Drag Race Down Under

For the most recent season, see RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under season 3. For the franchise, see Drag Race (franchise).

Drag Race Down Under
Also known asRuPaul's Drag Race Down Under
GenreReality competition
Based onRuPaul's Drag Race
Presented by
Judges
Theme music composerRuPaul
Opening themeRuPaul's Drag Race theme
Ending theme"I'm a Winner, Baby (Skeltal Ki Remix)"
Country of originNew Zealand
Australia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes24
Production
Executive producers
  • RuPaul Charles
  • Fenton Bailey
  • Randy Barbato
  • Tom Campbell
ProducerAmanda Pain
Production locationNew Zealand
Editors
  • Kermath
  • Cameron Pouesi
  • Lachlan Wilson
  • Jake Tattersall
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesWorld of Wonder
Warner Bros. International Television Production New Zealand
Original release
NetworkStan (AU)
TVNZ 2 & TVNZ+ (NZ, 2021-2023)
BBC Three (UK)
WOW Presents Plus (International)
Release1 May 2021 (2021-05-01) –
present
Related
Drag Race franchise
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Drag Race Down Under (formerly RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under) is a reality competition television series based on the American television series of the same name produced by World of Wonder and Warner Bros. International Television Production New Zealand. The show documents RuPaul and a panel of judges' search for "Down Under's next drag superstar". Contestants of Drag Race Down Under are either from Australia or New Zealand. RuPaul has played several roles on the show including host, mentor, and head judge for the series, as the contestants are given different challenges to participate in each week. The show has also employed Michelle Visage and Rhys Nicholson as judges. The series premiered on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ OnDemand in New Zealand, Stan in Australia,[1] and on WOW Presents Plus internationally on 1 May 2021.[2] The series is also streaming on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom,[3][4] and broadcast by both Crave and its associated streaming service in Canada.[5]

Drag Race Down Under is the sixth international adaptation of the American reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race, following Chilean, Thai, British, Canadian, and Dutch versions. It has been followed by Spanish, Italian, French, Philippine, Belgian, Swedish, Mexican, Brazilian, and German iterations.

The ten drag queens from season one compete for the title of the "Down Under's first Drag Superstar", a one-year supply of Revolution Beauty Cosmetics, and a cash prize of A$30,000. The winner of the first season was Kita Mean. In September 2021, the series was renewed for a second season.[6] Casting closed on 5 October 2021.[7] It premiered on July 30, 2022. The winner of the second season was Spankie Jackzon. Casting for season three opened on 24 October 2022.[8] It aired from 28 July to 15 September 2023. Isis Avis Loren won.

On March 11, 2024, WOW announced that RuPaul had stepped down as host and judge of the show, but would remain on as executive producer. Michelle Visage took over as host and main judge from the fourth season, due to premiere in 2024. Because of RuPaul’s exit as host and judge, the show was renamed Drag Race Down Under.[9]

  1. ^ Reich, Hannah (30 April 2021). "Rupaul's Drag Race Down Under: A guide to the Australian version of the drag queen reality TV competition". ABC. Archived from the original on 8 July 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  2. ^ Earp, Catherine (8 April 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race announces premiere date for Australian spin-off". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  3. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under". BBC Three. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  4. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under: When is it on? And everything else you need to know". 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  5. ^ "April 29 – May 5: Crave Weekly Streaming Overview". 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  6. ^ Sim, Bernardo (9 September 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Season 2 Officially Renewed For 2022". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  7. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Casting". Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  8. ^ "G'day, g'day, g'day~ 🦘🥝 Casting has officially begun for #DragRaceDownUnder Season 3!". Instagram. 24 October 2022. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  9. ^ "RuPaul steps down as Drag Race Down Under host, Michelle Visage takes over judges panel". EW. Retrieved 11 March 2024.