“RuPaul's Drag Race” alum makes shocking return to compete on new season

Joey NolfiTue, June 23, 2026 at 10:15 PM UTC

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'Drag Race Down Under vs. the World' cast promo looksCredit: WOWKey Points -

Drag Race Down Under vs. the World all-star edition has added three American alums to the cast.

Emmy-winning Drag Race icon Raven has joined the cast of the Australia- and New Zealand-set season hosted by Michelle Visage.

All Stars 10 alum Nicole Paige Brooks and season 13 Miss Congeniality winner Lala Ri are also on the cast.

Did you ever doubt that RuPaul's Drag Race would bring Raven back to compete on another season? Well guess what, Mimi? They did!

Tuesday's all-star Drag Race Down Under vs. the World cast announcement included some shocking news for fans of the franchise, as Raven — Emmy-winning makeup artist for RuPaul and season 2 alum — has returned to compete on her first season since All Stars 1 in 2012.

Raven joined Drag Race Down Under vs. the World as one of three contenders for the crown hailing from American versions of the show. She's accompanied by fellow season 2 queen (and returning All Stars 10 competitor) Nicole Paige Brooks, as well as season 13 Miss Congeniality winner and All Stars 8 Queen of the Fame Games title-holding contestant Lala Ri.

Raven's 'Drag Race Down Under vs. the World' promo lookCredit: WOW

Raven, who first competed on Drag Race season 2, where she finished in second place, has since earned four total Emmy nominations for her work in makeup, ultimately winning in 2020.

Raven additionally "returned" as a surprise competitor on the all-winners All Stars 7 edition of the show, though it was later revealed to the cast that her placement among them was a joke, and she quickly exited the Werk Room.

Lala, who uses he/him pronouns, previously told EW that he quit drag because he was "doing drag for everybody else" and wanted to get back in touch with his other artistic interests. He eventually rejoined the art form.

Speaking to EW following her elimination from All Stars 10, Nicole spoke on drama amid the cast after other contestants schemed their way through the bracket-based point system format of the season.

"What drew me to the show is that the Werk Room shows an accurate dressing room. There's going to be a queen in there trying to get the show director job, who will lie and scheme," she said. "She'll stab you in the back the second you turn around. On Drag Race, we have cameras everywhere, so we see it played back when we get home. It's an accurate view of life. Your co-workers don't have your best intentions at heart; they want to be in charge."

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Nicole Paige Brooks joins 'Drag Race Down Under vs. the World' cast of queensCredit: WOW

The trio of RuPaul's Drag Race alums joins the cast of 11 queens from around the globe, who will compete for the title of Queen of the Mother Tucking World.

Other returning contestants from international Drag Race seasons who are headed to Drag Race Down Under vs. the World include Down Under stars Art Simone (season 1), Coco Jumbo (season 1), Nikita Iman (season 4), and Vybe (season 4); Drag Race España season 2 queen Flor; Drag Race Philippines season 2 competitor M1ss Jade So, and Michael Marouli from RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 5.

Lala Ri for 'Drag Race Down Under vs. the World' castCredit: WOW

Also returning to judge the all-star Down Under edition are Michelle Visage, Rhys Nicholson, and Lazy Susan, winner of Drag Race Down Under season 4.

Drag Race Down Under vs. the World is the third of the Vs. the World iterations, with others preceding it in the United Kingdom and Canada.

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Past winners of the Vs. the World seasons include Blu Hydrangea, Tia Kofi, Gawdland, Ra'Jah O'Hara, and Lemon.

Drag Race Down Under vs. the World season 2 premieres July 24 on the WOW Presents Plus streaming app. See the full cast's promo shoot above.

on Entertainment Weekly

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”