MTV to mark Mardi Gras week with a ‘pop-up’ channel

MTV Dance channel will become MTV Pride early next month in a weeklong celebration of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Resident VJ’s Krit and Kate Peck will be making way for Mardi Gras global ambassador Courtney Act and international drag queen and comic Bianca Del Rio, as hosts and ‘VGays.’

It will feature guest-hosted shows with Kiesza, David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren, Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne plus music programming, including: Mardi Gras Anthems Top 100, Girl Groups VS Boy Bands, Sexiest Stars Of Pop, Style Icons and Kings VS Queens of Pop, in addition to the SameSame Top 30 as voted by fans and live concert performances from Charli XCX, Chic, Scissor Sisters and more.

“I’m so excited to be a part of MTV Pride! The channel is going to be gayer than a kitten dressed as a unicorn spitting rainbows over Mardi Gras cause I’mma put on my MTV VGay wig and paint your TV screen pink,” said Courtney Act.

They say that nine tenths of a woman’s charm is illusion and Courtney Act is living proof. The American government refers to her as “an alien of extraordinary ability”, Bette Midler crowned her a “sensation” and she was even voted one of the world’s top 100 sexiest women by FHM. Ever since first gracing our screens on Australian Idol as Sydney boy Shane Jenek, where she was initially rejected before returning the next day as Courtney Act and making it all the way to the finals, this superstar drag queen has gone from strength to strength and will no doubt bring her signature talents to MTV Pride as the pop up channel’s VGay for the week.

Joining Courtney is the impeccably quick-witted drag queen and comic Bianca Del Rio, whose unique ability to make audiences cry from laughter is sure to keep MTV Pride viewers beckoning for more. A contestant on the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, produced by World of Wonder for MTV’s sister channel Logo in the US and airing on Lifestyle You (Foxtel channel 129) in Australia, Bianca has performed at some of the most renowned gay and straight venues across the US and abroad, along with several television appearances on MTV, A&E and the Travel Channel.

To take the weeklong celebration to the next level, MTV has also partnered with SameSame.com.au to launch a competition offering fans the chance to win the ultimate Mardi Gras experience. Music lovers will be encouraged to vote online for their favourite fun loving jams at samesametop30.com between 16th February – 2nd March for the chance to win a trip for two to Sydney, including flights and accommodation, plus the opportunity to climb aboard the Heaps Gay Mardi Gras float, along with tickets to their after party on Saturday, 7th March.

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras will take over the city of Sydney, capturing the imagination of Australia’s LGBTQI community and people everywhere, from the 20th February to the 8th March, concluding with the world famous parade which guarantees a colourful and dazzling night of pride, celebration and self-expression. Tune in to the MTV Pride, Foxtel Channel 810, from Monday, 2nd March to join MTV as they celebrate this momentous occasion.

It pops up from Monday 2nd March on channel 810.