PRINCESS LAYA
PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
NOMINATED FOR
Adelaide
Profiles on this page have been prepared and submitted by nominees or their representatives as part of the South Australian Pride Awards process. Content reflects the words, achievements, and information provided in those submissions. Pride Adelaide has not edited profiles beyond minor formatting or clarity adjustments. Inclusion on this page does not represent an endorsement, assessment, or ranking and does not influence the independent judging process.
How would you describe yourself or your work in one sentence?
Fifteen years fierce and counting - from Mars Bar cast member to pioneering Drag Bingo, trivia, and local talent comp, Slay the Stage, Princess Laya is known for turning every room into a bold, welcoming celebration where everyone belongs.
Tell us a little about what you do
A proud Adelaide drag queen and former cast member of Mars Bar, Princess Laya has spent the past seven years hosting Drag Bingo across Adelaide three nights a week, building one of the states most consistent and beloved live entertainment events.
By day, Laya works full-time as a public servant. By night and every weekend, she’s on stage delivering private functions, community events, hens parties, trivia, and celebrations that bring people together through laughter and performance.
Her work has helped move drag beyond traditional nightclub spaces and into local pubs, community venues, and mainstream events - making it more visible, more accessible, and more understood. For many audience members, a night with Laya is their very first experience seeing or meeting a drag queen.
Through consistency, warmth, and a genuinely welcoming presence, Laya has brought drag to the masses - celebrating local venues, uplifting community spaces, and proving that drag isn’t niche entertainment, it’s for everyone.
What impact or achievement are you most proud of this year?
Princess Laya produced and hosted her first local talent competition, Slay the Stage, which was a major success - creating a new platform for emerging local performers. She helped normalise drag in mainstream Adelaide venues, making it accessible to broader audiences and introduced drag to thousands of people who may never have experienced it before. Her drag events created welcoming, inclusive spaces where LGBTQIA+ people and allies feel safe and celebrated, and did all this by transitioning as a cast member of Mars Bar to an independent producer and host, helping keep drag culture thriving after the venue’s closure.
Why does your work matter to the community?
Princess Laya’s work matters because it brings joy, visibility, and connection to the Adelaide community. By taking drag out of traditional nightclubs and into local venues, she has created welcoming spaces where everyone feels celebrated, whether they are LGBTQIA+ or allies experiencing drag for the first time.
Her performances, from Drag Bingo to Slay the Stage and private events, break down stereotypes, spark laughter, and build understanding across generations. Beyond entertainment, Laya fosters belonging, supports local venues, and strengthens community networks, giving people a reason to gather, celebrate, and feel part of something bigger.
Simply put, her work makes drag accessible, visible, and meaningful, proving that performance can inspire confidence, friendship, and joy in everyday life.
What would you like voters to know when voting for you?
Princess Laya has dedicated over 15 years to bringing drag to the Adelaide community, turning local venues, private events, and public stages into spaces of laughter, celebration, and belonging. She pioneered Drag Bingo in South Australia, hosts three nights a week for seven years, and recently created the hugely successful local talent competition Slay the Stage.