Start your engines and meet the queens on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK

Ru Paul’s back, and this time 10 fabulous British queens are ready to battle it out to be crowned the UK’s first drag superstar.

Judging the extravaganza is Mama Ru Paul, BFF Michelle Visage and rotating judges Alan Carr and Graham Norton.

Guest judges also include Andrew Garfield, Michaela Coel, Maisie Williams, Jade Thirwall, Geri Horner, Cheryl and Twiggy – can I get an amen!!

These are the queens sashaying their way to a screen near you:

Baga Chipz

Born and bred in the east end, Baga Chipz is a 29-year-old queen who describes herself as “a pub queen; tart with a heart; Like someone’s auntie I give advice on how to pull fellas and how to get pissed.”

She talks big, claiming “I might not have the best outfits or makeup, but put me on a stage and I will entertain the absolute shite out of the room.” Mama Ru better prepare for all this cockney sass.

Blu Hydrangea

“The edgy one”, Blu has said her act “is like a GCSE art project, high fashion from outer space, a cartoon character.”

She’s 23 from Belfast, and she’s serving some major colour chameleon realness.

Supposedly the full package, she claims “not only am I a look queen but I can dance, I can perform, I can do some funny movements to make people laugh.”

Divina De Campo

The token redhead of the series, Divina De Campo is 35 from West Yorkshire. You might recognise her as the classical singer from BBC1’s All Together Now and from her audition on The Voice UK.

She describes her act as “a massive variety of different things. You’ll get some opera, Italian aria, some pop tunes, some show tunes, some blue tunes”.

Crystal

Crystal is 34 from London and studied costume design at university. This means she’s not afraid to push the boat out when it comes to wacky outfits.

She describes Crystal as “a gender bending, ‘mess with your brain’ kinda drag queen. She stands for tearing down gender constructs using creativity, looks, and fashion and crazy performances.”

A renaissance queen, Crystal says “I do aerial circus, I can crack a whip, put cigarettes out on my tongue”.

Sum Ting Wong

Sum Ting Wong, 30, is from Birmingham and uses drag to express herself. She claims: “I am a Chinese male who’s overweight and losing his hair. I’m never gonna make it like that so drag helped me, and the 12-year-old me, finally live out my dream of performing and singing.”

A bit more of a modest queen, Sum Ting Wong expresses her shock at getting on the show, adding “this is a fluke – I don’t know why I’m here.”

Cheryl Hole

The self-professed “Gemma Collins of drag”, Chery Hole is 25 and from Essex. She currently tours in a Girls Aloud tribute act known as ‘Gals Aloud’ – we love it. With Cheryl Cole announced as a guest judge, things could get awkward.

She said: “I’m a dancing diva, I’m known for my dance moves, death drops and pure entertainment and that’s what you want from a drag queen isn’t it?” I’m expecting big things from her lip sync for your life.

Gothy Kendoll

Gothy Kendoll says her drag is “dark, contemporary, striking and unique, and everything that is cool and fresh about UK drag now. The fact that my name is Gothy lets me bring in those darker elements; especially when it comes to wigs and makeup.”

This Kendoll is 21 and from Leicester, and is ready to vamp up the werk room.

Vinegar Strokes

Vinegar Strokes is 35 from London and describes her act as “Tina Turner meets Lizzo meets Kat Slater”, which sounds amazing.

“I’m a working class girl and I like to put that in my act and celebrate that and wear my heart on my sleeve. It’s really important to me because we live in an age where so many want to be something else and actually it’s great to celebrate who you are.”

The Vivienne

Michelle Visage, is that you? 27-year-old The Vivienne is from Liverpool, and describes her style as “like a Scouse wife who has come into money, she moved to LA and blew it all and then she’s had to move back to Liverpool.”

With comedy as her forte, The Vivienne prides herself in her celebrity impersonations. She says: “I do everyone from Kim Woodburn, Cilla Black, Donald Trump – you name it, I’ll do it – for the right price!” Cannot wait for this Kim Woodburn.

Scaredy Kat

Last but not least, the weird one. At 20, Scaredy Kat is the youngest ever queen on Drag Race.

She’s from Wiltshire and describes herself as “cute, pink and scared – like a nervous flamingo.”

Hoping to increase her popularity, Scaredy Kat says: “At the moment, I do a lot of drag alone in my house but I’ve made quite a lot of videos – music videos, lip-sync videos, arty stuff and pictures, creative things. I want to change that and I need to be on a stage in front of millions of people because the attention just has to be on me right now.”

Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK will be available on BBC iPlayer in October.

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