Sami Landri

Early life and artistic beginnings

Samuel Landry was born and raised in Dieppe, New Brunswick, within an Acadian family. His early interest in performance led him to the Capitol Theatre in nearby Moncton, where he began to develop his artistic skills. Landry pursued post-secondary studies in history and theatre at the Université de Moncton for three years before deciding to leave the program to commit fully to a career as an artist. His artistic foundation is broad, encompassing training and interest in dance, visual arts, music, and live performance, which he began to explore professionally in 2018. This background in several disciplines informed the varied approach he would later take with his drag persona, live shows, and film projects.

Formation of Haus of Ménage and Acadian drag

In the spring of 2019, Landry co-founded the influential Acadian drag collective Haus of Ménage alongside fellow artists Tommy Des Rosiers (Rose Beef), Nick Després, and Xénia Gould. The collective was established to address a cultural void by producing drag shows performed in French and Chiac, thereby creating a dedicated platform for Acadian queer expression. Under his former drag name Mona Noose, Landry won the title of Acadian Queen at the First Ever Acadian Drag Ball, which was organized by the collective in 2020. Haus of Ménage began touring across villages in New Brunswick, frequently presenting the first drag performances ever staged in those communities, which expanded the visibility of drag within Acadian regions. The collective's work was both performative and cultural, actively shaping a new space for queer Acadian narratives that had previously been absent from local stages and community events.

Collaborations and move to Montreal

Landry's long-standing artistic partnership with Xénia Gould has been central to his career development. In 2020, the two held an artist residency at the Galerie Louise-et-Reuben-Cohen in Moncton, where they focused on performance art and explored the intersections of queer and Acadian identity. Gould directed the 2021 short film Mona, starring Landry, which earned the La Vague Award for Best Acadian Short Film at the Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie. That same year, seeking new creative opportunities, Landry relocated to Montreal, a move that coincided with the viral explosion of his drag persona, Sami Landri. The character, described as a trashy alter ego from the 2000s known for spicy humour, quickly amassed millions of views and hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok. This relocation marked a strategic shift towards a larger media market, allowing Landri to leverage her online fame into television appearances and a more extensive national touring schedule for her live performances.

Television career and Canada's Drag Race

Landri's television profile grew steadily, with an appearance on the TV show Infoman on March 16, 2023. Her major breakthrough came in October 2025 when she was revealed as a contestant on the sixth season of Canada's Drag Race. As the first Acadian queen on the series, she advanced to the finals, ultimately placing joint third, and won the fan favourite award. This success led to further television opportunities, including a guest spot on the special One Night Out with Alan Cumming in July 2025, which was filmed at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal and premiered on CTV Comedy Channel and Crave on February 26, 2026. In September 2025, she began co-hosting the TFO documentary series Drag! d'la tête aux pieds alongside drag queen Barbada de Barbades. On June 11, 2026, it was announced that Landri would return to compete in the premiere season of Canada's Drag Race All Stars, where she placed third. Her repeated success on the franchise solidified her status as a major figure in Canadian drag television and expanded her audience significantly.

Live performances and touring

Parallel to her television work, Landri developed a highly successful live show called Sami Party. The show, which began as a recurring event at Montreal's Cabaret Mado, blends drag performance, lip-syncing, and comedy in what is described as an unapologetic and over-the-top style. By 2025, Sami Party evolved into a full touring production, with Landri performing across Canada in cities such as Kelowna, Regina, and Ottawa, as well as internationally in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. The show often features performances by collaborator Xénia Gould in the character of Chiquita Mére. Key tour dates in late 2026 included sold-out performances at venues like The Exchange in Regina on November 12 and Club SAW in Ottawa on November 28, demonstrating her significant draw as a live performer. The tour extended to European cities including Paris, Lyon, Lille, Geneva, and Brussels, indicating her growing international appeal and the demand for her specific brand of Acadian queer performance.

Her major live performances and events include the touring live show Sami Party, which features performances by Xénia Gould. She performs in drag shows across Montreal, elsewhere in Quebec, in Acadia, Ontario, and Europe. In July 2025, she appeared as a guest on the television special One Night Out with Alan Cumming, filmed during the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. She has also performed at events for Fierté Montréal.

