A double serving of American Drag Energy? Both 'Season 17' and 'All Stars 10' kicked-started 2025 for the U.S. arm of the 'Drag Race Franchise!' Changing who's room? Not mine, thank you very much! It was camp though! Our Filipina star will forever shine bright from 'Drag Heaven' as we lost 'Jiggly Caliente!' Sure, 'Life's A Drag' took a break but now it's 'Back, Back, Back Again!
'Squirrel Games' shot those competing and past Ru-girls down to the ground, it wasn't Mama Ru's doing because it was 'Lil' Poundcake!' Fourteen queens walked into the Werkroom with their own dream of being America's Next Drag Race Superstar, they could only wish that was the case! Speculation was rife that Ru had cast one spectator in the crowd during his book tour? 'Hormona Lisa', that was the queen and she did walk into the Werkroom! 'Katy Perry' became the opening Extra Special Guest Judge on the premier episode, 'Joella' did love that reunion! 'Bitch, I'm A Drag Queen' served two volumes filled with iconic Drag Race rants interpreted through several musical skits. I couldn't deal with it, it was genius! From 'Bitch, I am from Chicago' to 'Backrolls', it was legendary! Live from 'Tuckahoe', 'RDR Live' served another unhinged edition, 'Onya Nerve' shined through as host! Tensions overspilled as the 'Let's Get Sea Sickening Ball', 'Lexi Love' was not happy! 'Snatch Game' was a holy mess, it really was! Mama?
'The Wicked Wiz Of OZ: The Musical' allowed some to shine through, we forget a queen with as similar sounding name. We were graced by 'Ariana Grande' and 'Cynthia Erivo' as they both joined Ru & Michelle on the judging panel, it was correct! The 'Betsey Johnson' runway concept was interesting, one queen didn't quite get the memo. 'The Villains Roast' was messy but in a great way, one queen stole another ones jokes but really 'Jewels Sparkles' had the last laugh! 'Ross Matthews vs. The Ducks' brought reality drama on that reality set, it was hilarious! The 'C.U.N.T Monologues' merged contemporary dance and childhood trauma with a bit of spoken word thrown in! 'Drag Baby Mamas' healed family rifts, for real it did! Would this season ever come to an end? The 'Lip Sync Lalaparuza Smackdown' brought out another side to 'Suzie Toot!' I was here for it! Our winner 'Onya Nerve' took the title from 'Nymphia Wind'. A great season it was! One thing I never imagined was seeing one of the queens getting called for 'All Stars 10!'
'Changing Rooms' will always be the OG of UK home renovation shows, without any doubt this former BBC production was camp! Airing on the BBC from 1996 till 2004, as a child I can remember watching this 'unpredictable' design/makeover show. The drama of this show was nothing like we saw on British television during the late 90's for me. The reactions were off the wall with nothing promised when some homeowners detested the final makeover. The team matched the energy of 'Changing Rooms' with designers who were so out of touch with reality, that's what made such great television! 'Laurence Lewellyn-Bowen' took the thunder as the most flamboyant designer of them all, his taste was very out there! 'Linda Barker' also shocked the participants all the same with her outlandish and experimental results. 'Handy Andy' brought the show back down to reality, I could always tell that this tradesman thought their ideas were a little bit much! The presenter, 'Carole Smilie' brought the production kept things going. Yeah!
'Changing Rooms' became the catalyst for a whole barrage of berserk home makeover shows! My personal second favorite had to be '60 Minute Makeover' because it was part of 'Day Time TV', being a treat to watch during a sick day from school. 'Claire Sweeney' was my favorite host, she had a great energy and obviously she's a gay icon! Furthermore, a show that had a heart also on the BBC had to be 'DIY SOS', it was giving 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'. Taking away the glitz and wildness, 'DIY SOS' met 'Changing Rooms' & '60 Minute Makeover' with a complete house makeover with a cause, helping families who really needed it. 'DIY SOS' ensured that the décor wasn't the feature, ensuring a functional and mostly life-changing addition for needy families. Taking away the brands and outlandish ideas, 'DIY SOS' involved local tradespeople and companies for such projects that made more than a positive difference in the participants lives. Crucially, I have to finish with 'Changing Rooms' being the most iconic of them all! Done!
