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Drag Race's Courtney Act Defeats Conservative Politician to Win Big Brother
Drag Race's Courtney Act Defeats Conservative Politician to Win Big Brother
Using compassion and affability, the Australian drag sensation wins Britain's biggest reality competition.
RuPaul's Drag Race season six contestant Courtney Act was crowned the winner of this season's Celebrity Big Brother, a reality competition juggernaut in the United Kingdom.
Act prevailed over conservative MP Anne Widdecombe, who placed second. Widdecombe opposed LGBT rights, including same-sex marriage, and said she hasn't changed her views after her time in the Big Brother "house."
Act, a 36-year-old Australian drag performer who's real name is Shane Janek, scored points for his warm friendships in the house, including with a straight man and a transgender woman, India Willoughby.
"I think the thing [Willoughby] struggled with is that people might see me and see her and think that we are the same thing," Act told the BBC. "She'd never identified as a drag queen. Drag is more performance-based, hers is about gender identity. She was never a man but she had a male body."
Act's entrance on the show was unforgettable; his skirt infamously fell to his feet in front of a live audience.
\u201c\ud83c\udf1fWe\u2019ve done it, Courtney is crowned #CBB queen!\ud83c\udf1f \n\nA huge thank you to everyone who voted and cheered along the way, we couldn\u2019t have done it with you! \ud83d\udc51\ud83e\udd84\ud83c\udf08\u2764\ufe0f\n\n #TeamShaneCourtney #CBBShane #CBBFinal @bbuk\u201d— Courtney Act (@Courtney Act) 1517610998
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