tonne of bricks,” Kita wrote.
Etcetera Etcetera shared an IG Story of a photo with them hugging Maxi Shield alongside a 2021 tweet talking about their first interaction with their fellow drag queen.
“@MaxiShield was one of the first drag queens I ever met… back when I was in film school — she made a fabulous cameo in an ad I was shooting for a travel company… she was so sweet ~ so professional… and I feel starstruck meeting her. Maxi has always been a STAR,” Etcetera Etcetera wrote in the 2021 post.
Maxi Shield made a splash on the first season of Drag Race Down Under back in 2021 and ultimately placed sixth in the race. But before then, she was a major star in Australia’s drag scene.
She truly will be missed, but her impact will live on!
Image source: Stan
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