The seventeenth season of the American

reality competition Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring ordinary people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1990s ...

series ''

RuPaul's Drag Race ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the Drag Race (franchise), ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder (company), World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, ...

'' premiered on January 3, 2025. This marks the third season to air through cable network

MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...

. The seventeenth installment of the series documents drag queen

RuPaul RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960) is an American drag queen, television host, singer, producer, writer, and actor. He produces, hosts, and judges the reality competition series ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' and has received List of awards ...

in search of the Next Drag Superstar for the United States with a cash prize of $200,000. RuPaul and

Michelle Visage Michelle Visage (born Michelle Lynn Shupack, September 20, 1968) is an American television personality, singer, broadcaster, producer, and actress. She gained recognition as a member of the dance-pop group Seduction (group), Seduction, who char ...

remained as regular judges, alongside

Carson Kressley Carson Kressley (born November 11, 1969) is an American television personality, actor, and designer. Beginning in 2003, he appeared in the Bravo series '' Queer Eye for the Straight Guy''. He was also the motivational host of the TV show '' How ...

Ts Madison Madison Hinton, known professionally as Ts Madison, is an American entertainer and actress. With the reality show ''The Ts Madison Experience'', she became the first Black transgender woman to star in and act as executive producer of her own rea ...

, and

Ross Mathews Ross Mathews (born September 24, 1979) is an American television host and personality. He rose to fame as an intern and a correspondent for ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno''; he was known as "Ross the Intern" on air. Mathews has appeared on '' ...

as alternating judges for the series.

Law Roach Lawrence Roach is an American fashion stylist, best-known for his work with artists such as Zendaya, Céline Dion, and Anya Taylor-Joy. Roach served as a primary judge on the Max competition series '' Legendary'' (2020–2022). He announced his ...

, who had previously appeared as a guest judge, made a reappearance as an alternating judge. Onya Nurve won the season and was crowned America's Next Drag Superstar. Jewels Sparkles was the runner-up and Crystal Envy was voted Miss Congeniality.

Production

Development

Throughout social media, the host

announced a casting call for drag performers to apply for the seventeenth season on October 30, 2023. The final deadline coincided with the premiere episode of season sixteen on January 5, 2024. Two months later, RuPaul published his memoir titled '' The House of Hidden Meanings'' and embarked on a book tour where he was given a flash drive containing an audition tape from drag queen Hormona Lisa. Just months after its sixteenth season concluding, American cable network

announced the series renewal, including the companion series, on August 16.

Werkroom

As season sixteen received several nominations at the

76th Primetime Emmy Awards The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards honored the best in American prime time television programming from June 1, 2023, until May 31, 2024, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The awards ceremony was held live on September 15, 202 ...

, many journalists had the opportunity to visit the main stage and the workroom set. Fans quickly realized the newly constructed set for the upcoming season with journalists for ''

People The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...

'' witnessing previous contestants

Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige (born 1988/1989) is an American drag performer who competed on season 16 of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. Career Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige competed on season 16 of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. For the Snatch Game challenge, she imperson ...

and Morphine Love Dion using the main stage for a lip-sync contest. ''

Architectural Digest ''Architectural Digest'' (stylized in all caps) is an American monthly magazine founded in 1920. Its principal subjects are interior design and landscaping, rather than pure external architecture. The magazine is published by Condé Nast ...

'' released a video on August 22, where previous winner

Nymphia Wind Leo Tsao ( zh, 曹米駬; born July 23, 1995), known professionally as Nymphia Wind ( zh, 妮妃雅‧瘋), is a Taiwanese-American Drag (entertainment), drag performer and dressmaker. In 2024, Nymphia Wind was crowned the winner of RuPaul's Drag ...

tours around the set with production designer Jen Chu explaining the scenery and inspiration for the series.

Tribute

The

British Broadcasting Corporation The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public broadcasting, public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved in ...

(BBC) reported British drag performer

The Vivienne James Lee Williams (12 April 1992 – 5 January 2025), known professionally as The Vivienne, was a British drag queen from Colwyn Bay, Wales, and winner of the RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 1, first series of ''RuPaul's Drag Race UK'' in 2019. T ...

