Kween Kong

{{Short description|New Zealand drag performer}} {{use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Kween Kong | image = Kween Kong at RuPaul's DragCon LA 2024 (cropped).jpg | alt =  | caption = Kween Kong at [[RuPaul's DragCon LA]], 2024 | birth_name = Thomas Charles Fonua | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|8|9|df=y}} | birth_place = New Zealand | death_date =  | death_place = | nationality =  | other_names = | occupation = Drag performer, dancer | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = | website = {{URL|kweenkongofficial.com}} }} '''Kween Kong''' is the stage name for the [[drag queen]] persona of [[Pasifika New Zealander]] former dancer '''Thomas Charles Fonua''' (born 9 August 1992). Kong is best known for competing on the [[RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (season 2)|second season]] of ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under]]'', where she was a runner-up, and later competing on ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars]]''.

==Early life and education== Thomas Charles Fonua<ref name=redcircle>{{cite web | title=Episode 16: Dance as Self-Expression w/ Thomas Fonua aka Kween Kong | website=RedCircle | date=26 April 2021 | url=https://redcircle.com/shows/twotwoguys/ep/a55d68f9-e41c-49ab-b40a-c48d72b94e7a | access-date=8 March 2024|quote=This week on the show Kealan is joined by award-winning choreographer and dancer, 30 Under 30 recipient, and community leader Thomas Charles Fonua aka Kween Kong... founding the Haus of Kong, and winning Drag Nation Australia...Find Thomas at @thomascharlesfonua}}</ref> was born on born 9 August 1992<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=kweenkong_ |number=1557188561153277953 |title=It's my bday! This is what 30 looks like …}}</ref> in New Zealand, a [[Pasifika New Zealander]] with [[Samoans|Samoan]] and [[Tongans|Tongan]] descent.<ref name=vlach2022>{{Cite news |last=Vlach |first=Anna |date=July 8, 2022 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under South Aussie contestant revealed |work=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)]] |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/rupauls-drag-race-down-under-south-aussie-contestant-revealed/news-story/682b516552a12cd35adbd372b427b3be |access-date=September 17, 2022}}</ref> Fonua speaks both languages, and says that language is important for maintaining his culture. He has two older brothers and a younger sister.<ref name=macumber2023/>

He grew up in [[South Auckland]], and began dancing aged seven, after his grandmother started teaching his sister to dance. He travelled to Samoa and Tonga as a child, staying with family and having to help out with chores.<ref name=macumber2023/> He was raised as a [[Jehovah's Witness]], attending church several times a week with his family until he was around 16, when his parents split up. The family realised that he was gay quite early on.<ref name=schafter2024/>

When he was 16, he reached a fork in his life. One choice, encouraged by his father, was to play [[rugby union|rugby]] for the New Zealand men's under-19 team, which could lead to a place with the [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Blacks]]. The other was to join [[Black Grace]], the top [[contemporary dance]] touring company in New Zealand. His father was worried that he would be laughed at if he became a dancer.<ref name=macumber2023>{{cite interview|first= Thomas| last=Fonua | interviewer-last=Macumber | interviewer-first=Bobby | title=Thomas Fonua on Kween Kong, Black Grace and the fateful decision that changed his life | website=ABC Pacific| publisher= [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=31 May 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/thomas-fonua-on-kween-kong-black-grace-and-a-fateful-decision/102381390 | access-date=9 March 2024| format=audio and text}}</ref> He trained with Black Grace for two years,<ref name=banff>{{cite web |title=Thomas Fonua |url=https://www.banffcentre.ca/search/thomas%20fonua |website=[[Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity]] |access-date= 8 March 2024}}</ref> which meant moving away from home and touring with a much older group of performers. He had to go on tour to Germany for months, which he found very hard.<ref name=macumber2023/>

==Dance career== After completing his training with Black Grace, he stayed with them for five years as a full-time principal dancer, which included international tours,<ref name=banff/>

He was the recipient of an [[artist in residence|Indigenous Dance Residency]], as a dancer and emerging [[choreographer]] at the [[Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity]] in Canada for at least three years. Also in Canada, he was an associate artist with [[Red Sky Performance]], and performed at [[Toronto Dance Theatre]].<ref name=banff/>

