Get ready to see a new kind of royalty hit the boardwalk! In a move that’s making waves across New York City, performer, musician, and all-around cultural icon Queenie Sateen has been officially crowned the Mermaid Queen for the 43rd annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade, set to shimmer on Saturday, June 22.
This isn’t just another feather in a cap—or another shell in a crown. As reported by The New York Post, the Bed-Stuy resident is the very first adult actress to lead the legendary parade, a vibrant, quirky celebration that marks the unofficial start of summer for countless New Yorkers.
A Crown for the Community
Queenie, who is stepping into a role previously held by stars like Queen Latifah, is embracing the moment with pride and a powerful sense of purpose. She sees this as a monumental win for representation, especially for sex workers.
“I’m honored to be the first. Obviously, it’s so important to have representation of sex workers. I know that porn stars are the most public of that, but I’m proud to be able to represent the pornstar/sex worker girly community in such an iconic and storied New York institution.”
For Queenie, the timing couldn’t be more critical. With freedom of expression in the adult industry facing increasing challenges, she views her new royal status as a form of powerful, positive defiance.
“I also think it’s really cool that I’m the first at this time now where a lot of our rights are coming under attack,” she told the Post. “So many states now are cracking down on porn.”
Rebel Royalty and Honky-Tonk Rituals
The Coney Island Mermaid Parade has always been a beacon for the bold and the artistic. Its organizers are not just accepting of their new queen—they’re celebrating her. Adam Rinn, the Artistic Director of Coney Island USA, made it clear that Queenie’s selection was a deliberate and enthusiastic choice that honors the parade’s inclusive roots.
“At the end of the day, being sex worker positive—we as an organization, we have no problem with that. We have absolutely no regrets. We’re very excited about it,” Rinn stated.
Joining Queenie as King Neptune is another counter-culture legend: Eugene Hütz, the fiery frontman of the Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello. The pairing of an adult film star and a punk rock icon feels like a perfect encapsulation of the parade’s spirit—a celebration of individuality and artistic freedom.
From Club Kid to Award-Winning Star
Before she made her mark in the adult world in 2022, Queenie Sateen was already a well-known personality in New York’s avant-garde club kid scene. Her creativity and star power have translated seamlessly into her film career, earning her a 2025 AVN Award for Best Foursome/Orgy and a 2024 AVN for her contribution to the music in the feature film Alive.
But Queenie isn’t one to rest on her laurels—or her throne. She’s also dropping a new music single, “Downfalling,” on June 27. She describes it as a track that dives deep into her life as a performer.
“It’s a drum and bass track with lots of fun harmonies and stuff about being a porn star,” she revealed. “It’s about getting weird DMs and wanting to push men down stairs.”
As she prepares to lead the glittering procession down the boardwalk, Queenie Sateen isn’t just wearing a crown; she’s carrying a torch for a new era of representation, proving that the true spirit of New York lies in its unapologetic, trailblazing heart.
You can find more on Queenie at her X.com profile and her official website, and get details on the parade at ConeyIsland.com.
* Photo from avn.com
