Guess who’s back in the house? (Picture: VH1)

RuPaul’s turning more queens into stars for the new season of Drag Race – with a new cast of wannabe megastars ready to have put through their paces on the runaway.

In a VH1 Live hosted by last year’s winner Aquaria, the girls had five minutes each to show viewers what they have in their arsenal, as well as some cheeky parlour games.

After showing us this year’s 14 queens, RuPaul dropped a major bomb shell by bringing back a fan favourite…Miss Vanessa Vanjie Mateo!


While she was eliminated in the first week last year, Vanjie has some major star power, and like the ad says, Go Wig, or Go Home.



Here are the queens taking part on this year’s series… Which one’s your favourite?

A’Keria is the latest member of the house of Davenport to make an appearance (Picture: VH1)

A’Keria Chanel Davenport

Hailing from Dallas, Texas, A’Keria comes from a pretty esteemed drag family.

Former contestants Sahara Davenport (from season two) and Kennedy Davenport (from season seven and All-Stars 3) were part of her crew as she learned her trade – so you know she learned from the best.

But can a Davenport girl finally take home the crown?

Well, seeing as she’s already taken home Miss Black Universe and Miss International Vogue, she’s certainly not short of a tiara or two.

Then again, pageant queens have had a notoriously hard time of it on the show…

Will Ariel be Part of the (drag superstar) World? (Picture: VH1)

Ariel Versace

Jersey girl Ariel Versace is here to cause trouble, and stomping the runway in blue pastel.

Making her name online thanks to her make-up tutorials, she already has an impressive number of Instagram followers.

But can she prove that she’s more than a look queen and have what it takes to make it through to the next level of drag-dom?

If we’ve learned anything from fellow New Jersey native Michelle Visage, we know that she’s going to be causing some serious trouble.

The lady is a Vamp on the runway (Picture: VH1)

Brooke Lynn Hytes

While she sounds like she’s from the ‘burbs of New York, Brooke is actually a Nashville-based queen, and is actually Canadian.

A keen dancer, the star has an athletic body and she’s not afraid to show it.

She has already done the pageant circuit too, having won Miss Continental in 2014.

Could she be this year’s lip-sync assassin?

Honey’s arrival was simply bee-utiful (Picture: VH1)

Honey Davenport

The first New York queen of the season, Honey Davenport is another from the house of Davenport – so she literally has her drag sister A’keria in the competition.

Allegiances could be a good starting point for some queens, though they’ve often proven to be more trouble than they’re worth as time goes on.

She’s a pro singer, and often ditches the lip-syncs to go live while she performs.

Oh, and her drag mother is current All Stars 4 queen, Monet X Change.

Let’s hope she’s been given the heads up on the competition and can make it through to the end.

Kahana is Coco’s drag daughter (Picture: VH1)

Kahanna Montrese



It certainly seems like Ru is keeping it in the family this year! As Kahanna makes a play for the title her mama Coco failed to get.

Based in Las Vegas, Kahana has a background in dancing – so could easily prove to be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to choreography.

Make Mama proud, girl!

Chanel is inspired by Janet Jackson and Nicki Minaj (Picture: VH1)

Mercedes Iman Diamond

Mercedes Iman Diamond is making history for Drag Race as the first ever Muslim drag queen to appear on the show.

She auditioned five times before finally getting in – and she’s going to make sure every second counts.

Declaring to be influenced by Janet Jackson and Nicki Minaj, Mercedes also tries to incorporate her African roots where she can.

Could the bubbly Nina West bring in the fun for the competition? (Picture: VH1)

Nina West

Nina is hoping to keep it cute and above all wants drag to be fun.

Admitting she’s a pop culture nerd, she takes particular influence from Disney.

‘This is a dream come true, this is my ninth time auditioning,’ revealed Nina.

Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Nina reckons the musical Hairspray best sums her up: ‘You can’t stop the beat, and why would you want to?’

Stunning Plastique already has online fame thanks to Instagram (Picture: VH1)

Plastique Tiara

Plastique is already Insta-famous, but now she’s got to put her money where her mouth is for the new season.

Surprisingly though, she considers herself an introvert at heart, with her drag side being brought out of her by her drag mum, Alyssa Edwards.

‘She brings something out with me that I’ve never had before,’ she admits. ‘I am lucky to have her in my life.’


Also, Plastique is a maverick as that adorable baby pink hair do is all her own here. No wigs to be snatched here!

Rajah O’Hara is a fashionista on a mission (Picture: VH1)

Rajah O’Hara

There’s already been one winner named Raja in the history of the race, so can she make it a juicy double?

In her career, Rajah has followed in the list of former historical queens including Alyssa Edwards and Asia O’Hara to win the Miss Texas competition.

Scarlett by name, Envy by nature (Picture: VH1)

Scarlett Envy

Part Jessica Rabbit, part Blair St Clair from season 10, Scarlett definitely lived up to her bright lights of the season.

She has previously worked with season nine winner, Sasha Velour, who cast her in her stage show last year.

Is she as sweet as her name suggests? (Picture: VH1)

Shuga Cain

Another New York queen for the season 11 scene, Shuga is a comedy queen with an impressive set of pipes.

Born in California, she decided that LA wasn’t the life for her and instead moved to the city to pursue her career.

While Hollywood wasn’t a-calling for her back then, will stardom still take her through to the win in this year’s competition?

The larger than life star is a bundle of energy which could be a good or a bad thing (Picture: VH1)

Silky Nutmeg Ganache

There’s one thing for sure when it comes to Silky – she is not a queen you can forget too easy!

Making sure her five minute interview in the live show count, the star’s infectious laughter rang through our ears for a while after.

But what is she hiding under her cape that she thinks gives her the edge on the competition?

Can Korean star Soju slay the competition? (Picture: VH1)

Soju

Based in Chicago, Soju is proud of her Korean heritage, and incorporates it into her drag in any way she can.


A massive K-Pop fan, Soju has backed BlackPink as her favourite band right now.

She said: ‘I’m a little bit nervous, but I’m ready.’

When asked what the drink Sojo tastes like, the queen revealed it was ‘like watered down vodka, and a little sweet too, so it’s dangerous’.

Sounds like this girl could bring some fire!

Oddly by name, Oddly by nature (Picture: VH1)

Yvie Oddly

Yvie Oddly is this year’s queen who has a style all their own as she arrives in a fluorescent pirate outfit and purple Mohawk.

Clearly taking influence from the Club Kids, Yvie’s creations are just as oddly as her name makes them out to be, and her skills will be on full display in this year’s season.

She is also a circus performer – so get ready for some serious skills if she has to lip-sync for her life.

This queen is back and has a whole lot to prove (Picture: VH1)

Vanessa Vanjie Mateo

‘Bitches, I’m back!,’ Vanessa declares, and already she’s the gag of the season.

The megastar is the shock fifteenth addition for the season which was thrown in at the end of the livestream, sending shockwaves of ‘Yaaaaaassss’ noises around the world.

She’s already tried the competition once though – so the heat is on for her to prove her worth.

Will she make Ru regret bringing her back?

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The girls will now be going head-to-head to battle their way to the $100,000 prize money and the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar.

Who has the look but not the hustle? How many gagworthy

RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11 airs later this year on VH1 and Netflix.

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