Moving to Australia, he danced with the [[Sydney Dance Company]] in [[Sydney]].<ref name=banff/>

During his dance career, Fonua worked [[Neil Ieremia]], [[Rafael Bonachela]], [[Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui]], [[Jock Soto]], [[Douglas Wright (dancer)|Douglas Wright]], [[Raewyn Hill]], Sandra Laronde, Ross McCormack, and others.<ref name=banff/>

After migrating to Australia in 2013<ref name=citymag2022/> or 2014,<ref>{{cite web |title=Thomas Fonua : Australian Dance Theatre |url=http://adt.org.au/the-company/people/thomas-fonua/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226201007/http://adt.org.au/the-company/people/thomas-fonua/ |archive-date=2015-02-26 |publisher=Australian Dance Theatre |access-date=18 October 2022 |date=1 March 2015}}</ref> Fonua joined the [[Australian Dance Theatre]] (ADT), based in [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tonkin |first1=Maggie |title=Fifty : half a century of Australian Dance Theatre |date=2016 |publisher=Wakefield Press |location=Mile End, SA |isbn=9781743054581 |page=167}}</ref> where he was a principal dancer for around seven years.<ref name=macumber2023/>

==Drag and performing artist== [[File:DragCon 2023 @ DVSROSS Photgraphy -251 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Kween Kong at [[RuPaul's DragCon LA]] in 2023]] Living in Adelaide, Fonua and a friend took part in a [[Halloween]]-themed drag show, and then started doing drag, adopting an [[alter ego]] as a drag queen, Kween Kong. The name was originally Fonua's rugby nickname (because he was effeminate and like a bulldozer, "like a female gorilla", in his words).<ref name=macumber2023/> and Fonua says that it makes him feel strong.<ref name=schafter2024/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Sam |date=2022-09-18 |title=Kween Kong could've been an All Black |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/18-09-2022/kween-kong-couldve-been-an-all-black |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=The Spinoff |archive-date=2022-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917201838/https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/18-09-2022/kween-kong-couldve-been-an-all-black |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/two-two-guys/episode-16-dance-as-self-ox5Kua2BF1q/ |title=Episode 16: Dance as Self-Expression w/ Thomas Fonua aka Kween Kong |website=amp.listennotes.com |date=25 April 2021 |publisher=Two Two Guys |access-date=August 24, 2023}}</ref>

In 2019, Fonua performed with [[Maggie Beer]] in the [[Adelaide Cabaret Festival]], in ''Liner Notes Live'', in which they [[Toasting (Jamaican music)|toasted]] to the soundtrack of ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|The Blues Brothers]]'' film.<ref name=vlach2022/>

In March 2022, Kween Kong featured in ''Black Puddin''', cabaret show in the [[Adelaide Fringe]].<ref name=citymag2022/> In mid-2022, Fonua co-created, choreographed, and co-starred in ''Rella'',<ref name=windmill>{{cite web | title= Rella | website=Windmill Theatre Company | date=30 March 2015 | url=https://www.windmill.org.au/show/rella/ | access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref> a children's theatre production reimagining ''[[Cinderella]]'' presented by [[Windmill Theatre Co]] in Adelaide.<ref name=citymag2022/>

Fonua competed as Kween Kong on the [[RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (season 2)|second season]] of ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under]]'', from 2 July 2022, and came in as a runner-up.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-14 |title=Meet the 10 Queens on 'RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under' Season 2 |url=https://www.out.com/television/2022/7/14/meet-10-queens-rupauls-drag-race-down-under-season-2 |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=www.out.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170931/https://www.out.com/television/2022/7/14/meet-10-queens-rupauls-drag-race-down-under-season-2 |url-status=live }}</ref> Fonua was the first Pasifika person to appear on the show.<ref name=macumber2023/>

In September 2022, Fonua performed for 29 days at the [[Edinburgh Fringe]] performing in ''27 Briefs Factory''.<ref name=citymag2022/>

In May 2023, he was in [[Los Angeles]] creating some music to be released later in the year.<ref name=macumber2023/>

==Other activities== Fonua started Haus of Kong, a [[collective]] offering employment and support to young people rejected by their families due to their sexuality,<ref name=macumber2023/> and to mentor emerging drag artists both personally and professionally.<ref name=vlach2022/>

