'RuPaul's Drag Race' Is Bringing Its Fashion Challenges and Lip Sync Battles Down Under

The eight-part series will air on Stan and TVNZ OnDemand later this year.
Sarah Ward
January 19, 2021

It has been 12 years since RuPaul's Drag Race first premiered in the US, and its mission to unearth the next drag superstars shows no signs of stopping. Currently, the original series is airing its thirteenth season, while international versions also exist in the UK — also hosted by RuPaul — plus Thailand, Holland, Chile and Canada. Next, it's finally making the leap to Australia and New Zealand.

RuPaul's Drag Race already airs locally, but, in exciting news, it's now it's being made here as well — courtesy of the aptly titled RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under. The just-announced eight-part series will focus on Aussie and NZ drag queens battling for supremacy, and will air on Stan in Australia and TVNZ OnDemand in New Zealand sometime later in 2021.

And, while not all overseas iterations of Drag Race are hosted by RuPaul, RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under definitely will be. RuPaul will also take on judging duties with show veteran Michelle Visage, with the final judge yet to be announced. Just who'll be competing, and which celebrities will make guest appearances, will also be unveiled later in the year.

Fans already know the format — so expect to see fashion challenges, workroom dramas and lip sync battles aplenty. If you're a newcomer to all things Drag Race, you'll watch Australian and NZ drag queens work through a series of contests to emerge victorious, and join the likes of US contenders Jinkx Monsoon, Sasha Velour and Sharon Needles in being crowned the series' winner.

Revealing the news, RuPaul said "I cannot wait for everyone to see that Down Under queens have some of the biggest charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talents in the world". If you're eager for more until RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under hits, you can also check out the show's announcement below — featuring RuPaul, of course:

RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under will hit Stan and TVNZ OnDemand sometime later in 2021 — we'll update you with an air date once further details are announced.

Top image: RuPaul's Drag Race.

Published on January 19, 2021 by Sarah Ward
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