RuPaul’s Drag Race is set to have its first ever straight, cis male queen, as Arkansas’ Maddy Morphosis is joining the competition for season 14.
Although Drag Race UK previously had a contestant with a girlfriend – season one’s Scaredy Kat – Maddy will be the first queen to outwardly identify as straight. The move continues the franchise’s attempt to become more inclusive, following criticism of its lack of diversity (and RuPaul’s 2018 transphobic comments).
Trans performers have appeared in the show, including season nine’s Peppermint, season 13’s Gottmik, and All Stars season six winner Kylie Sonique Love. This year, the UK’s season three featured the first ever cis woman contestant, Victoria Scone.
The other queens set to compete alongside Maddy Morphosis in season 14 are Alyssa Hunter, Angeria Paris VanMicheals, Bosco, Daya Betty, Deja Skye, Jasmine Kennedie, Jorgeous, June Jambalaya, Kerri Colby, Kornbread ‘The Snack’ Jeté, Lady Camden, Orion Story, and Willow Pill.
RuPaul’s Drag Race is set to premiere on WOW Presents Plus on January 8, 2022, with new episodes dropping weekly.