The son of Welsh rugby legend Scott Quinnell has revealed a very different career path from that of his father – a 7ft tall drag queen called Heidi Heights.
Steele Quinnell, 26, says he tried the sport that made his dad a sporting hero when he was a child – but decided it wasn’t for him.
Instead, he is a personal trainer by day, and by night straps on high-heels to elevate his already striking 6ft 6in frame to 7ft 1in as he embraces his alter-ego.
Mr Quinnell launched his act earlier this year and remained under the radar for a time – but has become flavour of the month since giving an interview to a Welsh news website last week to promote a race weekend.
Fans were astonished to learn that the son of Scott Quinnell – capped 52 times for Wales and picked for two British & Irish Lions tours, one of which saw him score a try against Australia – was not following in his father’s footsteps.
His uncles, Craig and Gavin Quinnell, also have formidable reputations on the field.
But he says that his family is completely behind anything we wants to do, joking: ‘Tomorrow I could turn around and say I want to be a pilot or something, and they’d say: “Go for it.”‘
As Heidi Heights, Quinnell sings, does cabaret and hosts events, including private parties – having discovered a love of musicals and performing at a young age.
Steele Quinnell, son of Welsh rugby legend Scott Quinnell, has eschewed a life of rugby to perform as drag queen Heidi Heights (pictured in drag)
Steele says father Scott (pictured) couldn’t be prouder of him and has supported him in all of his endeavours
As Heidi Heights, Steele performs music, cabaret and comedy – but took part in a charity rugby match in full drag last month
He appeared in school productions of Les Miserables and Oliver! before touring with his father on a run of shows entitled The Lion Speaks Tonight, which saw Scott recap his career – with Steele performing musical favourites on the side.
In the interview that has since catapulted him to nationwide fame, Quinnell told WalesOnline he discovered a talent for walking in heels when he took on the role of drag queen Lola in a production of Kinky Boots.
His performance was so well received he received a flurry of paid drag gigs including pantomime roles, cabaret slots and residencies.
From there, he began to develop his drag personality, settling on Heidi Heights as a reference to classic holiday camp sitcom Hi-De-Hi! after ditching a ‘sexier’ persona, Steele-etto.
But the altogether more camp Heidi Heights has proved a winner with audiences.
Heidi Heights also played in a charity drag rugby match in Cardiff earlier this year, scoring the first try of the game with an impressive run from the halfway line.
Quinnell still towered over her competitors even after swapping the heels for rugby boots.
As Heidi Heights, Quinnell stands at 7ft 1in tall – and measures 6ft 6in even without the heels
‘I definitely get the jokes and the wittiness from my dad, he’s one of those people who can go around the room making people laugh,’ Quinnell told the Guardian.
‘And I’m definitely more on the British side of drag than the American, none of this dancing and lip-syncing and all that, I’d be so uncomfortable.
‘Give me a mic and I’ll stand there and talk s*** and sing the night away.’
A qualified personal trainer, sports massage therapist and holder of a masters in psychology, Quinnell is not short of talent – and has now added all-round entertainer to the not unenviable number of strings on his bow.
And his father couldn’t be prouder.
‘My dad has always been one of my biggest advocates,’ Steele said.
‘He never made a big fuss about it – just, ‘What else am I supposed to do? You’re my son.’