• Recurring Sami Party nights at Cabaret Mado in Montreal.
• A performance for Fierté Montréal at Place du Village on July 24, 2026.
• A sold-out late show at the Unicorn Lounge in Kelowna on November 17, 2026, with a potential second seating at 9:30 PM.
• A sold-out show at Club SAW in Ottawa on November 28, 2026.
• Hosting duties for events during the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal.
• Performances in European cities such as Paris, Lyon, Lille, Geneva, and Brussels.

Landri's stage work is a core component of her artistic identity, allowing her to connect directly with audiences nationwide and internationally. Her touring show, Sami Party, is marketed as a blend of absurd, chaotic, and fearless entertainment. It directly translates her online persona into a live experience. The show frequently sells out in advance for performances across Canada and in cities like Paris, Lyon, Lille, Geneva, and Brussels.

Music, web series, and other projects

Landri has expanded her creative output into music and digital series. Her debut single, "Mon sac Tbk," a humorous song in Chiac about a drag queen's handbag and themes of homophobia, was released in the fall of 2022 in collaboration with Chris Cool. She later contributed vocals to the song "Futur" on Robert Robert's 2025 album Boost and released the track "As-tu des cigarettes" in 2026. She also released "Not Sorry Aboot It (Lemon’s Version)" in 2025 as part of the cast of Canada’s Drag Race. In 2024, Landri and Xénia Gould, as Chiquita Mére, created the viral web series Helpez-moi, a queer advice show directed by Julien Charbonneau that continued into 2025. The series answers listener questions on topics ranging from coming out to long-distance relationships, all delivered with the hosts' characteristic humour. In October 2026, Landri served on the jury for the Queer Louve award at the Festival du nouveau cinéma, alongside filmmaker Eli Jean Tahchi and writer Gabrielle Boulianne-Tremblay. She is also signed with the production agency LOL LOL LOL, which manages aspects of her professional projects and live bookings.

Public persona and cultural impact

Sami Landri's public persona is built upon a foundation of Acadian pride, linguistic specificity, and queer joy. Her deliberate use of Chiac, an Acadian dialect, in her viral videos, music, and performances has been instrumental in popularizing the language to a national audience. The character herself, with a defined aesthetic of low-rise jeans, crop tops, a large bust, and lips lined in dark pencil, uses humour to tackle topics like homophobia and social anxieties around identity and 'wokeness'. Landri has been featured in major Canadian media outlets including La Presse, Le Devoir, URBANIA, and Interview Magazine, and has given interviews to outlets like Radio-Canada and CBC. By founding Haus of Ménage and touring rural Acadian communities, she has played a significant role in fostering and validating Acadian queer culture, creating representation where it previously was scarce. Her work demonstrates how regional identity and queer performance can intersect to create a powerful and commercially successful national profile that resonates across linguistic and cultural lines in Canada.

Social media presence and viral content

Landri's social media activity has been a fundamental part of her career, with her content resonating deeply with a broad audience. Her TikTok account, where she first went viral in 2021, has amassed approximately 480,000 followers, while her Instagram following numbers around 282,000. The viral video that sparked her fame featured her character Sami Landri asking the simple question "As-tu une cigarette?" in Chiac, which was shared millions of times. This content not only presented her specific humour but also served as a vehicle for introducing Chiac and Acadian culture to viewers across Canada and beyond. Her online persona is carefully crafted as a "trashy" alter ego from the 2000s, which audiences find both relatable and sharply funny. This digital fame directly translated into opportunities in television, live performance bookings, and media coverage, proving the commercial power of a strong, authentic social media brand built on specific cultural and linguistic identity.

Awards and recognition

Landri's work has been recognized through several awards and honours that highlight her contributions to both Acadian and drag culture. Her early accolade as Acadian Queen in 2020 established her within the regional drag scene. The La Vague Award for Best Acadian Short Film in 2021 for Mona acknowledged her work in film alongside director Xénia Gould. Her performance on Canada's Drag Race Season 6 earned her the fan favourite award, a clear indicator of her public appeal and connection with viewers. The consistent sell-out status of her Sami Party tour across Canada and into Europe in 2026 serves as a commercial indicator of her widespread popularity and success as a touring artist. Her role as a jury member for a prestigious film festival award further signals her acceptance and respect within broader artistic circles beyond drag, recognizing her as a cultural commentator and artist.

