All Hail the 100th Queen! Logo Ru-Veals New Cast of the Groundbreaking Competition Series RuPaul's Drag Race
Historic Season Premiere Celebrates 100th Queen and Episode with a Supersized Kickoff on Monday, March 7th at 9:00 PM ET/PT
NEW YORK, NY – February 1, 2016 – RuPaul is back to light up the runway with the highly anticipated new season of the groundbreaking series, "RuPaul's Drag Race." Logo revealed the eagerly awaited cast comprised of the nation's 12 drag elite tonight during the "New Now Next Honors." In a nod to superfans, Logo also launched a week-long social scavenger hunt via Dubsmash and Instagram that culminated in the announcement of Kim Chi as a competing queen earlier today. The season premiere also marks a drag milestone as it features the 100th episode and 100th drag queen to sashay into the work room.
"This is an amazing time to be producing television," said executive producer RuPaul Charles. "The fact that 'RuPaul's Drag Race' is celebrating its 100th episode is undeniable proof that there is an insatiable hunger for authentic, unfiltered and ribald voices that not only challenge the norm, but help redefine mainstream media."
The new season will premiere on Monday, March 7th at 9:00 PM ET/PT with a supersized 90-minute episode that unveils a court of cut-throat Queens each competing to snatch the crown and strut away with a $100,000 cash prize and the coveted title of "America's Next Drag Superstar." Along the way, they'll face an unpredictable competition and deliver gag-worthy and jaw-dropping moments as these talented ladies of drag join the fabulous 88 Queens who fought for the crown before them.
The 12 Queens who will compete in the pop culture phenomenon that has taken the world by its weave include:
- Acid Betty
Brooklyn, NY
TW: @acidbettyrocks, IG: @acidbetty
- Bob The Drag Queen
New York, NY
TW: @thatonequeen, IG: @bobthedragqueen
- Chi Chi DeVayne
Shreveport, LA
TW: @ChiChiDeVayne, IG: @cheechdevayne
- Cynthia Lee Fontaine
Austin, TX
TW: @lee_fontaine, IG: @cynthialeefontaine
- Dax ExclamationPoint
Savannah, GA
TW: @Daxclamation, IG: @daxclamation
- Derrick Barry
Las Vegas, NV
TW: @DerrickBarry, IG: @derrickbarry
- Kim Chi
Chicago, IL
TW: @KimChi_Chic, IG: @kimchi_chic
- Laila McQueen
Gloucester, MA
TW: @LailaMcQueen, IG: @misslailamcqueen
- Naomi Smalls
Redlands, CA
TW: @naomismallsduh, IG: @naomismalls
- Naysha Lopez
Chicago, IL
TW: @nayshalopez, IG: @nayshalopez
- Robbie Turner
Seattle, WA
TW: @TheRobbieTurner, IG: @therobbieturner
- Thorgy Thor
Brooklyn, NY
TW: @ThorgyThor, IG: @thorgythor
New game show series "Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul" will also premiere on Logo this year. Hosted by RuPaul, the half-hour comedic, trivia game show features a panel of six celebrities helping two contestants answer pop culture questions to win cash and prizes. A second season of "RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race" will premiere later in the year.
"RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 8 is produced by World of Wonder Productions with Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Steven Corfe, Kate Fisher and RuPaul Charles serving as Executive Producers. Chris McCarthy, Pamela Post and Tim Palazzola are Executive Producers for Logo.
For more information on "RuPaul's Drag Race" and sneak preview clips, go to LogoTV.com. For up-to-date "RuPaul's Drag Race" news and exclusives, join the "RuPaul's Drag Race" Facebook page or follow #DragRace conversation on Twitter at @RuPaulsDragRace. Follow along with live gifs from the show on Tumblr and additional content on the show's Instagram page.
Logo is celebrating the return of "RuPaul's Drag Race" with premiere events nationwide featuring gag-worthy performances by the entire season eight cast, hosted by Season Six Winner Bianca Del Rio with beats from DJ Lady Bunny. Events to take place in New York City on February 22, Chicago on February 24th, Austin on February 26th, San Francisco on February 28th and Los Angeles on March 1st. For ticket information go to vossevents.com.
ABOUT LOGO
Logo is a leading entertainment brand inspired by the LGBT community and reflects the creative class across television, digital and social platforms. Logo features one-of-a-kind personalities, shows, specials, and unique stories. Logo is part of Viacom's Music & Entertainment Group including VH1, MTV, MTV2, Comedy Central and Spike.
ABOUT WORLD OF WONDER
Innovative production company World of Wonder is behind such entertaining and award-winning hit series as RuPaul's Drag Race (Logo), Million Dollar Listings (Bravo), #CandidlyNicole (Vh1), Big Freedia (Fuse), and Island Hunters (HGTV). Million Dollar Listing NY was a 2015 Emmy® Award nominee for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program. RuPaul's Drag Race won the 2014 TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming. Big Freedia (Fuse) won the 2014 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program. World of Wonder has also created award-winning films and documentaries such as Inside Deep Throat, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Wishful Drinking, Monica in Black and White, and The Last Beekeeper, which won an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Nature Programming. Seven of their films have premiered at the Sundance Film festival including Becoming Chaz and Party Monster, the documentary and feature film starring Macaulay Culkin. World of Wonder has created a substantial digital footprint with its YouTube channel WOWPresents, along with an award-winning blog, The WOW Report. Co-founders Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey authored The World According to Wonder, celebrating 21 years of production, which can be found online at http://worldofwonder.net/. Randy and Fenton were honored with the IDA Pioneer Award in December 2014, celebrating exceptional achievement, leadership, and vision in the nonfiction and documentary community.
