TL;DR
- Rugby star Joe Marler once appeared in full drag as “Trixie Turnover” on a TV special.
- He competed alongside other celebs under the guidance of top drag queens.
- Marler said he was nervous but ended up loving the experience.
- Fans now wonder if Trixie will make a comeback as Marler shines on The Celebrity Traitors.
- His drag moment highlights how rare — and needed — queer expression is in macho sports culture.
Rugby Hunk Once Turned Out a Drag Spectacle
Former England rugby bruiser Joe Marler may be playing the “tough guy” on The Celebrity Traitors, but not too long ago, the 35-year-old swapped studs for stilettos and served a full drag extravaganza on national television.
Marler, currently stirring suspicion around the Traitors’ roundtable as a “Faithful” hunting down shady game-players, has been accused of being “cocky” on the show. But long before the drama, he was busy cinching corsets and learning how to contour for the camera.
Back in 2022, Marler appeared on Queens for the Night — a one-night-only TV celebration of drag transformation. The premise? Throw a bunch of celebs into a sequined blender with some of the UK’s top drag queens and see who emerges as the fiercest diva.
And honey, the man did not disappoint.
Meet Trixie Turnover: The Diva We Didn’t Know We Needed
Mentored by drag royalty Blu Hydrangea, Marler blossomed into “Trixie Turnover” — a glitter-dusted queen with enough presence to make even the front row gag. He competed alongside Adam Woodyatt, George Shelley, Chris Hughes, Mr Motivator, and Simon Gregson, each paired with a glamorous drag mentor including Kitty Scott-Claus, Asttina Mandella, Myra DuBois, La Voix, and Margo Marshall.
Asked why he signed up, Marler said he wanted to try something new and step outside his comfort zone. “I want to try something different, get out of my comfort zone and why not try drag. It’s great fun,” he said at the time.
Trixie’s performance? Magical. Marler twirled, sparkled, and fully committed — the kind of commitment we wish some rugby allies had when Pride Month rolls around. Still, in classic talent-show heartbreak fashion, he was eliminated. Gregson — as the fabulously named “Bidet Bardot” — snatched the crown.
But don’t get it twisted — Trixie made an entrance, and the LGBTQ community noticed.
A Macho Man in Makeup? More of This, Please
Reflecting on the experience on his podcast Things People Do, Marler admitted the drag debut had him “fing ridiculous” levels of nervous. “I was actually really nervous and sing it before it was coming out because I was like, ‘Oh, god. This is just going to be cringe and what have I done?’” he recalled.
But, like any first-time queen who nearly blacks out from adrenaline and eyelash glue fumes, he came out the other side glowing. Marler remembered how much fun he had with Blu Hydrangea and the other queens. “It was just a laugh, mate. It was just something different,” he said.
Here’s the thing: seeing a straight, macho, sports guy embrace drag on TV matters. It chips away at the old “rugby = no sparkle allowed” mindset. The LGBTQ community doesn’t need every athlete to tuck and strut — but the willingness to appreciate queer art without judgment? That’s the kind of allyship that actually moves the needle.
Marler’s moment in heels encouraged visibility in a space where queer expression is still seen as “other.” It showed young LGBTQ rugby fans — and closeted players — that femininity and strength aren’t opposites. You can lift a scrum and a lace front wig.
Whether Trixie Turnover ever returns to the runway remains a glitter-coated mystery. But if Marler wants to truly keep us guessing on The Celebrity Traitors, resurrecting his inner drag diva might just be the plot twist TV deserves.
And yes, Joe, the door to the Werkroom is always open. Bring the wig. We’ll bring the applause.