Queen of the Universe (season 1)

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Queen of the Universe
Season 1
Queen of the Universe (Season 1).png
Promotional poster for season one.
Hosted by Graham Norton
Judges
No. of contestants14
Winner Grag Queen
Runner-up Ada Vox
No. of episodes6
Release
Original network Paramount+
Original releaseDecember 2 (2021-12-02) 
December 30, 2021 (2021-12-30)
Season chronology
Next 
Season 2

The first season of Queen of the Universe is premiered on December 2, 2021, through streaming service Paramount+.

Contents

The winner of the first season of Queen of the Universe was Grag Queen from Brazil, with Ada Vox from the United States finishing as the runner-up.

Production

On February 24, 2021, Paramount Global and Paramount+ announced the international drag-singing competition Queen of the Universe from World of Wonder, the producers behind RuPaul’s Drag Race , with cast members to be named later. [1]

On September 27, 2021, it was announced that Graham Norton would be hosting the series. The judges were announced on October 28, 2021, as being Leona Lewis, Michelle Visage, Trixie Mattel and Vanessa Williams.

The cast was announced on November 10, 2021, with a total of fourteen contestants, including RuPaul's Drag Race alumna Jujubee, and The Switch Drag Race Season 2 winner Leona Winter. [2]

Contestants

Names and cities stated are at time of filming.

Part of the cast at RuPaul's DragCon LA 2022, from left to right: Rani Ko-He-Nur, Novaczar, Grag Queen, Jujubee, Gingzilla, Betty Bitschlap, Regina Voce, Ada Vox Queen of the Universe Contestants at LA DragCon 2022 by dvsross.jpg
Part of the cast at RuPaul's DragCon LA 2022, from left to right: Rani Ko-He-Nur, Novaczar, Grag Queen, Jujubee, Gingzilla, Betty Bitschlap, Regina Voce, Ada Vox
Contestants of Queen of the Universe
ContestantHometownOutcome
Grag Queen Canela, Brazil Winner
Ada Vox San Antonio, United States Runner-up
Aria B Cassadine Atlanta, United States3rd place
La Voix London, United Kingdom 4th place [lower-alpha 1]
Rani Ko-He-Nur Mumbai, India
Leona Winter Paris, France 6th place
Gingzilla Sydney, Australia 7th place
Regina Voce Mexico City, Mexico
Matante Alex Montreal, Canada 9th place
Betty Bitschlap Copenhagen, Denmark 10th place
Chy'enne Valentino Chicago, United States
Jujubee Boston, United States
Novaczar New York City, United States
Woowu Guangzhou, China

Notes:

  1. La Voix originally placed tenth before reentering the competition.

Contestants progress

Legend:

  Grag Queen won Queen of the Universe season 1.
  Ada Vox was the runner-up.
  ADV indicates that the contestant advanced to the following episode.
  BTM (Bottom) indicates that the contestant was up for elimination.
  ELIM (Eliminated) indicates that the contestant was eliminated.
  Guest indicates that the contestant returned as a guest.
Progress of contestants including placements in each episode
ContestantEpisode
123456
Grag QueenADVADVADVADVWinner
Ada VoxADVADVADVBTMRunner-up
Aria B CassadineADVADVADVADVEliminated
La VoixELIMADVBTMELIMGuest
Rani Ko-He-NurADVADVADVELIMGuest
Leona WinterADVBTMELIMGuest
GingzillaADVADVELIMGuest
Regina VoceADVBTMELIMGuest
Matante AlexADVELIMGuest
JujubeeELIMGuest
Betty BitschlapELIMGuest
Chy'enne ValentinoELIMGuest
NovaczarELIMGuest
WoowuELIMGuest

Performance shows

Round 1: This Is Me (December 2)

Queens were to impress the judges with their W.A.P. - What they were wearing, All-star Attitude and Performances during these two-part premiere episodes. At the end of this round, six contestants were eliminated by the judges.

