Say 'G'Day' to Drag Race Down Under vs The World queens
Share
Drag Race Down Under is back, and they're taking on the World! The Aussie iteration of the series will feature 11 familiar queens across various versions of Drag Race.
The cast comprises roughly half Australian/New Zealand contestants and half international contestants vying for the crown. We’ve seen past winners of similar “Verus” iterations include Blu Hydreangea, Tia Kofi, Gawdland, Ra’Jah O’Hara and Lemon.
This will be the second Down Under season hosted by Michelle Visage, following RuPaul’s stepping down from the series ahead of season four.
Joining Visage on the judging panel are season four winner Lazy Susan and comedian Rhys Nicholson.
This season features some major queens,, including a legendary Ru girl joining the competition.
The format is said to implement a surprise twist, with the week’s top two queens deciding which of the bottom performers face elimination. Then a final lip-sync will determine which contestants will be sent packing.
Meet all the queens set to appear on the upcoming season, and be sure to let us know which queen you plan on rooting for this season!
Art Simone
Official Bio: Melbourne native Art Simone is an Australian drag performer best known for finishing as a runner-up on the first season of Drag Race Down Under. Despite being eliminated after Snatch Game, Art made a surprise return two episodes later, picking up steam until she almost snatched the crown at the last gasp.
Coco Jumbo
Official Bio: Coco Jumbo is a Fijian-Australian drag performer who competed on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under. Her time on the show was marked by a dramatic lipsync where she sent highly fancied queen Art Simone packing from the show, only for Art to return later in the season.
Estrella Xtravaganza
Official Bio: Estrella Xtravaganza is a non-binary Spanish queen from the home of flamenco music Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia. They were cast in 2022 in season two of Drag Race España where their humour, performing talent and big heart made them a fan favourite. Following two maxi challenge wins, they reached the finale before being named runner-up to friend and mentor Sharonne.
Flor
Official Bio: Originally from Guatemala, and the very first queen to represent that country on Drag Race worldwide, Flor is inspired by strong Latin women who are aware of their voices and stay true to who they are. Her name is, in fact, a tribute to her latina mother. Flor's years of living in New Zealand meant that she competed for them on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, where she raced all the way to the finale, only to be beaten by Isis Avis Loren. Flor now calls the UK home, as she recently moved to Birmingham
LaLa Ri
Official Bio: LaLa Ri is a US drag legend who competed on both season thirteen of RuPaul's Drag Race and season eight of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. A trained and experienced dancer, LaLa worked as a professional drag queen for three years before she made her first appearance on season thirteen. Despite finishing tenth, her journey was highly memorable as she not only became iconic for a certain design challenge look involving paper bags, but she also won the heart of her fellow queens and the title of Miss Congeniality. In 2024 LaLa announced her retirement from drag only to decide that Drag Race Down Under Versus The World was too tempting an offer.
M1ss Jade So
Official Bio: Miss Jade So competed on season two of Drag Race Philippines in 2023. She was one of the first three trans contestants on the Filipino franchise, and her experience as a fashion design student helped her reach the top in the design and makeover challenges. With her commanding presence as a ‘body’ queen, and a fierce advocate of her ‘doll domination’ philosophy of trans power, this self-confessed ‘power top na bratzy’ is ready to take on the whole world one queen at a time.
Michael Marouli
Official Bio: Michael Marouli began her career as a young Northern Tyne and Wear drag queen at the age of 22. Fifteen years later, she was competing in season five of Drag Race UK where she was denied the crown by Ginger Johnson. With a drag persona she herself describes as "camp, daft, filth, fabulous, and iconic", Michael's career pre-Drag Race included performing cabaret in Spanish gay mecca Gran Canaria, winning the title of Drag Idol Newcastle and appearing in front of Simon Cowell on The X Factor UK. Michael has also performed at one of the biggest LGBTQ+ events on the planet – London Pride.
Nikita Iman
Official Bio: Straight out of Auckland, New Zealand, stunning Samoan queen Nikita Iman competed in season four of Drag Race Down Under, where she was eliminated in agonising style in the semi-final after a nail-biting lipsync battle with Mandy Moobs. She has since moved to the bright lights of Sydney where she is a regular on the competitive scene of Australia's drag capital.Famed for her stunning make-up, Nikita's drag career was born in the ballroom scene where she won her first category, "FACE" - which is exactly what she'll be serving as she returns for Drag Race Down Under vs The World!
Nicole Paige Brooks
Official Bio: Georgia's favourite peach Nicole Paige Brooks is one of the original OG Drag Race queens, having competed on season two of RuPaul's Drag Race. Nicole then returned for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season ten and stole the hearts of every viewer with her trademark drole southern style. Outside of Drag Race, Nicole Paige Brooks continues to host and perform in Georgia, including participating in a drag show to raise funds for Puerto Rico residents impacted by the destruction of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Asked to reveal her pronouns, Nicole replies "legend" and "icon"!
Raven
Official Bio: Raven is one of the OG legends of RuPaul's Drag Race. She first appeared in season two, where she reached the finale but was narrowly defeated. Raven's reputation as an uncompromising, talented queen made her the perfect choice to be one of the twelve returning contestants for the first RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season in 2012. Again, Raven fought to the very end but was pipped in the finale. Celebrated for her make-up skills, she became RuPaul's own makeup artist during Drag Race's ninth season, a role for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award in 2020. Now it's time for Raven to enter the Drag Race arena once again.
Vybe
Official Bio: Sydneysider Vybe competed on season four of Drag Race Down Under, where she fought all the way to the finale, only to be beaten by her arch-nemesis and now Drag Race Down Under judge, Lazy Susan. Outside of Drag Race, Vybe is a staple of the Sydney drag scene, regularly performing in venues across the city, including with her drag sister and flatmate, Drag Race Down Under season one alumni Coco Jumbo.
Drag Race Down Under vs. the World season 2 premieres July 24 on the WOW Presents Plus.
Drag up your life with a beautifully curated box made by your favorite drag queens! Subscribe to Drag Society today.