Her major awards and recognitions include placing joint third on the sixth season of Canada's Drag Race. She also won the Shark fan favourite award on that season. In 2020, under his former stage name Mona Noose, he won the title of Acadian Queen at the First Ever Acadian Drag Ball. In 2021, the short film Mona, starring Landry and co-directed with Xénia Gould, won the La Vague Award for Best Acadian Short Film at FICFA.

• Acadian Queen title at the First Ever Acadian Drag Ball (2020).
• La Vague Award for Best Acadian Short Film for Mona (2021).
• Fan Favourite award on Canada's Drag Race Season 6 (2025/2026).
• Jury member for the Queer Louve award at the Festival du nouveau cinéma (2026).
• Recognition as the first Acadian drag queen to compete on Canada's Drag Race.
• Consistent sell-out tours for the Sami Party live show across multiple provinces and countries.

Questions about Sami Landri

Where is Sami Landri from?

Sami Landri is originally from Dieppe, New Brunswick. She grew up in an Acadian family in the region and began her performance career at the Capitol Theatre in nearby Moncton. After studying at the Université de Moncton, she relocated to Montreal in 2021 to pursue her career further. Her Acadian heritage is a central and celebrated aspect of her artistic identity and work, frequently expressed through her use of the Chiac dialect in videos, songs, and live performances.

How did Sami Landri become famous?

Sami Landri first gained widespread fame in 2021 when a video of her drag character asking "As-tu une cigarette?" went viral on TikTok, garnering millions of views. This online virality introduced her character's unique humour and use of Chiac to a national audience. Her fame was subsequently cemented by her appearance as a finalist on the sixth season of Canada's Drag Race in 2025, where she was the first Acadian contestant and won the fan favourite award. This television exposure led to more media interviews, a co-hosting role on TFO, and a successful national and international touring schedule for her Sami Party show.

What is Sami Landri's real name?

Sami Landri's real name is Samuel Landry. She was born on July 24, 1998. The stage name Sami Landri is the persona she uses for her drag, social media, and television performances. She has also performed under the former drag name Mona Noose, under which she won the Acadian Queen title in 2020. The evolution from Samuel Landry to Mona Noose to Sami Landri charts the development of her artistic identity over time as she refined her public character.

What is the Sami Party?

The Sami Party is Sami Landri's touring live show, which began as a recurring event at Montreal's Cabaret Mado. It is a drag and comedy show featuring performances, lip-syncs, and Landri's signature chaotic and humorous hosting. The show has grown in popularity to become a major touring production, with Landri performing sold-out dates across Canada and in European cities like Paris, Lyon, and Brussels throughout 2025 and 2026. The show is explicitly described as unapologetic, over-the-top, and drenched in a trash-chic aesthetic, directly extending her online persona to the stage for a live audience.

Did Sami Landri win Canada's Drag Race?

Sami Landri did not win the sixth season of Canada's Drag Race. She placed joint third as a finalist. However, she did win the fan favourite award for that season, which is voted on by the viewing public. She later returned to compete in the first season of Canada's Drag Race All Stars in 2026, where she again placed third. Her performance across both seasons established her as a consistent and popular competitor, even without securing the ultimate victory, and greatly increased her profile and touring opportunities.

What is Haus of Ménage?

Haus of Ménage is an Acadian drag collective co-founded by Sami Landri (then known as Mona Noose) in the spring of 2019 with Tommy Des Rosiers, Nick Després, and Xénia Gould. The collective was created to produce drag shows in French and Chiac, filling a cultural gap and providing a platform for Acadian queer performers. The group toured villages in New Brunswick, often bringing the first drag performances to those communities. This foundational work was crucial in building the local drag scene and provided Landri with essential experience before her move to Montreal and subsequent national fame on television and social media.

Sources and further reading

• Sami Landri (Wikipedia)
• Sami Landri | Fierté Montréal (fiertemontreal.com)
• Sami Landri's Sami Party, November 12, 2026 (theexchangelive.ca)
• Sami Landri (samilandri.com)

Checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.