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Priyanka (drag queen)

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Priyanka
Priyanka at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2023
Born
Mark Suknanan

(1991-05-28) May 28, 1991 (age 33)
Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Other namesMark Suki
Priyanka Love
EducationNiagara College (OCAD)
Occupations
  • Singer
  • Television personality
  • Drag Queen
WebsiteOfficial website

Mark Suknanan (born May 28, 1991)[1] is a Canadian singer, television personality and drag queen. Competing under his drag name, Priyanka, Suknanan won the first season of the reality competition series Canada's Drag Race in 2020. He was previously a host of the YTV children's series The Zone and the YTV reality competition series The Next Star, where he went by Mark Suki.[2] His first EP, Taste Test, was released in 2021.

Early life

[edit]

Suknanan was born on May 28, 1991, in Whitby, Ontario, where he attended All Saints Catholic Secondary School.[3][4] He is of Indo-Guyanese descent.[5] Suknanan is an alumnus of Niagara College's broadcasting program.[6]

Career

[edit]

Suknanan began his career as a host in children's television, most notably on YTV's The Zone[7] and as the web host of the YTV reality competition series The Next Star.[8]

Suknanan began performing as a drag queen in 2017, initially under the name Priyanka Love, in Toronto clubs.[1] Her first competition in drag was for a local contest at the suggestion of fellow drag queen Xtacy Love, where she placed fourth. She quickly found success in the local drag scene, winning numerous titles, including Miss Crews and Tangos (2018–2019) and Woody's Queen of Halloween (2018).[9] Priyanka was voted Toronto's best queen in Now's annual reader poll in 2019.[9] Speaking about her rise to fame, Suknanan said: "I went from zero to 100 ... I came into drag so hard and built up a name so quickly that it just kind of became routine."[9] Priyanka has also performed as Mel B in a Spice Girls drag tribute act, alongside her Canada's Drag Race castmate Juice Boxx as Emma Bunton.[10]

In 2020, Priyanka earned wider recognition as a contestant on the inaugural season of the reality competition series Canada's Drag Race, ultimately winning the competition over finalists Scarlett BoBo and Rita Baga.[11] She became the first person of Indo-Caribbean descent to win in the franchise's global history.[12] Throughout the season, her narrative included a running gag that the contrast between personas, as both established television personality Mark Suki by day and drag queen Priyanka by night, made her Canada's Hannah Montana;[13] for Fierté Montréal's special online edition of its annual Drag Superstars show, which featured all of the Canada's Drag Race queens in prerecorded video performances, Priyanka performed to the Hannah Montana theme song "The Best of Both Worlds".[13] She was also featured in Pride Toronto's online Drag Ball on June 27, 2020, performing to Marina and the Diamonds' single "Power & Control".[14]

At the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021, she received a nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Web Program or Series for her Drag Ball appearance,[15] and was one of the ten nominees for the fan-voted Audience Choice Award,[16] as well as serving as the narrator of the livestream presentation for lifestyle and reality categories on May 17.[17]

Following the conclusion of the season, she headlined a cross-Canada tour with the other Canada's Drag Race contestants, which was performed at drive-in venues due to the ongoing social distancing restrictions remaining in place during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[18] In October, she participated alongside Scarlett Bobo, Rita Baga and Jimbo in an online panel discussion as part of the Just for Laughs festival.[19] Priyanka was featured on the cover of Gay Times digital issue, her first magazine cover.[20] In November and December 2020, Priyanka appeared as the celebrity spokesperson in a Canadian advertising campaign for SodaStream.[21] She has also starred in online advertising campaigns for Shoppers Drug Mart and the Bank of Montreal.[22]

In April 2021, she was announced as the host of the 2021 virtual edition of Pride Toronto.[23] In May 2021, she partnered with Vizzy Hard Seltzer, serving as community impact director.[24] In August 2021, they were a featured performer in Drag Fest, a live music festival.[25] She also co-hosted the Forever Dog podcast Famous This Week alongside Brooke Lynn Hytes, which won a Canadian Podcasting Award in 2022.[26][27]

Priyanka performing in 2024

In July 2021, Priyanka released her debut music project, the EP Taste Test.[28] which surpassed 16 million streams, as of January 2024. In addition, Priyanka was featured on the July/August 2021 edition of Elle Canada, becoming the first drag queen to do so. [citation needed] In November 2021, Priyanka was named as a co-host with Lindsay Ell of the 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards.[29] Priyanka released the country music single "Country Queen",[30] which she performed during the opening number of the award ceremony. In December 2021, Priyanka appeared on season 2 of Canada's Drag Race as a guest, to crown her successor. The look that she wore was dubbed one of the best looks across the entire Drag Race franchise.[31]

