Originally from Cairns, Queensland, Mali Smedts grew up with a love and talent for visual art which developed into a love of the performing arts, specifically costuming. In her hometown, Mali was supported in many artistic endeavours. Some including costume & set designing and making for a small-scale production Koalazilla at Jute theatre company and bringing her cowboy drag persona Kevin just Kevin to music festival Savannah in the Round 3 years in a row.  

Mali has a passion for all makes weird and wonderful, with a particular love for specialty costume. She’s planning to explore this in depth with her research project. Using her previous drag persona as a jumping off point to create a rodeo minotaur cowboy costume. Following this love she also did work experience at Erth (2025). 

Whilst at Nida Mali’s developed skills in pattern making, cutting, art finishing, millinery, leather working, costume supervising and tailoring. 

NIDA Productions