Culture

For 9 years, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has been showcasing the very best in the drag queen world. There have been over 100 contestants that have fought for the crown and title for best drag queen. Here are 24 of the Latina drag queens that have graced our screens and the RuPaul runway.

1. Valentina

CREDIT: allaboutvalentina / Instagram

The Los Angeles-based queen caused a stir on her season when she was shockingly eliminated after being a strong competitor. She dropped the ball during her lip sync and didn’t learn the words. She even tried to leave her mask on and Mama Ru was not having it. At least she won Miss Congeniality Fan Favorite.

2. Bianca del Rio

CREDIT: therealbiancadelrio / Instagram

You’re a winner baby! Bianca del Rio made “Drag Race” herstory when she became the first Latina drag queen to take home the crown on season 5. Since the show, Del Rio has enjoyed a fair amount of success even touring the country with her own edgy and slightly uncomfortable comedy shows. Seriously, her shows might go a bit too far for many but they are great for people with vulgar senses of humor.

3. Adore Delano

CREDIT: adoredelano / Instagram

Adore Delano first hit the “Drag Race” scene in season 6 and lasted until the 14th episode. However, her return to All-Stars season 2 was a shocker after she quit the show two episodes in. To be fair, Delano had already built a music career by the time she returned and her look works for her. She didn’t appreciate the judges critiquing her look that made her who she is to her adoring fans.

4. Violet Chachki

CREDIT: violetchachki / Instagram

Yes. She is Latina, in case you weren’t aware. She is also the second Latina queen to take home the crown as “Drag Race” winner. She can cinch her waist better than any queen and who can forget about her fall runway surprise outfit reveal on season 7. Sick. En. Ing.

5. Cynthia Lee Fontaine

CREDIT: cynthialeefontaine / Instagram

Cynthia Lee Fontaine is a two-time contestant on “RuPaul’s Drag Race”. First, she was on season 8 and then came back as a surprise contestant on season 9. If you give her a moment, she will gladly tell you about her cucu while being unapologetic about her thick, Puerto Rican accent. She’s also just loud enough to get your attention in a crowded bar during PRIDE.

6. Carmen Carrera

CREDIT: carmen_carrera / Instagram

Carmen Carrera sissied that walk down the runway in season 3. Not only did she get eliminated from the show, she was let go twice. Brutal. Luckily, that never slowed her down and Carmen Carrera, who transitioned after the show, went on to become a very successful model. She has been using her fame as a model to bring attention to the plight of LGBTQ people, especially trans people, throughout Latin America and is engaged in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

7. Roxxxy Andrews

CREDIT: roxxxyandrews / Instagram

Roxxxy Andrews is another queen to have competed on her own season as well as on an All Star season. While the was eliminated in both, Andrews wore her heart on her sleeve and never backed down from her emotions. She even shared the heartbreaking story of how the thought of elimination brought back feelings of not being wanted by her mother. According to Andrews, her mother left her and her sister at a bus station when she was just a young child and never returned.

8. Ginger Minj

CREDIT: gingerminj / Instagram

Glamor Toad Realness personified, that’s who Ginger Minj is. The Orlando queen loves everything about her body and is not about to back down from her self-love anytime soon. Minj was a contestant on All Stars Season 2 after being the runner up on season 7. Just take one second and research this self proclaimed crossdresser for Christ and you will surely fall in love.

9. Jessica Wild

CREDIT: jessicawild88 / Instagram

Jessica Wild is another season 2 queen and she definitely left a mark on fans. Her elimination came after a maxi challenge sponsored by Absolut Berri Acai cocktail. The queens were supposed to do an interview where they plug their autobiography and the cocktail but Wild spent too much time on the cocktail. There is also consensus that the language barrier might have led to misunderstandings that factored into her elimination.

10. Monica Beverly Hillz

CREDIT: monicabhillz / Instagram

Monica Beverly Hillz is credited with being the first transgender woman to come out as trans while filming the show. Three other queens have transitioned but made the announcement of their transition after the show wrapped. Hillz is the queen that sent Serena ChaCha packing in episode 2 of season 5. She was sent home the following episode.

11. Lineysha Sparx

CREDIT: lineyshasparx / Instagram

Lineysha Sparx was born in New York City but lives in Puerto Rico after moving there with her mother and father when she was 6. She tried her best in season 5 but just couldn’t cut it and was eliminated by Detox. She started strong with a high finish in episode 1 and a win in episode 2.

12. Naysha Lopez

CREDIT: nayshalopez / Instagram

Naysha Lopez is another queen with the rare title of being sent home twice in one season. She was the first queen eliminated in her season but was brought back by RuPaul in episode 3. Even though was was brought back in episode 3, she was quickly eliminated in episode 4 bringing her time on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to an end.