Performances on the first episode
QueenOrderSongResult
Grag Queen1"Rehab"Safe
Betty Bitschlap2"Dance Monkey"Eliminated
Chy'enne Valentino3"Wrecking Ball"Eliminated
Woowu4"Material Girl (200 Du)"Eliminated
Novaczar5"I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman"Eliminated
Gingzilla6"Human"Safe
Leona Winter7"Non, je ne regrette rien"Safe
Performances on the second episode
QueenOrderSongResult
Ada Vox1"At Last"Safe
Regina Voce2"Caruso"Safe
Rani Ko-He-Nur3"Piya Tu Ab To Aja", "Laila Main Laila"Safe
La Voix4"Mourir sur scène"Eliminated
Jujubee5"Into You"Eliminated
Matante Alex6"He Taught Me How To Yodel"Safe
Aria B Cassadine7"Rise Like a Phoenix"Safe

Round 2: Turn Back Time (December 9)

La Voix was initially eliminated in the previous round but was brought back by the judges. At the end of this round, the in-studio audience saved six Queens, leaving one of the bottom three Queens eliminated by the judges.

Performances on the third episode
QueenOrderSongResult
Aria B Cassadine1"You Make Me Feel"Safe
Leona Winter2"The Winner Takes It All"Bottom Three
Regina Voce3"Un-Break My Heart"Bottom Three
Grag Queen4"Dream a Little Dream of Me"Safe
Matante Alex5"9 to 5"Eliminated
Rani Ko-He-Nur6"My Heart Will Go On"Safe
Ada Vox7"I Put a Spell on You"Safe
Gingzilla8"Believe"Safe
La Voix [lower-alpha 1] 9"Car Wash"Safe

Round 3: Duets (December 16)

Queens paired themselves up and wrote an original song based on four categories. At the end of this round, the audience saved two pairs of Queens and eliminated one pair. The remaining pair must perform a "Survival Song" to stay in the competition, where the judges eliminated one more Queen.

Performances on the fourth episode
QueensOrderSongResult
Rani Ko-He-Nur & Grag Queen1"Damn That Man"Safe
Gingzilla & Regina Voce2"Girl Power"Eliminated
La Voix & Leona Winter3"Friends Forever"Survival Sing-Off
Ada Vox & Aria B Cassadine4"Back Off Bitch"Safe
Survival Sing-Off details
La Voix1"Don't Rain on My Parade"Saved
Leona Winter2"The Edge of Glory"Eliminated

Round 4: Bad Girls (December 23)

At the end of the semi-finals round, the audience sends two Queens to the finals, while the judges save one of the remaining Queens.

Performances on the semi-final episode
QueenOrderSongResult
Ada Vox1"Cuz I Love You"Bottom Three
Rani Ko-He-Nur2"Bad Romance"Eliminated
Aria B Cassadine3"Bad Girls"Safe
La Voix4"Welcome to Burlesque"Eliminated
Grag Queen5"Girls Just Want to Have Fun"Safe

Round 5: Holi-Gay Finale (December 30)

The final three Queens perform two songs, and one Queen takes home the top prize of $250,000 and the title of Queen of the Universe.

Performances on the finale episode
QueenOrderSongOrderSongResult
Grag Queen1"Jingle Bell Rock"6"Rise Up"Winner
Aria B Cassadine2"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"4"This Is the Moment"Third Place
Ada Vox3"Pure Imagination"5"Open Arms"Runner-Up

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title [3] Original release date [3] Prod.
code [3]
11"This Is Me"December 2, 2021 (2021-12-02)101
22102
33"Turn Back Time"December 9, 2021 (2021-12-09)103
44"Duets"December 16, 2021 (2021-12-16)104
55"Bad Girls"December 23, 2021 (2021-12-23)105
66"Holi-Gay Finale"December 30, 2021 (2021-12-30)106

Notes

  1. La Voix was originally eliminated, but was later brought back by the judges.

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References

  1. Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (February 24, 2021). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" Producers to Develop International Drag Queen Singing Competition Series "Queen of the Universe"". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  2. Nolfi, Joey. "Queen of the Universe cast adds Drag Race, American Idol stars: Meet the queens!". EW.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Shows A-Z – Queen of the Universe on Paramount+". The Futon Critic . Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2023.