RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestants REVEALED: Meet the queens battling it out in the new BBC Three series

The BBC has officially revealed the cast of queens set to compete in RuPaul’s Drag Race UK - and they have come to slay.

Ten of the UK’s best drag queens will go wig-to-wig in the first UK edition of the hugely popular US show, which has picked up a string of Emmy awards Stateside.

Hand-selected by Mama Ru herself, the queens include a Girls Aloud impersonator and a West End star.

“Each of the UK queens is so unique, so courageous and so special,” said RuPaul ahead of the new series. “I can’t wait for the UK – and the world – to fall in love with them the same way I did.

Gentleman, start your engines – here’s a first look at the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestants.

Baga Chipz ​

Baga Chips describes herself as a “pub queen, a tart with a heart, not one of those gorgeous beautiful Kate Moss lookalike drag queens.”

The 29-year old from Walthamstow, London, says she’s relying on her knack for entertaining to get her through the competition.

“I might not have the best outfits or makeup, but put me on a stage and I will entertain the absolute s**** out of the room.”

Blu Hydrangea

Blu Hydrangea describes her unique look as “like a GCSE art project, high fashion from outer space, a cartoon character – with muppet realness.”

A make-up artist by day, the 23-year old from Belfast spoke positively about using her platform to talk about LGBTQ+ issues in Northern Ireland.

“My partner and I have been together for four and half years. I would love to marry him but it’s not even legal. So hopefully, I’ll inspire people and hopefully, one day we’ll be able to get married in our own country.”

Divina De Campo

Divina, from West Yorkshire, says her drag is “old school glamour.”

“As a kid I was dressing up in dresses all the time, but the first time I went out, I went out as Christiana Aguilera from the Moulin Rouge video.

“I know how intense this whole experience is going to be! I don’t know whether I’m good competitive or come across as a horrible person. I’m very competitive with myself – I always want to be better.”

Crystal

Originally from Canada, Crystal has been living in the UK for 10 years.

“I do aerial circus, I can crack a whip, put cigarettes out on my tongue – it’s a freak show.”

The 34-year-old calls herself a “gender bending, ‘mess with your brain’ kinda drag queen” who “stands for tearing down gender constructs using creativity, looks and fashion and crazy performances.”

Sum Ting Wong

Sum Ting Wong, from Birmingham, has been doing drag for five years.

“When I started doing drag five years ago, I wanted a name that was cheeky but also reflected my British Vietnamese heritage,” she said.

“It was a meme about a missing Asian plane and all the names of the missing crew were plays on Chinese name, such as Sum Ting Wong an Wi Tu Lo [...] It was wrong in so many ways, and that was why I chose my name, as an act of reclamation!”

Cheryl Hole

Cheryl’s day job is performing as Cheryl Cole in Girls Aloud tribute drag group, Gals Aloud.

“I think my degree in dance will give me an edge because there are several challenges that are thrown at you where you have to use your body,” she said.

“I’d like to see any of these girl try and out lip sync me as this is what I do. I’m quite well known for my death drop and dancing skills so girl you better watch out as I’m gonna bring the exclamation mark of the dance moves to the dance floor!”

Gothy Kendoll

The 21-year-old from Leicester describes her drag as “dark, contemporary, striking and unique.”

“I first did drag on New Year’s Eve 2016 and it was a mess. I was in a leotard with no wig on but I was living my life, having the best night ever,” she said.

“I’m inspired by Grace Jones, Annie Lennox, people in the 80s who were redefining what gender is and what gender can be.”

Vinegar Strokes

Vinegar describes herself as a “straight up comedy queen” with a look she says is “Tina Turner meets Lizzo meets Kat Slater.”

The 35-year-old from London, has already had experience in drag, appearing in the West End Musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie alongside judge Michelle Visage and former champion Bianca Del Rio.

She said: “I did dance with Michelle Visage every single night, but I’ve already been clearly told there’s going to be no favouritism and this will be a level playing field. She won’t be allowing me any airs or graces when it comes to RuPaul’s Drag Race UK – I better come correct!”

Scaredy Kat

At 20 years old, Scaredy Kat is the youngest ever drag queen to appear on Drag Race and is relatively new to the drag scene.

“I really haven’t done it that long,” she said. “It was probably about a year ago. I was with my girlfriend trying to have a laugh. It was a quite embarrassing but it went quite well for a first try.”

She says most of her drag takes place at home. “I want to change that and I need to be on a stage in front of millions of people because the attention just has to be on me right now,” she added.

The Vivienne

The Vivienne, 27, says comedy is her strong suit.

“Comedy is definitely my trump card,” she said. “My favourite trick in drag is my vocal impersonations so I do everyone from Kim Woodburn and Cilla Black to Donald Trump.”

This won’t be the first time this Liverpudlian queen has had an encounter with RuPaul, having been crowned a UK ambassador for Drag Race.

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