Sundari – The Indian Goddess (she/her/hers) is a Guyana born and an Indo-Caribbean drag entertainer, who currently resides in Far Rockaway, Queens. Sundari was discovered at the Raj Kumari Cultural Center in 2012, with the support of Pritha Singh, Radha Singh, Denise Baboola & Detoxx Busti-ae, becoming the first Indo-Caribbean/Guyanese Drag Queen to perform in a non-LGBTQ+ musical production in Queens, NY. She is a trained Kathak, Orissi, Bollywood, Bhangra, and Chutney dancer. Sundari frequently performs out of drag as well, under the moniker “International Dancer Zaman.” In either persona, Sundari is the only Indo-Caribbean, Guyanese Drag Queen who uses performing arts to promote Indo-Caribbean Arts & Culture and the multiple, intersectional identities of LGBTQ Caribbean immigrants in the New York diaspora.

Since 2012, Sundari has participated in various community events, rallies, actions, and placed 3rd in the 2013 Miss Gay Caribbean USA Pageant. She is a pioneer, having broken through multiple barriers in faith-based spaces, film festivals, and traditional cultural festivals through the New York Tri-State area and internationally.

Since her debut performance in 2012, Sundari became the first Indo-Caribbean Drag Queen of Guyanese heritage to perform in a non-LGBTQ+ public musical Indo-Caribbean production, march in the Queens Phagwah Parade, perform for a Hindu temple, act and dance in a Hindu religious musical production, march in AIDS Walk NY, perform on the Queens Phagwah Parade Main Stage, perform at 1st United Madrassi Parade in New York, be featured on ITV Cable Television on the LTWL Show, perform at the Stonewall Inn; perform on the Brooklyn, Queens & Bronx Pride main stages; be a featured performer at an international academic community conference in Toronto (Breaking Silences 2018); be featured on a month-long digital Billboard in 5 different locations in New York City, and walk the 2019 WorldPride Opening Ceremony Rainbow Carpet, be featured on ABC7 News, and perform with recording artist Cyndi Lauper at Barclays Center in Brooklyn NY.

In 2019, Sundari was inducted in the Caribbean Equality Project’s “Queer Caribbeans of NYC” archive and exhibition, the first-ever multimedia historical retrospective showcasing the racial and cultural intersections of Caribbean LGBTQ rights activists. The exhibit contributes to New York City’s immigrant history by expanding on Caribbean immigrant and first-generation Caribbean-American experiences, through exploring Queer, Transgender, and Gender non-conforming advocacy. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, the exhibition honored and documented 30 years of organizing and featured 22 Caribbean LGBTQ immigrant activists in NYC through the lens of Trinidadian photographer and filmmaker Masheka Joseph’s original portraits.

In addition to her breakthrough achievements, Sundari’s drag-centric activism has been acknowledged, celebrated, and recognized with Citation of Honors and Proclamations from various New York City and New York State elected officials. She hopes her presence in the wider Caribbean Community will encourage LGBTQ individuals of Caribbean descent to get more involved in their local community issues and help make a difference in their world. Sundari is now a member of the Taranng Dance Troupe (Waves of the Future), a group of diverse trained dancers, who are amplifying visibility and unity within the Caribbean performing arts community in the New York metropolitan tri-state area.