While RuPaul’s Drag Race has launched countless queens to international fame, not every performer keeps their drag persona forever. Out.com took a look at 16 contestants, including some winners, who have retired or stepped away from drag for good. Among them are early trailblazers like Rebecca Glasscock and Ongina from Season 1, and James Ross, formerly Tyra Sanchez, from Season 2. Others include Carmen Carrera, Stacy Layne Matthews, Ivy Winters, Jaremi Carey, known as Phi Phi O’Hara, Honey Mahogany, Princess Poppy from Season 15, and Copper Topp from Drag Race UK. As the drag world evolves, these artists remind fans that stepping out of drag doesn’t mean stepping away from self-expression — just redefining it.
