VH1 has confirmed the release date for season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, after a trailer leaked December 9: reportedly, we can expect the new season in just a few weeks, on New Year’s Day 2021. The network has also confirmed the new cast set to sashay onto our screens January 1, as unveiled in the trailer.
Among the queens taking to the werk room will be Gottmik, a makeup-slash-drag artist who makes history as the first transmasculine contestant on the show. Gottmik was also, incidentally, the artist behind Lil Nas X’s Halloween-winning Nicki Minaj look.
The Drag Race-first follows a commitment by producers World Of Wonder to include drag kings and more trans performers in future series. Previously, the show has been criticised for its lack of diverse casting.
“I need to be the first trans winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race,” says Gottmik in a Meet the Queens segment posted to Twitter. “Period.”
Also competing in season 13 are Denali, Elliott with 2 T’s, Joey Jay, Kahmora Hall, Kandy Muse, LaLa Ri, Olivia Lux, Rosé, Symone, Tamisha Iman, Tina Burner, and Utica Queen.
Season 13 reportedly finished shooting under strict COVID-19 restrictions back in September. On the surface though, things won’t look too different; crew members were the only ones wearing masks, while contestants formed a “bubble” for the duration.
“Competing safely and fiercely, our 13 queens proved that it takes more than a global pandemic to keep a good queen down,” says RuPaul in a statement, via Variety.
View the full cast announcement in the thread below.
