Meet The Queens Of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Vs The World Season 3 With Release Date Confirmed

They’re back bolder, louder, and ready to slay the world all over again.

Ten powerhouse Queens strut back into the werkroom as RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World returns to BBC Three and BBC iPlayer for its electrifying third series.

RuPaul welcomes an all-star line-up of standout Queens from across the global Drag Race universe, going head-to-head with some of the UK’s most iconic and celebrated drag talent. This high-stakes spin-off takes everything fans love about Drag Race UK and turns the competition up to maximum fiercer runways, sharper reads, and game-changing twists at every turn.

With international pride, a £50,000 cash prize, and the coveted title of Queen of the Mothertucking World on the line, only one Queen will rise above the rest and snatch the crown.

RuPaul ru-veals this season’s global glamazons in Meet the Queens: UK vs The World Series 3 (1x20’), streaming now on BBC iPlayer. The brand-new series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World premieres Monday 27 January at 9pm on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, and will be available worldwide on WOW Presents Plus for viewers outside the UK.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World is a World of Wonder production for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, commissioned by Fiona Campbell, Interim Director of Unscripted, and Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC. Executive Producers for World of Wonder include Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, RuPaul Charles, Bruce McCoy, Matt Green, and Johnni Javier, with Ruby Kuraishe serving as BBC Commissioning Editor.

Representing RuPaul's Drag Race UK 🇬🇧

Kate Butch 🇬🇧

Placement: 5th place (Series 5) 

Maxi-Challenge Wins: Acting Challenge 

Pronouns: They/Them (Out of Drag), She/Her (In Drag)

The Comic Sans of drag is ready to glamp again.

Kate Butch rolled into the Drag Race werkroom with an effervescent theatrical flourish, instantly cementing themself as a top-tier comedy Queen delighting the judges, the audience, and most importantly, Mama Ru. A master of perfectly pitched silliness, this Yorkshire icon shone brightest in comedy and acting challenges, delivering a memorably chaotic “wild Kate Bush” for Snatch Game and earning a coveted RuPeter badge for their melodramatic turn in Holedark.

Though Kate’s journey ended after a stumble in the makeover challenge, they’ve been winning in life ever since. With a thriving stand-up and theatre career, alongside multiple film and television appearances, Kate has become a familiar face well beyond the werkroom. They’ve even conquered the quiz world taking home the trophy on Celebrity Mastermind, with Shrek as their specialist subject… while dressed as the Dragon from Shrek, because of course they were.

Now back and ready to slay for the UK, Kate describes their drag as “glamour and camp: glamping” and truly, there is no one more deserving of the title Queen of Glamping.

Sminty Drop 🇬🇧

Placement: 9th place (Series 4)

Pronouns: He/Him (Out of Drag), She/Her (In Drag)

This Lancashire hotpot is set on global domination, one sad-twerk at a time.

Sminty Drop burst onto RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in a whirlwind of chaos, charisma, and ice-cold fashion. Week after week, RuPaul and the judges praised her bold, avant-garde runway presentations, with Sminty consistently delivering looks that were striking, unexpected, and unmistakably her own. Her unforgettable BBC runway interpretation of Antiques Roadshow instantly cemented her as a fashion risk-taker and a true original.

The Lancashire lass brought undeniable star quality to the competition, pairing high-concept fashion with natural charm and a sharp sense of humour. Even after a fateful improv challenge cut her journey short, Sminty transformed heartbreak into history bidding farewell to the werkroom with an instantly iconic sad-twerk exit that stopped the judges in their tracks.

That legendary moment set the Drag Race fandom ablaze, launching Sminty Drop into meme immortality and solidifying her status as a Drag Race icon. Since then, she’s sad-twerked her way across the globe, released music, and taken her fearless fashion sensibility to the world stage including strutting the runways of Paris Fashion Week.

Now back and ready to represent her country in drag, Sminty Drop returns with a vengeance:

“I’m never going to be Miss Congeniality. They need to know who the top dog is.”

Zahirah Zapanta 🇬🇧

Placement: 10th place (Series 6)

Pronouns: He/Him (Out of Drag) She/Her (In Drag)

Re-enter the void with Nottingham’s finest Filipino beauty queen!

