RuPaul’s Drag Race season 18 cast 'RuVealed'

MTV has officially unveiled the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting instalments yet. Fourteen fierce queens will sashay into the Werk Room when the Emmy-winning series returns on Friday, 2 January 2026, with supersized 90-minute episodes.

This season promises drama, glamour and a touch of family rivalry. For the first time in Drag Race herstory, a mother-daughter duo will compete against each other: Miami’s legendary hostess Athena Dion and her drag daughter Juicy Love Dion. Add to that a queen with ties to RuGirls like Bosco and Irene the Alien, and you’ve got a cast dripping with connections and charisma.

The Season 18 Queens

• Athena Dion (Miami, FL) – A prolific drag mother with a dynasty spanning Miami and Mykonos. She’s here to make herstory alongside Juicy Love Dion.
• Juicy Love Dion (Miami, FL) – A pint-sized powerhouse and dance diva, bringing Afro-Cuban flair to the main stage.
• Briar Blush (Boston, MA) – A retro pin-up princess with a goth-glam twist and razor-sharp wit.
• Ciara Myst (Indianapolis, IN) – A prosthetic makeup artist with Marvel credits, ready to serve sci-fi and fantasy realness.
• Darlene Mitchell (Los Angeles, CA) – Country camp meets soap opera glamour; a seasoned queen returning after a five-year hiatus.
• DD Fuego (New York, NY) – Fiery and fierce, this Mexican-born queen promises high heat and maximum impact.
• Discord Addams (St. Petersburg, FL) – A punk rock maximalist with a penchant for chaos and killer guitar riffs.
• Jane Don’t (Seattle, WA) – Comedy royalty with drag sisters Bosco and Irene the Alien; expect sharp jokes and sharper shoulder pads.
• Kenya Pleaser (Columbia, SC) – A larger-than-life performer and impersonator aiming to be the “Derrick Barry of Lizzo-isms”.
• Mandy Mango (Philadelphia, PA) – A registered nurse with a sweet name and a sharp sense of humour.
• Mia Starr (Las Vegas, NV) – A dance sensation who’s shared stages with Rihanna, Britney and J.Lo.
• Myki Meeks (Orlando, FL) – A seasoned entertainer with drag lineage linked to Roxxxy Andrews.
• Nini Coco (Houston, TX) – Serving tropical glamour with a side of sass.
• Vita VonTesse Starr (Chicago, IL) – A burlesque-inspired beauty bringing old-school elegance to the runway.

What’s New This Season?

The premiere challenge, titled “Reclaim! Renew! Rejoice!”, will see the queens create signature looks using “leftover treasures” from Drag Race seasons past - a nod to the show’s rich legacy. And of course, the backstage drama will continue with RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked airing immediately after each episode.

The stakes? A $200,000 cash prize, an official Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics collaboration, and the coveted title of America’s Next Drag Superstar.

RuPaul summed it up best in the teaser: “In shady times, let there be light. And let there be drag.” Ready, set, glow!