Where are RuPaul’s Drag Race’s former winners now? Drag queens thrive after Hulu stint
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Sometimes it is just a pleasant feeling to look back at some of the past winners of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' and see where they are now, obviously living their best lives. These Drag Race queens won and leveraged that into vibrant careers in entertainment, fashion, activism, and beyond. Each continued to contribute to the ever-evolving world of drag in unique and impactful ways.
Below is a compilation of some of the past winners of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' and how they have been killing the game after the series!
BeBe Zahara Benet (Season 1)
BeBe Zahara Benet was the very first winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race’. With this victory, she has continued to be a part of the drag scene and its adjacent world of entertainment. She returned for 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Season 3 and placed top 4. In 2021, she released her documentary film 'Being BeBe’, which showcases her exciting journey being a drag queen. BeBe is still performing and is considered one of the most iconic queens in the history of Drag Race.
Tyra Sanchez (Season 2)
Tyra Sanchez is the winner of Season 2, although the career after the show was not very exuberant. As time passed, Tyra found himself amidst a few controversies, one significant one being in 2018 when he got banned from DragCon for some shady behavior. Since that event, Tyra pulled back immensely into public life and stopped performing under his stage name.
Raja (Season 3)
Raja, one of the most fashion-forward queens the show has ever known and a well-renowned makeup artist was the winner of Season 3. She returned to the show in 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Season 7, made up of all the previous winners, and landed in the fifth position. She still is a one-woman style force, both in the world of drag and in fashion.
Sharon Needles, Season 4
Sharon Needles took the crown for Season 4 with her spooky, edgy drag aesthetic. She's still doing performances and remains a consistent queen in the drag scene. However, perhaps her most memorable feat pre-coronation was portraying Drag Race judge Michelle Visage in the Snatch Game.
Jinkx Monsoon (Season 5)
Jinkx Monsoon, known for her charm in both quirky and vintage drag style, was the Season 5 winner, and also won Season 7 of 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars’, making her a two-time Drag Race winner. Out of drag, she released two studio albums and also tried her talent in theater. In 2023, Jinkx became part of the Broadway cast of the show ‘Chicago’, in their successful revival, playing Mama Morton, yet another side of her talent, more versatile than drag.
Bianca Del Rio (Season 6)
Known for her quick wit and sharp humor, Bianca Del Rio sailed through Season 6, winning out against all competition. Today, she is surely the most-approved queen of 'Drag Race', with numerous comedy tours a book in her name and, seriously, even a movie named ’Hurricane Bianca’ to boast about. With everything that she's done post 'Drag Race', it seems to appear that Bianca has claimed she doesn't plan to enter the Drag Race competition again.
Violet Chachki (Season 7)
Violet Chachki emerged as the winner of Season 7 and moved on to establish a presence within the fashion world. Walking down major fashion runways, she's also made appearances in famous music videos. She is loved for her fantastic taste in fashion and keeps killing it both in the drag stage and out of it.
Bob the Drag Queen (Season 8)
Bob the Drag Queen ranks above most from the show as a winner. She has permeated the mainstream with appearances in an HBO series, ‘We're Here’, which even earned her an Emmy nomination. Bob is an activist and an inspiration, both in and out of drag.
Sasha Velour (Season 9)
Winner of Season 9, Sasha Velour, was considered an activist from the get-go. Remember that rose petal reveal she did on the Season 9 finale? It is still one of the biggest acts in the history of Drag Race. Now, Sasha has since gone on to star in her one-queen show, 'Smoke & Mirrors', continuing to push the envelope of what drag can do.
Aquaria (Season 10)
Aquaria is the reigning champion, having won the crown in Season 10. The youngest to have ever won at twenty-one, she has gone on to become a huge fashion star and even modeled for the Savage X Fenty Beauty fashion show in 2019. Living up to her name, Aquaria is one of those stars who is rising high, never to come down.
Yvie Oddly (Season 11)
Yvie Oddly, known for their eccentric, odd-type drag, won Season 11. The epic lip-sync rivalry with Brooke Lynn Hytes set a standard and is one of the greatest moments. Yvie later came back for ‘RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars’ Season 7 and up to now continues to create meaningful works that redefine what drag really is.
Jaida Essence Hall (Season 12)
Jaida Essence Hall won over the hearts of the fans during her Season 12, which took place early in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, Jaida has been on top of the world, appearing in the Savage X Fenty Vol. 2 fashion show and continuing to be an absolute force in the world of drag. She consistently inspires people with her performances.
Symone (Season 13)
Symone won Season 13 and brought a strong note of activism to the Drag Race stage with, among other things, her Black Lives Matter gown. Widely called the "Naomi Campbell of drag," she still continues to blaze a trail in the world of style and drag.
Willow Pill (Season 14)
Willow Pill, from Season 14, made history as the first trans winner of a regular season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'. She was also the sister of Season 11 winner, Yvie Oddly. Willow is still performing and using her platform to advocate for trans rights and representation.
