Is King of Drag the new Drag Race? Everything we know about the groundbreaking new drag king reality show
Murray Hill’s King of Drag just crowned its first winner. (Revry)
Murray Hill's King of Drag just crowned its first winner. (Revry)
It’s time for the kings to get on their thrones, as the world’s first ever drag king reality TV competition King of Drag is just weeks away.
Despite RuPaul’s Drag Race empire spanning 16 years, nearly 20 countries, and hundreds of gorgeous drag divas, the show has never cast a drag king.
So, instead of waiting to be invited to the party, the drag kings are throwing their own.
As one king puts it in the trailer: “Why are we trying to convince people that what we’re doing is valid? Why don’t we just do it?”
The show, which is set to premiere in June, will feature a cast of 10 US-based kings who will take on challenges, carry out mind-blowing performances, and display reams of masc-for-masc energy as they try to win their place on the throne.
“Get ready to witness the fierce competition, jaw-dropping performances, and stunning transformations in King of Drag!” reads an official synopsis.
“This new Revry original series follows the journey of top drag performers as they battle it out for the ultimate crown. From electrifying performances to show-stopping outfits, King of Drag delivers the drama, the glam, and all the sass you crave. Who will rise to claim the throne?”
Who are the King of Drag hosts and judges?
King of Drag will be hosted New York City-based comedian and drag king pioneer Murray Hill. While Hill is best known for dominating the downtown NYC drag scene, he has also appeared in shows including HBO comedy series Somebody Somewhere, Amy Schumer’s Life & Beth, and Hulu drag competition Drag Me to Dinner. The trans star is also the recent recipient of Queerty’s Trailblazer award.
Murray Hill will be joined by Revry co-founder Damian Pelliccione, and drag kings Tenderoni, who won Alaska Thunderf**k’s Drag Queen of the Year Pageant in 2021, and actor Wang Newton, as permanent judges. RuPaul’s Drag Race season nine winner Sasha Velour will also be regular judge.
The show will be supported by an impressive array of guest judges, including RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Kylie Sonique Love plus fellow Drag Race alumni Carmen Carrera and Gottmik – who became Drag Race’s first trans man to compete in 2021.
Other guest judges include Dragula season three winner Landon Cider, Real Housewives star Lisa Rinna, Tony Award-nominated Broadway star Cole Escola, Yellowjackets actor Liv Hewson, Our Flag Means Death star Vico Ortiz, and drag legend Jackie Beat.
Also appearing are: Somebody Somewhere stars Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller, Bridesmaids director Paul Feig, drag king legend and the show’s consulting producer Mo B. Dick, basketball pro Layshia Clarendon, Unconventional star Aubrey Shea Peeples, and comedian Cameron Esposito.
When does King of Drag start?
The first episode of King of Drag will air on free LGBTQ+ streaming service Revry on 22 June 2025.
How can I watch it?
King of Drag can be watched via Revry in the US, UK and internationally. It can be streamed at https://watch.revry.tv/ or on Revry via other streaming platforms and TV packages, including Apple, Peacock, Tubi, and Samsung TV Plus. A full list is available here.
Who is on the cast?
The cast of King of Drag was announced on 29 May 2025. It features ten kings, and plenty of puns. Here’s a full cast list.
Alexander The Great
“Here to conquer the binary and your hearts is this gravity-defying, aerial acrobatic king from Austin, Texas!”
Big D
“He’s an avalanche of questionable makeup choices in the body of a middle-aged mom who fancies himself a jello artiste.”
Buck Wylde
“Buck is a smooth Latin drag king with switchblade sharp teeth dedicated to bringing drag to a wider audience, one can of pomade at a time.”
Charles Galin King
“He’s a creature of contorted facial expressions who brings weird, creepiness, and warmth to the stage.”
Dick Von Dyke
“A band kid who discovered drag to win the star roles he was never allowed to play, he’s ready for his close-up… or a dick pic, if you will.”
Henlo Bullfrog
“Known for his unhinged stagecraft, Henlo’s expert at airbrush, SFX, and character lore, and his work has appeared on Skin Wars and RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
King Molasses
“For them, drag is a practice of mindfulness, a return to spirit, and a testament to the audacity to create images of self-liberation.”
King Perka $exxx
“Come for the comedy and stay for the social commentary and dad jokes. King is also famous for his ‘Tag Them’ joke meme.”
Pressure K
“Pressure K doesn’t follow trends, he sets the tempo. If confidence was currency, Pressure K always stays paid.”
Tuna Melt
“Live from New York, this stanky and delicious melt with a belt is for all of the altos who’ve known deep down they were tenors.”
Speaking to PRIDE recently, Tenderoni described the cast as “amazing” and said he hopes that the competitors end up having as many entertainment opportunities as their Drag Race queen counterparts.
“A big goal that I personally want for the cast and the kings on this show is to have these same opportunities that the queens have,” he said.
“I’m so grateful that I’ve had opportunities to tour nationally. I get to travel and perform all over the place. I’m sick of being the token. I’m always the one boy in the cast. I would love for another king to be with me. I would love it to be someone from this show.”
Will King of Drag be the new RuPaul’s Drag Race?
Though King of Drag is a drag competition, it doesn’t look like it will be an exact replica of RuPaul’s Drag Race for drag kings. If anything, it will be a “fresh” take on the Drag Race formula, with challenges focussed on comedy, unconventional performances, and “timely commentary on masculinity,” according to Them.
“King of Drag is one of the most ambitious original programs we’ve ever developed,” said Christopher J. Rodriguez, co-founder and chief content officer at Revry.
“We’re going to give the drag competition format a run for its money and give audiences something fresh and original.”
Similarly, Tenderoni said that he couldn’t wait for viewers to see how revolutionary the show is.
“When you think about the big picture, this is groundbreaking,” he said. “This is important. I really want to take this seriously. I really want to be a part of this in a positive way, uplifting drag kings.”
There’s at least one big element of Drag Race that will be seen on King of Drag: the absolutely stacked list guest judges. As it happens, both Lisa Rinna and Sasha Velour have previously appeared on the Drag Race judging panel (Rinna on Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs the World, and Sasha Velour on Drag Race Germany).
Another similarity? How much people want to see it on screens. For years, the Drag Race fandom has called for drag kings to either be on the show or to get their own platform. Even some of the show’s own queens – including Victoria Scone and Bimini – have made loud calls for drag king inclusion.
If even ten per cent of the number of drag fans who have called for a drag king competition show tune in for King of Drag, it’s set to be a rip-roaring success.
King of Drag is streaming on Revry from 22 June.
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