In February 2023, Suknanan signed a development deal with Bell Media on potential future television or film projects, also joining CTV's eTalk as a special correspondent.[32] She was featured as the "lip-sync assassin" of the tenth episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, where she beat Kandy Muse in a lipsync to Destiny's Child's "Jumpin', Jumpin'". In July 2023, it was announced that Priyanka, alongside Sasha Velour and Jaida Essence Hall, would be the new hosts for the upcoming fourth season of the Emmy winning reality television series We're Here.[33]

In June 2024, Priyanka's first Bell Media project, a reality series called Drag Brunch Saved My Life in which she visits struggling restaurants to help them reinvent themselves by launching drag brunch shows, was announced as premiering on Crave in the 2024-25 television season.[34]

Personal life

[edit]

Suknanan is openly gay.[35] In November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Suknanan revealed that he had tested positive for and since recovered from COVID-19.[36]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023 It's All Sunshine and Rainbows Melonie Sunshine

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2013–2014 The Next Star Himself Host
2013–2019 The Zone Himself Host
2015 Katie Chats Himself
Kids Choice Awards Countdown Himself Host
2020 Canada's Drag Race (season 1) Herself Winner
2021 Canada's Drag Race (season 2) Herself Guest [37]
2022 Ezra Herself
Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World Herself Guest judge
2023–present eTalk Herself Special contributor [38]
2023 Bollywed Herself [39]
Glamorous Herself Cameo [40]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 8) Lip Sync Assassin Episode: "The Letter L" [41]
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked Herself Episode: "All Stars Untucked: The Letter L"
Sew Fierce Herself Guest [42]
2024 We're Here Herself Main cast

Music videos

[edit]
Year Title Artist Ref.
2018 "Say My Name" Herself
2019 "You Look So Good" Herself
2020 "Power & Control" (unofficial) Marina and the Diamonds
2021 "Do Better" Anjulie [43]
2021 "GAP" Heidi N Closet [44]
2021 "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" Herself [45]
2021 "Queen of the North" Brooke Lynn Hytes (featuring Priyanka)
2021 "Cake" Herself [27]
2021 "Bitch I'm Busy" Herself [28]
2021 "Come Through" (featuring Lemon) Herself
2022 "Snatch" (featuring Cheryl Hole) Herself [46]

Web series

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2021–22 The Pit Stop Herself Guest, 2 episodes [47][48]
2021 What's My Game? Herself Host [49]
2021 Out of the Closet Herself Episode: "Priyanka: Canada for Christmas" [50]
2022 Bring Back My Girls Herself

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Title Details
Devastatia

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details
Taste Test
  • Released: July 16, 2021[52]
  • Label: Question Mark Productions
  • Format: streaming, digital download

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
Title Year Album
"Say My Name" 2018 Non-album singles
"You Look So Good" 2019
"Watermelon Sugar" 2021
"Montero (Call Me By Your Name)"
"On the Ground"
"Cake" Taste Test
"Bitch I'm Busy"
"Come Through"
(featuring Lemon)
"Country Queen" Non-album singles
"Sleigh My Name"
(solo or remix with Shea Couleé, Alaska Thunderfuck, and Lemon)
"My Only Wish (This Year)"
(with Tia Kofi) 		2022
"Bad Bitches Don't Cry"
(with Ralph) 		2023
"No New Friends" 2024 Devastatia
"Shut It Down"
[edit]
Title Year Album
"Not Sorry Aboot It"
(with The Cast of Canada's Drag Race, Season 1) 		2020 Non-album singles
"U Wear It Well" – Queens of the North Ru-Mix
(RuPaul featuring the Cast of Canada's Drag Race, Season 1)
"Queen of the North"
(Brooke Lynn Hytes featuring Priyanka) 		2021
"Snatched"
(Bonnie McKee featuring Priyanka) 		2024 Hot City

