Match, set, point! Queens serve more than lewks in ‘Drag Race UK’ premiere
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK has sashayed back to screens worldwide! The first episode introduced the twelve new queens competing in the Olympics of Drag, in the hope that RuPaul will crown them as the UK’s next Drag Race Superstar.
The queen with the most charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent will find herself flying to LA to film her own exclusive digital series. Talk about fabulous! We’ve already met the queens ready to tuck & strut their stuff. So, what went down during the Drag Race UK premiere?
SPOILER ALERT: Challenge winners and elimination details from the first episode of Drag Race UK follow.
Getting sporty with it
In the first episode, the queens all met for the first time before joining RuPaul, who surprised them with a cheeky green screen photoshoot challenge – Wimbledhun – forcing the queens to serve their best tennis pro lewks. Lawrence Chaney kept her eyes on the ball, acing the mini challenge to garner the first win of the season.
Hollywood actress & model Elizabeth Hurley joined Michelle Visage & Graham Norton on the judging panel. The queens were asked to deliver two looks on the Drag Race runway – their favorite British icon and their hometown look, bringing viewers ensembles inspired by Alan Turing, Kate Bush, Naomi Campbell and hometowns Norwich, Dundee, Lancashire, Nottingham, Glasgow and Wales.
Asttina Mandella earned herself a RuPeter badge as the overall winner of the first runway challenge. Bimini Bon Boulash & Joe Black faced off in the season’s first lip-sync battle performing to “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and ultimately Joe Black was sent home.
What’s next?
The remaining eleven queens go forward to next week as they continue to battle it out to be crowned the UK’s Next Drag Superstar when RuPaul’s Drag Race UK returns on Thursday, January 21st, at 11am PT / 2pm ET exclusively on WOWPresents Plus in the U.S. & select territories worldwide.
Tune in to Extra Lap Recap, premiering tomorrow, Friday, January 15th on WOWPresents Plus to bring audiences the ultimate weekly guide to every episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 2.
We’re sad to see her go, but Joe Black just couldn’t make the cut for this season. See below for quotes from Joe Black about her time on the show:
Q) How was your time on the show?
Much briefer than I was hoping, although quite the whirlwind! I’ve seen so much Drag Race… SO MUCH. So to even be able to walk into there was both surreal and wonderful. It was incredible to be able to connect with the eleven others on that level, as we all went through a totally unique experience with each other. Every season has its own journey and I was very glad to be a part of this one. No other season will get the absolute pleasure and shock of walking in and seeing legend, icon and the UK’s premiere Kate Bush impersonator Ginny Lemon sat there. Was worth it for that alone I’d say!
Q) How did it feel to be the first queen to sashay away?
Everyone remembers the first one out don’t they? So I think as unfortunate as it is, it will always be an iconic placement. I put the goth into Gothy Kendoll I guess?
Q) What did you learn from the experience?
I learnt that turbans and ostrich feather plumes look completely absurd while dressed for tennis. I don’t give off the impression of being the sporting type, did I? I’m more sat on the side-lines drinking gin from a flask and cackling wildly sort I reckon.
Q) Can you sum up Drag Race in three words?
Camp. Chaotic and all consuming… Wait! That’s 4 words!
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We’ll be watching closely for the rest of season 2 of Drag Race UK to see who can before the UK’s Next Drag Superstar. We’ll also have more thoughts from Joe Black on her time in the workroom, so stay close (and fabulous)!
