World of Wonder has announced the cast and premiere date for the inaugural season of Drag Race Down Under vs The World, the latest Vs the World series from Drag Race, and this season pits five Drag Race Down Under alumni against international drag stars.
Michelle Visage returns to host, joined by Rhys Nicholson and Season 4 winner Lazy Susan on the judging panel.
The 11 queens are Art Simone (Drag Race Down Under Season 1), Coco Jumbo (Drag Race Down Under Season 1), Estrella Xtravaganza (Drag Race España Season 2), Flor (Drag Race Down Under Season 3), LaLa Ri (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13, All Stars Season 8), M1ss Jade So (Drag Race Philippines Season 2), Michael Marouli (Drag Race UKSeason 5), Nikita Iman (Drag Race Down Under Season 4), Nicole Paige Brooks (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 2, All Stars Season 10) and Vybe (Drag Race Down Under Season 4).
Also listed on the cast is…Raven (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 2, All Stars Season 1)!? Is she really on the season? We’ll have to watch to find out.
Who is competing on ‘Drag Race Down Under vs The World’?
Check out the 11 queens via their official bios and the meet the queens video below.
Art Simone (Down Under)
“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 (Down Under)
“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 (España)
“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 (Down Under)
“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. 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.”
LaLa Ri (USA)
“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. 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 (Philippines)
“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.”
Michael Marouli (UK)
“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.”
Nikita Iman (Down Under)
“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. Famed for her stunning make-up, Nikita’s drag career was born in the ballroom scene where she won her first category, ‘FACE.’”
Nicole Paige Brooks (USA)
“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.”
Raven (USA)
“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. 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.”
Vybe (Down Under)
“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 is an eight-episode World of Wonder production in collaboration with Stan in Australia and WOW Presents Plus. Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell and RuPaul Charles executive produce for World of Wonder, with Adrian Swift and Tina Diaz executive producing for Stan.
When does ‘Drag Race Down Under vs The World’ premiere?
Drag Race Down Under vs The World premieres July 24 on WOW Presents Plus in the United States.
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