, inaugurated winner of ''

RuPaul's Drag Race UK ''RuPaul's Drag Race UK'' is a British reality competition television series based on the American television series of the same name. The television series, a collaboration between the BBC and World of Wonder, premiered on 3 October 2019. T ...

'' (2019) and contestant of ''

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars ''RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars'' is an American reality competition spin off edition of the original ''RuPaul's Drag Race'', which is produced by World of Wonder, for Logo TV and later VH1. The show premiered on October 22, 2012, on Logo TV, ...

'' (2022), had died on January 5, 2025. Subsequently, the second episode of the season featured an

in memoriam segment An in memoriam segment is a memorial to the people, of one particular field or industry, who have recently died. Typically, such memorials air on television, mostly during awards ceremonies. These segments consist of images or video clips of the ...

dedicated to The Vivienne, following the regular credits on January 10.

Marketing

A ten-second teaser was released on November 22, 2024, throughout social media, with RuPaul announcing the season premiering in January 2025. Nymphia Wind presented the contestants through the series official

YouTube channel YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in San B ...

on December 4, showcasing their ocean-themed outfits and background. ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' first reported on December 11 that spin-off winner

Monét X Change Monét X Change (born February 19, 1990) is the stage name of Kevin Akeem Bertin, an American and Saint Lucian drag queen, singer, podcaster, and reality television personality. She is known for competing on the tenth season of ''RuPaul's Drag R ...

will host ''The Pit Stop'', a weekly webseries served as an

aftershow An aftershow or after-show is a genre of television talk show whose topic is another television program. An aftershow is typically broadcast immediately after a new episode of its corresponding program, to help retain the audience, and to provide a ...

. The first episode premiered through YouTube with alumni contestant

Raven A raven is any of several large-bodied passerine bird species in the genus '' Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between crows and ravens; the two names are assigne ...

as the first guest on January 4, 2025.

Format

The season's double premiere retained the same format as the previous season, where contestants rank each other based on their performances for the main challenge; this format parodies television series '' The Circle''. A new format involved judge panelist

inside a

dunk tank A dunk tank, also known as a dunking booth or dunking machine, is a common feature at Canadian and American fairs, fundraisers, and celebrations. It involves at least two participants, one of whom sits on a collapsible bench above a human-sized ...

where during the bottom two, the eliminated contestant chooses one out of the ten random

lever A lever is a simple machine consisting of a beam (structure), beam or rigid rod pivoted at a fixed hinge, or '':wikt:fulcrum, fulcrum''. A lever is a rigid body capable of rotating on a point on itself. On the basis of the locations of fulcrum, l ...

s, which if successfully struck, would drop Visage into the water. The format rewards the contestant immunity; if they selected the incorrect lever, the contestant will be eliminated.

Contestants

Future ''Drag Race'' appearances

* Later in 2025, Lydia B Kollins competed on ''All Stars'' season 10.

Contestant progress

Lip syncs

Legend:

Guest judges

RuPaul and Michelle Visage remained as the regular judges, with

, and

reappearing as alternating judges. Various guest judges were revealed on December 12, and set to appear in the upcoming season.

was initially advertised as a guest judge but was later confirmed to be an alternating judge. Celebrities are listed in chronological order. *

Katy Perry Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists in hist ...

, singer and television personality *

Doechii Jaylah Ji'mya Hickmon (born August 14, 1998), known professionally as Doechii ( ), is an American rapper and singer. Her songs became viral videos on TikTok in 2021 and she signed recording contracts with Top Dawg Entertainment and Capitol Recor ...

, rapper and singer *

Sandra Bernhard Sandra Bernhard (born June 6, 1955) is an American actress, comedian, and singer. She first gained attention in the late 1970s with her stand-up comedy, where she often critiqued celebrity culture and political figures. Bernhard is also well kn ...

, actress, comedian and singer * Julia Schlaepfer, actress * Paul W. Downs, actor and writer *

Hunter Schafer Hunter Schafer (born December31, 1998) is an American actress and model. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Schafer first made headlines in 2016 with her activism against North Carolina's Public Facilities Pri ...

, actress and model *

Quinta Brunson Quinta Brunson (; born December 21, 1989) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She is best known for creating, executive producing, and co-writing the ABC comedy series '' Abbott Elementary'' (2021–present), in which she s ...

