The Week in Drag – Meet the queens of Queen of the Universe and Drag Race Italia, revisit Drag Race UK’s fugly fashions, new music from Trixie and Alaska and more

Hello, hello, hello and welcome the latest edition of The Week in Drag, and to another busy week in the world of drag!

While Drag Race UK is wrapping up its third season and Canada’s Drag Race is working towards its season two crowning, we’ve got new queens to meet from Mama Ru’s latest international spin-off.

And, if that wasn’t enough, a beloved Drag Race queen is competing in an exciting new singing competition and we get our first peek at the makeup artists vying for glory (and $25,000) on a new show hosted by the iconic Raven.

We’ve also got a fresh new Beatdown from Willam, wig wizardry from Jaymes Mansfield and a pair of hot new tunes from Trixie Mattel and Alaska. There’s so much to take in this week, so let’s bring it to the runway!

After serving as a “Snatch Game” guest and mentor to the queens of Drag Race UK, Emmy award winning makeup artist Raven has gotten the show she truly deserves. Painted By Raven pits makeup artist across the country against each other in a series of challenges and face-offs to see who can beat the best mug. The show, executive produced by RuPaul, debuts on WOW Presents Plus on November 25, so you’ve definitely got something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day (and stay tuned for our interview with Raven coming soon.)

Drag queens from across the world are skipping the lip syncs and singing for the crown on the new competition show, Queen of the Universe. Drag Race alum Jujubee, American Idol’s Ada Vox and Gingzilla who wowed the crowds on America’s Got Talent are among the 14 performers singing live for judges Michelle Visage, Vanessa Williams, Leona Lewis and Trixie Mattel. The show is hosted by Drag Race UK’s Graham Norton and premieres December 2 on Paramount+.

It’s time to say “ciao” to the latest queens to use their charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent to win the crown. Eight fabulous Italian queens are set to compete on Drag Race Italia, making its way to WOW Presents Plus on Thursday, November 18th at 3:01pm PST / 6:01pm EST in the US and in select territories internationally, day-and-date with its local airing on Discovery+ in Italy. Drag queen Priscilla, actress Chiara Francini and influencer Tommaso Zorzi also join the judging panel. Meet the queens and get a sneak peek of the trailer.

This week, the queens of Drag Race UK went where no drag queens have gone before and took on an out-of-this world acting challenge. Our favorite “Binge Queens”, Pandora Boxx, Rock M Sakura, Heidi N Closet, Kylie Sonique Love, Laganja Estranja and Scott Nevins (who always leaves us starry-eyed) discuss the drama and scene stealing fashions on the latest episode of “Binge Queens”. Check out this sneak peek and get full episodes on WOW Presents Plus.

Last week on Drag Race UK, the queens brought the fashion to the runway with an unconventional ball, where being fugly was a good thing. Season two champion Lawrence Chaney joins Monét X Change to discuss the looks and the drama of the episode on “Sibling Watchery.”

Denail and the delightful Cheryl Hole toot and boot the Fugly Ball fashions on “Fashion Photo Ruview.”

Season 13’s “Bob Mackie Barbie”, Kahmora Hall and Yuhua Hamasaki give us their two cents about the looks on “Bootleg Opinions:”

Scarlet Harlett joins Yshee Black for the latest “Drag Race Yearbook. Our eliminated queen talks about having to pull together three looks for the Fugly Ball, her failed Anubis joke, the disaster that was the Draglexa challenge, sharing her story about her mother on Untucked  and Ru insisting she play Macaulay Culkin in Snatch Game.

Scarlet also discussed her time in the show with the delightful Tia Kofi on “Tea Time.”

“Out of the Closet” is back and this time around, Laganja Estranja takes you on a tour of her Hollywood bungalow, including her “she shed” where she stores her wigs and accessories,  describes her style and talks about her affection for cannabis.  

Shangela was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and was promoting her HBO Max series with Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka, We’re Here. She is so effervescent and hilarious – and even teaches Jimmy how to properly pop a fan. Can we get this queen her own talk show?  

Alaska is back with new music and her latest video is here. “wow” brings back 90s punk pop and is sure to be a regular on your playlist. I, for one, cannot get this catchy melody out of my head. 

Trixie Mattel also treated us to new music this week, dropping the video for her latest, “Hello Hello” (which was skillfully choreographed by Laganja Estranja.) 

Laganja takes us behind the scenes on the making of the video.

In “take my money” news, Trixie Mattel announced the arrival of her new doll from Integrity Toys. I am definitely asking Santa for this one.

Willam is back with a new, eighth season of “Beatdown.” This time around, she showcases an amazing pageant performance to “Little Bird” by Annie Lennox, a long-winded winter skin care tutorial, the cutest karaoke singer and the redneck next door.  

Violet and Gottmik de-drag and chat about sex, gender and red flags on the latest “No Gorge.”

OG season one queen Rebecca Glasscock (Javier Rivera) is the latest queen to be “exposed” by Joseph Shepherd. Javier talks about growing up in Puerto Rico, his love of languages, his start in drag and of course, his experience on the inaugural season of Drag Race. 

Jaymes Mansfield styles one of her own Jaymes Mansfield Beauty wigs – and it’s kind of amazing.

Jaymes restores wigs from the legendary Del Rubio triplets (from Pee Wee Herman’s classic holiday special.)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (at least that’s what Mariah Carey has told us) and Drag Race season eight‘s Miss Congeniality winner Cynthia Lee Fontaine is ready to celebrate with her festive new song and music video, “Bring Me the Holidays,” which was released this week.  Co-written by Armando Barrientos, the jazzy ballad with its pop influence ushers in the joyous spirit of the holiday season, whisking listeners on a magical journey through an enchanted Christmas forest. Stay tuned for our interview with Cynthia coming soon.

On Saturday, November 6, RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! Las Vegas, the most sickening eleganza extravaganza in Las Vegas herstory, celebrated its 100th show on the Las Vegas stage. The show’s stars, Asia O’Hara, Derrick Barry, Kameron Michaels, Naomi Smalls, Vanessa “Vanjie” Matteo and Yvie Oddly were surprised with a congratulatory cake on-stage during the night’s performance. Congrats to the queens and to get your tickets to this amazing show here.

And that wraps it up for this week. Until we meet again, stay healthy, stay safe and say LOVE!

Last update on 2024-12-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API