RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 cast revealed: From The Voice contestant to The View cohost fave, th...

Check out the official cast portraits, plus exclusive quotes from EW's upcoming oneonone chats with the cast, including queens related to Plane Jane, Morphine Love Dion, Bosco, and Irene the Alien. RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 cast revealed: From The Voice contestant to The View cohost fave, they're 'out for blood' (exclusive) Check out the official cast portraits, plus exclusive quotes from EW's upcoming oneonone chats with the cast, including queens related to Plane Jane, Morphine Love Dion, Bosco, and Irene the Alien.

Check out the official cast portraits, plus exclusive quotes from EW's upcoming one-on-one chats with the cast, including queens related to Plane Jane, Morphine Love Dion, Bosco, and Irene the Alien.

RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 cast revealed: From The Voice contestant to The View cohost fave, they're 'out for blood' (exclusive)

Check out the official cast portraits, plus exclusive quotes from EW's upcoming one-on-one chats with the cast, including queens related to Plane Jane, Morphine Love Dion, Bosco, and Irene the Alien.

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes *RuPaul's Drag Race* video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

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December 2, 2025 12:00 p.m. ET

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'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast of queens announced. Credit:

- *RuPaul's Drag Race* season 18 announced a new cast of 14 queens entering the Werk Room.

- Queens include a contestant from *The Voice*, a past guest on *The View*, a *So You Think You Can Dance* competitor, and more.

- EW exclusively spoke with the queens for a preview of the season ahead.

Given the diversity of talent (and temperament) among the ladies this year, there's no *one* word or phrase that best describes the *RuPaul's Drag Race *season 18 cast. But, new queen Briar Blush — who hails from the drag mecca of Boston which previously birthed Jujubee, Katya, Plane Jane, and Kori King — is going to try: Essentially, as she tells EW with a devilish laugh, it's "13 other girls I don't give a f--- about."

And if *that's* an indication of the drama that lies ahead, we'll certainly take it.

While they defy something as *expected* as classification, together the 14 queens make up the* Drag Race* season 18 cast, the first all-new batch of contestants to hit the Main Stage in nearly a year when new 90-minute episodes debut Friday, Jan. 2. And they're "out for blood" this time, as Indianapolis-based activist and special effects artist (she's worked with Marvel!) Ciara Myst explains to* *in an exclusive round of video interviews dropping Friday** **on EW.com and EW's YouTube channel.**

It's fitting, as others on the cast tell EW, because season 18 harkens back to the DNA that RuPaul and World of Wonder built *Drag Race* on back in 2009.

RuPaul for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

"I love this season, I think it's kind of back to basics. It feels like a traditional season. You'll see what happens," explains Myki Meeks. The Orlando-based entertainer's words hold weight, as she's closely related to classic *Drag Race *excellence through her drag aunt, Roxxxy Andrews. "It's a season full of queens who've been doing this. We all wanted this, we've been working, and we all hold our own. We're not all figuring ourselves out on the show. Which is fun to watch, but it feels like, oh, this is for real. This is a pageant," she says.

Queens this year came to the show with stacked resumes longer than Luxx Noir London's 40-inch hair. Mia Starr not only danced on Rihanna's *Loud* tour, for Britney Spears in Las Vegas, Jennifer Lopez at the Super Bowl, and in Camila Cabello's "Havana" music video, she also competed on* The Voice *and* America's Best Dance Crew. *

Juicy Love Dion,** **drag granddaughter** **of fellow season 18 competitor Athena Dion (both are also related to RuGirls Morphine Love Dion and Plane Jane), grooved on national TV among the *So You Think You Can Dance *cast, while Athena regularly parties with *The View* cohosts Ana Navarro and Sunny Hostin at Miami's R House — which even led to a guest appearance on the talk show in 2024.**

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Outside of other talents (Kenya Pleaser is an impersonator who aims to be "like the Derrick Barry of Lizzo-isms") and drag family relations (Seattle's Jane Don't calls *All Stars 10* queens Bosco and Irene the Alien her "hot, mean older sisters"), there's one great unifier among this eclectic group of gals.

"There are so many people who need this vaccine," Philadelphia queen and registered nurse Mandy Mango says when EW asks who, among the season 18 cast, she could (legally) administer the Drag Delusion Vaccine to. "Luckily, it is free, and I *do* know how to give it."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter***.

Well, in the words of Mama Ru, we can't wait to see how this turns out.

