Drag Race UK vs. the World season three cast and release date confirmed
Melinda Verga, Kate Butch and Sminty drop are on the Drag Race UK vs The World season three cast. (BBC)
Melinda Verga, Kate Butch and Sminty drop are on the Drag Race UK vs The World season three cast. (BBC)
Breaking news! This just in! The cast for Drag Race UK Vs the World season three has been confirmed, with an iconique newsroom-style promo. Here’s the latest…
Following in the footsteps of Drag Race UK vs The World season one (2022) and two (2024), season three is coming to our screens in just a few days time. The BBC has confirmed that the first episode will air on Tuesday 27 January at 9pm BST on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.
As with season one and two, season three of the series features a cast crammed full of international divas, including three Drag Race UK stars, a fan favourite from one season wonder Drag Race Sverige, and a three-time returning American queen. These are the ten queens vying to stand alongside Blu Hydrangea and Tia Kofi in being named the Queen of the Mothertucking World.
Fontana – Drag Race Sverige, season one
Fontana was the runner up on the first and only season of Drag Rave Sverige (Sweden), losing out on the crown to Admira Thunderpussy and just beating Global All Stars‘ Vanity Vain.
The Brazilian queen nabbed one challenge win (the makeover) and was only in the bottom two once, making her a fierce competitor for the crown.
She’s also the only original runner-up in this cast and the second Drag Race Sverige competitor to return for a second round after Vanity. Werk.
Gawdland – Drag Race Thailand, season three
Yes gawd(land)! This queen from season three of Drag Race Thailand (which only aired in late 2024) finished as a 3rd/ 4th place runner-up – that’s right, more stiff competition is coming to the UK.
Gawdland snatched two challenge wins on her season, in the Rusical and in the makeover, and never landed in the bottom two on the show.
Another she narrowly missed out on the crown, Gawdland is sure to come into the Werk Room swinging.
Kate Butch – Drag Race UK, season five
Perhaps the fan favourite of Drag Race UK season five, Kate Butch, who finished in fifth, is going back for a go at the vs. the World crown.
Kate charmed viewers with her campy aesthetic and sharp wit, grabbing a challenge win before an unceremonious elimination in the show’s Switchboard makeover episode. Which seemed particularly tough, given that the episode was for charity.
Kate was the final victim of the season’s lip-sync assassin, DedeLicious – so without Krystal Versace’s drag sister in the house, she could have a clear shot at victory as one of three UK girls competing.
Mariah Paris Balenciaga – RuPaul’s Drag Race, season three and All Stars 5
Mug for daysssssss is back, baby. We’re prepared to gag on her eleganza for the third time.
Mariah put her stamp on the third ever (!) season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2011, nearly fifteen years ago, where she placed eighth. She then returned for All Stars 5 and placed eighth (again) – but both times, her elimination was widely hailed by viewers as too soon.
Season three is the first of five vs. the World seasons to only feature one queen from the flagship franchise.
Melinda Verga – Canada’s Drag Race, season four
She is f**king Vivienne Westwood inspired and she’s here to feel her goats. Melinda Verga is back and we couldn’t be happier.
Ms. Verga made some of the most memorable moments in Canada’s Drag Race herstory during her time on its fourth season, winning the Snatch Game and causing some iconic fights in Untucked. Sadly, she sashayed away in fifth place, just missing the finale, but has since been on The Traitors in Canada, so she’s had even more time to polish those reality TV muscles.
Greatness is about to be made once more.
Minty Fresh – Drag Race Phillipines, season one
Another queen who placed fifth on her original season, Minty Fresh is following in the footsteps of season two fan favourite Marina Summers by bringing Filipino drag excellence to the UK.
Minty, not to be confused with Sminty, has two challenge wins under her corset (the season’s premiere talent show and a ball) and survived two lipsyncs before being eliminated.
She’s also, if we’re being blunt, fierce as f**k.
Serena Morena – Drag Race México, season one
Serena Morena made herstory by appearing in the inaugural season of Drag Race México, and also by spending four out of her five episodes on the show either being in the bottom two or low.
The queen, originally from Aguascalientes, was also judged by Valentina, meaning she’s already had a taste of some stern words from a drag glamazon. Well prepped for Ru, then!
Sminty Drop – Drag Race UK, season four
It’s mothertucking Sminty Drop, back in the house. Sminty was one of the look queens of season four of Drag Race UK and was eliminated in ninth place (far too early in our opinion).
Though she didn’t manage to nab a challenge win, she was in the top twice before her elimination and also got a mini challenge win. And her first two runways on the season were unbeatable.
Sminty’s “Come Alive” verse also still lives rent free, so a UK vs. the World girl group challenge is going to hate to see her coming.
The Only Naomy – Drag Race Germany, season one
If you were wondering whether there were any more Naomys in the Drag Race universe, this queen has your answer; no. She’s the only one.
Naomy appeared on the first and only season of German-drag-centric spinoff Drag Race Germany and was eliminated in 10th place by Global All Stars‘ Tessa Testicle.
She was safe for the two episodes before her elimination, meaning that her only critiques were negative ones – so we can’t wait to see what she brings in her Ru-turn.
Zahirah Zapanta – Drag Race UK, season six
Zahiraaaaah!!!! Though this tenth place diva only just left the Werk Room after competing on Drag Race UK season six, it seems that she’s already back for a re-do. Fierce.
Zahirah charmed viewers and her fellow cast during her criminally short time on the season, before surprisingly stumbling into the bottom on a girl group challenge.
She also yelled, “Let me c*m in you!” during a recording session for the track in front of Alexandra Burke, so we can’t wait for round two.
All previous season of Drag Race UK and Drag Race: UK vs. the World are available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK and WOW Presents Plus globally. The first episode of season three will air on Monday 27 January at 9pm BST on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.
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