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RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality competition television series, the first in the Drag Race franchise, produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV, WOW Presents Plus, VH1 and, beginning with the fifteenth season, MTV. The show documents RuPaul in the search for "America's next drag superstar". RuPaul plays the role of host, mentor, and head judge for this series, as contestants are given different challenges each week. Contestants are judged by a panel that includes RuPaul, Michelle Visage, an alternating third main judge of either Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, or Ts Madison, and one or more guest judges, who critique their progress throughout the competition. The title of the show is a play on drag queen and drag racing, and the title sequence and song "Drag Race" both have a drag-racing theme.
José David Sierra, better known as Jessica Wild, is a Puerto Rican drag queen, professional make-up artist, and reality television personality. She was a contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
Mariah Paris Balenciaga, or simply known as Mariah, is the stage name of Elijah A. Kelly, an American drag queen, ball performer, and television personality, best known for competing on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2011) and the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2020). Since appearing on the show, she has been featured in a number of web series produced by World of Wonder, such as Wait, What?, Transformations, and Fashion Photo RuView. Balenciaga released her first single, "Mug 4 Dayz", on November 19, 2013.
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars is an American reality competition spin off edition of the original RuPaul's Drag Race, which is produced by World of Wonder, for Logo TV and later VH1. The show premiered on October 22, 2012, on Logo TV, before relocating to VH1. However, it was announced on February 20, 2020, on the show's official Twitter account that the fifth season would premiere on June 5, 2020, on Showtime. Following the cast announcement on May 8, 2020, producers announced that the show would remain airing on VH1 instead of Showtime due to the COVID-19 pandemic which caused "various scheduling and programming adjustments". On February 24, 2021, Paramount+ announced via Twitter that the streaming service would be the new home to the series for the sixth season.
Naomi Smalls is the stage name of Davis M. Heppenstall, an American drag queen and reality television personality, best known as one of the runners-up on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race as well as RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 4.
Kimora Blac is the stage name of Von Nguyen, an American drag queen and television personality, best known for competing on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Mayhem Miller is the stage name of Dequan Armand Johnson, an American drag performer and actor, best known for competing on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2018), the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2020), and the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2024).
Mrs. Kasha Davis is the stage name of Edward Paul Popil Jr., an American drag queen, actor and television personality from Scranton, Pennsylvania. She is best known for competing on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. After appearing on the reality television show, Mrs. Kasha Davis toured internationally, released several musical singles, and performed in film, television and theatre.
Silky Nutmeg Ganache is an American drag performer from Chicago, Illinois, who came to international attention in 2019 when she competed on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race finishing in third place, and later competed on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2021. She has also been involved in numerous Drag Race spin-offs, including RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue (2020) and RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race (2022). She also competed in the first Canadian-based international All Stars spin-off series, Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World in 2022, finishing as a runner-up.
Leo Loren, better known by the stage name Baga Chipz, is an English drag queen known for competing on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2019) and later the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022). Baga Chipz also appeared in the fifth series of the Channel 4 school drama series Ackley Bridge (2022).
Heidi N Closet is the stage name of Trevien Anthonie Cheek, an American drag queen from Ramseur, North Carolina, best known for competing on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where she placed 6th and won the Miss Congeniality award. She returned to the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, but decided to quit the competition early, citing her mental health and wellbeing as the reason for her withdrawal.
The third series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK began airing on 23 September 2021.
George Ward, better known by the stage name Cherry Valentine, was an English drag queen and mental health nurse who competed in the second series of the television show RuPaul's Drag Race UK. Raised in a Romanichal community, Ward has been credited as the first contestant on the Drag Race franchise to acknowledge his Romani heritage. In 2022, he addressed his background in the BBC documentary film Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud, and in an episode of the documentary series God Shave the Queens. Following Ward's suicide in 2022, a memorial concert and fundraiser was held at London's Clapham Grand.
Lawrence Chaney is a Scottish Glasgow-based drag queen. They are best known for winning the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, becoming the first Scottish drag queen and the second Plus Size contestant to win across the franchise. Their role on the series later earned them the 2021 BAFTA Scotland Audience Award. As part of their Drag Race victory, Chaney was awarded their own online television series, later titled Tartan Around, which premiered in 2022.
Lawrence John Bolton, better known by the stage name Tia Kofi, is a British drag queen and singer from Clapham, South London. They are best known for competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2021), and winning the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2024).
The second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK began airing on 14 January 2021 on the BBC Three section of BBC iPlayer and WOW Presents Plus streaming service. The series was confirmed and casting was closed on 15 November 2019. Production was suspended mid 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed late 2020. The cast of 12 new queens was announced on 16 December 2020 and the series premiered on 14 January 2021. It was also announced a special episode RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Queens on Lockdown would air, following the queens during the first lockdown. This special episode was released on 12 February.
Kate Butch is the stage name of Marcus Crabb, a British drag performer and comedian known for competing on series 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
Michael Marouli is a British drag performer who competed on series 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
Tomara Thomas is the stage name of Tom Adams, a British drag performer. She is best known for competing on the fifth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
Vicki Vivacious is the stage name of Aaron Johns, a British drag performer who is competing on series 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
References
- 1 2 3 Fedeczko, Sofia. "Ru Paul's Drag Race UK: Meet Manchester's 'seven-foot supermodel' Banksie hoping to wow the judges". Manchester World. Archived from the original on 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
- 1 2 "Meet the fierce queens of Drag Race UK season 5". Yahoo News. 2023-09-12. Archived from the original on 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
- ↑ Spencer, Samuel (2023-09-11). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 cast: Meet the queens battling it out for the crown". BBC Three. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
- 1 2 "Ru Paul's Drag Race UK: Meet Manchester's 'seven-foot supermodel' Banksie hoping to wow the judges". Yahoo News. 2023-09-13. Archived from the original on 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
- ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Meet the "pretty damn tall" Mancunian queen on the new series". Mancunian Matters. 2023-09-27. Archived from the original on 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
- ↑ ""Avenge me!": Drag Race UK star Banskie on exit and "heated" Untucked". Gay Times . 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ↑ "'DRUK's Ginger Johnson & Banksie Tease An Epic 'Talented' Season Five". www.pride.com. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
- ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 5 cast – meet the new queens". Digital Spy. 2023-09-11. Archived from the original on 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
- ↑ "Get Fruity! - Single". Spotify.
- ↑ "Don't Ick My Yum (The M-52s Version) - Single". music.apple.com.
- ↑ "Pant-Oh She Better Don't: The Rusical". music.apple.com.
- ↑ Spencer, Samuel (September 11, 2023). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 5 cast: Meet the queens battling it out for the crown". BBC Three. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.