Drag Race Philippines is here and it’s the Philippines’ time to shine. In this hotly awaited version of the worldwide hit, 12 iconic queens slay and race to the finish line to be crowned the first Drag Race Superstars from the Philippines.
Ahead of the new spin-off making its premiere on August 17, World of Wonders announced Paolo Ballesteros as the season’s host and the head judge of the panel. This gives him the final say on who goes home and the power to call for silence before bringing back his girls.
Ballesteros is known as a multi awarded actor, model, and the face of one of the longest-running noontime shows in PH and a drag artist known for his stunning makeup transformations. He shows his creativity by posting on Instagram his makeup transformations of Mariah Carey, Julia Roberts, and other prominent international artists.
Filipino-American celebrity Jiggly Caliente is also joining as a permanent judge of the show. Caliente has appeared in RuPaul’s Drag Race season 4 and the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Her addition to the panel makes her the latest in a growing number of Drag Race alums fronting international editions of the series. Outside of her work on Drag Race, she, who came out as trans in 2001, landed a guest spot in a 2018 Saturday Night Live sketch as well as a recurring role across five episodes of the FX drama “Pose”.
Kaladkaren, a TV host and celebrity impersonator, has also joined as a co-judge alongside Jiggy Caliente. She is known for impersonating broadcast journalist Karen Davila. She has also hosted the musical game show “I Can See Your Voice” and the reality talent competition “The Voice.”
There are already rumored participants in the show, but there is no official confirmation from the management team. RaPaul announced on August 17, 2021, that they had opened casting for Drag Race Philippines.
“Calling all queens. If you think you have what it takes to become the first Drag Race superstar from the Philippines, we wanna hear from you. Show us your charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent, and this could be the beginning of the rest of your life,” she said. The casting then ended on September 16, 2021.
The show is set to premiere worldwide via WowPresents Plus, though it is only offered in Canada through the streaming platform Crave.
RuPaul’s Drag Race, on which Drag Race Philippines is based, is a reality drag competition which first aired in 2009. It has since expanded into various Drag Race franchises in Canada, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
Drag Race Philippines is the latest international spinoff of the reality show franchise that features drag artists competing in different challenges.
Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CgN3_9mLV_a/
Source: https://www.instagram.com/dragraceph/
