Rupaul’s Dragcon UK, presented by World of Wonder, launched 2024 in spectacular style, welcoming a record-breaking 180 Drag Race queens from around the globe, thousands of delighted fans, and celebrities to ExCeL London.
The weekend of 14th and 15th January saw an abundance of style, talent and inclusivity as the best of the best of the world of drag came together from North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. On day one of the epic convention, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Emmy -nominated judge and Executive Producer Michelle Visage ceremoniously cut the coveted pink ribbon, before the hottest queens from the global franchise strutted down the pink carpet to officially open the weekend of drag-tastic entertainment.
The sparkling RuPaul’s Drag Race UK VS The World lineup was then revealed on stage, giving fans the exclusive first look at the cast which includes Choriza May, Hannah Conda, Keta Minaj and Le Grande Dame Queens taking to the pink carpet for the iconic Queen’s Walk included Lawrence Chaney (UK Season 2 winner), Krystal Versace (UK Season 3 winner), Danny Beard (UK Season 4 winner) and the newly crowned winner of UK Season 5, Ginger Johnson.
RuPaul’s DragCon UK then played host to an amazing 100 Main Stage performances across the weekend which brought all the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent to thousands of attendees. Iconic Main Stage performances from Baga Chipz, Black Peppa, ChelseaBoy, Clover Bish, Divina De Campo, Drag Syndrome, Elektra Fence, Endigo, Fontana, Ginny Lemon, Joe Black, Kendall Gender, Keta Minaj, LaLa Ri, Nicky Doll, Pixie Polite, River Medway, Scarlett Harlett, Sister Sister, Tia Kofi, Tyomi Banks, Vanity Milan, Victoria Shakespears and many more, captivated fans.
Fans delighted in exclusive merchandise, signings and meet and greets with the queens at their booths plus a range of family fun activities in the Kids Zone sponsored by WildBrain’s Teletubbies. In a RuPaul’s DragCon UK first, WOW Presents Plus’ ‘Bring Back My Girls’ Series 3 hosted by Ts Madison reunited casts from around the globe to reflect on their seasons and catch up with where they are now.
The weekend saw two After Hours Parties – one on the Friday night with an exclusive show by the UK season 5 cast and then on Saturday night with the Global Glamazons taking to the stage as the biggest party in drag continued.
Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, Co-Founders of World of Wonder, said: "What a landmark weekend. No better way to celebrate 15 years of Drag Race than at DragCon UK. So grateful to everyone who was a part of this amazing celebration.
“Huge thanks to every single one of the fabulous 180 queens who came from all over the world, to Michelle Visage for hosting the Queens Walk on the pink carpet streaming exclusively on WOW Presents Plus, to TS Madison for hosting our first edition of Bring Back My Girls, and to the Teletubbies who truly represent the spirit of love and inclusiveness that DragCon is all about. And, of course, a big thank you to everyone who joined this joyous celebration and for being a part of this incredible family."
Series 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race is available exclusively in the UK via the streamer of all things drag, WOW Presents Plus at https://uk.wowpresentsplus.com/ Coming soon in future editions of The Phoenix Newspaper are chats with inspirational and legendary drag queens from around the world.
- Image shows Michelle Visage joining the world’s leading drag queens to open Dragcon 2024 – by “RuPaul’s DragCon UK presented by World of Wonder”