MANILA, Philippines — Reality competition series “Drag Race Philippines” is committing to making its upcoming special “Slaysian Royale” season absolutely fierce with a guest judge line-up full of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winners.
“Slaysian Royale” features Asian drag queens from around the world battling it out in an all-stars version of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
“This new version of ‘Drag Race’ shines a spotlight on Asian drag as never before, celebrating its culture, its history and creativity in a unique battle royale,” producers and World of Wonder founders Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey previously said in a statement.
“Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale” will follow a format similar to the show “Vs. the World,” which has been done in the United Kingdom and Canada franchises.
Main, guest judges
Paolo Ballesteros, fondly called Mama Pao, returns to host alongside fellow main judge Jervi “KaladKaren” Wrightson.
This will mark the first “Drag Race Philippines” without main judge and past “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestant Jiggly Caliente, who passed away earlier this year.
Like past seasons, celebrity judges will feature in each episode, but this time the guests will mostly be composed of local and international “Drag Race” winners.
The first three winners of “Drag Race Philippines” — Precious Paula Nicole, Captivating Katkat, and Maxie Andreison — are all confirmed guest judges. Precious previously served as a guest judge on the third season when Maxie won.
Marina Summers, who finished as the runner-up behind Precious in their season and was a finalist on “RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World” Season 2, is the only other Filipino drag queen who will guest judge.
The following international drag queens complete the guest judge line-up:
- Alyssa Edwards, winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars”
- Jimbo, winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars” Season 8
- Sasha Colby, winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 15
- Nymphia Wind, winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 16
- Pangina Heals, host of “Drag Race Thailand”
Pangina was previously a guest judge on “Drag Race Philippines” Season 2 the year Katkat won, while Alyssa’s winning season featured “Drag Race Philippines” Season 1 finalist Eva Le Queen.
Aftershows
“Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale” will also feature two popular aftershows, “Fashion Photo Ruview” and “Binge Queens.”
“Fashion Photo Ruview” will be hosted by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 3 Raja and Season 2 runner-up Raven.
“Binge Queens”, meanwhile, will be co-hosted by the pairs of Filipino-Canadian drag queen Melinda Verga and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 17 contestant Joella, and of Filipino-American drag queen Ongina and “Drag Race Philippines” Season 2 contestant DeeDee Marié Holliday.
Melinda and Ongina also competed on international editions: Melinda on “Canada’s Drag Race” Season 4 and Ongina on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 1 and “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars” Season 5.
‘Slaysian Royale’ contestants
The 12 contestants on “Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale” include five representative from the past three seasons of “Drag Race Philippines”:
- Arizona Brandy, Season 2 runner-up
- Bernie, Season 2 3rd place finisher
- Brigiding, Season 1 6th place finisher
- Khianna, Season 3 runner-up
- Viñas DeLuxe, Season 1 7th place finisher
Brigiding and Viñas DeLuxe are drag sisters from the Divine Divas with Precious. Both had drag daughters in subsequent seasons — Tiny DeLuxe in Season 2 and Zymba Ding in Season 3. Khianna is the highest-placed drag queen from Mindanao to date.
Bernie made history with fellow third place finisher M1ss Jade So and Katkat as the first time a “Drag Race” season had three transwomen in the finals.
Filling out the line-up and representing different “Drag Race” editions are:
- Ivory Glaze, “Drag Race Down Under” Season 3 9th place finisher
- Kitty Space, “Drag Race France” Season 2 9th place finisher
- Madame Yoko, “Drag Race Belgique” Season 2 8th place finisher
- Siam Phusri, “Drag Race Thailand” Season 3 7th place finisher
- Suki Doll, “Canada’s Drag Race” Season 2 9th place finisher and Miss Congeniality winner
- Sum Ting Wong, “Drag Race UK” Season 1 7th place finisher.
- Yuhua, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 10 12th place finisher
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