*RuPaul's Drag Race *season 18 premieres Friday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. on MTV, with the queens participating in a "Reclaim! Renew! Rejoice!" fashion challenge using leftover treasures from RuGirls of seasons' past. Read on for the full new cast of queens, and check back Friday on EW.com and EW's YouTube channel for our exclusive individual video interviews with the new queens.

'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast of queens:

Athena Dion 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** Miami, Fla.****Official bio:** "Named after the Greek goddess, Athena Dion brings legendary energy wherever she goes. A talented hostess and prolific drag mother, she has built a dynasty spanning Miami and Mykonos, Greece, counting Morphine Love Dion and Plane Jane among her drag daughters. This season, Athena makes *Drag Race* her-story alongside Juicy Love Dion, marking the first-ever mother/daughter duo to compete together."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "This show does expose you for who you are, whether you like it or not. You see a lot of my personality. There are some spirals, there's some *rawr*, there's some mothering, there's me."

Briar Blush for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** Boston, Mass.****Official bio:** "Boston's pin-up princess, Briar Blush is a walking contradiction: retro yet edgy, goth yet glamorous, sweet but with a sting. With her signature jet black hair and killer beat, she commands attention wherever she goes. Named after the thorns on a rose, Briar's sharp wit and prickly personality prove she's not here to be liked — she's here to be remembered."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "We're all just big haters [in Boston]. Huge haters. None of us really want to be happy for each other. It's also, culturally... the food is awful, the weather is terrible, and we're all just deeply, mentally unwell."**

Ciara Myst for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** Indianapolis, Ind.****Official bio:** "Indy's shapeshifting superstar, Ciara Myst blends sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and magic into her drag. A prosthetic makeup artist with credits ranging from *Dynasty* to Marvel Studios productions, Ciara Myst crafts her own costumes and promises to bring creature transformations to life on the main stage. A little ooky-spooky, a little ethereal, Ciara Myst is ready to haunt, mesmerize, and transform the competition one look at a time."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "You can expect some gag-worthy moments on the runway, especially from Ciara Myst. I'm not afraid to challenge the concepts that were presented and take it into my own weird wacky world and say what if we take that theme, flip it on its head, put it through a comic book filter, and *myst*-ify it."

Darlene Mitchell

Darlene Mitchell for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** Los Angeles, Calif.****Official bio:** "A country, camp queen, Darlene Mitchell blends soap opera glamour with midwestern trailer trash panache. Known for her signature Peg Bundy-style hair, she originally hails from Greentown, Ind., and once performed under the name Trash. After 10 years in drag — but a five-year hiatus from the performance circuit — Darlene comes to the competition to see if RuPaul and the Main Stage can coax her back out of her bedroom once more."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "Me and Michelle [Visage] had a very special relationship. We are sisters at this point. To get the full package and opinion, you'll have to tune in and find out. We had quite a journey."

DD Fuego for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** New York, N.Y.****Official bio:** "Fiery and feisty, DD Fuego is a full-on production, serving runway-ready looks with a wink and a nod. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, she brings the heat without the cha-cha-cha Latina clichés. A former production designer for TV and off-Broadway theater, she created behind the scenes before stepping into the spotlight. High heat and maximum impact, DD Fuego leaves nothing on the stage but smoke."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "The top note [of the season] is talent. The level of talent and professionalism... what that smells like is citrus. The bottom notes are delusion, and that smells like patchouli. The rest? You fill in with filler queens, and it's like a potpourri of flavors."

Discord Addams

Discord Addams for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** St. Petersburg, Fla.****Official bio:** "Who's ready for a little chaos? Discord Addams is a high-fashion punk rock maximalist, serving looks packed with safety pins, studs, and unapologetic attitude. Known for playing guitar in a punk rock band, Discord brings a dark, raw energy to the stage. Her ultimate goal: to trade the mosh pit for the runway and become a bona fide drag rock star."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "I'm the blueprint of punk drag. I've been doing this for 14 years."

Jane Don't for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** Seattle, Wash.****Official bio:** "Inspired by old-school funny ladies like Bette Midler and Joan Rivers, Jane is a comedy queen serving up sharp jokes and even sharper shoulder pads. Counting as her drag sisters both Bosco (*Drag Race* season 14 and *All Stars 10*) and Irene the Alien (*Drag Race* season 15 and *All Stars 10*), Jane Don't walks into the competition ready to make her own mark — and make the other queens sweat."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "Bosco always says, the thing to remember when you go on *Drag Race* is, you're probably going to lose."

