Every Queen Competing in ‘Drag Race Down Under vs The World’ and What Makes This Cast So Significant

The global ‘Drag Race’ franchise is expanding its international arena once again, and this time Australia and New Zealand are at the center of it. Stan has officially revealed the premiere date and full cast of queens appearing in the Stan Original ‘Drag Race Down Under vs The World’, premiering July 24, exclusively on Stan. ‘Drag Race Down Under vs The World’ is the third “vs The World” spinoff for the franchise, following in the footsteps of the British and Canadian-set editions, which bring queens from around the globe to compete against one another.

This premiere season holds a notable distinction as the first “vs The World” season to feature contestants from four different continents in its debut run. Eleven queens will compete for the title, including five representatives from ‘Drag Race Down Under’ and six contestants drawn from international versions of the franchise, with new episodes releasing weekly.

The Judges and Format Changes Shaping the Competition

Michelle Visage serves as host, with fellow panelists including comedian Rhys Nicholson and ‘Drag Race Down Under’ season four winner Lazy Susan. The judging panel carries a combination of franchise familiarity and fresh Down Under representation that feels deliberate, given the show’s goal of balancing local pride with global scope.

The competition introduces a format change from the standard ‘Drag Race Down Under’ structure. Rather than judges determining who leaves the competition, the top two queens each week will decide which of the bottom contestants faces elimination. Following a final lip-sync battle, the winning queen will reveal who has been sent home. This power shift places the competition’s fate directly in the hands of the queens themselves, a dynamic that has historically produced some of the most tense and talked-about television moments in the franchise.

The Stan Original ‘Drag Race Down Under vs The World’ is an 8×60′ World of Wonder production in collaboration with Stan in Australia and WOW Presents Plus. Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, and RuPaul Charles serve as Executive Producers for World of Wonder. Adrian Swift and Tina Diaz serve as Executive Producers for Stan.

The Down Under Lineup Bringing Local Drag to a Global Stage

Representing Down Under are Melbourne performer Art Simone, Fijian-Australian queen Coco Jumbo, Guatemalan-born New Zealand representative Flor, Auckland queen Nikita Iman and Sydney-based finalist Vybe. Each of these queens brings a distinct regional flavour to the cast, reinforcing the breadth of drag culture across Australia and New Zealand.

Art Simone is best known for finishing as runner-up on the first season of ‘Drag Race Down Under’. Despite being eliminated after Snatch Game, Art made a surprise return two episodes later, picking up steam until she almost snatched the crown at the last gasp. Outside the franchise, Simone has appeared on ‘The Bachelor Australia’, ‘Spicks and Specks’ and ‘Would I Lie To You’. She has also been named Australian Drag Performer of the Year and earned the title Queen of Australia.

Flor is originally from Guatemala and was the first queen to represent the country on Drag Race worldwide. After years living in New Zealand, Flor competed on the third season of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under’. She reached the finale before being beaten by Isis Avis Loren. Flor now lives in Birmingham in the UK. Vybe competed on season four of ‘Drag Race Down Under’, where she fought all the way to the finale, only to be beaten by her arch-nemesis and now ‘Drag Race Down Under’ judge, Lazy Susan.

The International Queens and the Standout Casting Moment

The international contingent features Spanish runner-up Estrella Xtravaganza, American fan favourite LaLa Ri, Filipino star M1ss Jade So, British finalist Michael Marouli, veteran US competitor Nicole Paige Brooks and franchise icon Raven. The breadth of countries and franchises represented here makes this one of the more genuinely diverse rosters any “vs The World” season has assembled.

LaLa Ri competed on season 13 of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ and season eight of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’. Although she finished 10th on season 13, LaLa became one of the season’s most memorable queens and was named Miss Congeniality. In 2024, she announced her retirement from drag before deciding to return for ‘Drag Race Down Under vs The World’. M1ss Jade So competed on season two of ‘Drag Race Philippines’ in 2023. She was one of the first three trans contestants on the Filipino franchise, and her experience as a fashion design student helped her reach the top in the design and makeover challenges.

Raven remains one of the franchise’s most recognisable figures after reaching the finals of both ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ season two and the inaugural All Stars season, later earning a Primetime Emmy Award as RuPaul’s makeup artist. Raven’s return in particular has sparked excitement, as the season two competitor has previously claimed she would never return to the show again. Fan reaction online has been immediate and vocal, with many calling Raven’s casting the most surprising reveal in the franchise’s recent memory.

Where to Watch and What to Expect

‘Drag Race Down Under vs The World’ premieres in the U.S. on WOW Presents+ and in Australia on Stan starting July 24. The simultaneous international release reflects the show’s ambition to position itself as a true global event rather than a regional curiosity.

The premiere season will feature eight episodes of one hour each. With a cast drawing from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Spain, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, the competition’s runway categories, maxi challenges and lip-sync moments will need to accommodate a wide range of creative traditions and performance styles. That tension between local identity and international competition is ultimately what makes the “vs The World” format compelling when it works.

Whether Raven’s long-awaited return, LaLa Ri’s comeback from retirement, or the Down Under queens defending home turf interests you most, share in the comments which queen you think has the best shot at being crowned Queen of the World.