RuPaul’s Drag Race usually begins in the spring and runs through the beginning of July, but this year seems to be a bit different. Host and creator, RuPaul has announced that for the first time in the show’s “herstory,” there will be a holiday special competition: RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular.
The competition will include a cast of former contestants, Eureka O’Hara, Jasmine Masters, Kim Chi, Sonique, Latrice Royale, Mayhem Miller, Shangela, and Trixie Mattel. It will be interesting to see the dynamic between Shangela and Trixie Mattel, them most recently being runner-up and winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars 3, respectively. Although with Shangela having just acted in A Star Is Born, there will be more than enough star power in the ‘werk’ room to make this holiday-themed competition shine through the season.
Many people online have been quick to comment on the cast list, seeing as Mayhem and Eureka were both just on our screens for the most recent season of Drag Race, but with a handful of legendary queens, it will make for an interesting show.
The queens will contend for the debut title of “America’s Drag Race Xmas Queen” in the one-hour special. It will operate as a typical episode of Drag Race, but with a holiday twist. The queens will be lip-syncing and performing numbers to RuPaul’s new Christmas album Christmas Party, and 2015 album Slay Belles. The panel will be as business as usual with RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Ross Matthews and choreographer Todrick Hall as judges.
“Nothing says Christmas like ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and drag queens slipping on their pantyhose,’” said RuPaul in a press release. “This VH1 holiday extravaganza is my way of saying thank you to my ‘Drag Race’ family by spreading a little bit of love, laughter and light across the country and around the world.”
While many details are yet to be revealed, RuPaul has a lot of tricks up their holiday sleeve. It’s the perfect fix of Drag Race to hold us over before Season 11 and All-Stars 4. Start your engines and may the best Xmas queen win!
“RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular” premieres Friday, Dec. 7 on VH1.