RuPaul’s Drag Race is coming back to television

By Gregory Sams

Season “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has finally been announced by WOWPresents and VH1. Set to air Friday, the new season comes alongside a cast of 13 new ru-girls: Aiden Zhane, Brita Filter, Crystal Methyd, Dahlia Sin, Gigi Goode, Heidi N Closet, Jackie Cox, Jaida Essence Hall, Jan, Nicky Doll, Rock M Sakura, Sherry Pie, and Widow Von’Du.

These 13 drag queens will compete for the chance at winning the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar,” a cash prize of $100,000 and a lifetime supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills makeup. The show will continue to be hosted by RuPaul Andre Charles and continue its running themes with design, sewing, acting, preforming and drag makeover challenges.

From rural Georgia, Aiden Zhane is a queen who incorporates horror into her looks. Taking mostly inspiration from Marilyn Manson and Joan Crawford, this queen has no problems pushing the boundaries of what drag can truly be.

“It’s been a process of doing whatever I want, because there’s been nobody there to tell me it isn’t right. Zhane said in her VH1 YouTube interview “When I perform, I’m not a dancer, I love expression, and I like to emote.”

From New York, NY Brita Filter is a queen full of personality and capable of serving high fashion looks. With a history of appearing on Fusion TV’s Shade: Queens of NYC, in addition to being on Saturday Night Live as a backup dancer for Katy Perry, she’s sure to bring something special to the competition. “She’s an actor who became a dragtress,” Filter said in her VH1 Meet The Queens interview.

Crystal Methyd comes straight from the Springfield, Missouri drag scene. She want’s it to be as clear as possible to expect the unexpected from her. As an unorthodox queen, she has solid values within her drag.

“With my name, it’s maybe ‘inappropriate,’ or people think I’m going to be nasty or gross” Methyd said. Meth is kind of an issue where I live, so I wanted to represent my hometown and bring awareness, but drag is just about taking care of each other and loving each other,” she says in her Meet The Queens Interview

From Los Angeles, CA, Dahlia Sin is a queen who knows she has it all. Drag daughter to Aja from season 9, Sin has a lot to live up to, but is sure she can exceed expectations.

“I was a club kid for two years, then I transitioned into doing more drag. Back then, it was more creepy. Sin said “I think I just stuck to the creepy stuff because I didn’t know how to paint myself, so I did whatever on my face until I learned what I wanted to do.” Sin explains while talking about her early drag in her Meet The Queens interview.

Gigi Goode reigns from Los Angeles, CA as well. She’s a classic queen with a modern twist, coming to the stage with plenty of talent and charisma.

“I don’t care if I look a fool. A lot of queens have a tendency to be careful with what they do so they don’t mess anything up. Forget that!”  Goode said in her Meet The Queens interview.

Elbow elbow, wrist wrist, cross your heart and blow a kiss. Heidi N Closet of Ramseur, North Carolina is bringing class and grace to the competition. “I help other girls, because if I’m going to win, I want you to be at your best, too, so I can say I whooped you when you were at your best,” Closet exclaimed in her Meet The Queens interview.

Coming from New York City, comedy queen Jackie Cox always strives to never miss a joke. As a queen who lives in the moment and commits to character, it should be interesting to see how she does in the show.

“Some people see [drag queens] as the clowns of the community, but I see us as spiritual guides. In her Meet The Queens Interview Cox said, “We’re here to help heal the divisions, and comedy is a great way to do that.”

Another queen from New York City, NY, Jan Sport is ready to give her all in the competition. Drag daughter to Alexis Michelle who competed season 9, Sport has a lot to live up to. “I have show girl blood in my DNA,” Sport says in her Meet The Queens interview.

Nicky Doll, also from New York City, is a fashion addict who boasts her gorgeous looks. “She likes to paint like very ‘90s, Linda Evangelista, Mugler, but with a little twist of villains from anime.” Doll says escribing her drag in her Meet The Queens interview.

San Francisco, CA’s Rock M. Sakura is here to bring Korean flare to the competition. “I used to dance at the bus stop to the Naruto opening, and I do J-Pop and K-Pop numbers [now]. More than anything, I want to be a J-Pop anime idol because of the joy they bring to people’s lives,” Sakura said when describing what made her choose her style of drag in her Meet The Queens interview.

Sherry Pie is another queen of New York City is a full who is a full on show girl and wants to take the crown home.  “You have to be good to be able to hold that spot, and I do a lot of high-production shows. Pie said “I don’t just stand up there and do a show,” in her Meet The Queens interview.she says talking about why she feels she is seasoned competition.

Lastly, Widow Von’Du is ready to take the crown how for Kansas City, Missouri. “I am the original plus sized Barbie,” VonDu said in her Meet The Queens interview.

Season 12 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will air Feb. 28 on VH1 at 9pm EST.