The twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on February 28 and concluded on May 29, 2020. The competition was broadcast on VH1 in the United States and saw 13 new queens competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar". VH1 renewed both RuPaul's Drag Race and its spin-off RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars for a twelfth and fifth season respectively on August 19, 2019. At the time of the renewal the Drag Race franchise had earned VH1 a total of 14 Emmy nominations. Casting calls were opened in January 2019 while the cast was revealed by season 11 winner Yvie Oddly on January 23, 2020.
"Bitch Perfect" is the second episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. The episode's main challenge is a Rusical inspired by Pitch Perfect. Ester Dean and Lucian Piane are guest judges, and Jamal Sims is the guest choreographer.
"Glamazonian Airways" is the second episode of the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. The episode aired on March 9, 2015, and features a Rusical. Olivia Newton-John and Jordin Sparks serve as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Carson Kressley. Moby and Jamal Sims also make guest appearances, the former to help judge the mini-challenge and the latter to offer choreography coaching to contestants for the main challenge.
Crystal Methyd is the stage name of Cody D. Harness, an American drag performer who competed on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Her name refers to crystal meth.
Gigi Goode is an American drag queen, fashion designer, and reality television personality known for being a runner-up on the twelfth season of the drag competition series RuPaul's Drag Race. Following her appearance on Drag Race, Goode was cast in the Drive 'N Drag concert series, appeared in multiple music videos, and participated in a Savage X Fenty fashion show. In 2020, she received a People's Choice Award in the Competition Contestant category. Originally from Illinois, Goode attended Millikin University and, as of 2020, lives in Los Angeles.
Jared Johnson, best known by the stage name Jaida Essence Hall, is an American drag queen and reality television personality best known for winning the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, and later returning to compete on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, an all-winners season. Since her season aired in 2020, Hall has been a staple of several domestic and international tours that feature Drag Race contestants, including Werq the World, A Drag Queen Christmas, and Drive 'N Drag. In October 2020, Johnson was a featured performer in Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Fashion Show Vol. 2.
"I'm That Bitch" is the first episode of the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on February 28, 2020. Nicki Minaj is a guest judge. Widow Von'Du wins the main challenge, and no one is eliminated from the competition.
"World's Worst" is the third episode of the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on March 13, 2020. Olivia Munn is a guest judge. Sherry Pie wins the episode's main challenge, and Dahlia Sin is eliminated from the competition.
"The Ball Ball" is the fourth episode of the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on March 20, 2020. Leslie Jones is a guest judge. Gigi Goode wins the mini-challenge and the main challenge, and Rock M. Sakura is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip-sync against Brita to "S&M" (2011) by Rihanna.
"Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical" is the seventh episode of the twelfth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on April 10, 2020. The episode has contestants perform a musical about Madonna for the main challenge. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Winnie Harlow serve as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Carson Kressley.
"Droop" is the eighth episode of the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on April 17, 2020. Chaka Khan is a guest judge. Heidi N Closet wins the episode's main challenge, and Jan is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip-sync against Widow Von'Du.
"Choices 2020" is the ninth episode of the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Rachel Bloom and Jeff Goldblum are guest judges.
"Superfan Makeover" is the tenth episode of the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on May 1, 2020. The episode's main challenge has contestants give makeovers to "superfans" of the show. Daisy Ridley is a guest judge. Jaida Essence Hall wins the challenge. Heidi N Closet and Jackie Cox in the bottom two and face off in a lip-sync, but neither is eliminated from the competition.
"One-Queen Show" is the eleventh episode of the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on May 8, 2020. Whoopi Goldberg is a guest judge on the episode.
"Condragulations" is the second episode of the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on January 8, 2021. Choreographer Jamal Sims is a guest judge.
"Social Media: The Unverified Rusical" is the eighth episode of the thirteenth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on February 19, 2021. The episode's main challenge is a Rusical about social media. Choreographer Jamal Sims is a guest judge, and Anne Hathaway also makes a guest appearance.
"Gettin' Lucky" is the fourteenth episode of the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on April 9, 2021. The episode sees the remaining four contestants perform to RuPaul's song "Lucky". None of the contestants are eliminated from the competition.
"Halftime Headliners" is the fourth episode of the sixth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, which aired on online streaming service Paramount+ on July 8, 2021. The episode has contestants impersonate famous singers and musicians and lip sync to a medley of RuPaul songs, inspired by Super Bowl's Halftime Shows. Jamal Sims served as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley.
"Gay's Anatomy" is the fifth episode of the twelfth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race. The episode, directed by Nick Murray, first aired on March 27, 2020, through American cable network VH1. It was followed by an episode of the companion series RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked.
Girl groups have been featured across the Drag Race franchise. Many Drag Race series have hosted challenges requiring girl groups to compete against one another. The challenge started with the second season of the American spin-off series RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. In 2022, Sam Brooks of The Spinoff said the girl group challenge has become a "classic" and a season highlight because "it tests the contestant's ability to write a verse, choreograph a dance routine, remember that choreography, and most crucially, work with others in a team".
