From a bullied kid in Western Sydney to a national icon with a platinum wig and a razor-sharp tongue, Benjahmin James Grey is the comedic force behind the one and only Carla from Bankstown—Australia’s foul-mouthed, high-heeled people’s princess. As Carla, Ben has crafted a drag persona that’s not just hilarious and audacious, but also deeply authentic—born from lived experience, survival, and a fierce refusal to stay silent.

Carla’s rise from local cult favourite to household name is a story rooted in resilience, reinvention, and riotous laughter. Behind every laugh is a powerful truth: Ben grew up battling relentless bullying and marginalisation. Comedy became his lifeline—drag, his shield. Through Carla, Ben transformed trauma into art, pain into punchlines, and isolation into nationwide adoration.

In 2013, Ben started experimenting with drag, but it was the viral hit “Real Housewives of Bankstown: Meet Carla” that cemented Carla’s status as a breakout social media phenomenon. Since then, she’s rubbed shoulder pads with Australia’s biggest names, become a lockdown legend as Gladys Berejiklian’s “PA”, and appeared across radio, TV, music charts and digital campaigns—all while keeping her acrylics intact and the public in stitches.

Ben/Carla’s influence spans platforms and generations: whether she’s ghost-hunting, belting out club bangers, or telling Scomo to sit down and shut up, Carla from Bankstown speaker and cultural icon is always unapologetically herself. Offstage, Ben Grey speaker and inspiration is just as powerful—offering audiences an unfiltered look into what it means to grow up queer in Australia, how humour can save lives, and why being your authentic self is the most radical act of all.

Whether it’s inspiring LGBTQIA+ youth, uplifting marginalised communities, or simply making the world laugh a little louder, Ben Grey’s story is more than entertainment—it’s a masterclass in survival, self-love, and sparkle.

🌈 LGBTIQ+ Speaker Topics for Ben Grey / Carla from Bankstown

From Closet to Contour: Queer Identity, Drag, and the Power of Self-Expression
This raw and empowering talk explores Ben’s journey growing up queer in a conservative part of Western Sydney and how drag became a transformative act of resistance and self-celebration. Ben reflects on the internal battles of coming out, the impact of representation, and why queer voices matter—especially when they come with a killer set of lashes.

Ideal for: Pride events, LGBTQIA+ youth organisations, diversity and inclusion programs, schools and universities.

Not Just Glitter: Mental Health in the Queer Community
Behind every perfectly blended eye shadow is a real story of struggle. Ben speaks candidly about the mental health challenges he faced as a young queer person—bullying, isolation, and depression—and how comedy and creativity became his survival strategy. This heartfelt talk blends humour and vulnerability while advocating for better mental health support within the LGBTIQ+ community.

Ideal for: Mental health conferences, corporate wellbeing programs, queer advocacy groups, community health services.

Allyship Ain’t Just a Hashtag: What It Really Means to Support the Queer Community
Carla might joke about being “that b*tch”, but Ben brings the realness in this bold and necessary conversation about meaningful allyship. He unpacks the difference between performative gestures and genuine support, offering practical, inclusive ways individuals and organisations can back their LGBTIQ+ peers—not just during Mardi Gras, but all year round.

Ideal for: Corporate DE&I training, HR workshops, government and public sector teams, leadership programs.

🔥Other Speaker Topics for Ben Grey / Carla from Bankstown:

Comedy as a Survival Skill: Turning Pain into Punchlines

A deeply honest and side-splitting talk about how humour became Ben’s emotional armour—and how Carla was born from that fire. A powerful session for schools, youth groups and mental health spaces.

From Gronk to Glamazon: Carla’s Guide to Self-Acceptance
In this uplifting keynote, Ben shares his journey of finding pride through performance, how drag empowered him to embrace his identity, and why authenticity is more fabulous than perfection.

The Double Life: Navigating Fame, Identity & the Drag Dichotomy
What’s it like to go viral as a character while struggling with your own mental health behind the scenes? Ben explores the push and pull of persona vs self in the age of 24/7 content.

Lockdown, Laughter & the Power of Community: How Carla Became the Voice of a Generation
A behind-the-scenes look at how Carla became a viral sensation during one of Australia’s darkest times—giving voice (and sass) to Western Sydney during the 2021 lockdowns.

From TikTok to Television: The Business of Being a Drag Queen in the Digital Age
For brands, creatives and marketers—Ben breaks down how he built Carla into a national brand, what goes into viral storytelling, and why diverse voices are essential in media today.