RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 8 cast are ready for their big ru-veal
The cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 8 (BBC/World of Wonder/Nick Strasburg)
Start your engines, because the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season eight has finally been announced, with 12 queens hoping to snatch the crown.
Queen of Drag RuPaul returns to host the show, which will see the queens compete across 10 weeks to win a £25,000 prize and title of “The UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar”.
Joining Ru are Michelle Visage, Alan Carr, Graham Norton and a show-stopping list of guest judges, who will be revealed soon.
Until then, it’s time to meet the queens…
Alik – 29, Brighton
“I’m Alik, I’m 29 years old and I am from outer space, and by outer space, I mean Brighton. I’ve been doing drag for eight years.”
Alik brings goth glamour to the Brighton scene, and is hoping to “smash” the curse that many of her Brighton sisters have faced.
She describes herself as a “drag journalist”, making content on social media with their partner Scaredy Kat, of Drag Race UK season one fame.
Alik says: “I don’t think anyone like me has been on the show before. Not only am I doing this for myself, but I’m also doing it for my partner Scaredy Kat as they deserve to see the crown at least once in their life, right? This is their redemption living vicariously through me. So, Ru, come on, just put the crown on me now!”
Anita Piss – 37, Birmingham
“Alright Bab, I’m Anita Piss! I’m 37 years old, and I’m from Birmingham originally, although Anita hails from the dark, subversive East London drag scene…”
Anita says being on Drag Race has been a “lifelong ambition”, having applied for the show five times. “Anita Piss is ready to piss all over the competition,” she says.
She’s been doing drag for around seven or eight years, but only recently made it her full-time job.
With a Jamaican dad and British mum, Anita has plenty of cultural references to draw from.
She says: “I deserve to be UK’s Next Drag Race superstar because I am bringing something completely different that you all ain’t ever seen before. Like I said, it’s all about being cool, calm, collected but having some poise, and having a good demeanour about you. “
Coral-Hole Mandi – 27, Belfast
“I am Coral-Hole Mandi and I’m the 27 year old Bikini Bottom Bimbo from Belfast – originally from Ballymena.”
Coral brands her drag “mer-mazing”, inspired by her love of the sea and background in marine biology. “Growing up, I was obsessed by the ocean, sea creatures and mermaids,” she says. “I always knew I wanted to be a mermaid or a creature from the deep one day.”
She’s “ready to snatch the crown by the tentacles”, saying: “I’m an all-rounder and I’m gonna be memorable. You’re all gonna love me by the end of this. Come on and dip your toes in the waters of Coral-Hole Mandi.”
The Delta Quadrant – 32, Darlington
“I am The Delta Quadrant. I am 32, and I’m the industrial doyenne from Darlington and the Deborah Meaden of drag, and in case you didn’t know, I am your new boss!“
“Powerhouse” Delta is a “businesswoman who has smashed the drag ceiling and clawed her way to the very top of Darlington’s business world”.
She loves a tailored suit, shoulder pads and her signature bob – a real power dresser.
Delta says: “There’s not a one size fits all rule to drag and I think that I should win so that I can prove that my kind of comedy character led style of drag is valid, and worthy of being on the world stage of drag.”
Flesh – 25, London
“Hello world, my name is Flesh, and I am the supermodel of Soho. I’m 25 years old and I’ve been doing drag for about seven years.”
Flesh is influenced by nineties super models and British fashion, but with an “Español flair” thanks to her Spanish dad.
She’s had plenty of sisters compete on Drag Race, including current reigning queen Bones, who is her best friend. “I’m feeling the pressure to live up to the high standards that we, Flesh and Bones, have set in the Soho drag scene,” she says.
Flesh adds: “I think I’m the UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar because first of all, look at me. I want to remind people that drag is creative and powerful, but it’s more than dressing up. We can create positive change, and we can do so whilst looking amazing.”
KY Kelly – 42, Staffordshire
“Hi, I’m KY Kelly. I am the live singing comedy diva of the cabaret scene, and I am feeling fully lubricated! I’m 42 years young and I am from Rugeley in Staffordshire.”
After doing drag for almost 16 years, KY Kelly is ready to bring old school drag, with a modern twist, to Drag Race, having recently been a part of theatre show Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
She says: “I can bring it. I am the full package. I want to win this competition as a win for the older, more mature divas, and showcase the cabaret scene. I’m going to slide into this competition and make you want a little bit more KY.”
Lucky Roy Singh – 36, Manchester
“Wake up United Kingdom, your Maharani has arrived! I’m the first South Asian queen on Drag Race UK, so get into it, baby. I’m Lucky Roy Singh, your Punjabi fantasy from Manchester, the Bollywood Punjabi diva – sweet on the outside, and spicy on the inside. Yes, I am 36 but the spices keep me youthful.”
