Logo to premiere 'RuPaul's Drag Race' reality competition on February 2

Logo has announced that RuPaul's Drag Race, a new reality drag queen competition, will premiere on Monday, February 2 at 10PM ET/PT.


RuPaul's Drag Race will feature the legendary drag queen serving as host, mentor and judge as she welcomes nine drag queens who will compete for the title of America's Next Drag Queen Star.

The show's contestants will take part in a number of challenges ranging from photo shoots, to fashion designing, to real woman makeovers, to performing in the first music video from RuPaul's upcoming album, "Champion."

"Tell Tyra that the Queen has returned, and while you're at it have Heidi clear the runway. I'm going to pump some 'realness' into reality," RuPaul said of her first venture into reality television.

"To be a winner on this show the contestants need to be a fashion designer, an American idol, and a top model all rolled up into one. And they definitely have to be smarter than a fifth grader."


Each week, RuPaul will be joined on the judges panel by fashion journalist and author Merle Ginsberg, former Project Runway designer Santino Rice, and a celebrity guest judge as they determine the bottom two contestants who must compete in a "lip synch for your life" to try and stay on the show.

Among the celebrity guest judges on the show will be designer Bob Mackie, former Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams, actress Lucy Lawless, singer/actress Maria Conchita Alonso, The Pussycat Dolls creator Robin Antin, former MAD TV cast member Debra Wilson, model/actress Jenny Shimizu, actress Tori Spelling, actor Dean McDermott, author Howard Bragman, choreographer Frank Gatson, and M.A.C vice president Gordon Espinet.

While each of the show's eight one-hour episodes will focus on each contestants talents as a drag queen, they will also demonstrate the courage of the men who overcome being mocked for acting like women.

"RuPaul made history as drag's first glamour superstar and will do so once again bringing together a group of exceptionally talented drag artists in the world's first drag reality series," said Brian Graden, President of Logo and MTV Networks Music Group Entertainment.

Logo ordered the series last May.


RuPaul's Drag Race is produced by World of Wonder Productions with Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell and RuPaul Charles serving as executive producers.

The nine drag queen performers who will be competing on RuPaul's Drag Race are:

- Akashia from Cleveland, OH

- Bebe Zahara Benet from Minneapolis, MN

- Jade from Chicago, IL


- Nina Flowers from Denver, CO

- Ongina from Los Angeles, CA

- Rebecca Glasscock from Ft. Lauderdale, FL

- Shannel from Las Vegas, NV

- Tammie Brown from Los Angeles, CA


- Victoria Parker from Raleigh, NC






About The Author: John Bracchitta