Mark Suknanan (born May 28, 1991) is a Canadian singer, television personality and drag queen. Competing under his drag name, Priyanka, Suknanan won the first season of the reality competition series Canada's Drag Race in 2020. He was previously a host of the YTV children's series The Zone and the YTV reality competition series The Next Star, where he went by Mark Suki. His first EP, Taste Test, was released in 2021.
Early life Suknanan was born on May 28, 1991, in Whitby, Ontario. He attended All Saints Catholic Secondary School, where his teacher belittled him telling him he would never be successful. He came out as gay to his mother at age 23. He is of Indo-Guyanese descent. Suknanan is an alumnus of Niagara College's broadcasting program.
Career Suknanan began his career as a host in children's television, most notably on YTV's The Zone and as the web host of the YTV reality competition series The Next Star.
Suknanan began performing as a drag queen in 2017, initially under the name Priyanka Love, in Toronto clubs. Her first competition in drag was for a local contest at the suggestion of fellow drag queen Xtacy Love, where she placed fourth. She quickly found success in the local drag scene, winning numerous titles, including Miss Crews and Tangos (2018–2019) and Woody's Queen of Halloween (2018). Priyanka was voted Toronto's best queen in Now's annual reader poll in 2019. Speaking about her rise to fame, Suknanan said: "I went from zero to 100... I came into drag so hard and built up a name so quickly that it just kind of became routine." Priyanka has also performed as Mel B in a Spice Girls drag tribute act, alongside her Canada's Drag Race castmate Juice Boxx as Emma Bunton.Andre Nevelling, "Who is drag queen Priyanka, the newly crowned Indian-Guyanese winner of Canada's Drag Race, the latest RuPaul spin-off?" . South China Morning Post, September 11, 2020.
In 2020, Priyanka was a contestant on the inaugural season of the reality competition series Canada's Drag Race, ultimately winning the competition over finalists Scarlett BoBo and Rita Baga.Suzanne Lapointe, "'Canada's Drag Race' makes herstory with its first ever Queen of the North" . eTalk, September 3, 2020. She became the first person of Indo-Caribbean descent to win in the franchise's global history. Although she was already out as gay to her mother, she only came out to her father right around the time of the series.
Throughout the season, her narrative included a running gag that the contrast between personas, as both established television personality Mark Suki by day and drag queen Priyanka by night, made her Canada's Hannah Montana;Russ Martin, "Priyanka Is Canada's Drag Race's First Winner!" . Flare, September 4, 2020. for Fierté Montréal's special online edition of its annual Drag Superstars show, which featured all of the Canada's Drag Race queens in prerecorded video performances, Priyanka performed to the Hannah Montana theme song "The Best of Both Worlds". She was also featured in Pride Toronto's online Drag Ball on June 27, 2020, performing to Marina and the Diamonds' single "Power & Control".Pahull Bains, "11 Virtual Pride 2020 Events Taking Place Across Canada" . Fashion, June 25, 2020.
At the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021, she received a nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Web Program or Series for her Drag Ball appearance,Brent Furdyk, "Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, 'Schitt's Creek' Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations" . ET Canada, March 30, 2021. and was one of the ten nominees for the fan-voted Audience Choice Award,"2021 CSA Audience Choice Award Nominees" . ET Canada, March 16, 2021. as well as serving as the narrator of the livestream presentation for lifestyle and reality categories on May 17.Greg David, "Mary's Kitchen Crush, Canada's Drag Race and Lisa LaFlamme win during Night 1 of the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards" . TV, eh?, May 17, 2021.
Following the conclusion of the season, she headlined a cross-Canada tour with the other Canada's Drag Race contestants, which was performed at drive-in venues due to the ongoing social distancing restrictions remaining in place during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.Peter Knegt, "All hail our queen: A conversation with Canada's Drag Race winner Priyanka" . CBC Arts, September 10, 2020. In October, she participated alongside Scarlett Bobo, Rita Baga and Jimbo in an online panel discussion as part of the Just for Laughs festival.Jenelle Riley, "For Montreal's Just for Laughs, the Show Will Go On(line)" . Variety, October 2, 2020. Priyanka was featured on the cover of Gay Times digital issue, her first magazine cover. In November and December 2020, Priyanka appeared as the celebrity spokesperson in a Canadian advertising campaign for SodaStream.Chris Powell, "SodaStream enlists Snoop Dogg, Priyanka for holiday campaign" . The Message, November 23, 2020. She has also starred in online advertising campaigns for Shoppers Drug Mart and the Bank of Montreal."Canada's Drag Race Winner Priyanka Stars in New BMO Campaign" . Glossy Inc., January 25, 2021.
In April 2021, she was announced as the host of the 2021 virtual edition of Pride Toronto.Kevin Ritchie, "Pride Toronto lineup includes Priyanka, Allie X and iskwē" . Now, May 3, 2021. In May 2021, she partnered with Vizzy Hard Seltzer, serving as community impact director. In August 2021, they were a featured performer in Drag Fest, a live music festival. She also co-hosted the Forever Dog podcast Famous This Week alongside Brooke Lynn Hytes, which won a Canadian Podcasting Award in 2022.In July 2021, Priyanka released her debut music project, the EP Taste Test.Corey Atad, "'Canada's Drag Race' Winner Priyanka Releasing Debut EP 'Taste Test'. ET Canada, July 14, 2021. which surpassed 16 million streams, as of January 2024. In addition, Priyanka was featured on the July/August 2021 edition of Elle Canada, becoming the first drag queen to do so. In November 2021, Priyanka was named as a co-host with Lindsay Ell of the 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards.David Friend, "'Drag Race' winner Priyanka to co-host Canada's country music awards with Lindsay Ell". Toronto Star, November 8, 2021. Priyanka released the country music single "Country Queen",Megan LaPierre, "Priyanka and Lindsay Ell Are Breaking Down Barriers in Country Music". Exclaim!, November 26, 2021. which she performed during the opening number of the award ceremony. In December 2021, Priyanka appeared on season 2 of Canada's Drag Race as a guest, to crown her successor. The look that she wore was dubbed one of the best looks across the entire Drag Race franchise.
