RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12: Here's everything you need to know
14 February 2020, 11:00
Coming to Netflix UK in weekly instalments on Saturday 29th February, RuPaul's Drag Race is back for its 12th season, where 13 queens will sashay, lip sync and death drop their way to be crowned America's Next Drag Superstar.
Start your engines, because RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 is coming to our screens very soon, henny. Friday 28th February to be exact.
The day after the US premiers on VH1, the UK will get a taste of the newest batch of queens to step into the work room as the show airs weekly on Netflix, with RuPaul, Michelle Visage and a whole host of guest judges whittling down the best charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent (work that one out for yourself) that America's drag scene has to offer.
READ MORE: Everyone is a combination of a UK and US Drag Race queen, which are you?
With rapper Nicki Minaj recently being announced as a guest judge, and Ross Matthews suggesting these lip syncs conquer all other seasons (no offence Ross, we've heard this one before), we're bracing ourselves for an all-singing-all-dancing extravaganza.
With a celebrity spin-off version already confirmed this year and new seasons of both All Stars and Drag Race UK, fans of the show will be delighted with the first of many instalments to come. Bring on 2020!
Here's everything we know so far...
Who are the queens on season 12?
Aiden Zhane
Hailing from a Acworth, Georgia, Aiden Zhane's drag couldn't be a further cry from her rural hometown, with nods to her lover of horror movies, Marilyn Manson, and all things spooky.
Brita
This isn't NYC-based queen Brita's first brush with fame, as she's already appeared in multiple high-brow theatre productions, starred in Broad City, and won multiple entertainment awards - including Entertainer of the Year at the Annual Glam Awards. She still had to change her name for the show, though. No lawsuits here.
Crystal Methyd
Sound familiar? No, this isn't Crystal from season one of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, but similar in name and nature, she's set to bring the freaky, funny and glamorous.
Dahlia Sin
Self-proclaimed "tattooed Barbie doll" Dahlia had a huge following of over 50,000 on Instagram before even being announced for the show, and boasts season nine contestant Aja as a drag mother. Does this make her a strong competitor for the other girls? If her attitude is anything like Aja...
Gigi Goode
The look queen has arrived! Los Angeles-based Gigi is no stranger to taking over our Instagram feeds, and she's bound to be a fan favourite.
Heidi N Closet
Super fans think they've already found this year's lip sync assassin, with a recent video of North Carolina queen, Heidi N Closet, performing a medley at drag night Showgirls in West Hollywood - and it's got a lot of attention online.
Jackie Cox
Jackie Cox is part of a group of queens in New York City who are bringing drag back to its roots with classic glamour, and a whole lot of camp - she's bound to be a hit.
Jaida Essence Hall
A sewing machine slayer, Jaida Essence Hall actually managed to make her promo gown in one and a half days following her call up to go on the show. Watch your backs, hot glue gun girls!
Jan
Singing challenges, beware. She's not just a pretty face, you know? New York's Jan Sport (again, shortened to Jan, because copyright) has been a member of the city's “premier live-singing pop-vocal drag trio” Stephanie's Child for two years, and they frequently hit up the major pride events, so she's already got a pretty strong fan base behind her.
Nicky Doll
You've seen Aquaria, you've seen Farrah Moan, now get ready for season 12's queen of the makeup brush, Nicky Doll. She's got a number of respectable professional beauty gigs under her belt, including transforming Pete Davidson into drag for the first time during a skit on Saturday Night Live.
Rock M. Sakura
Rock M. Sakura is your typical "cartoon queen" - when she's not giving face lip syncing to Celine Dion, she's giving face in the form of Ursula, and can paint herself into pretty much anything - human or not. How will that fare against the pageant queens?
Sherry Pie
Hailing from upstate New York, Sherry Pie is a huge voice for the LGBT community and loves to crack a joke, sing and dance - or as she says, if you have a pay check, she'll find a talent for it.
Widow Von’Du
A good friend of fellow queens Aquaria, Scarlet Envy and Willam, Widow Von'Du is a self-described "avant-garde, ratchet, high fashion rapper" - so we're already praying for a top three place here, because we have to see that Ru verse.
When will the show air?
Season 12 episodes will be airing weekly, starting Friday 28th February in the USA on VH1, or in the UK on Saturday 29th February over on Netflix.
When is the grand finale?
Unfortunately, the date of the grand finale doesn't get revealed right up until the season is in full swing, but if season 11 is anything to go by (it started on the same day but in 2019!) then we're looking at around 30th May.
Who are the guest judges?
The producers have kept pretty tight-lipped up until now, but we've just had the full reveal of who exactly will be joining Ru, Michelle and Ross on the panel this season - including singer Normani, actress Daisy Ridley, rapper Nicki Minaj, and model Winnie Harlow - so it's set to be epic.
Welcome to the Ru-nited States of America! 🏳️🌈🇺🇸
— RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) February 13, 2020
Pledge allegiance to the drag FRI 2/28 at 8/7c on @VH1! 👑✨#DragRace pic.twitter.com/WkI6gn4j4m
Recap: Who won season 11?
Weird and wonderful contortionist queen (with the most iconic of laughs) Yvie Oddly (real name Jovan Bridges), fought off competition from fan-favourite and Canadian dancer, Brooklyn Hytes, as well as A'Keria Davenport, and Silky Nutmeg Ganache to take home the crown. Nina West was crowned Miss Congeniality.
