The “Pop Diva Panel” of judges for the inaugural season of Paramount+’s latest competition show was recently revealed. And now, we finally get to know which queens will share their talent with us on the very first season of Queen of the Universe.
The show will challenge drag queens from across world in a head to head in a singing contest. Each contestant is fighting for the coveted title of Queen of the Universe.
Drag Race U.K. host Graham Norton will host the series. Sitting on the judging panel is Drag Race judge Michelle Visage, Grammy-nominated pop singer Leona Lewis, actress Vanessa Williams, Drag Race All Stars Season 3 winner Trixie Mattel. Not to mention that RuPaul is an executive producer on the series.
The competitors come from a variety of backgrounds and from 10 different countries, including the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Denmark, Australia, Canada, England, France, China, and India. You might even spot a familiar face or two in the lineup.
Get to know the 14 hopeful queens below:
Ada Vox
"A former Top 10 American Idol contestant, Ada is living proof that everything’s bigger in Texas – including her voice! As a performer of 7 years (and counting), Ada is ready to showcase her vocal skills on a global platform and get the redemption she’s seeking.”
Aria B Cassadine
“The 2018 winner of Miss Gay Black America, is ready to add the ‘Queen of the Universe’ title to her already extensive collection of crowns. After starting her drag journey on a dare from a friend, Aria goes to the global stage ready to score yet another win for her already impressive drag resume.”
Betty Bitschlap
“A full-time performer both in and out of drag, Betty will rock your socks off! When it comes to style, Betty has range; in the blink of an eye, she can effortlessly transform from punk-rockstar fantasy to a glamorous sequined gown complete with a not-a-hair-out-of-place updo.”
Chy’enne Valentino
“This queen “has been singing since the age of 5 and broke out onstage at 18 years old, competing to win Miss Continental Plus in 2018. A former American Idol contestant who now runs her own bakery called Pound Your Cakes, she’s ready to pound her vocal chords and prove she’s worthy of the crown.”
Gingzilla
“After attending performing arts school in Australia and clown school in Paris, 7-foot-tall Aussie-native Gingzilla doesn’t need much to stand out in a crowd! No stranger to competition, Gingzilla has performed on America’s Got Talent and The X Factor in the UK – but now this down under diva is ready to conquer the universe.”
Grag Queen
“After attending performing arts school in Australia and clown school in Paris, 7-foot-tall Aussie-native Gingzilla doesn’t need much to stand out in a crowd! No stranger to competition, Gingzilla has performed on America’s Got Talent and The X Factor in the UK – but now this down under diva is ready to conquer the universe.”
Jujubee
“A double RuPaul’s Drag Race All Star whose personality has captured the hearts of millions, Jujubee is a multi-threat: lip-sync assassin, comedian, recording artist, makeup artist – she does it all! Best known to the world for her glamorous and stylistic drag, she’s ready to show the world she’s not just a pretty face – she also has some pretty amazing vocals to match!”
La Voix
“Hometown Queen La Voix has already experienced royalty first hand, having previously appeared before the British royal family. A former participant on Britain’s Got Talent who now sells out theaters across the country, her name is French and means simply ‘The Voice!'”
Leona Winter
“A countertenor baritone with a three-octave voice that’s often called ‘tres jolie’ by her fans and admirers all around the world. Her vocal talents were showcased on France’s The Voice, where she became a semi-finalist, and later when she became the winner of The Switch (Chile’s version of Drag Race).
Matante Alex
“This queen “started singing at 13 years old in her parents’ basement and soon thereafter discovered her true passion – yodeling! Matante’s name translates to ‘my aunt’ in French, but this inventive queen with a country heart of gold is anything but traditional.”
Novaczar
She “might be the youngest queen in the competition but isn’t deterred nonetheless. This self-proclaimed Empress of the Galaxy’s secret weapon, their voice, has been trained in opera, rock, and musical theater and is ready to rule the furthest reaches of the galaxy.”
Rani Ko-He-Nur
“With the crown of 2014’s Mr. Gay India among her credits, Rani Ko-he-nur has over a million Instagram followers and has appeared in countless magazines such as Vogue India, Cosmopolitan, and Elle. Having also appeared in the Forbes 30 under 30 list, the trans/gender fluid performer is ready to break out on the global stage and share her gift of song with the world.”
Regina Voce
“With over 30 years of stage experience and a former performer in Cirque Du Soleil, Regina now works as a vocal coach. The word Regina in Spanish means ‘queen’ and Voce in Italian means ‘voice,’ so Regina Voce is quite literally “Queen of the Voice” – will the stars align for her to become ‘Queen of the Universe’?”
WooWu
“Self-taught singer WooWu left her traditional Cantonese household in Guangzhou for the bright lights of Shanghai. A fan of Christina Aguilera, Cher, and Patti Labelle who describes her drag persona as “pink, feminine and perfect,” WooWu comes to the competition hoping to not just shine a light on the growing drag scene in China but also to break barriers.”
It is co-produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and World of Wonder, the production company behind the Emmy-winning RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise.
Queen of the Universe will premiere Thursday, December 2, exclusively on Paramount+
Subscribe today to get the Drag Society X Delta Work box! We promise you won't want to miss this exciting collaboration!