Lucky has been doing drag for more than 10 years, and brings their culture and heritage into their looks and performances.
She’s the first Sikh South Asian queen to compete on Drag Race UK, and has even won awards for her activism, which she keeps on her mantelpiece.
Lucky says: “We need some spice on Drag Race UK, it would mean so much to me and the British South Asian community. Those other girls better step their p****** up!”
ma_danni_x – 48, The Wirral
“Hello, I’m ma_danni_x, and I’m the squirrel from The Wirral with 28 years of drag experience, I’m bringing a lot of zest, a lot of energy, and lot of fire. I’m 48, and I currently live in West London.”
Having started drag at the age of 21, ma_danni_x has plenty of experience on the scene, having worked with the likes of Cliff Richard, Ruby Wax, Lily Savage, George Michael, Samantha Fox, Ant and Dec, Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden, and on television shows including Project Catwalk and Britain’s Got Talent.
She says: “It’ll be the ultimate dream to go all the way – I deserve my place in this fabulous competition, I’ve worked so hard to be here, and I want to prove to the nation that I can be the ultimate winner on this massive platform. Look at her, she’s an icon! But if I have to play dirty, to win the competition, I’ll play dirty, that said I’m a true professional, and I’m a very experienced lady!”
Mocha – 26, Essex
“Hello, my name is Mocha, and just like the coffee, I’ll give you the runs. I’m 26 years old, originally from Essex, I now live, breathe, and work the London scene. I’ve been doing drag for 10 years now, which is crazy because I’m only 26, so I started super young and I feel like I’m generation Ru.”
Mocha, who has auditioned for every season, describes herself as “a little bit kooky”, and loves looking “cartoonish” with a vintage and showgirl twist. “I’m both fashionable and funny,” she says. “I’m so blessed to be both because it means I’m sickening.”
Mocha has created looks for previous Drag Race UK queens including Tayris Mongardi and Pasty.
She adds: “I feel like it’s so rare to find the full package in someone, but I have the full package. I have studied this show for many years. I have an academic degree in Drag Raceology. I know what it takes to be a winner. This is the Hunger Games of Drag, 12 queens that enter, only one leaves, and I intend to be the Katniss Everdeen of Drag Race UK!”
Naya Thorn – 24, Dudley
“Good Thorning United Kingdom, my name is Naya Thorn. I am an Aquarius, fully thorned and prickly. For the past five years I’ve travelled the country establishing myself as a queen of very high standards. Currently, I live in Manchester, but I did start dragging in Liverpool, where I saw, I came, and I conquered.”
Naya Thorn knows how to put on a show, promising her performances will “make you feel every emotion”.
She says: “I am very in touch with my chakras, and my chakras are telling me that this season’s going to be full of talent on thorns.”
Naya adds: “I think I should be the UK’s next Drag Race Superstar because I strive to be perfection. I’m giving you everything.”
Paris Baby – 27, Hastings
“What’s poppin’ ?! It’s Paris Baby and I’m the UK’s British Bajan Barbie! I’ve been doing drag for seven years, I’m known as a fierce lip syncer, whether it’s a trick, a split, a flip, a whip, a dip, I’ve got it down, and on top of that I’m a minx.”
Paris says she’s a “real villain”, adding that she’s “very outspoken” and “that person who says the things that everyone’s thinking”. She adds: “There’s no question about it, I am definitely the drama.” However, she says the biggest misconception about her is that she’s a “nasty, scary person”, when in reality she’s “very fun, playful”.
She takes inspiration from her mum’s side of the family, from Barbados, performing a lot of female rap and R&B – but she also draws from the 2000s, like Paris Hilton and Regina George.
Paris says: “There is nobody else in the UK that can do what I do, I can perform 60 numbers back-to-back, as long as I’ve got my wind machine, and my wig doesn’t come off, I’ll just keep going. I will definitely leave my mark, my impact, and Drag Race UK will forever be changed because of Paris Baby. Period.”
Tequila Thirst – 39, London
“The bar is open, and I’m Tequila Thirst! I’m a bubbly, bright, fun queen who is thirsty by name and thirsty by nature! I live in Chester, but I’m originally from North London.”
Host, singer and dancer Tequila Thirst loves colourful, bright dance outfits, as well as cartoons and anime.
She says her drag “is a ray of sunshine, who cannot be suppressed”.
Tequila says it would “mean so much” to win the crown, adding: “Tequila is a burst of energy and colour spreading joy and light to the world and winning would validate me and my drag. I want the whole world to know who she is. Tequila for Prime Minister, anybody?”
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