Courtney Act
she/her (Courtney); he/him or they/them (Shane)
“Australia's pop-cabaret queen, caught in the act worldwide.”
Courtney Act, the glamorous alter ego of Shane Jenek, is one of Australia's most recognizable drag exports and a defining voice in global queer pop culture. Born in Brisbane and based in Sydney for most of her career, she broke through in 2003 as a finalist on the inaugural season of Australian Idol, becoming one of the first openly drag contestants on a mainstream talent competition. A decade later she charmed American audiences as joint runner-up on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6 in 2014, celebrated for her polished blonde bombshell aesthetic, live vocals, and disarming wit. Courtney's aesthetic leans classic Hollywood with a pop edge: tall, bronzed, sequined, and always ready to sing. She won Celebrity Big Brother UK in 2018, where her candid conversations about gender, sexuality, and consent made her a breakout advocate, and later finished runner-up on Dancing with the Stars Australia. Jenek identifies as pansexual, genderfluid, and polyamorous, and has used the platform for LGBTQ+ rights campaigning, HIV awareness, and marriage equality advocacy. She hosted the podcast Brenda, Call Me, released the memoir Caught in the Act, and remains a working recording artist, TV presenter, and cabaret headliner.