Layout by Josh Ezekiel
Published by: Louise Tupaz
Date Published: April 15, 2024
Time Published: 3:45 PM
โMother has arrived!โ and indeed she did.
The rays from the sun were not the only thing that brought heat because the newest and trendiest drag show that took the world by storm has also been gracing our timelines and FYPs for as long as we can remember. As the newest season of Drag Race: UK vs The World comes to an end, let us look back on some of the iconic queens that drag, not dragged, their way into the scene.
15 years ago, the first season of RuPaulโs Drag Race premiered on February 2, 2009. It was produced by the iconic drag entertainer, RuPaul under the production of World of Wander [1]. Bebe Zahara Bennet was hailed as the first American Drag Queen, paving the way for more queens all over the world.
Since then, the show has had franchises and spin-offs, featuring the creativity and uniqueness of multiple queens from different countries. Currently, there are over 23 individual shows and specials, including Drag Race Thailand, Drag Race Italia, Drag Race Philippines, and more.
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One of the most iconic, yet hardest achievements is probably earning the title as the youngest holder, yet Krystal Versace did just that!
Back in 2021, Krystal Versace was crowned as the winner of the 3rd Season of RuPaulโs Drag Race UK. Although there have been multiple well-known queens before her, Krystal Versace made a name after ending the season as the winner at just 20 years old [2]. She is the youngest participant to join the franchise and also the youngest to be crowned even today. She reigned for 365 days, before Danny Beard succeeded her.
Currently, she is on tour and hosting shows in the UK, together with her drag family. All the preparation and behind the scenes are revealed in her newest TV show โKeeping Up with Krystal Versaceโ, which was released in 2023 on BBC.
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If the late Queen Elizabeth was the longest reigning monarch ever recorded in history, Bob The Drag Queen is certainly not lacking in the same area.
After winning the 8th Season of RuPaulโs Drag Race, Bob The Drag Queen reigned for a total of 403 days, just 4 days more than the reigning time of Bebe Zahara Bent [3]. According to her, "I am both honored and thrilled to hold the title as the longest-reigning queen of RuPaul's Drag Race.โ
After the next winner was crowned, Bob has been busy releasing singles and appearing in multiple shows ranging from music videos to different series. Some of her notable appearances include โCherry Popโ as Kitten Withawhip and as part of Madonnaโs tour โThe Celebration Tourโ.
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Probably one of the crowdโs favorite queens that has ever graced the stage is Trixie Mattel. She won the 3rd Season of the Drag Race All Star after failing to snatch the crown during the 7th season of the main franchise.
She became known for her distinct style described as โhalf-barbie, half-birthday clownโ, paired with her dark sense of humor [4]. This combination helped her rise into the eyes of the fans as she showcased her personality on her YouTube show โUNHhhhโ with fellow drag queen, Katya. Because of her versatile talent and passion for entertaining, Trixie Mattel went on to explore different ways to express herself in drag. Together with Katya, they formed the iconic โThe Trixie and Katya Showโ on Netflix. The two discuss topics from general tips about life to the most personal ones like funerals and hook-ups. She also released multiple singles, four albums, and a book with Katya.
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To win the crown, the queens have to prove themselves through a series of challenges. Just like how princesses undergo training to get the throne, these drag queens faced unique, fun, and unconventional fashion challenges. However not everyone is fortunate to have wins under their belt. This does not apply for Trinity The Tuck, the queen with the most Maxi wins across the entire franchise.
She performed for three Drag Race franchises including Season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race, All Stars 4, and All Stars 7. She won 3, 4, and 4 Maxi Challenges respectively [5]. This earned her the title of being the queen with the most wins.
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The newest pride and joy of Philippine Drag has to be Marina Summers, the Filipino queen who raised the flag in the international drag scene. She has become one of the favorites for both local and international enthusiasts after her initial appearance with the line โIt's time to give these colonizers the chop.โ Throughout her journey, she has bagged 3 major wins from the show, and ended as one of the top finalists. Although she failed to get the crown, she has certainly created enough buzz to spark new TikTok trends.
Just recently, her performance of โRelease meโ in the Drag Race: UK vs The World garnered millions of views and admirations from the fans. From being โThe most famous loser of the Philippinesโ to being โThe always and your forever Filipino winnerโ, Marina Summers has certainly chopped and slayed her journey.
RuPaul's Drag Race serves as a way for the talents and skills of LGBTQ+ to be recognized, not only as queens but also as artists that aim to pave the way for the younger members of the community. These iconic queens will create the path needed by the youth to express themselves freely. The drag would quite literally race through the barriers and create the much needed buzz to stir up the scene with extravagant feathers, frills, excitement and thrills.
REFERENCES:
[1] Drag Race Wiki. RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 1). https://rupaulsdragrace.fandom.com/wiki/RuPaul%27s_Drag_Race_(Season_1)
[2] Drag Race Wiki. Krystal Versace. https://rupaulsdragrace.fandom.com/wiki/Krystal_Versace
[3] Sim, B. (2020, December 15). Here's the 'Drag Race' winners with the longest (and shortest) reigns. ๐๐ถ๐ต. https://www.out.com/television/2020/12/15/heres-drag-race-winners-longest-and-shortest-reigns
[4] Rodini, L. (2024, January 17). Trixie Mattelโs net worth: How the 'RuPaulโs Drag Race All Stars' winner built a $10 million fortune. T๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ต. https://www.thestreet.com/personalities/trixie-mattels-net-worth
[5] Drag Race Wiki. Trinity The Tuck. https://rupaulsdragrace.fandom.com/wiki/Trinity_The_Tuck
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