Kween's costumes are made by Adelaide-based costume-maker, Sheri McCoy, who works under the trade name of CostumeCreater.<ref name=citymag2022>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-14 |title=Kween Kong on reality TV and representation |url=https://citymag.indaily.com.au/culture/kween-kong-on-reality-tv-representation-and-the-fourth-wall/ |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=[[CityMag]] |language=en |archive-date=2022-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915060118/https://citymag.indaily.com.au/culture/kween-kong-on-reality-tv-representation-and-the-fourth-wall/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kween Kong is a voice actor in the 2025 Australian animated science fiction comedy ''[[Lesbian Space Princess]]'', playing Blade.<ref name=lot14>{{cite web |title=Kween Kong, a lesbian space princess and a first for South Australia |website=Lot Fourteen |date=12 February 2024 |url=https://lotfourteen.com.au/news/a-lesbian-space-princess/ |access-date=28 October 2024}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition== Fonua was the recipient of the [[New Zealand Prime Minister]]'s Pacific Youth Award for Arts and Creativity in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pacific Youth Awards |url=http://www.pacificyouthawards.org.nz/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122122557/http://www.pacificyouthawards.org.nz/ |archive-date=2015-01-22 |access-date=18 October 2022 |date=22 January 2015}}</ref><ref name=banff/>

He is the recipient of an inaugural "30 Under 30" award by Coming Out Australia, supported by the [[Boston Consulting Group]], in August 2019.<ref name="Facebook l062">{{cite web | title=Out for Australia, proudly supported by the Boston Consulting Group, are shining a light on the next generation of LGBTIQ role models through their inaugural 30 Under 30 awards....| author=Out for Australia | via=Facebook| date=23 August 2019 | url=https://www.facebook.com/OutforAustralia/posts/out-for-australia-proudly-supported-by-the-boston-consulting-group-are-shining-a/1212139968970169/ | access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=redcircle/>

In 2019, Kween Kong won the Miss Drag Nation Australia title<ref name=macumber2023/> in Drag Nation Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Stephen A. |title=We Are Here brings BIPOC brilliance to Darlinghurst Theatre |url=https://www.timeout.com/sydney/theatre/we-are-here |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=Time Out Sydney |date=30 March 2021 |language=en-AU}}</ref> Drag Nation is a national drag competition, with entrants first competing in state competitions, giving them an opportunity to represent their state in the national finals.<ref>{{cite web| title=Meet the 10 Queens on 'RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under' Season 2 | website=[[Out (magazine)|Out]] | date=14 July 2022 | url=https://www.out.com/television/2022/7/14/meet-10-queens-rupauls-drag-race-down-under-season-2#rebelltitem11 | access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref>

In 2022 Fonua was nominated for the Dora Award For Outstanding Choreography in Canada.<ref name=windmill/>

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2023 | [[Logie Awards of 2023]] | [[Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent|Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent]] | ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under]]'' | {{Nominated}} |<ref>{{cite web|last=Knox|first=David|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/06/tv-week-logie-awards-2023-nominees.html|title=Logie Awards 2023: nominees|date=19 June 2023|website=TV Tonight|publisher=[[TV Tonight]]|access-date=19 June 2023}}</ref> |- |}

==Media appearances== In January 2023, Fonua (as Kween Kong) was a guest on Australian TV show ''[[The Project (Australian TV program)|The Project]]'' with [[Hannah Conda]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSqUplIEXEc|title=Kween Kong and Hannah Conda: How RuPaul's Drag Race Changed Their Life|date=13 January 2023|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=[[The Project (Australian TV program)|The Project]]|access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref> In May 2023, he was interviewed on the inaugural episode of ''Stories from the Pacific'' on ABC Radio.<ref name=macumber2023/> In February 2024, Fonua appeared with Australian journalist and television presenter [[Narelda Jacobs]] on [[Fran Kelly]]'s podcast ''Yours Queerly''.<ref name=schafter2024>{{cite web | title=Why journalist Narelda Jacobs and drag star Kween Kong have been admiring each other from afar|first=Mon |last=Schafter | website=ABC News | date=27 February 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-27/narelda-jacobs-kween-kong-yours-queerly/103512284 | access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref>

