2022 is one the busiest years in herstory for the ever-growing RuPaul’s Drag Race universe, and we’re about to get more crowned queens than ever before.
From the newly-introduced Versus the World spin-offs to the first-ever all-winners edition of Drag Race to the regular season 14 cycle, Mama Ru has been busy at work expanding her empire around the world and through multiple spinoffs. This year alone, the franchise will air shows set in Australia/New Zealand, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, and the UK, with more international editions rumored to be happening as well.
Before 2022 ends, it is very likely that Drag Race will have crowned over 10 winners within this global franchise – which would be a record-breaking number of crowned winners within the same calendar year. What’s more, this year will also feature a lot of “first winners” on different international series such as Drag Race France, Drag Race Belgique, Drag Race Philippines, and Drag Race Sverige.
All photos courtesy of World of Wonder.
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After becoming a fan-favorite on Drag Race UK season one, Blu Hydrangea came back to compete on the first-ever RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. The World. In the end, she competed against finalists Baga Chipz, Jujubee, and Mo Heart. Hydrangea and Heart got to the top two and lip synced for the crown, with Hydrangea being ultimately crowned Queen of the Mother-Tucking World.
Sharonne won the second season of Drag Race España after competing against fellow finalists Estrella Xtravaganza and Venedita Von Däsh, becoming Spain’s Next Drag Superstar. As the oldest queen in the entire cast, Sharonne’s victory was a massive win for veteran queens who choose to compete on Drag Race.
Willow Pill publicly came out as trans while RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 was still airing. By the time she lip synced for the crown against Lady Camden at the grand finale, Pill was already crowned as the first-ever trans winner of a regular Drag Race season. Another interesting fact about Pill’s crowning is that she joined a list of queens who were crowned on Drag Race after only having won a single maxi challenge throughout their respective seasons.
After winning a whopping five maxi challenges on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 and earning herself four Legendary Legend stars, Jinkx Monsoon was crowned the Queen of All Queens. At the finale, Monsoon went up against her fellow finalists Monét X Change, Shea Couleé, and Trinity The Tuck in a lip sync smackdown for the crown. The All Stars 7 winner is currently the highest-earning queen in the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise.
Gisèle Lullaby has officially been crowned the winner of Canada’s Drag Race season three. With two maxi challenge wins and only one bottom two placement, Lullaby arrived at the grand finale with one of the best track records among the finalists – tied with Miss Fiercalicious. In the end, though, Lullaby lip synced for the crown against Jada Shada Hudson to the tune of “A New Day Has Come” by Celine Dion. Overall, the judges determined that Lullaby was the true winner of the season.
With two maxi challenge wins and only one bottom two placement, Paloma has been crowned the first-ever winner of Drag Race France. Hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race season 12 star Nicky Doll, the first French edition of Drag Race was very impressive to the overall fandom in terms of production value and the caliber of the cast members. In the end, though, Paloma reigned supreme and snatched the trophy.
Spankie Jackson won RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under season two after landing in the bottom two in the first week but going on to win three maxi challenges – and never landing in the bottom again – for the rest of the competition. Jackzon’s three wins include the acting challenge, the standup comedy challenge, and the girl groups challenge. At the finale, she went up against Hannah Conda and Kween Kong, but was ultimately crowned by Mama Ru as the next Down Under winner.
Precious Paula Nicole has officially been crowned the Philippines First Drag Superstar after being deemed the winner of Drag Race Philippines season one. The newly-crowned queen went into this final episode with Marina Summers, Xilhouete, and Eva Le Queen. Ultimately, Nicole outperformed her fellow finalists and won the lip sync for the crown against Summers to “Sirena” by Gloc-9 and Ebe Dancel.
After winning four maxi challenges and never landing in the bottom (or even placing low), Danny Beard arrived at the grand finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season four as the clear frontrunner. Alas, she did have tough competition from Cheddar Gorgeous, who finished the season as the runner-up. Standing alongside previous champions The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney, and Krystal Versace, Beard was crowned the winner of Drag Race UK season four.