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2021 Canadian Screen Awards Best Supporting Performance in a Web Program or Series Canada's Drag Race Nominated [53]
Audience Choice Award Nominated [54]
2024 Best Host, talk show or entertainment news eTalk
(with Tyrone Edwards, Elaine Lui, Traci Melchor, Chloe Wilde, Sonia Mangat and Liz Trinnear) 		Nominated [55]
2022 Canadian Podcasting Awards Outstanding Foreign Series Famous This Week Won [56]
UK Music Video Awards Best Hair & Make-Up in a Video "Come Through" Won [57]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Edwards, Eve (July 3, 2020). "Canada's Drag Race: How Priyanka went from kids TV host to superstar queen". Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  2. ^ Lapointe, Suzanne (September 3, 2020). "'Canada's Drag Race' makes herstory with its first ever Queen of the North". eTalk.
  3. ^ "Home - Priyanka". Archived from the original on 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  4. ^ Suknanan, Mark (May 8, 2023). "coming back to my high school where my teacher said I'd never be a star". Instagram. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  5. ^ George, Tom (August 28, 2020). "Drag Race's Priyanka is the queer South Asian representation I desperately needed". Metro. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  6. ^ Mayer, T. (July 13, 2020). "NC alum stars on Canada's Drag Race". Inside NC.
  7. ^ Donato, Al (July 21, 2016). "YTV Hosts And Stars: Where Are They Now?". Huffington Post Canada. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  8. ^ "The Next Star: SuperGroup Premieres on YTV on Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. ET/PT". Newswire. February 18, 2014. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Ritchie, Kevin (October 31, 2019). "Meet our readers' favourite Toronto drag performer: Priyanka". Now. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  10. ^ Andre Nevelling, "Who is drag queen Priyanka, the newly crowned Indian-Guyanese winner of Canada's Drag Race, the latest RuPaul spin-off?" Archived 2020-10-19 at the Wayback Machine. South China Morning Post, September 11, 2020.
  11. ^ Suzanne Lapointe, "'Canada's Drag Race' makes herstory with its first ever Queen of the North" Archived 2021-06-16 at the Wayback Machine. eTalk, September 3, 2020.
  12. ^ Nolfi, Joey (September 4, 2020). "You will remember Canada's Drag Race winner Priyanka's name forever". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Russ Martin, "Priyanka Is Canada's Drag Race's First Winner!" Archived 2020-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. Flare, September 4, 2020.
  14. ^ Pahull Bains, "11 Virtual Pride 2020 Events Taking Place Across Canada" Archived 2021-04-25 at the Wayback Machine. Fashion, June 25, 2020.
  15. ^ Brent Furdyk, "Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, 'Schitt's Creek' Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations" Archived 2021-04-01 at the Wayback Machine. ET Canada, March 30, 2021.
  16. ^ "2021 CSA Audience Choice Award Nominees" Archived 2021-03-16 at the Wayback Machine. ET Canada, March 16, 2021.
  17. ^ Greg David, "Mary's Kitchen Crush, Canada's Drag Race and Lisa LaFlamme win during Night 1 of the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards" Archived 2021-05-18 at the Wayback Machine. TV, eh?, May 17, 2021.
  18. ^ Peter Knegt, "All hail our queen: A conversation with Canada's Drag Race winner Priyanka" Archived 2021-06-16 at the Wayback Machine. CBC Arts, September 10, 2020.
  19. ^ Jenelle Riley, "For Montreal's Just for Laughs, the Show Will Go On(line)" Archived 2020-10-13 at the Wayback Machine. Variety, October 2, 2020.
  20. ^ Dashenas, Sam (November 18, 2020). "Canada's Drag Race winner Priyanka is ready to rule". Gay Times. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  21. ^ Chris Powell, "SodaStream enlists Snoop Dogg, Priyanka for holiday campaign" Archived 2021-01-18 at the Wayback Machine. The Message, November 23, 2020.
  22. ^ "Canada's Drag Race Winner Priyanka Stars in New BMO Campaign" Archived 2021-02-04 at the Wayback Machine. Glossy Inc., January 25, 2021.
  23. ^ Kevin Ritchie, "Pride Toronto lineup includes Priyanka, Allie X and iskwē" Archived 2021-05-03 at the Wayback Machine. Now, May 3, 2021.
  24. ^ Hiken, Asa (May 27, 2021). "Vizzy hard seltzer recruits drag queen Priyanka to promote LGBTQ+ representation in the arts". Marketing Dive. Archived from the original on May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  25. ^ Damshenas, Sam (June 8, 2021). "17 incredible LGBTQ+ friendly events you can attend in the UK this year". Gay Times. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  26. ^ Scheetz, Cameron (May 20, 2021). "Drag Race's Priyanka still hasn't met Ru, but she's ready to take over the world regardless". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  27. ^ a b Brian Anthony Hernandez (June 8, 2021). "Priyanka's Prediction For Where She'll Be In 16 Years Is Inspiring". Bustle. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  28. ^ a b Corey Atad, "'Canada's Drag Race' Winner Priyanka Releasing Debut EP 'Taste Test'. ET Canada, July 14, 2021.