== Discography ==

=== Singles === ====As lead artist==== {| class="wikitable" |+ !Song !Year !Album |- |scope="row"| "Global Savage"(with Jamaica Moana)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/global-savage-feat-paul-mac-prinnie-stevens-single/1763366764|title=Global Savage [feat. Paul Mac & Prinnie Stevens] - Single|work=iTunes|access-date=September 1, 2024|archive-date=September 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901223941/https://music.apple.com/us/album/global-savage-feat-paul-mac-prinnie-stevens-single/1763366764|url-status=live}}</ref> |rowspan="2"| 2024 |rowspan="4" {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |- |} ==== As a featured artist ==== === Featured singles === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! style="width:20em;"| Title ! Year ! Album |- |"Bosom Buddies – BAB'Z Version"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/bosom-buddies-babz-version/1642357287?i=1642357292|title=Bosom Buddies (BAB'Z Version) - Single|work=iTunes|access-date=September 1, 2024|archive-date=May 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522193233/https://music.apple.com/us/album/bosom-buddies-babz-version/1642357287?i=1642357292|url-status=live}}</ref> (The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under) |rowspan="2"| 2022 |{{N/A|Non-album single}} |- |"Who Is She? – Cast Version"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/who-is-she-cast-version-feat-the-cast-of-rupauls/1645931089?i=1645931100|title=Who is She? (Cast Version) [feat. The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under] - Single|work=iTunes|access-date=September 1, 2024|archive-date=May 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522193059/https://music.apple.com/us/album/who-is-she-cast-version-feat-the-cast-of-rupauls/1645931089?i=1645931100|url-status=live}}</ref> ([[RuPaul]] featuring Kween Kong, [[Spankie Jackzon]], and [[Hannah Conda]]) |{{N/A|Non-album single}} |- |"Everybody Say Love (D'Vybe Latinx Mix)"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/everybody-say-love-dvybe-latinx-mix/1765730579?i=1765730586|title=Everybody Say Love (D'Vybe Latinx Mix) - Single|work=iTunes|access-date=September 1, 2024|archive-date=September 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901225511/https://music.apple.com/us/album/everybody-say-love-dvybe-latinx-mix/1765730579?i=1765730586|url-status=live}}</ref> (The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars) |rowspan="2"| 2024 |{{N/A|Non-album single}} |- |}

==Filmography==

===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role ! class="unsortable" |Notes |- |- |2022 |''[[RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under]]'' |Herself |[[RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (season 2)|Season 2]] – Runner-up |- |rowspan="2"| 2023 |''[[The Project (Australian TV program)|The Project]]'' |Herself |Guest with [[Hannah Conda]] |- |''[[Erotic Stories]]'' | Rachel Tension | 1 episode |- |rowspan="2"| 2024 |''[[Bring Back My Girls]]'' |Herself |Guest |- |''[[RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tinoco |first=Armando |date=2024-07-15 |title='RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars' Cast Photos: Paramount+ Sets Premiere Date For Reality Series Competition |url=https://deadline.com/gallery/rupauls-drag-race-global-all-stars-cast-photos/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> |Herself |Contestant |}

===Web series=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Notes ! style="text-align: center;" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}} |- |2024 |''My First Time'' |Herself |Produced by We Are Pride |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-au/kween-kong-interview-my-first-time|title=RuPaul's Drag Race's Kween Kong On Finding Her Samoan Tongan Identity Through Drag & Using Her Influence For Good|last=Koster|first=Alexandra|publisher=Refinery29|date=February 21, 2024|access-date=September 6, 2024}}</ref> |}

* ''[[Touch-Ups with Raven]]'' (2025)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Kween Kong}} *[https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/stories-from-the-pacific/stories-from-the-pacific-thomas-fonua-kween-kong/102404090 Interview] on ''Stories from the Pacific'', 31 May 2023

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kween Kong}} [[Category:1992 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century New Zealand LGBTQ people]] [[Category:Australian drag queens]] [[Category:Drag Race Down Under contestants]] [[Category:New Zealand drag queens]] [[Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent]] [[Category:New Zealand people of Tongan descent]]