Start your engines as a new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is about to begin, with a whole new cast of characters for fans to get to know. This year’s 12 queens have been Ru-vealed, with entrants from all over the country.
Fans will have to wait a little longer for the series to begin as it starts on Thursday, September 22, from when it will on BBC Three weekly. Until that time, the previous three seasons can be caught up on using BBC iPlayer.
This year’s batch of new glamazons will be taking part in challenges in hopes of taking home the coveted Ru-Peter badges and the grand prize. UK winners do not get a cash prize for their efforts - instead they receive their very own digital series through show producers World of Wonder.
Read more: Drag Race UK season four launch date confirmed and fans can't wait for new episodes
Drag Race UK Series 4 contestants
Copper Topp (He/Him/They/Them or She/Her in drag)
The “feel good ginger of drag” has arrived in their pantomime, camp style with four years of experience. Copper Topp, 38, brings comedy as well as jump splits and a golden voice.
Copper plans on “being the campest queen” in the competition and is inspired by Victoria Wood, Julie Walters and the Cheeky Girls. He said: “You're gonna laugh until you wet yourself and by the end of that night, you will probably slide into my DMs because let's face it, she's gorgeous! “
This queen is “repping it for the old fogies” and believes she has it all to snatch the crown.
Black Peppa (They/Them or She/Her in drag)
Drag queen Black Peppa, 29, was originally from the Caribbean but considers Birmingham their home. They said: “It's such a melting pot of talented performers that includes drag queens, drag kings, and non-binary queens. Honestly, I think Birmingham has one of the best drag scenes in the UK.”
Black Peppa has been on the drag scene for two and a half years, having ditched bank work for the stage. Her shows are filled with splits, death drops and high jumps so expect a workout with this queen.
This competitive performer wants to wow Ru and the judges with her creativity and talent, hoping they eat up this sprinkle of Peppa.
Cheddar Gorgeous (No pronoun preference)
Seasoned professional Cheddar Gorgeous, 38, has been performing for around 14 years and describes themself as “a living spectacle” and “cultural icon”. They take inspiration from all things otherworldly and ethereal in their art, referencing aliens, goddesses, and monsters in their drag.
Cheddar has travelled all over the world for drag, from LA to Hong Kong, working in clubs , cabarets and museums. They said: “I am excited for the challenge. I don't know what’s going to be thrown at me, but I quite like having things thrown in my face and just seeing what happens. That's the pleasure of life, isn't it?”
This Brummie-turned-Mancunian, already has a large following with 117k followers on Instagram and 12.3k followers on Twitter but can they win over RuPaul?
Pixie Polite (He/They or She/Her in drag)
With her announcement came former Drag Race UK star Tia Kofi tweeting “Alexa play Shout Out To My Ex”, which gained over 900 likes. Pixie Polite is a 29-year-old performer from Brighton who is big, bold and beautiful.
Pixie is a strong vocalist as well as comedic queen, belting plenty of camp tunes at her shows. This experienced queen has been doing drag for around eight years and says it has made her incredibly confident.
“My game plan coming into this competition is basically just to be the most talented, the most stunning and to win!” said Pixie, “I know I'm fabulous and I want the rest of the world to know how fabulous I am too!”
Dakota Schiffer (She/ Her)
This year’s show introduces the first ever trans woman to appear on Drag Race in all her six foot one glory, it’s Dakota Schiffer. Named in homage to 90s supermodel Claudia Schiffer, this queen claims to be “generations z’s answer to Sharon Tate”.
Dakota describes her drag as “a love letter to the 60s and the 90s” with a fashion first aesthetic. Performing gave her “the escape [she] needed to come out as trans and embrace all of [her] inner femininity.”
At only 22, Dakota is also the youngest queen on the season and has dreamed about appearing since she first watched it. She just hopes everybody likes her.
Just May (He/They or She/They in drag)
Another fiery redhead walking into the werkroom this series is Just May, a 32-year-old queen from Essex. He’s made his name as a renowned Geri Halliwell impersonator and is determined to win so they can finally crown a ginger.
