Willy SmacknTush

Willy SmacknTush is a Wellington-based drag king who hosts drag storytime events for children, bringing books to life in sparkly clothes with warmth and humour. For Willy, drag is deeply personal: "Doing an event like this" is an extension of an art form that began as a journey of self-discovery — drag was, in his own words, "the gateway to discovering my own identity" in the queer community. In June 2024, Willy's Drag StoryTots event in Upper Hutt was cancelled following threats linked to Destiny Church's campaign against rainbow events. Rather than stand down, he took the session online, livestreaming storytime from his couch. "They will see a silly little man reading books on his couch," he said — a characteristically straightforward answer to those who had called the event dangerous.