The overall RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise is expected to have fewer crowned winners in 2025 than in recent years.
For one, diehard fans of the show spent a few years complaining about a so-called “Drag Race fatigue.” Globally, this year has also been an odd one, as several countries face anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, censorship, transphobic rhetoric, and a very conservative push against anything fabulous and queer.
Thankfully, most Drag Race shows are still on the air around the world, and many of them are even launching their own All Stars-like seasons. The push for Drag Race in more countries also continues, with never-ending rumors, theories, and subsequent announcements of brand-new spinoffs in countries where Mama Ru’s queendom has never been before.
The Virgo Queen — ‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 5
The Virgo Queen on Canada’s Drag Race season 5.
It was an absolute delight to kick off 2025 with The Virgo Queen as this year’s first crowned winner.
Despite having an evened-out track record of two maxi challenge wins and two bottom placements, The Virgo Queen was a force to be reckoned with who snatched the crown of Canada’s Drag Race season 5 without needing to prove anything else to the fans and the judges. A lovely addition to the select group of Canadian winners.
Onya Nurve — ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 17
Onya Nurve on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 17.
Onya Nurve was a clear frontrunner from the very beginning of Drag Race season 17, and this multihyphenate queen was indeed able to Ru-define what “Nurve” meant on the show.
As other queens went overboard trying to be everything, everywhere, all at once, Onya kept to her talents and instincts and snatched the crown without having to do a single reveal in the finale lip sync. Overall, a well-deserved victory that also felt like a much-needed cultural reset for the U.S. flagship series.
Ginger Minj — ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ Season 10
Ginger Minj on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 10.
Fourth time was the charm for Ginger Minj, who competed in a Tournament of All Stars against 17 other queens and emerged victorious as the latest drag superstar to enter the Drag Race Hall of Fame.
Over the course of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 10, Ginger won four maxi challenges: the design challenge, the girl-groups challenge, the improv challenge, and the Snatch Game.
Mami Watta — ‘Drag Race France All Stars’ Season 1
Mami Watta on Drag Race France All Stars season 1.
The first edition of Drag Race France All Stars had a sickening top 4 consisting of Mami Watta, Elips, Misty Phoenix, and Piche.
Just like the Drag Race season 17 finale, the top 2 queens of France All Stars also had to lip sync for the crown to “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga. Ultimately, Mami Watta outperformed Elips and was crowned the first-ever winner of France All Stars.
Ruby Nox — ‘Drag Race Brasil’ Season 2
Ruby Nox on Drag Race Brasil season 2.
Ruby Nox won three maxi challenge wins — the choreography challenge, the comedy roast challenge, and the makeover challenge — and never had to lip sync for her life as a bottom-two competitor.
Upon reaching the grand finale of Drag Race Brasil season 2 alongside Mellody Queen, Melina Blley, and Poseidon Drag, Ruby was crowned as Brazil’s Next Drag Superstar.
Brigiding — ‘Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale’ Season 1
Brigiding on Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale season 1.
Brigiding just had one of the most iconic Ru-demptions of all time on her way to snatching the crown of Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale!
From not winning a single maxi challenge in the first season of Drag Race Philippines — but lip syncing for her life three times until her elimination — to winning an astonishing five challenges on Slaysian Royale and not being eligible for elimination even once, Brigiding seemed like the perfect winner for a first All Stars-like season of the Philippines series. But even without taking any of that meta narrative into consideration, Brigiding also dominated the competition and was the indisputable frontrunner who should’ve been crowned at the finale no matter what.
Thankfully, that’s the decision Mama Pao made at the grand finale, giving fans a legendary Drag Race finale to watch and celebrate.
