Gurl… we don’t know how you are feeling right now, but we are gagged! We never had so many RuPaul’s Drag Race seasons at the same time, All Stars is not even halfway through and we already have the cast ruvealed for season 11.
VH1 did a live stream yesterday and the 15 queens were interviewed by the Olympic athlete Adam Rippon and the current reigning queen drag race Aquaria, it was a bit painful to watch, but the shade stops here.
The new cast is very diverse, with many different kinds of drags queens and a lot of tea waiting to be served. We love drag tea and we cannot wait to watch it. Now, meet the queens:
Akeria Chanel Davenport
From the legendary drag House of Davenport, @mizakeriachanel’s slick shiny look makes you sit up and pay attention. The current reigning Miss Black Universe (look at her!), this super accomplished pageant queen is doing the Davenports proud with her signature aesthetic: “fit, fashion, mug and body.” Expect big hair, big attitude, and big results and (maybe some Doritos?) from this queen.
Ariel Versace
A life-sized Bratz doll, this queen’s Jerseylicious Disney princess aesthetic is already a hit on social media with an impressive following. But don’t be fooled by a pretty face with a poppin’ Instagram presence @arielversace can sing, act, and put on a fully entertaining show. You’ve been warned.
Brooke Lynn Hytes
Brooke Lynn Hytes, @bhytes, grew up in Toronto Canada before travelling the world as a professional ballet dancer. Much of her drag centres around dance and movement, and she is a prestigious former Miss Continental pageant winner. Will Brooke Lynn dazzle the judges with the same polish she brings to the dancefloor? Let’s find out!
Honey Davenport
New York City’s crown jewel, @honeydavenportofficial is the second cast member hailing from the legendary House of Davenport and cites Drag Race’s Sahara Davenport as a mentor. With parts in Off-Broadway plays, an electro band, and 18 pageant crowns under her belt(18 gurlll she is collecting crowns!), queens know to bow down to this talented diva.
Kahanna Montrese
Las Vegas’s hip hop showgirl, @kahannamontrese merges edgy street influences with upscale high fashion couture. After seeing Kahanna perform just one time, Drag Race legend Coco Montrese adopted this spitfire performer, and Kahanna’s drag identity was born. Will Kahanna finish the job that Coco Montrese started? We cannot wait to see all the tea.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqx2V_rlkYv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Mercedes Iman Diamond
This African princess moved from Kenya to the USA when she was only 11, but @mercedesimandiamond wasn’t “born” until 10 years later at the world famous Gay 90s club in downtown Minneapolis. All about the body-ody-ody, Mercedes owns any stage she sets foot on, dazzling the crowd with her graceful presence, and the expensive bling she is named after.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsJzBSwHNjG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Nina West
This comedy queen has a big reputation preceding her into the competition. @ninawest has won the national Entertainer of the Year pageant, writes and produces her own spectacular shows, complete with show-stopping dance numbers. She’s also an advocate and fundraiser for LGBT+ causes. But can this local legend live up to all of her hype? She knows her game and we are looking foward to seeing what she is bringing to us!
Plastique Tiara
Originally hailing from Saigon, @plastiquetiara takes a lot of drag inspiration from Vietnamese pop stars and Asian culture. Stunningly pretty (like… unreal!), her popular Instagram drag pics have even been reposted by Tyra Banks. With none other than Drag Race superstar Alyssa Edwards for a drag mother (will we get some tea between her and Kahanna Montrese?), all eyes will be on Plastique to see if she can deliver in the competition. She can dance, sing, act, she does everything and we have high expectations. She is basically a biological woman. Will she be the new fan favourite?
Ra’jah O’Hara
@therajahoharashow is from Dallas, Texas, where everything is bigger, better and bolder. A dancing queen known for her kicks, splits and tearing up the dance floor, the “D” in Ra’Jah’s name stands for Davenport; this season’s third cast member from the Davenport dynasty. A high energy performer, Ra’Jah warns her competitors to watch their backs when she is lip-synching.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsEHv3Ql3JK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Scarlet Envy
Southern beauty mixed with New York City grit, @scarletenvy pulls from references as varied as movie stars of the 40s, Andy Warhol superstars of the 60s, and supermodels of the 80s. A self-described “natural beauty,” Scarlet has worked with fashion photographer Steven Klein, Harper’s Bazaar magazine, and even appeared in a musical number on Saturday Night Live.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Br1EviLDbkh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Shuga Cain
A relative newcomer to drag, @missshugacain quit her sweet six-figure corporate job to become a full-time drag queen. But talent rises to the top, and within 18 short months, Shuga has already established herself as a key fixture in the competitive New York City drag scene, where she relies upon her performance background in opera and musical theatre to stand out from the crowd, she has a fun personality and is stunning! Will she deliver?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtB3KqchnVJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Silky Ganache
The life of the party, you always know when exuberant “Big Silk” is in the building. But scratch the surface of this gregarious queen and you’ll find a softer side to @silkyganache one who was raised in the church, has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, and is even on her way to becoming a Doctor of Philosophy.(she is not just a pretty face) Let’s hope her accolades translate into success in the competition.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtB7IJlhdDZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Soju
Raised in Korea, @shotwithsoju brings Korean influences into her drag, be it colourful crazy K-Pop aesthetics or Taekwondo martial arts weapons. Producer and star of the popular YouTube show Shot With Soju, where queens spill the beans about their time on Drag Race, now it is her time to be judged by all of us, Soju comes into the competition fully prepared for her own shot at the crown.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Br_Nr_SAOTl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Vanessa Vanjie Mateo
Miss Vanjie! Vanjie… Vanjie… Never have more iconic words been uttered by a departing queen. Despite being first eliminated from season 10, @vanessavanjie’s mesmerizing backwards exit inspired memes, tweets and celebrity shout-outs, and an overwhelming demand to see more of this charismatic queen. She’s back with a Vanjeance, but can the queen live up to the memes? We hope that she had enough time to get those coins and slay this competition!
Yvie Oddly
Denver’s “commodity of drag oddity,” shock queen @oddlyyvie bucked her boring local drag scene and brought conceptual artistry into the mix. Tall and weird (her words), Yvie draws inspiration from fashion muses like Thierry Mugler, and drag terrorists like Christeene. Known for bringing her brain to the table, anyone who encounters Yvie is guaranteed to end up with their jaw on the floor. Have you heard her laugh yet? Please, do! She is hilarious in many different ways and we cannot wait to know more about this amazing queen!
Roll on the memes… we are living for this!!!
Rupauls Drag Race season 11, sponsored by Centra. pic.twitter.com/PpahhxRnEc
— Miss Taken 🎀💬 (@MissTakenDublin) January 24, 2019
Gentlemen, start your engines and may the best woman win!
© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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