Heaven gained an angel on the 27th April 2025, 'Bianca Castro' otherwise known as 'Jiggly Caliente' passed away. I knew something was up when I saw an announcement from her people that stated she had cancelled all professional engagements indefinitely. I later read that this forever 'Drag Race Icon' had some health complications, I had no idea that she wouldn't have long left on this world. Most of us first met Jiggly on the 4th season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' during 2012, she would become a firm fan favorite and forever Filipino Drag Ambassador! Long before 'Drag Race Philippines' was ever a thing, we saw Jiggly turn out the runway on her original season, I won't ever forget her unforgettable aluminum dress from one of the design challenges! Ru had a soft spot for Jiggly as he would always say; "May I call you Jiggly?" Dealing with a lot, Jiggly did her own thing until she received a call from Mother for 'All Stars 6' in 2021. Miss Jiggly returned in her true form, a proud Filipino-American Trans Woman! Sabi ko, reyna!
2022 brought major rumours of a new Asian Drag Race Franchise being announced, the second only after Thailand, and that had been on a lengthy hiatus. The Philippines would be that country? Yes, World Of Wonder proudly announced 'Drag Race Philippines' and it debuted in August 2022 to a rapture of applause with nothing but love! Jiggly was appointed one of the permanent judges, sitting next to 'Mama Pao' and 'KaladKaren'. This judging gig was Jiggly's moment to cement herself within her own culture on a Drag Race Franchise we all adored. Jiggly made further appearances at 'Drag Con', where she acted as an ambassador for the show and the girls who had competed. Seeing the moment the other judges found out about Jiggly's passing on the set of 'Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale' broke my heart! Her funeral saw 'Manila Luzon' pour her heart out to the world, celebrating the time they both had together as queens who represented their mothers' country on a Drag Reality Platform. Prance forever, PH queen!
Mama Ru promised her fandom a brand new format for All Stars, she did not disappoint us! Serving three brackets comprised of 6 queens each, it was refreshing to see everybody get their moment regardless of their final placement. It was iconic to see Season 2 legend, 'Nicole Paige Brooks' return! 'Deja Skye' came back with a fire! 'Aja Miyake-Mugler' returned with a new energy, alongside her house sister, 'Oliva Lux Miyake-Mugler'. 'Irene The Alien' broke her one episode 'Porkchop' curse! 'Bosco' brought a certain feminine energy! 'Phoenix' saw that the race had changed much from her time on Season 3! The second bracket invited back 'Jorgeous' not long after she had competed on All Stars 9! Back so soon? Yes, 'Lydia B. Collins' must have stayed in the hotel after Season 17 had rapped up? Yes, I already mention the legend from the ATL! Trans Excellence, 'Kerri Colby' stunned us with her beauty! Protect that doll! 'Mistress Isabelle Brooks' was messy from the very first moment, I lived for her! 'Tina Burner?' Oh, Ruuu!
Puerto Rico was represented in the third bracket with 'Cynthia Lee Fontaine' and 'Alyssa Hunter' doing their island proud! 'Daya Betty' ran her mouth, it was really unnecessary but she made television. 'Acid Betty' took 'Denali' under her wing, it was an unlikely sisterhood for me to witness. The OG 'Glamour Toad' was back for her final rodeo, you know that I am talking about the legendary and now lighter, 'Ginger Minj!' The competition brought acting challenges, roasts and even a Snatch Game! Certain interactions between Aja and Mistress really made me laugh, Mistress was really doing too much! Sign her up for the next season! Kerri Colby got her comeback moment, the judges saw to that! The brackets worked, it was correct to see the queens participate in each challenge during their three week run. Ginger Minj took the title, leaving Jorgeous looking truly devastated! Will we ever see a Hispanic All Stars winner? RuPaul has her line-up premade for All Stars 11 because 'Mother Knows Best!' Bring back 'EsTitties!' for AS 11!
B Is For Brasil!
Desperately Seeking Adventure
