- RuPaul’s Drag Race reunited 16 former winners for an emotional tribute on stage.
- Sasha Colby, Monét X Change, Yvie Oddly, Symone, and more took the stage together in New York City.
- The queens united to welcome the new season 18 queens into the Drag Race sisterhood.
In the words of reigning winner Onya Nurve, it do take nerve — and reuniting 16 former RuPaul’s Drag Race winners — to welcome the season 18 girls into the sisterhood.
Entertainment Weekly has exclusive photos from the major reunion, which saw multiple crowned queens from RuPaul’s Emmy-winning franchise take the stage together Tuesday night in New York City, in front of a crowd gathered to celebrate the upcoming season.
Past winners of regular seasons who appeared on stage together at the reunion include regular season winners Bebe Zahara Benet (season 1); Sasha Velour (season 9); Aquaria (season 10); Yvie Oddly (season 11); Jaida Essence Hall (season 12); Symone (season 13); Willow Pill (season 14); Sasha Colby (season 15); Nymphia Wind (season 16), and Onya (season 17).
Joey Nolfi
All Stars champions who joined them for the cast reunion include Monét X Change (All Stars 4); Kylie Sonique Love (All Stars 6); Jimbo (All Stars 8); Angeria Paris VanMicheals (All Stars 9); Ginger Minj (All Stars 10), and Alyssa Edwards (Global All Stars).
The winners united to help usher in the new cast of 14 queens, one of whom will join them in the winners’ circle after winning a $200,000 prize following the season 18 finale next year.
Season 18’s cast of queens also joined the winners on stage at the event.
EW has learned that some of the queens who weren’t on stage didn’t participate due to scheduling issues, as some are on tour or had other working commitments at the time.
Season 18’s new cast includes a roster of seasoned queens who’ve competed everywhere from America’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, The Voice and America’s Best Dance Crew to appearing on The View and joining Rihanna on tour.
“I love this season. I think it’s kind of back to basics. It feels like a traditional season,” Orlando queen Myki Meeks tells EW in our exclusive round of cast interviews from the new season (above).
“You’ll see what happens,” Myki continues. “It’s a season full of queens who’ve been doing this. We all wanted this, we’ve been working, and we all hold our own. We’re not all figuring ourselves out on the show — which, is fun to watch, but it feels like, oh, this is for real. This is a pageant.”
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The full season 18 cast includes Athena Dion, Briar Blush, Ciara Myst, Darlene Mitchell, DD Fuego, Discord Addams, Kenya Pleaser, Jane Don’t, Juicy Love Dion, Mandy Mango, Mia Starr, Myki, Nini Coco, and Vita VonTesse Starr.
RuPaul’s Drag Race season 18 premieres Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. on MTV. See EW’s exclusive photos of the winners reuniting above.