  29. ^ David Friend, "'Drag Race' winner Priyanka to co-host Canada's country music awards with Lindsay Ell". Toronto Star, November 8, 2021.
  30. ^ Megan LaPierre, "Priyanka and Lindsay Ell Are Breaking Down Barriers in Country Music". Exclaim!, November 26, 2021.
  31. ^ "An impossible ranking of every Drag Race winner's abdication look from the finales". The Tab. 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  32. ^ Greg David, "Say her name! Bell Media inks development deal with world-renowned entertainer Priyanka". TV, eh?, February 23, 2023.
  33. ^ Nolfi, Joey. "We're Here season 4 to replace 3 Drag Race queens with new hosts Sasha Velour, Jaida Essence Hall, Priyanka". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  34. ^ Megan LaPierre, "Priyanka Helms New TV Show 'Drag Brunch Saved My Life'". Exclaim!, June 6, 2024.
  35. ^ Sim, Bernardo (July 17, 2020). "Canada's Drag Race: Priyanka Comes Out As Gay To Dad By Being On TV". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  36. ^ Woods, Mel (November 13, 2020). "'Canada's Drag Race' Winner Priyanka Got COVID-19 From Brooke Lynn Hytes". HuffPost. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  37. ^ Samhan, Jamie (December 17, 2021). "'Canada's Drag Race' Names Season 2 Winner". ETCanada. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  38. ^ "Meet our Hosts - Etalk". Etalk.ca. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  39. ^ "'Priyanka is like a kid in a candy store': Canada's drag queen shops for a new outfit on CBC's 'Bollywed'". CBC Television, February 2, 2023.
  40. ^ Damshenas, Sam (16 May 2023). "Glamorous: Netflix shares first look at new LGBTQ+ series with Kim Cattrall". Gaytimes.co.uk. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  41. ^ Swift, Andi (July 7, 2023). "Drag Race All Stars 8 Makes Herstoric Reveal Ahead of Season Finale". TVLine.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  42. ^ Charlie Duncan, "Sew Fierce is the reality show paying drag designers their dues: ‘There’s been a need for a show like this’". PinkNews, May 20, 2023.
  43. ^ Anjulie - Do Better (Official Music Video Starring Priyanka). anjuliesmusic. January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  44. ^ "HEIDI N CLOSET ENLISTS DRAG RACE SISTERS FOR 'WAP' PARODY SINGLE 'GAP'". Attitude. February 19, 2021. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  45. ^ Jordan Robledo. "Canada's Drag Race winner Priyanka releases MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) cover". Gay Times. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  46. ^ Pat Mullen, "Watch Priyanka Slay Cheryl Hole in New Snatch Video". That Shelf, July 22, 2022.
  47. ^ The Pit Stop S13 E3 | Trixie Mattel & Priyanka Go Off On 'Phenomenon' | RuPaul's Drag Race. RuPaul's Drag Race. January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  48. ^ The Pit Stop AS7 E09 | Bob The Drag Queen And Priyanka Live! | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. RuPaul's Drag Race. Jul 9, 2022. Retrieved Jul 10, 2022.
  49. ^ Joey Nolfi (May 4, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race stars Vanjie, Kameron Michaels land Gay Sex Ed series, Priyanka to quiz celebs on What's My Game?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  50. ^ Priyanka: Canada for Christmas | S5 E6 | Out of the Closet. RuPaul's Drag Race. December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  51. ^ Megan LaPierre, "Priyanka Announces Debut Album 'Devastatia,' North American Tour". Exclaim!, May 28, 2024.
  52. ^ "Come Get a Piece of Priyanka's Cake". Paper. 2021-06-29. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  53. ^ "'Canada's Drag Race' earns victory lap with leading five Canadian Screen Awards". The Toronto Star. 2021-05-17. ISSN 0319-0781. Archived from the original on 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  54. ^ Staff, ETCanada com (2021-03-16). "2021 CSA Audience Choice Award Nominees". ET Canada. Archived from the original on 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  55. ^ Connie Thiessen, "Canadian Screen Awards nominations by network". Broadcast Dialogue, March 6, 2024.
  56. ^ "Outstanding Foreign Series". Canadian Podcasting Awards. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  57. ^ "UK Music Video Awards 2022: all the nominations for this year's UKMVAs". www.promonews.tv. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
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