The battle for global domination has officially commenced, and the winning queen chose to send Mayhem Miller packing.
THE BIG PICTURE
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs the World returned with international queens competing for a cash prize for the first time.
- Marina Summers impresses with her fierce lip sync and dance performance, winning the first-ever RuPeter badge.
- Mayhem Miller is the first elimination, but she formed alliances and had a positive experience on the show.
Featuring a cast of returning queens from seven international franchises, RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs the World has officially returned for a second season, two years after the reality competition series premiered in 2022. With a massive cash prize on the line, it marks the first time the BBC series has ever offered a cash prize. The competition has never been more intense and gut-wrenching, making eliminations even more jarring, to say the least.
Of course, with talented queens from across the globe vying for the "Queen of the Mothertucking World" title, this season promises to be just as sickening and gag-worthy. Tia Kofi, from the second season of Drag Race UK, is the first queen to enter the UK vs the World stage. Having been voted "Baroness Basic" during her season, the British drag queen seeks to earn what she described as a "less offensive" title.
Drag Race Down Under Season 2's Hannah Conda entered second, with Drag Race Spain's Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha coming in third. Mayhem Miller came in next to prove herself as a performer. Mayhem competed during the 10th season of the original franchise and went on to appear in All Stars 5, where she placed seventh.
Choriza May from Drag Race UK season 3, whom most fans may remember as a queen who went home during a shocking double sashay, promised that there would be "no double elimination" this time. A queen who has done well during her season, even winning the Snatch Game, Drag Race France's La Grande Dame, is the sixth queen to take the stage. Filipina drag performer Marina Summers then graced the UK stage, having arrived ready to "give the colonizers the chop."
"The delusional queen," or so she describes herself, Jonbers Blonde came in sure she was going to win the crown because "she's delusional, apparently." Drag Race Holland's Keta Minaj has arrived on the scene, with Scarlet Envy from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11 and All Stars 6 emerging next, looking for her "sausage rolls." Uttering "rawr" in British accent, Gothy Kendoll — who represented herself as "one of the OG losers" — swears she's ready this time. Raven then entered last, looking for Jujubee.
Raven, like in All Stars 7, seems to have a habit of showing up in multiple seasons, like the icon that she is. Then came RuPaul. And in customary All Stars rules, she reminds the queens that they will be eliminating each other, only this time there will be massive money on the line.
Boasting their international "charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent," the queens get ready for a variety show challenge in Episode 1, with Choriza May performing first. Scarlet Envy did live singing, while La Grande Dame — who is obviously a fishy, beautiful queen — is just as hilarious with her comedy number. Which deservedly placed her at the top alongside Marina Summers, who had also wowed the judges with her fierce lip sync and dance performance.
Tia Kofi, who also did well during the challenge, utters that Marina is making her nervous. Keta Minaj then did partly spooky, partly psychedelic gymnastics. Mayhem Miller, who we all know can serve performance down, opted to take a risk and did a comedic meditation. However, like in All Stars, the queen has seemingly forgotten her words yet again, sadly placing her at the bottom with Gothy Kendoll, who — while her fiery performance is no short of fire (literally) — has been asked to show more confidence. Mayhem Miller spoke with Collider about her experience in the show's second season, and what she ultimately wants her legacy to be.