Zahirah Zapanta stormed into the Drag Race werkroom who quickly proved herself a seamstress supreme and a magician with a makeup brush. Bold, brilliant, and often the loudest voice in the room, Zahirah was never one to fade into the background. Her unfiltered commentary, infectious confidence, and fierce team spirit made her an instant fan favourite.

Born in the Philippines, Zahirah’s drag is deeply inspired by the glamour of Filipino beauty pageant queens, blended with a sharp edge of modern British club kid. The result? A powerhouse aesthetic that commands attention on and off the runway. Despite her undeniable talent, a ghoulish girl group challenge ultimately cut her original Drag Race journey short.

Now, with unfinished business and something to prove, Zahirah is returning locked, loaded, and ready for an epic comeback. This time, she’s bringing the full force of her drag bigger looks, sharper claws, and zero fear.

As Zahirah puts it:

“I ain’t scared of none of these girls. This time, I’m ready to fight tooth and nail.” 👑🔥

Rest Of The World 🌍

Mariah Balenciaga 🇺🇸

RuPaul's Drag Race USA

Placement: 9th place (Series 3) | 8th place RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (Series 5)

Pronouns: He/Him (Out of Drag), She/Her (In Drag)

This veteran ballroom beauty is ready for her Ru-demption moment.

A polished glamazon with an acerbic wit, Mariah is an OG legend in every sense of the word. Making her debut on New York’s ballroom scene at just 18 years old in 1999, she quickly cemented herself as a true icon. By the time RuPaul’s Drag Race was still in its infancy, RuPaul personally selected Mariah to compete on Season Three in 2011 marking her place in Drag Race herstory.

The Atlanta beauty delivered glamourpuss realness and razor-sharp one-liners, establishing herself as one of the iconic early-season girls who helped shape the Drag Race legacy. Nine years later, Mariah answered the call once again, returning for All Stars with renewed grace, poise, and emotional depth. Her self-penned original track, “Stains on the Wall,” became a standout moment earning high praise from RuPaul and guest judge Ricky Martin, and leaving a lasting impression on fans worldwide.

Despite a shock early exit, the Grand Dame remains entirely undeterred. For Mariah, longevity is her superpower.

At 44, she is the eldest competitor in the cast but with 27 years of drag evolution behind her, she’s also the most seasoned. And this time, she’s not holding back.

“Y’all are going to get Mariah 3.0,” she declares.

“I don’t care what it takes I’m doing it.” 👑🔥

Gawdland 🇹🇭

Drag Race Thailand

Placement: Finalist – Third Place (Series 3)

Maxi-Challenge Wins: The Rusical, The Makeover

Pronouns: He/Him (Out of Drag), They/Them (In Drag)

This Bangkok beauty is stunning, and unpredictable!

Gawdland may be petite in stature, but his reputation on Bangkok’s drag scene is nothing short of colossal. A formidable glamazon, Gawdland dominated Drag Race Thailand, powering through the competition with only a brief stumble in Snatch Game. Along the way, he claimed standout wins in the Rusical and Makeover challenges, securing his place in the finale.

Armed with a flawless face card, razor-sharp drag, and a high-octane performance style fuelled by pure adrenaline, Gawdland is the embodiment of the bold creativity and boundary-pushing artistry that Thai drag is celebrated for worldwide.

Now stepping onto the UK and global stage for the very first time, Gawdland is ready to unleash absolute chaos. Unapologetic, fearless, and laser-focused on the crown, he’s entering the competition with one goal in mind.

“I’m going to be as crazy as possible,” he promises.

“This is not RuPaul’s best friend race… I’m here to win.” 👑🔥

Fontana 🇸🇪

Drag Race Sweden

Placement: Finalist - Runner-Up (Series 1)

Maxi Challenge Wins: Girl Group Challenge

Pronouns: Any (Out of Drag), She/Her (In Drag)

This Swedish Brazilian firecracker left São Leopoldo behind for world domination.

Born in Brazil, Fontana relocated to Sweden at the age of 20, quickly establishing themself as one of the country’s most formidable drag talents. Renowned for high-octane performances and a vibrant visual identity rooted in their Brazilian heritage, Fontana brings undeniable heat to every stage they step onto.

Fontana’s drag aesthetic is a striking fusion of Brazilian splendour, high fashion, and Scandinavian chic resulting in impeccably polished looks and precision beauty that consistently impressed the judges. A passionate and focused competitor, Fontana proved themself to be a serious threat by racing all the way to the final of their season.

