The most famous drag queens

The most well-known drag queens globally are famous for their fabulous faces and stunning clothes. They have a presence on the stage that exceeds their colleagues’ expectations and demands attention. Drag queens have become a phenomenon in recent times, thanks to Ru Paul’s Drag Races, but there are examples of men dressing as women as far back as the 16^th century in Shakespearean theatre. Women were not allowed on the stage in these times, so men played all parts. The word drag comes from the dress dragging the floor to hide the hairy legs beneath.

So, who are these most fabulous drag queens who have grown in prominence in our new world of diversity and authenticity?

Trixie Mattel

American, Trixie Mattel is a past contestant of Ru Paul’s Drag Race and has 2.5 million followers on Instagram. She may not have won the most famous drag race, but she did host a hit web show and release some of her own cosmetics. Now, Trixie is a judge on the Queen of the Universe panel.

Bianca Del Rio

New Orleans born Bianca Del Rio won Season 6 of the Drag Race, and she remains a favourite of fans. She has toured solo, performing as Lady Bunny. She also produced a quality makeup remover, a useful item in any makeup bag.

Alyssa Edwards

Texan, Edwards has been in the drag race twice and an all-stars season. She is a highly respected drag queen, despite never winning the series. She is now running a successful dance company, choreographing the routines for Beyond Belief.

Aquaria

The first famous drag queen was under the age of 30. At 25, the queen from Pennsylvania won Season 10 of the Drag Race. She had a following before appearing on the show, assuming she had the look but none of the performance. She proved them all wrong, being the youngest ever winner of the show. She has given singing and acting a go but is still at her best performing in her natural habitat as a drag queen.

Violet Chachki

From Georgia, Violet won Season 7. She won despite being largely disagreeable and getting into it with most of the contestants. She was a feisty one and managed the fashion tasks best, and her burlesque performance was a standout. She has since worked with massive brands such as Prada, Moschino, and Vogue. You are allowed a bit of sass when you can command these sorts of contracts.

Sasha Velour

Californian, Sasha Velour is the 34-year-old winner of Season 9 of the iconic drag queen competition. She came to the show with a different take on being a drag queen and was always the centre of contention. She grabbed the title mostly thanks to her lip-syncing performance. 

Plastique Tiara

The first drag queen not to be born in America, Vietnamese Plastique Tiara was a popular contestant, and her fame was boosted thanks to her popularity on social media. She has 2 million followers on Instagram and has plans for a music career.

Bob The Drag Queen

Winner of viewers’ hearts of Season 8 of Drag Queen, Bob The Drag Queen was quite the performer. The character has teamed up with some of the biggest networks, such as HBO, Sony Tristar, and Netflix. There are two comedy specials on iTunes to enjoy too.

Shangela Laquifa Wadley

One of the earliest ever queens to emerge from the Drag Rage and appeared in multiple seasons – never winning one. However, she has had some success in the movies, most famously in A Star is Born with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.

What about the Australians?

Australian-born Dame Edna Everage was the original drag queen. She was around decades before Ru Paul emerged and made a man dressing as a woman acceptable on mainstream television. A comedy act in the 1950s, she was famous for making fun of women of the time.

Courtney Act also tried her hand at comedy and her music, while Coco Jumbo has risen to popularity thanks to her social media.

The GOAT?

Debating the greatest of all time is always a controversial debate. The next season of Ru Paul’s drag race is likely to throw up even more names to debate in the Greatest of All Time. If we look at the drag queen’s followers, then Bianca Del Rio hits the top of the charts. However, social media followings are fleeting, and maybe the longevity and blazing the trail in the early days deserve more credit.