In February 2023, Suknanan signed a development deal with Bell Media on potential future television or film projects, also joining CTV's eTalk as a special correspondent.Greg David, "Say her name! Bell Media inks development deal with world-renowned entertainer Priyanka". TV, eh?, February 23, 2023. She was featured as the "lip-sync assassin" of the tenth episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, where she beat Kandy Muse in a lipsync to Destiny's Child's "Jumpin', Jumpin'". In July 2023, it was announced that Priyanka, alongside Sasha Velour and Jaida Essence Hall, would be the new hosts for the upcoming fourth season of the Emmy winning reality television series We're Here.
In June 2024, Priyanka's first Bell Media project, a reality series called Drag Brunch Saved My Life, in which she visits struggling restaurants to help them reinvent themselves by launching drag brunch shows, was announced as premiering on Crave in the 2024-25 television season.Megan LaPierre, "Priyanka Helms New TV Show 'Drag Brunch Saved My Life'". Exclaim!, June 6, 2024.
In November 2024, Priyanka hosted the inaugural PTP Pink Awards ceremony.David Friend, "Elliot Page joins LGBTQ2S+ honourees being celebrated at inaugural PTP Pink Awards". CTV News, November 7, 2024.
In January 2025, Priyanka was made honorary WWE Women’s Champion by WWE Hall of Famer, Trish Stratus.
In February 2026, Priyanka was announced as a main judge on Canada's Drag Race All Stars alongside Brooke Lynn Hytes and Jimbo. This makes this panel the first all-drag queen judging panel in Drag Race history.
Filmography Film Year Title RoleNotes 2024 Meet Me Next Christmas Herself 2023 It's All Sunshine and Rainbows Melonie Sunshine2026The Last Whale SingerOra(voice)
Television Year Title RoleNotes 2013–2014 The Next Star Himself Host 2013–2019 The Zone Himself Host 2015 Katie Chats Himself Kids Choice Awards Countdown Himself Host 2020–2021 Canada's Drag Race Herself Season 1; winnerSeason 2; guest 2022 Ezra Herself Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World Herself Season 1; guest judge 2023–present eTalk Herself Special contributor 2023 Bollywed Herself "'Priyanka is like a kid in a candy store': Canada's drag queen shops for a new outfit on CBC's 'Bollywed'". CBC Television, February 2, 2023. Glamorous Herself Cameo RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Lip Sync Assassin Season 8; Episode: "The Letter L" RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked Herself Episode: "All Stars Untucked: The Letter L" Sew Fierce Herself Guest Charlie Duncan, "Sew Fierce is the reality show paying drag designers their dues: ‘There’s been a need for a show like this’". PinkNews, May 20, 2023.2024We're HereHerselfMain cast2025Drag Brunch Saved My LifeHerselfHost2026Canada's Drag Race All StarsHerselfMain judge2027TarekSeason 2
Music videos Year Title Artist 2018"Say My Name"Herself2019"You Look So Good"Herself2020"Power & Control" (unofficial)Marina and the Diamonds2021"Do Better"Anjulie2021"GAP"Heidi N Closet2021"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" Herself2021"Queen of the North" Brooke Lynn Hytes (featuring Priyanka)2021"Cake" Herself2021"Bitch I'm Busy" Herself2021"Come Through" (featuring Lemon)Herself2022"Snatch" (featuring Cheryl Hole)HerselfPat Mullen, "Watch Priyanka Slay Cheryl Hole in New Snatch Video". That Shelf, July 22, 2022.
Web series Year Title Role Notes 2021–22The Pit StopHerselfGuest, 2 episodes2021What's My Game?HerselfHost2021Out of the ClosetHerselfEpisode: "Priyanka: Canada for Christmas"2022Bring Back My GirlsHerself
Discography Albums Title DetailsDevastatia Released: August 23, 2024Megan LaPierre, "Priyanka Announces Debut Album 'Devastatia,' North American Tour". Exclaim!, May 28, 2024. Label: Question Mark Productions Format: streaming, digital download
Extended plays
Title DetailsTaste Test Released: July 16, 2021 Label: Question Mark Productions Format: streaming, digital download
Singles As lead artist Title Year Album "Say My Name" 2018 rowspan="5" "You Look So Good" 2019 "Watermelon Sugar" 2021 "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" "On the Ground" "Cake" Taste Test "Bitch I'm Busy" "Come Through" "Country Queen" rowspan="4" "Sleigh My Name" "My Only Wish (This Year)"2022 "Sleigh My Name" "Bad Bitches Don't Cry"2023 Devastatia "No New Friends" 2024 "Shut It Down" "Gucciyanka"
As featured artist Title Year Album "Not Sorry Aboot It" (with The Cast of Canada's Drag Race, Season 1)2020 rowspan="3" "U Wear It Well" – Queens of the North Ru-Mix (RuPaul featuring the Cast of Canada's Drag Race, Season 1) "Queen of the North" (Brooke Lynn Hytes featuring Priyanka) 2021 "Snatched" (Bonnie McKee featuring Priyanka) 2024 Hot City
Awards and nominations