Now stepping into the global spotlight, Fontana is locked in, fearless, and ready for battle.

In their own words:

“I’m not here to play dirty, but I am here to take out the trash. I am ready to fight…” 👑🔥

Melinda Verga 🇨🇦

Canada's Drag Race

Placement: 5th place (Season 4)

Maxi-Challenge Wins: Snatch Game

Pronouns: He/Him (Out of Drag), He/Him (In Drag)

Oh Canada! This showgirl is 100 per cent faithful to winning.

Melinda Verga is an old-school entertainer bursting with charisma something hinted at perfectly by his drag name (just check the Spanish translation). From the moment he hit the Drag Race stage, Melinda stormed his season and quickly became one of Canada’s most talked-about queens.

A true force of personality, Melinda’s unfiltered confessionals and legendary meltdowns made him instantly meme-worthy, while his sharp comedic instincts earned him the Snatch Game win. After surviving lip sync after lip sync, audiences couldn’t help but admire his raw passion, nerve, and refusal to go quietly.

Since Drag Race, the Filipino-Canadian queen has crossed over into mainstream reality television, becoming a standout on The Traitors Canada where, once again, Melinda famously held nothing back. That experience has clearly sharpened his competitive edge and informed his gameplay going into this global showdown.

As Melinda himself declares:

“I’m ready for some backstabbing and manipulation

I’ll send these b*****s home.” 😈👑

Serena Morena 🇲🇽

Drag Race Mexico

Placement: 8th place (Series 1) 

Pronouns: He/She/They (Out of Drag), She/Her (In Drag)

This Mexican lady is ready to fiesta forever - all night long!

Serena Morena made an unforgettable splash on the first-ever season of Drag Race Mexico, finishing eighth and winning legions of fans with her charisma, uniqueness, and fearless love of shocking an audience. A cheeky queen with a playful edge who still lives with her mum Serena quickly proved she was anything but predictable.

A true siren of the stage, Serena thrives on energy, attitude, and unapologetic fun. Her drag is bold, mischievous, and designed to keep the competition guessing. Now, she’s more than ready to represent Mexico on the world stage stepping into what she proudly calls the Olympics of Drag.

Thrilled to be competing in the UK “especially for the men” Serena is promising chaos from the very first episode, issuing a warning to her fellow Queens:

“I’m a nasty lady. I’m Mexican. Don’t mess with me!” 😈👑

Minty Fresh 🇵🇭

Drag Race Philippines

Placement: 5th place (Season 1) 

Pronouns: He/Him (Out of Drag), She/Her (In Drag)

Maxi-Challenge Wins: Talent Show and Design Challenge 

This Filipino powerhouse is ready to claim the win!

In 2022, Minty Fresh stormed into Drag Race Philippines and made an immediate impact. A frontrunner from the very first episode, Minty kicked off his run with a decisive Talent Show win, before securing a second victory in the Design Challenge. Consistently praised for his ultra-stylish, impeccably polished looks, Minty quickly established himself as one of the season’s most formidable competitors.

Famed for serving a flawless face card and high-fashion drag, Minty is a proud ambassador of the fierce Filipino drag scene and for him, this competition is about far more than a crown. It’s a matter of national pride. A fateful girl group challenge ultimately ended his journey at the semi-finals, but his impact was undeniable.

Now stepping onto the global stage, Minty is ready to deliver nothing less than a spectacle.

“It’s a full production, baby. You’ll be obsessed,” he promises.

“I’m not a showgirl I’m a headliner.” 👑🔥

The Only Noamy 🇩🇪

Drag Race Germany

Placement: 10th place (Series 1)

Pronouns: He/Him (Out of Drag), They/Them (In Drag)

The only Naomy can’t wait to meet the one and only Mama Ru!

The Only Naomy - Naomy for short - is a German supermodel. You may have already guessed that their name is inspired by another famous supermodel, with whom they share many similar traits including a beautiful face, and a statuesque presence. Naomy made their Drag Race debut on the first ever season of Drag Race Germany in 2023, where they received praise for their deft make up artistry and edgy looks. Exiting at the Rusical challenge, Naomy didn’t get the chance to show off their full bag of tricks, but this time round they are ready to go the full distance for Germany.

Naomy issues this warning: “Don’t mess with me, I might be the villain of the season.”