Drag Race Philippines

''Drag Race Philippines'' is a Philippine television reality competition show broadcast by HBO Go and WOW Presents Plus. The show based on the American television franchise ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. Hosted by Paolo Ballesteros, it aired from August 17, 2022 to October 9, 2024.

In every episode, it employs a panel of judges with Paolo Ballesteros and KaladKaren, with BJ Pascual, Jon Santos, and Rajo Laurel as alternative judges. Jiggly Caliente served as a judge for three seasons until it was announced in April 2025 that she would not be returning as a judge due to a “severe infection” which led to the amputation of her right leg. Caliente died days after the announcement, aged 44.

After three seasons, Precious Paula Nicole, Captivating Katkat, and Maxie Andreison were crowned as winners of the series.

Series overview

Production history

American drag queen RuPaul Charles first announced the Philippine adaptation, and is credited as an executive producer alongside Randy Barbato, Fenton Bailey, and Tom Campbell. Casting soon opened from production company World of Wonder, alongside their partnership with Fullhouse Asia, on August 16, 2021.

''Entertainment Weekly'' reportedly that entertainer Jiggly Caliente will show up as a permanent judge on May 14, 2022; she previously competed in ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' (2012) and ''All Stars'' (2021). A short trailer showcased the workroom and mainstage, with a silhouette of the host, and revealed it will have a companion series. A month later, it was confirmed that actor and comedian Paolo Ballesteros was given the opportunity to host ''Drag Race Philippines'' on July 13.

This soon unveiled another judge, whom is television personality KaladKaren; this marked the first franchise to have two transgender women appear in the panel of judges. Before the franchise aired, photographer BJ Pascual, fashion designer Rajo Laurel and actor and comedian Jon Santos were announced as the alternating judges on August 11. Actor and singer Ice Seguerra revealed and made his television directorial debut on August 20.

Before the first season ended, Laurel teased about the renewal for the series on October 6, 2022, but its streaming services denied this comment and was not in production. It was shortly renewed the same month with casting opened until December 1. Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific soon announced that Discovery+ would be discontinued in the Philippines on April 27, 2023, this left the national broadcasting exclusivity to video-on demand service HBO Go.

A family statement revealed that Jiggly Caliente would not return as judge, due to her right leg having been surgically amputated from a severe infection on April 24, 2025. Three days later, she died in a hospital at age 44.

Season synopses

Season 1 (2022)

The contestants were first announced in their visual presentation throughout social media on July 27, 2022. A teaser was released on August 4, featuring Paolo Ballesteros waving two checkered flags with every contestant introducing themselves.

It debuted through streaming services Discovery+ and HBO Go for the Philippines simultaneously, with Crave for Canada, and including WOW Presents Plus internationally in August 2022. An online video was released through YouTube that featured the first 20 minutes from the first episode. Ongina and Rock M. Sakura hosted the American webseries '' Fashion Photo RuView'', where they reviewed the garments from contestants. This season ran for ten episodes and concluded in October.

Precious Paula Nicole won the season after lip-syncing to " Sirena" (2012) by rapper Gloc-9 and was crowned as the Philippines' First Drag Superstar. This also included a one-year supply from ONE/SIZE cosmetics, with a crown and scepter, and a cash prize of ₱1,000,000. Marina Summers was the runner-up, with Lady Morgana (whom eliminated fifth overall) voted as Miss Congeniality.

The contestants who competed and eliminated were Prince, Corazon, Gigi Era, Turing, Viñas DeLuxe, Brigiding, Minty Fresh, Xilhouete, and Eva Le Queen.

Season 2 (2023)

After season one concluded, it was immediately renewed on October 19, with casting opened the same month until December 2022. A teaser image was soon posted through Instagram on June 29, 2023. This led to showcase its previous panel of judges in a tropical-themed set, with the contestants and their visual presentation announced on July 11. The season premiered through HBO Go for the Philippines and WOW Presents Plus internationally in August 2023. It was ended in October which ran for ten episodes.

Captivating Katkat was crowned as the Philippines' Next Drag Superstar, after lip-syncing to "Kapangyarihan" (2021) by iDolls. She was handed a cash prize of ₱1,000,000, with a crown and scepter, and a one-year supply from Anastasia Beverly Hills. Arizona Brandy was the runner-up, with Hana Beshie (whom eliminated fifth overall) voted as Miss Congeniality.

The contestants who competed and eliminated were Nicole Pardaux, Astrid Mercury, Tiny DeLuxe, Veruschka Levels, Matilduh, DeeDee Marié Holliday, ØV Cünt, M1ss Jade So, and Bernie.

Season 3 (2024)

Spin-offs

''Untucked!''

After a teaser trailer was released, this announced a companion series subtitled ''Untucked!'' which marked the first international iteration based from the American television franchise. It showcases deleted or unseen footage, short altercations, unresolved conflicts from contestants, and key moments. This documentary format began to premiere two days after its main edition, its scheduling changed for season two.

''Slaysian Royale''

On 13 March 2025, World of Wonder announced that ''Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale'', a spin-off series of ''Drag Race Philippines'', would premiere in late 2025. The series is set to feature contestants from previous ''Drag Race Philippines'' series compete with Asian queens from other franchises, similar to the ''vs. the World'' format previously featured in the United Kingdom and Canada.

See also

* List of reality television programs with LGBT cast members

References

{{Portal bar, Philippines, LGBTQ, Television

2020s Philippine LGBTQ-related reality television series
2022 Philippine television series debuts
Philippine television series based on American television series
WOW Presents Plus original programming