“I have been doing drag for longer than Series 3 winner Krystal Versace's life so that’s ooh... almost 10 years!” said Just May. They regularly can be seen as the drag host at shows in London and are “campy, nostalgic and ginger”.
She’s here to show that Just May is not just a Ginger Spice impersonator, sometimes she’ll even wear a wig with a blonde streak to prove it.
Danny Beard (They/ Them or She/They in drag)
Blue beauty Danny Beard is set to bring their cabaret mixed with club kid style to the Drag Race stage. The 29-year-old Scouser is the first bearded queen on the UK show and loves “mixing genders and putting them in a blender”.
Danny has been performing for around 10 years, headlining Pride festivals and even appearing on Britain’s Got Talent. This queen loves to belt out a song during their shows and wants to push the boundaries of drag and queer culture.
“I am making herstory with my hairy chinny chin chin. I’m here for a laugh and… plus, I’m the best!” she said.
Baby (They/He or She/Her in drag)
This 25-year-old queen from South London describes themselves as “London’s afro punk princess”. Using they/he pronouns out of drag and she/her when in drag, Baby’s drag is punk, pretty and Black.
Baby loves “playing in the area where Black culture and alternative culture meet” and has been performing for around four years in London and Brighton clubs. Youngest of five siblings, Baby was born when they needed a drag name for a university lip sync competition.
With a musical theatre background, Baby is a triple threat and thinks they have the spark to win Drag Race UK.
Jonbers Blonde (He/Him or She/Her in drag)
Irish queen Jonbers Blonde, 33, is originally from a tiny town outside of Belfast and describes his drag as “high fashion pig”. While she is a fashion queen, Jonbers is also a performer and has danced as a backing performer for Mel C as well as Years and Years.
Jonbers has been doing drag for around 14 years, “and good drag for the last six”. With 70s inspiration and a self-described “big muppet”, Jonbers is going to treat every runway like it’s RuPaul’s Met Ball.
With an impressive back catalogue including fashion editing, modelling on runways and working as a stylist, this Irish beauty could be one to watch.
Sminty Drop (She/Her)
Inspired by Anna Faris in The House Bunny mixed with Megan Fox in Jennifer’s Body, Sminty Drop, 23, is drop dead gorgeous. She is a “sexy cyber supermodel from outer space”, although outer space is actually Lancashire.
Sminty appeared briefly in the new Duran Duran music video but Drag Race UK will be the biggest platform she’s tackled so far. She said: “These Queens should be very worried about me. I’m not just a pretty face and body-ody-ody baby”.
Describing herself as the “embodiment of contemporary British drag”, Sminty is more than just a pageant queen and she’s here for the crown.
Le Fil (He/Him/They/Them)
Yorkshire based performer Le Fil, 36, is “the intersection of art, fashion, music, and sculpture.” They like to break genres and genders through their drag, including sculptures, live vocals and a band in their performances.
They have been performing professionally for years but drag has always been part of their life, describing Le Fil as an amped up version of themselves. While their small town Brighouse in Yorkshire is not known for its drag scene, Le Fil is proud of their roots.
Le Fil is determined to never fade into the background, despite their height, and wants to bring looks, energy, optimism and smiles to the runway.
Starlet (He/Him or She/Her in drag)
Another young queen with a big personality is Starlet, a 23-year-old from Surrey who moved from Johannesburg six years ago. With 75.8k Instagram followers, Starlet has quickly built up an online presence.
Starlet is a looks queen who channels vintage glamour and old Hollywood inspired looks, she is “a living walking vintage movie star”. She is also “gently tippy toeing into the performance side of drag” so is hoping to release her competitive side on Drag Race UK.
Drag is this starlet’s greatest passion but will passion defeat the other queens? Starlet believes so.
Watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK on September 22, 2022, to catch all your favourite queens plus extra special guest judges including Alan Carr and Graham Norton.
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