The CEO of Sydney WorldPride Kate Wickett on joy-sparking celebrations

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To thrive in life, we all need to form meaningful human connections. We need to be part of a community that makes us feel included and heard. We need to belong. Kate Wickett was in her early 20s, standing on Oxford Street in Sydney, when she felt belonging for the very first time. It was a moment she’s never forgotten – and one that inspired a hugely successful career. It began in her teens, when she volunteered with the Northern Territory AIDS Council; now, many years down the track, she is proud to be the CEO of Sydney WorldPride.

The not-for-profit festival incorporates the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras with the global Pride celebration of WorldPride and is on from February 17 to March 5. It includes more than 300 events, with everything from an official Sydney WorldPride Opening Ceremony to a First Nations gala concert. As if that wasn’t exciting enough – this is also the first time a city in the southern hemisphere has been chosen to host the international festival. “We were up against Houston and Montreal, so we went into the bid process very much as the underdogs. When our name was called out, I was thrilled – not only for the team that put the bid together, but for the amazing LGBTQIA+ community in Sydney,” says Wickett.

Along with incredible events, you can (obviously) expect plenty of self-expression through colour. And that’s one of the many reasons why MECCA MAX is the official colour makeup brand partner for WorldPride! “Self-expression is key to celebrating WorldPride! Letting your personality shine from the inside out,” says Wickett. Throughout the event, MECCA MAX will be creating joy-sparking makeup looks. Think: a makeup masterclass at 40,000 feet (aboard the official Qantas WorldPride flight), live Beauty School sessions at the MECCA MAX Fair Day, complimentary MECCA MAX touch-ups backstage at the Sissy Ball and much, much more.

Here, we speak to Wickett about what it felt like to win the bidding process for WorldPride, what to expect from the event, and of course, how to get involved.

Go to sydneyworldpride.com

KW: “It’s a huge achievement to be the first city in the southern hemisphere to host WorldPride. It’s an opportunity to show not only the region but the world what Sydney can do and to lead some important and challenging conversations through the Human Rights Conference. Where else could you attend a dance party on the sands of the world’s most recognisable beach, attend a gala event at the Opera House or march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the name of PRIDE?”

KW: “This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. After two COVID-safe years, the parade returns to Oxford Street, where it all began – which will be such a special moment. The parade and party that take place directly following the march are key annual events in the Mardi Gras calendar, and this year, they’ll be pivotal moments as part of the wider WorldPride program.

KW: “WorldPride is a movement. It’s an opportunity for our city and the country’s rich LGBTQIA+ community to shine. Pride events are essential to give visibility to the LGBTQIA+ community, to give us the opportunity to talk about the issues that continue to impact us and, of course, to show the world how wonderful our diverse community is.”

KW: “Sydney is an incredible city with so many iconic landmarks and event spaces for people to come together and have fun – and in this case, to highlight the incredible diversity and creativity of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ community. The Bridge march will be a very special moment, as a very visual display of inclusivity and community for Sydney to share with the world.”

KW: “There’s a plethora of amazing First Nations performances, arts and culture to see and experience during Sydney WorldPride. To name a few highlights: Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert (held at the Sydney Opera House), Marri Madung Butbut (Many Brave Hearts): First Nations Gathering Space (a creative program hosted at Carriageworks) and Miss First Nations: Supreme Queen (a fixture on the Australian drag circuit).”

KW: “Sydney WorldPride is thrilled to be partnering with MECCA MAX – a strand of the MECCA family committed to inclusivity and to supporting people from across the spectrum of the rainbow to feel as confident on the outside as they feel beautiful on the inside.”

KW: “There will be more than 300 events set to take place across the city. Many of them are free, so invite your parents, friends, brothers and sisters. Grab a program and take a look at the amazing arts and culture lineup, Pride Amplified events or go along to a Pride Village. There’s literally something for everyone!”

KW: “Self-expression is key to celebrating WorldPride! Letting your personality shine from the inside out. I’m definitely planning some looks, and I can’t wait to see all those beautiful faces across Sydney shining.”