A new chapter is unfolding in the RuPaul’s Drag Race universe as the show expands with a groundbreaking spin-off, Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale. This all-Asian edition of the Drag Race franchise promises to shine a spotlight on the vibrant and diverse world of Asian drag, bringing together queens from various Drag Race franchises for an exciting battle for the crown.
The spin-off, which builds on the existing Drag Race vs. The World format, will feature Asian queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race international franchises competing against each other in a unique, high-stakes competition. Set to air on streaming platform WOW Presents Plus in 2025, Slaysian Royale will be hosted in the Philippines, where Drag Race Philippines has quickly become a fan favorite. The show has seen tremendous success, with its third season airing last summer. Although comedian and drag star Paolo Ballesteros, known as Mamwa Pao, currently hosts Drag Race Philippines, it remains to be seen whether Ballesteros will return for Slaysian Royale.
In a statement, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, founders of the production company World of Wonder, expressed excitement over the new format. “This new version of Drag Race shines a spotlight on Asian drag as never before, celebrating its culture, its history and creativity in a unique battle royale,” they said.
The cast for Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale has yet to be revealed, but Drag Race fans are already buzzing with anticipation. The Drag Race franchise has long been a platform for celebrating Asian talent, with standout queens representing a variety of countries and backgrounds. In the past few seasons, Asian queens have made significant marks on the competition, both as fan favorites and winners.
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Nymphia Wind made history as the first Taiwanese queen to win RuPaul’s Drag Race on season 16. In the previous season, Sasha Colby, a transgender performer of Asian American Pacific Islander descent, claimed the title on Drag Race season 15. Other iconic Asian queens from the Drag Race franchise include South Korean star Kim Chi, season eight finalist and Vietnam-born Plastique Tiara, Filipino drag legend Manila Luzon, and Chinese-Canadian queen Aurora Matrix, who reached the finale of Canada’s Drag Race.
Nymphia Wind, the first Taiwanese queen to win RuPaul’s Drag Race. Photo: Jama Willis
Other beloved queens such as River Medway, Le Fil, Sum Ting Wong, and Zahirah Zapanta have become fan favorites on Drag Race UK. Thai-American queen Jujubee, who has competed four times in the Drag Race franchise—on season two, All Stars 1, All Stars 5, and Drag Race UK vs. The World—remains one of the most beloved contestants in the series’ history. Jujubee, who recently confirmed she will not return to compete again, is known for her consistent strong performances, making it to the final in every season she participated in.
The excitement surrounding Slaysian Royale has already sparked waves of support from the global Drag Race community. Drag Race alumni have taken to social media to express their enthusiasm. “How freaking epic!!!” wrote Drag Race UK vs. The World star Hannah Conda. Canada’s Drag Race contestant Luna Dubois shared: “Oh this is so fierce!” Ongina, the first-ever Asian American contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race (season one, 2009), tweeted: “INCREDIBLE!!”
Drag Race fans are eagerly awaiting the new spin-off, which is sure to elevate the visibility of Asian queens within the Drag Race universe. As the franchise continues to expand, Slaysian Royale will bring an exciting and culturally significant addition to the ever-growing global Drag Race family.
In the meantime, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 17 is currently airing on Fridays on MTV in the U.S. and WOW Presents Plus internationally.
