Last week in Melbourne, Rose Quartz competed with seven other Australian competitors in the drag beauty pageant Miss First Nation 2019.

Rose grew up in Wagga and the pageant was her first step out of town and into the arena of professional drag.

"It was really hard work, but I knew I had to go to the next level," she said.

"I am proud and thrilled that I was acknowledged by a remarkable group of sisters in the pageant - all amazing First Nation drag queens.

"I really wanted to push myself and establish my drag persona."

Rose decided to push herself professionally and take on challenges outside of Wagga.

"There was a photo shoot down Flinders Street and Hozier Lane was incredibly challenging, but also incredibly rewarding," she said.

"Having so many different people come from so many places and all get on so well together was amazing."

The Miss First Nation is all about celebrating drag art and queens with an Indigenous Australian background.

"It's incredibly important to bring the Indigenous and drag culture together," Rose said.

"They have both been on the sidelines of society for so long and it's just so empowering to see young Indigenous queens from all different walks of life, coming together for a shared goal.

"It's required. What we are expressing to the world and getting to show is a whole other art form."

The First Nation pageant was held over four days and had the queens presenting in several sections, including best national costume, talent night, lip sync superstar and drag performance of choice for the Grand Final.

Rose was awarded the honour and the sash for Best and Fairest in the pageant.

"I worked very hard and I was very proud of that," she said.

"Rose is old Hollywood glamour and some of the girls have started calling me Millennial Monroe."

"Someone told me that for some young children I will be the first drag queen they have ever seen and they will remember that for the rest of their lives and that has really stuck with me."

Rose said the Mardi Gras in Wagga this year did incredible things for the wider community.

"I feel as though Wagga is ready for a drag queen to take over," she said.

Rose has big plans to start doing regular gigs and working with different organisations to bring more drag into the Wagga nightlife scene.

"I want to thank my drag mum, JoJo Zaho, who has been amazing and Party Passport for all the work they do," she said.

Rose is available for bookings at rosequartz@outlook.com.au.

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