, actress and comedian *

Adam Lambert Adam Mitchel Lambert (born January 29, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He is known for his dynamic vocal performances that combine his theatrical training with modern and classic genres. Lambert rose to fame in 2009 after ...

, singer and actor * Jamal Sims, choreographer *

Betsey Johnson Betsey Johnson (born August 10, 1942) is an American fashion designer best known for her colorful, cute and whimsical designs. Many of her designs are considered "over the top" and embellished. She also is known for doing a cartwheel ending ...

, fashion designer *

Whitney Cummings Whitney Cummings (born September 4, 1982) is an American actress, stand-up comedian, writer, producer, director, and podcaster. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004, Cummings moved to Los Angeles. She appeared in the lo ...

, actress and stand-up comedian *

Sam Smith Samuel Frederick Smith (born 19 May 1992) is an English singer and songwriter. In 2012, they rose to prominence when they featured on Disclosure (band), Disclosure's breakthrough single "Latch (song), Latch", which peaked at number eleven on ...

, singer *

Jerrod Carmichael Rothaniel Jerrod Carmichael ( ; born April 6, 1987) is an American comedian, actor, writer, and filmmaker. Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he later moved to Los Angeles, where his career began in the early 2010s comedy club scene. Carmic ...

, actor, comedian and writer *

June Diane Raphael June Diane Raphael ( ; born January 4, 1980) is an American actress, comedian, and screenwriter. She has starred in TV comedy programs ''Burning Love'', Adult Swim's '' NTSF:SD:SUV::'', and ''Grace and Frankie''. Notable film work includes suppo ...

, actress and comedian *

Tracee Ellis Ross Tracee Joy Silberstein (born October 29, 1972), known professionally as Tracee Ellis Ross, is an American actress. She is known for her lead roles in the television series '' Girlfriends'' (2000–2008) and '' Black-ish'' (2014–2022) receivin ...

, actress

Special guests

Special guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage. ;Episode 1 * Angeria Paris VanMicheals, contestant on season 14, and winner of ''All Stars'' season 9 *

Aura Mayari Aura Mayari is the stage name of Jay-R de Leon, a Filipino Americans, Filipino-American drag performer most known for competing on the RuPaul's Drag Race (season 15), fifteenth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. Early life Jay-R de Leon was born a ...

, contestant on

season 15 A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

* Honey Davenport, contestant on season 11 * Jaymes Mansfield, contestant on season 9 and ''All Stars'' season 8 *

Kerri Colby Kerri Colby is the stage name of Elyse Alessandra Anderson (born July 30, 1996), an American Drag (clothing), drag performer best known for competing on RuPaul's Drag Race (season 14), season 14 of ''RuPaul's Drag Race'', where she placed ninth ov ...

, contestant on season 14 * Kimora Blac, contestant on season 9 *

Kylie Sonique Love Kylie Sonique Love (born May 2, 1983), formerly known as Sonique, is an American entertainer, singer, dancer, model and reality television personality. She rose to prominence as a contestant on the second season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' in 2009 ...

, contestant on

season 2 Season 2 may refer to: * ''Season 2'' (Infinite album), 2014 * ''2econd Season'', an album by Unk, 2008 * "Season 2", a song by Phoenix from ''Alpha Zulu ''Alpha Zulu'' is the seventh studio album by French indie pop band Phoenix, released on 4 ...

and winner of ''All Stars'' season 6 * Mayhem Miller, contestant on

season 10 A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and polar ...

, ''All Stars'' season 5 and ''RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. The World'' series 2 *

Morgan McMichaels Morgan McMichaels (born May 28, 1981) is the stage name of Scottish-American drag performer Thomas White, best known as a contestant on the second season of the reality television competition ''RuPaul's Drag Race,'' as well as the third seaso ...

, contestant on season 2 and ''All Stars'' season 3 *

Trinity the Tuck Ryan A. Taylor, known professionally as Trinity "The Tuck" Taylor or just Trinity the Tuck (born December 10, 1984),Taylor in is an American drag queen, television personality, and recording artist best known for having competed on the ninth se ...

