“RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” showcases the very best of what the drag scene across the pond has to offer. An intense competition, the queens will slay their way through a weekly series of challenges designed to test their drag expertise. Their make-up skills, fashion sense, sewing abilities, comedy, singing, acting, dancing skills, and of course lip sync skills will all be put to the test. The Queens will be assessed on their Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent with the bottom two queens being asked to lip sync for their lives.
Season two is even bigger than the first, with twelve queens battling it out over ten weeks. Judges RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Graham Norton, and Alan Carr are returning to the panel. Each week, Alan or Graham will join RuPaul and Michelle on a rotational basis, alongside a special celebrity guest judge.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” is produced by World of Wonder for BBC Three.
A global phenomenon, the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise is available in 193 countries through network partners and World of Wonder’s streaming service WOW Presents Plus. The series has a total of 19 Emmy wins, making it the Television Academy’s most-awarded reality competition show in history. In 2018, Drag Race became the first series to win Best Reality-Competition Program and Host in the same year, and the show had a repeat victory at this years’ ceremony.
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The queens are for season 2 are:
Lawrence Chaney
Glasgow, 23
“I’m Scottish drag royalty! I’m kind of like Mary Queen of Scots, although I hope one of these English drag Queens doesn’t chop off my head”
Cherry Valentine
Darlington, 26
“For those who say I haven’t been doing drag long enough, take a look…I’m a queen!”
Bimini Bon Boulash
London (via Norfolk), 26
“I am East London’s bendiest queen.”
Ginny Lemon,
Worcestershire, 31
Hiya Babs! Fancy a slice?!
Joe Black,
Brighton (Portsmouth), 30
I bring all the wonky eyebrows and eyeshadow of the traditional seaside drag with a bit of haunted glamour.
Tia Kofi,
London (via Essex and Nottingham), 30
My drag is a melting pot!
Veronica Green
London (Via Rochdale), 34
“I give you sex appeal mixed with a little bit of evil and goofy.”
Sister Sister
Liverpool, 32
“I went from painting on canvases to painting on my face instead”
Tayce
London (Via Newport, Wales), 26
“I want to be the next Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey or Catherine Zeta Zones, and give ‘em the razzle dazzle”
Ellie Diamond
Dundee, 21
“Dundee Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”
Asttina Mandella
London, 27
“A star can’t be made; a star is born and it’s my time to be the star!”
A’Whora
London (Via Nottinghamshire), 23
“I started off as Aurora but ended up as Maleficent!”
The series opens with Ru telling the girls that the first Photo challenge is posing in center court for a championship pose with photographer Kevin McDaid, and in the end the “wimbled hun” who hits Ru with the best shot wins. The winner of the first mini challenge was Lawrence Chaney. 2020 was the 50th anniversary of gay liberation front in UK. For the first maxi challenge the queens need to serve a look that pays tribute to their favorite British Icon be they gay or an ally; living or dead. They also need to serve a second look that shows Ru why they are the queen of their hometown.
This week’s extra special guest judge is Actress Elizabeth Hurley.
The Winner this week’s Maxi challenge and a “Rupita Badge” is Asttina Mandella. The bottom two are Joe Black and Bimini Bon Boulash, with Joe Black sashaying away. It was a pleasure to sit down with Joe Black for this Exclusive Hotspots interview:
Q: At what age did drag become an interest and how did you pick your name?
We had drag on the telly since I was a kid, and I had always been interested in Ursulla and Cruella Deville, so it was just a natural progression. My drag name is my given name.
Q: How exciting was it to be chosen for the second season of Drag Race UK?
It was absolutely incredible as there were thousands and thousands of applicants. To be picked one of twelve was amazing. I loved season one and to be in the series so quickly was a dream come true.
- How hard was it to keep the secret that you were on Drag Race?
The biggest relief with this hole thing is not having to lie and deceive people. I told people I was going on a cruise and then I had to constantly come up with stories about the cruise. If you don’t keep secret, they do send Michelle visage to kill you.
Q: Tell us about your RuPaul’s Drag Race UK experience?
It was very brief, but I always think if you are the first out, everyone remembers you. I also didn’t overstay my welcome or piss people off.
- Is there something you wish you had done different?
God no, ultimately the judges may not have liked it, but the online response has been incredible. I stayed true to myself.
Q: What’s your marital status?
I have a boyfriend.
- Who are you closest with from the show?
I became very close wit Tia Kofi, but I keep in touch with everybody. I always have them on the phone.
Q: What’s ahead for?
I am going to be showing everyone videos and images of the looks I prepared. I have a wonderful photographic series with Greg Bailey. Lots of Youtube and online content. Male sure to check it out!
For more information on Joe Black, follow her on Instagram.com/misterjoeblack or Misterjoeblack.com.
