Karen From Finance (sometimes stylized Karen from Finance) is an Australian drag performer and contestant on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under.
About[]
One of the most renowned drag artists in Australia, Karen was one of the original members of the award-winning, cult queer cabaret ‘YUMMY’ and has built an international fan-base, touring the world with her singular brand of office-themed character drag.
At the beginning of this year, Karen was appointed as an Ambassador for DragExpo in Melbourne. She has appeared at RuPaul’s DragCon in LA in 2017, 2018 and 2019 in headlining performances, as well as headlining shows all over the US, including the Austin International Festival in Texas.[3]
Drag Name Origin[]
Karen spoke on Hey Qween on how her name came about. She and her friends were buying clothes for a costume party and her friends said her chosen dress looked like something "Karen from Finance" would wear. And thus, this is when she decided upon her drag name.[4]
Track Records[]
| Statistics | Down Under Season 1 |
|---|---|
| Ranking: | 2nd/3rd/4th Place (Runner-Up) |
| Maxi Challenges Won: | 1 (Ep. 1) |
| Mini Challenges Won: | 0 |
| Times as Team Captain: | 0 |
| Times in Bottom Two: | 1 (Ep. 4) |
| Episode Eliminated: | Episode 8 |
Memorable Quotes[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Season 1[]
- "I can't see this mark anywhere. Look's like we're gonna need a bigger locker for this hat" (entrance quote)
- "Welcome to the game, I'm Karen From Finance! Clocking in tonight. I'll be dotting all the i's and crossing the t's; I was born to get it right! I would say: hey! if you wanna climb that ladder, take it rung by rung. Take it from me, I've been climbing for years, I'm here to get the job done!" (verse in Queens Down Under)
- ''Coco: My singing was pitchy, off-key? What's the word? Karen: Shit.''
- "Hello, gorgeous! Wow, don't you look stunning? You know, we've been through a lot together us girls and I? You can call us sisters but in my world we're colleagues. Stars, a team destined for the biggest promotion of our lives! And we've already won, baby." (verse in I'm a Winner, Baby)
Trivia[]
- Prior to being on Drag Race, Karen was already well known in the Drag Race fandom due to her unique name being referenced by many queens, most notably Trixie Mattel and Katya on UNHhhh and Trixie in her AS3 soup can voiceover.
- She is also referenced the first time in the entire franchise on All Stars Season 3 during the Andy Warhol Ball for Trixie Mattel's Warhol-inspired narration for her Studio 54 look.
- Karen is the first contestant to win a main challenge on RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under.
- She is also the first contestant to win the Runway Challenge.
- Karen is the fourth contestant to win the first main challenge and then go on to receive negative critiques the next week on a regular season, the first two being Kim Chi, Brooke Lynn Hytes and Denali.
- Karen is the fourth contestant to win the Runway Challenge and later land in the bottom for the Design Challenge, after Vanda Miss Joaquim and Genie of DRT 2 and Asttina Mandella of UK 2.
- She is however only the second of these to survive the lipsync, after Vanda Miss Joaquim.
- Similar to fellow Down Under contestant Scarlet Adams, Karen has been accused of racism by viewers, in particular over a controversial tattoo and a collection of racially controversial dolls she once owned.[5]
Gallery[]
RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Season 1[]
Mini Promo
Promo Banner
Cast RuVeal
Yeast Spread Commercial – Discharge
#TeamKarenFromFinance Promo
#TeamKarenFromFinance Promo
#TeamKarenFromFinance Promo
#TeamKarenFromFinance Promo
#TeamKarenFromFinance Banner
RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Season 1 Looks[]
Promo/Entrance Look
Premiere Look
Confessional Look
Born Naked Look
Born Naked Look (Reveal 1)
Born Naked Look (Reveal 2)
No Place Like Home Look – Melbourne
Snatch Game Look – Dolly Parton
Sea Sickening Look
Queens Down Under Performance Look
Bogan Prom Realness Look
Rucycled Look
Yeast Spread Commercial Look
Finest Sheila in the Bush Look
Drag Family Resemblance Look – with Debbie From Reception
Down Under Talent Show Extravaganza Look
Original Down Under Talent Show Extravaganza Look
How's Your Headpiece? Look
"I'm a Winner, Baby" Performance Look
Best Drag Look
Filmography[]
TV[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (Season 1) | Self | Contestant (Placed 2nd/3rd/4th) |
Discography[]
Appearances/Features[]
| Year | Title | Artwork | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | "Queens Down Under (Three And A Half Men)" |
|
by The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under |
External Links[]
References[]
|
[]
| Winner | Kita Mean |
|---|---|
| Runners-Up | 2nd, 3rd & 4th: Art Simone, Karen From Finance & Scarlet Adams |
| Other Contestants | 5th: Elektra Shock • 6th: Maxi Shield • 7th: Etcetera Etcetera • 8th: Anita Wigl'it • 9th: Coco Jumbo • 10th: Jojo Zaho |
| Judges | RuPaul • Michelle Visage • Rhys Nicholson |
| Pit Crew | Max Currie • Sean Walters • Rod Tian |