When Athene Atlas was born in Vienna (AUT) in 1990, her parents had already mapped out her future. She was expected to become a business analyst, make good money, and always be a „good boy.“ But fate had other plans.
“Zuerst lernst du ‘was ‘gscheites!”
Early years
Athene discovered her passion for acting and singing at the age of five. She trained at the Kids School of the Vienna Conservatory (Kindersingschule des Konservatoriums der Stadt Wien), where her remarkable voice and commanding stage presence quickly stood out. Her teacher saw great potential and wanted her to join the Vienna Boys’ Choir, but her parents had other plans.
At just six years old, she performed on stage for the first time, and by fourteen, she made her on-screen debut in a film that was later screened at Opernkino (Cinemagic) Vienna.
In 2007, after a life-changing experience at Flucc Wanne (VIE)—where she performed in drag for the first time—she dropped out of school. From that moment on, one thing was clear: she was never meant to be a business analyst. She was meant to be an artist.
I’m an artist, mother!
Throughout her career, Athene has collaborated with countless performers from Vienna’s drag and performance scene, including Mutti, her drag sister Dutzi Ijsenhower, Sue Philis Baker, Doktor Domi Darf Das, Denice Bourbon, Patrick Lammer, Beri Sayici, and many more.
From 2011 to 2014, she was part of Jimmy und die Stricherjungs, a Viennese trash-pop project that toured across Europe and headlined the main stage at Vienna Pride 2012. The band also released a full-length album.
Between 2012 and 2015, she worked as a show host at Radio Energy Austria, presenting the morning news and the club charts show. During this time, she also lent her voice to numerous commercials and worked as a voice actress. Following her radio career, she transitioned into television, working as a producer and voice actress for a German home shopping network.
Good boy? Not anymore!
In 2021, Athene Atlas came out as a non-binary trans woman. She began Hormone Replacement Therapy and took steps to prioritize her mental health. Her journey, including her battle with depression and burnout, was featured in an article by the Heute newspaper.
In 2022, Athene was part of the Slash Film Festival, sharing the stage with U.S. drag royalty Peaches Christ, as well as Cherry T Joystick, Lady Nutjob, and many others. That same year, she founded Club Atlas at Vienna’s underground hotspot Marea Alta, where she began hosting her own drag events.
Ever since…
In June 2023, Athene performed at brut (VIE) in CUNTin after Nesterval’s piece “Die Namenlosen”. That summer, she was awarded Best Performer at the Puls4 TV show “Strip Karaoke.”
2024 was packed with highlights! She co-hosted Vienna’s biggest ESC Party/Drag Show at WUK alongside Dutzi Ijsenhower, performed at MQ Pride Night at Museumsquartier (curated by Daniel Hill), and curated the inaugural “Palace Athene” at Dschungel Wien in collaboration with the E Bistarde Festival. She also produced several “Marea Atlas” events at Marea Alta and, in September, underwent major stomach surgery.
While Athene was recovering, her substitute, Cherry T Joystick, hosted in her place. By December, she made her triumphant return, hosting her traditional Christmas-Drag-A-Long at Marea Alta for the first time since her surgery.
“She is a sweetheart!”
Theodor
What’s next?
Athene Atlas declared herself the Godmother of Vienna’s queer underground, positioning herself as a new anchor for the city’s queer community—an essential role in a time when right-wing extremists are actively trying to erase the entire queer population.
