When Kalin Wara stood W on stage at his great uncle's recent 80th birthday bash, dressed in full glamorous drag, with his mum Unity and boyfriend Alex McLennaghan by his side, the Taranaki cabaret performer felt more alive than ever.
While professional singer Unity belted out a soulful number, the boys brought some sparkle as back-up dancers, grooving around on stage and interacting outrageously with the audience.
"It wasn't an event where you'd usually have drag queens," laughs talented entertainer Unity, 44, who had invited Kalin's drag persona "FantaC" and Alex's diva alter ego "Chai" to perform with her at the family event. "But we rocked it!" However, what made the joyous, glitzy evening even more extraordinary was how far Kalin, 23, has come from a few years ago, when he was an unemployed drug addict, couch-surfing his way around Australia's Gold Coast and injecting methamphetamine every second day.
It was his dedicated mum Unity - also a mother to Elijah, 13, and Hendrix, 12 - who saved him from this miserable life, using tools she'd learnt from her own troubled past to help her eldest boy beat his deadly addiction.
Esta historia es de la edición May 2, 2022 de Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 2, 2022 de Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
TREASURE & TRAUMA
The launch of the new season of Celebrity Treasure Island doubled as an eighth wedding anniversary celebration for contestant Millen Baird and his wife Siobhan Marshall, who came fourth on the show back in 2022.
JUDGE JAY-JAY
Radio diva Jay-Jay Feeney delivers her verdict on your biggest dilemmas
CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'
The Te Puke gym owner refused to let a devastating accident stop her from becoming a mother
DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO
The Emmy Award-winning writer is starring in a macabre new comedy
TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!
Rosa and Margo have a new cookbook and bundle of joy on the way
HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR
The son of a Kiwi sporting Legend, Cantona Stewart is making waves in Summer Bay
TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'
The actress and director opens up about her terrifying ordeal
CARMEL SEPULONI I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!
Our former deputy PM the lessons she's learnt in politics on CTI
KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR
The Black Ferns co-captain and her rugby star husband organised the ir nuptials in just five days!
THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!
Their lovable bromance is stealing the spotlight in Venice!