13. Madame LaQueer

CREDIT: madamelaqueer / Instagram

Madame LaQueer is the drag mother of Lineysha Sparx. Her name is an homage to a character of a telenovela that she loved when she was younger. The character, according to LaQueer, was the villain of the show and the head of a whore house. Well, that’s something.

14. Kandy Ho

CREDIT: ho_kandy / Instagram

Kandy Ho is a member of The Doll House, a Puerto Rican drag house, that is also home to April Carrión. Ho made it 6 episodes on season 7 competing alongside Ginger Minj and Violet Chachki. She spent most of her life living in Puerto Rico and made sure that everyone knew that she is from Puerto Rico during her entrance to the workroom.

15. Alisa Summers

CREDIT: alisasummersofficial / Instagram

Alisa Summers is the only Latina drag queen to come in last place on the show. She just wasn’t able to out lip sync Jiggly Caliente to stick around for another week of season 4. Her name is an homage to Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes but it was her drag mother who recommended that she add the “A” to Lisa to make it different.

16. Alexis Mateo

CREDIT: alexismateoofficial / Instagram

Alexis Mateo first entered the RuPaul universe in season 3. She did well, winning three challenges throughout the season before being eliminated winning 3rd place. She came back in All Stars Season 1 and battled against some of the top queens to come in 5th place. Mateo continues to perform around the world often sharing the stage with her RuPaul sisters.

17. Rebecca Glasscock

CREDIT: the_javier_rivera / Instagram

Rebecca Glasscock was part of the maiden season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” often referred to as the “Lost Season” since you can’t find clips anywhere. Season 1 started to break down the mainstream idea of what it means to be a drag queen and helped pave the way for the seasons that followed. Her social media doesn’t show her to be as active in the drag community but she still performs because you can’t be an original RuPaul queen and not perform.

18. Kenya Michaels

CREDIT: realkenyamichaels / Instagram

Kenya Michaels was a contestant on season 4 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and was also eliminated twice. The first time was after a bad Beyoncé impression that fell flat and the second time she was eliminated the same episode she was brought back for. Michaels is a survivor of the Pulse Nightclub shooting that shook the LGBTQ Latinx community in Jun 2016. Michaels had just finished performing her last number in the Orlando nightclub when the shooter entered and opened fire on the crowd.

19. Yara Sofia

CREDIT: yarasofiapr / Instagram

Yara Sofia was originally born in Puerto Rico and currently lives in Las Vegas. The queen slayed on season 3 ending in 4th place, and also being voted as Miss Congeniality. She then came back fro All Stars 1 where she left in 5th place. The fierce queen continues to slay on stage and even hosts her own night at Piranha Club in Las Vegas. Get it.

20. Delta Work

CREDIT: deltawork / Instagram

Delta Work was a season 3 firecracker as she battled it out with the other queens. She made it to 7th place on her season and was sent home by Manila Luzon. Since her time on the show, Delta Work has made a big name for herself, even getting the attention of Adele while dressed as her at a concert. More importantly though, Delta Work is the new mastermind behind RuPaul’s hair for “RuPaul’s Drag Race” since season 9.

21. Jade Sotomayor

CREDIT: jadesotomayor / Instagram

Jade Sotomayor stays in the public eye with appearances and performances across the country. She is another queen to have appeared on the very first season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and lasted for four episodes earning her 4th place.

22. Nina Flowers

CREDIT: djninaflowers / Instagram

Nina Flowers was a season 1 contestant and an All Stars 1 participant. On season 1, Flowers made it to second place losing to the first ever “RuPaul’s Drag Race” queen Bebe Zahara Benet. Flowers proved that drag queens can be super edgy and artistic and she has since used her talents to become a successful DJ.

23. Serena ChaCha

CREDIT: myron.morgan / Instagram

Serena ChaCha was one of the most controversial queens to ever set foot on the catwalk. ChaCha made waves in season 5 before being sent home after the second episode. ChaCha stepped on several toes when she talked about how she was educated to the dismay of many viewers and some of her competitors. After “RuPaul’s Drag Race” ChaCha has become a wig designer with her own line of wigs sold for a pretty hefty price.

24. April Carrión

CREDIT: aprilcarrion / Instagram

April Carrión first started drag while in Puerto Rico and she knew that she found something she loved. It wasn’t long until she was performing and eventually landing a spot on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 6. She only made it to the 4th episode but she has used her fame to highlight the lives of trans people and drag queens living in Puerto Rico in her project called “MALA MALA”.

Aren’t they fabulous?

CREDIT: To Wong Foo: Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar / Universal Pictures

Way to go, queens. Your visibility will make it possible for more young Latinos to show the world the beauty they have inside.

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