World of Wonder has revealed the 14 drag performers who will be competing in its new singing competition, Queen of the Universe.
Those taking part will represent 10 regions around the world, including the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Denmark, Australia, Canada, England, France, China and India.
The show will see some of the world’s fiercest drag queens sing in front of the “Pop Diva Panel” of judges and a live audience.
With its inspiration being international singing competitions like Eurovision, the show will feature contestants from all over the world.
The unscripted series comes from World of Wonder, the same production company behind the Emmy Award-winning phenomenon RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Graham Norton was previously announced as the host of the show, with Paramount+ now confirming who will be judging the queens.
Drag Race legends Trixie Mattel and Michelle Visage will join the panel, bringing their drag and singing expertise with them as they search for the winner.
Also appearing is living legend Vanessa Williams, who has released eight studio albums and starred in hit shows such as Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives.
Rounding out the panel is Leona Lewis, winner of the X Factor and artist behind one of the world’s biggest hits, Bleeding Love.
Here are the performers competing for the $250,000 prize on the show’s debut season and their official bios:
Ada Vox (San Antonio, Tex.)
A former top-10 American Idol contestant, Ada Vox is living proof that everything’s bigger in Texas — including her voice! As a performer of seven years (and counting), Ada is ready to showcase her vocal skills on a global platform and get the redemption she’s seeking.
Aria B Cassadine (Atlanta, Ga.)
Aria B Cassadine, the 2018 winner of Miss Gay Black America, is ready to add the Queen of the Universe title to her already extensive collection of crowns. After starting her drag journey on a dare from a friend, Aria goes to the global stage ready to score yet another win for her already impressive drag resume.
Betty Bitschlap (Copenhagen, Denmark)
A full-time performer both in and out of drag, Betty Bitschlap will rock your socks off! When it comes to style, Betty has range; in the blink of an eye, she can effortlessly transform from punk-rockstar fantasy to a glamorous sequined gown complete with a not-a-hair-out-of-place updo.
Chy’enne Valentino (Chicago, Ill.)
Chy’enne Valentino has been singing since the age of 5 and broke out onstage at 18 years old, competing to win Miss Continental Plus in 2018. A former American Idol contestant who now runs her own bakery called Pound Your Cakes, she’s ready to pound her vocal cords and prove she’s worthy of the crown.
Gingzilla (Sydney, Australia)
After attending performing arts school in Australia and clown school in Paris, 7-foot-tall Aussie-native Gingzilla doesn’t need much to stand out in a crowd! No stranger to competition, Gingzilla has performed on America’s Got Talent and The X Factor in the UK — but now this Down Under diva is ready to conquer the universe.
Grag Queen (Canela, Brazil)
Brazilian bombshell Grag Queen grew up singing in church at an early age. She now finds herself belting to the masses on social media with 2 million TikTok fans, all of whom love her outrageous performances and over the top personality.
Jujubee (Boston, Mass.)
A double RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Star whose personality has captured the hearts of millions, Jujubee is a multi-threat: lip-sync assassin, comedian, recording artist, makeup artist — she does it all! Best known to the world for her glamorous and stylistic drag, she’s ready to show the world she’s not just a pretty face — she also has some pretty amazing vocals to match!
La Voix (London, England)
Hometown Queen La Voix has already experienced royalty first hand, having previously appeared before the British royal family. A former participant on Britain’s Got Talent who now sells out theaters across the country, her name is French and means simply “The Voice!”
Leona Winter (Paris, France)
Leona Winter is a countertenor baritone with a three-octave voice that’s often called “tres jolie” by her fans and admirers all around the world. Her vocal talents were showcased on France’s The Voice, where she became a semi-finalist, and later when she became the winner of The Switch (Chile’s version of Drag Race).
Matante Alex (Montreal, Canada)
Matante Alex started singing at 13 years old in her parents’ basement and soon thereafter discovered her true passion – yodeling! Matante’s name translates to “my aunt” in French, but this inventive queen with a country heart of gold is anything but traditional.
Novaczar (New York, N.Y.)
Hailing from New York City, Novaczar might be the youngest queen in the competition but isn’t deterred nonetheless. This self-proclaimed Empress of the Galaxy’s secret weapon, their voice, has been trained in opera, rock, and musical theater and is ready to rule the furthest reaches of the galaxy.
Rani Ko-He-Nur (Mumbai, India)
With the crown of 2014’s Mr. Gay India among her credits, Rani Ko-he-nur has over a million Instagram followers and has appeared in countless magazines such as Vogue India, Cosmopolitan, and Elle. Having also appeared in the Forbes 30 under 30 list, the trans/gender fluid performer is ready to break out on the global stage and share her gift of song with the world.
Regina Voce (Mexico City, Mexico)
With over 30 years of stage experience and a former performer in Cirque Du Soleil, Regina now works as a vocal coach. The word Regina in Spanish means ‘queen’ and Voce in Italian means ‘voice,’ so Regina Voce is quite literally “Queen of the Voice” – will the stars align for her to become Queen of the Universe?
Woowu (Guangzhou, China)
Self-taught singer WooWu left her traditional Cantonese household in Guangzhou for the bright lights of Shanghai. A fan of Christina Aguilera, Cher, and Patti LaBelle who describes her drag persona as “pink, feminine and perfect,” WooWu comes to the competition hoping to not just shine a light on the growing drag scene in China but also to break barriers.
Queen of the Universe premieres on 2 December.
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