Juicy Love Dion

Juicy Love Dion for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** Miami, Fla.****Official bio:** "Small in size, colossal in talent, Juicy Love Dion turns every performance into a masterclass in dance. Self-described as 'Miami's Afro-Cuban dancing doll,' Juicy brings energy, precision, and flair to every stage she steps on. A proud member of the Dion Dynasty, she's the drag daughter of Morphine Love Dion, and technically the drag granddaughter of fellow competitor Athena Dion, proving that in the Dion Dynasty, the juice flows through every generation."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "To have [drag grandmother Athena Love Dion] there in the competition with you is bittersweet, because as much as I want to demolish everybody and tear down the competition, I have this person I love so much. I can't beat granny, kick her down, and take her walker away!"

Kenya Pleaser

Kenya Pleaser for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** Sumter, S.C.****Official bio:** "This southern showstopper is already serving you the answer to the question in her name: Can you please her? Only if you can handle all this auntie energy and attitude! A celebrated Lizzo impersonator, Kenya mixes heart, humor, and high-energy performances that get the crowd on their feet. Kenya is here to show the world that southern charm, curves, and confidence are a winning combination."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "Out of drag, the world can't take a big boy. Bitch, wait until I get in drag! You can't take a big diva."

Mandy Mango for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** Philadelphia, Pa.****Official bio:** "A mango a day keeps the doctor away! Mandy Mango is Philly's favorite fruit, serving kooky, conceptual looks with playful flair. By day, she's a nurse specializing in HIV and sexual health, caring for the LGBT community. By night, she's giving the stage a healthy dose of fruity energy. With a cheeky bedside manner, Mandy Mango prescribes high doses of charisma, charm, and contagious energy with every performance."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "There's something so entertaining about [drag delusion] though. You love a drag queen with delusion, it keeps things interesting in the room."

Mia Starr for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** West Palm Beach, Fla.****Official bio:** "Mia Starr is a '90s/early-2000s hip-hop dancing diva bringing urban style, sharp choreography, and powerhouse personality to the Main Stage. A talented backup dancer with world tour credits for Rihanna and Britney Spears, and a Super Bowl performance with Jennifer Lopez, she started drag 17 years ago, took a 14-year break to chase her dance career, and now she's back — ready to shine front and center."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "We were sequestered at a hotel [during *The Voice* auditions] and they told me not to leave the hotel, but Britney Spears was having auditions right next door and I snuck out of the hotel and I ended up booking it, so I had to pull out of the blind audition rounds!"

Myki Meeks for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** Orlando, Fla.****Official bio:** "Gorgeously stupid, and stupidly gorgeous, Myki Meeks is Orlando's dynamic theatrical powerhouse. A self-described 'recovering theater kid,' Myki blends glamour with camp, lights up the room as a host, and is known back home for her quick wit and ease with a microphone. A talented actress and consummate performer, Myki brings a stage presence that will keep the competition on its toes."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "I love this season, I think it's kind of back to basics. It feels like a traditional season. You'll see what happens. It's a season full of queens who've *been* doing this. We all wanted this, we've been working, and we all hold our own. We're not all figuring ourselves out on the show. Which is fun to watch, but it feels like, oh, this is for real. This is a pageant."

Nini Coco for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** Denver, Colo.****Official bio:** "A high-energy, high-fashion diva from the Mile High City, Nini Coco is equal parts theatrical and fierce. A skilled costume designer, she blends conceptual looks with show-stopping performances. Having quit her day job as a mechanical engineer, she's here to prove that trading blueprints for sequins is a risk worth taking, because in her world, it's all or nothing."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "My vision before coming to the show was if I land in the bottom for a design challenge, I will quit drag. It has yet to be seen if I will quit or not. So, tune in to find out if I will never do this again!"

Vita VonTesse Starr

Vita VonTesse Starr for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast reveal.

**City:** Montgomery, Ala.****Official bio:** "Calling herself 'Queen V,' Vita VonTesse Starr is a pageant powerhouse and an icon of opulence. Hailing from the famed Starr drag family, she's a multi-titleholder who brings elegance, precision, and a flair for the dramatic to every performance. Vita handcrafts show-stopping looks that match her stage presence, making her a formidable competitor in any sewing challenges."****Quote from EW's upcoming video interview:** "This cast is such an amazing group of entertainers. So polished, seasoned, and professional. That's another part of being back to basics."

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Published: December 03, 2025 at 08:57AM on Source: RON MAG

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