, contestant on season 9, ''All Stars'' season 7, and winner of ''All Stars'' season 4 *

Victoria "Porkchop" Parker Victoria "Porkchop" Parker is the stage name of Victor Ray Bowling (born 16 January 1970), an American drag performer and actor who came to international attention on the first season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. She is notable in part for being t ...

, contestant on

season 1 Season One may refer to: Albums * ''Season One'' (Suburban Legends album), 2004 * ''Season One'' (All Sons & Daughters album), 2012 * ''Season One'' (Saukrates album), 2012 See also * * * Season 2 (disambiguation) Season 2 may refer to: ...

;Episode 2 *

Lawrence Chaney Lawrence Chaney (born Lawrence Maidment; 16 October 1996) is a British Glasgow-based drag queen. They are best known for winning the RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 2), second series of ''RuPaul's Drag Race UK'', becoming the first Scottish drag q ...

, winner of ''RuPaul's Drag Race UK'' series 2 ;Episode 6 * Norvina, president of Anastasia Beverly Hills ;Episode 7 *

Alyssa Edwards Justin Dwayne Lee Johnson (born January 16, 1980), best known by the stage name Alyssa Edwards, is an American drag queen, drag performer, choreographer, and businessperson. Edwards was known for competing in drag pageantry (notably Miss Gay Amer ...

, contestant on

season 5 A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

, ''All Stars'' season 2, winner of ''Global All Stars'' ;Episode 8 *

Gabe Lopez Gabe Lopez is an American pop-rock singer/songwriter and producer. He is of Mexican and Irish descent. Signed to Universal Music Group as a songwriter and to Spectra Music Group as an artist, Lopez has produced and written for Belinda Carlisle ...

, music producer ;Episode 10 * Joey Nolfi, journalist at ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...

'' * Kandy Muse, runner-up on season 13 and ''All Stars'' season 8 *

Mistress Isabelle Brooks Mistress Isabelle Brooks (real first name Israel; born July 14, 1998) is an American drag queen who competed on the fifteenth season of the television show ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' and the tenth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars''. Born ...

, contestant on season 15 *

Plane Jane Plane Jane (born February 4, 1998) is the stage name of Andrew Vladimir Dunayevskiy, an American drag performer who competed on ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' season 16. Early life Dunayevskiy is the child of Russian Jewish immigrants. Dunayevskiy w ...

, contestant on

season 16 A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and polar ...

;Episode 11 *

Cheyenne Jackson Cheyenne David Jackson (born July 12, 1975) is an American actor and singer. His credits include leading roles in Broadway musicals and other stage roles, as well as film and television roles, concert singing, and music recordings. After beginn ...

, actor and singer ;Episode 14 * Albert Sanchez, photographer *

Latrice Royale Timothy K. Wilcots (born February 12, 1972), better known by the stage name Latrice Royale, is an American drag performer, recording artist, and reality television personality. She is best known for her appearances on the fourth season of ''RuP ...

, contestant on

season 4 Season 4 may refer to: * "Season 4" (''30 Rock'' episode), an episode of ''30 Rock'' See also * * Season One (disambiguation) * Season 2 (disambiguation) Season 2 may refer to: * ''Season 2'' (Infinite album), 2014 * ''2econd Season'', an album ...

, ''All Stars'' season 1 and ''All Stars'' season 4 ;Episode 16 *

Liza Minnelli Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, ...

, actress and singer * Xunami Muse, contestant and Miss Congeniality on season 16 * Sapphira Cristál, runner-up and Miss Congeniality on season 16 *

, winner of season 16

Episodes

Broadcast

The seventeenth season, and its companion series, premiered through MTV with its first episode on January 3, 2025. The season will consist of sixteen episodes and airs weekly at 8:00 p.m. ( EST). Episodes were later released throughout various streaming services such as Crave for Canada, Stan for Australia, and on

WOW Presents Plus WOW Presents Plus (also called World of Wonder Presents Plus or WOWPresents+) is a subscription-based streaming service owned by production company, World of Wonder. The subscription service was founded in November 2017, by Randy Barbato and ...

internationally with next-day availability starting on January 4.

Ratings

Footnotes

References

{{Portal bar, LGBTQ, Television, United States 2025 American television seasons 2025 LGBTQ-related television 17