| Drag Race Italia | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
The first season of Drag Race Italia, the Italian version of RuPaul's Drag Race, was first "confirmed" by an Italian website called davidemaggio.it.[1] The same news were then re-published by numerous other Italian news websites and spread all over social media, especially among Italian users and pages.
According to the original article, the show would be broadcasted by Discovery Italia and would start filming during September 2021.[1] Also according to the article, Tommaso Zorzi, Italian TV personality and pundit, famous for winning the fifth season of Grande Fratello VIP (the Italian version of Celebrity Big Brother), would be hosting the first season of the show.[1] Additionally, RuPaul would supposedly make a guest judge appearance on the first episode.[1] This, however, turned out to be untrue.
On June 30, 2021, it was announced that Chiara Francini (Italian actress), Priscilla (Italian drag queen) would be joining Tommaso Zorzi as three joint hosts and judges. In this instance the series' premiere month was also revealed to be November 2021,[2] and later specified as November 19, 2021.[3]
On July 1, 2021, Drag Race Italia was officially confirmed by World of Wonder through its Instagram accounts. In this occasion it was also announced that the show would be available on the company's online streaming service, WOW Presents Plus, to all countries excluding Italy, where it was distributed by Discovery+.[4] Casting opened on July 7.[5]
The season was recorded from September 6 to October 1 of 2021.[6] It was also revealed that it would be comprised of 6 episodes[2] lasting about 75 minutes each.[7]
On October 29, 2021, the cast was officially announced, with promo images and a cast reveal video being released on the show's and World of Wonder's social media accounts.[8]
The winner of the season was Elecktra Bionic, with Farida Kant and Le Riche placing as the runner-ups and Luquisha Lubamba winning the title of Miss Drag Simpatia.
About the Show
RuPaul's Drag Race finally arrives in Italy with the 1st season of Drag Race Italia. Drag queen Priscilla, actress Chiara Francini and influencer Tommaso Zorzi join the judging panel. This season, eight drag queens are ready to compete for the title of Italy's First Drag Superstar. With charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent at her disposal, which queen will rise above and win it all?
Lo show cult arriva in Italia. A giudicare la sfida tra drag queen: Priscilla, Chiara Francini e Tommaso Zorzi[9]
Contestants
(Biographical information stated from during time of contest)
| Rank | Contestant | Photo | Age[10] | Location[10] | Ep. 1 | Ep. 2 | Ep. 3 | Ep. 4 | Ep. 5 | Ep. 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Advert | Rusical | Snatch Game |
Make Over |
Finale | |||||
| 1st (Winner) |
Elecktra Bionic | 
|
27 | Turin | SAFE Mini Chall. Winner |
SAFE | SAFE Mini Chall. Winner |
SAFE Mini Chall. Winner |
HIGH | WINNER Mini Chall. Winner |
| 2nd/3rd (Runners-Up) |
Farida Kant | 
|
33 | Lecce | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | RUNNER UP |
| Le Riche | 
|
35 | Palermo | SAFE | BTM2 | BTM2 | WIN | HIGH | RUNNER UP | |
| 4th (Miss Drag Simpatia) |
Luquisha Lubamba | 
|
33 | Bologna | BTM2 | LOW | HIGH | HIGH | BTM2 | MISS CON + ELIM |
| 5th | Ava Hangar | 
|
36 | Carbonia | SAFE | SAFE Mini Chall. Winner |
BTM2 | NOM + BTM2 |
ELIM Mini Chall. Winner |
GUEST |
| 6th | Divinity | 
|
27 | Naples | BTM2 | SAFE | WIN | ELIM | GUEST | |
| 7th (Disqualified) |
Enorma Jean | 
|
46 | Milan | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | DISQ | GUEST | |
| 8th | Ivana Vamp | 
|
32 | Arezzo | HIGH | ELIM | GUEST | |||
- █ The contestant won Drag Race Italia.
- █ The contestant was a runner-up.
- █ The contestant won the title of Miss Drag Simpatia and was then eliminated before the final lip sync.
- █ The contestant won the maxi challenge.
- █ The contestant was one of the best but did not win the maxi challenge.
- █ The contestant was one of the worst but did not place in the bottom.
- █ The contestant placed in the bottom two but neither one was eliminated.
- █ The contestant placed in the bottom and won the Lip Sync for your life.
- █ The contestant placed in the bottom, lost the Lip Sync for your life, and was eliminated.
- █ The contestant placed in the bottom for indiscipline behind the scenes and won the Lip Sync.
- █ The contestant placed in the bottom for indiscipline behind the scenes, lost the Lip Sync, and was disqualified.
- █ The contestant appeared as a guest, but was out of the running.
Episodes
| Series # | Episode # | Title | Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cast Reveal | November 12, 2021 | ||
| 1 | 1 | November 19, 2021 | |
| 2 | 2 | November 26, 2021 | |
| 3 | 3 | December 3, 2021 | |
| 4 | 4 | December 8, 2021 | |
| 5 | 5 | December 17, 2021 | |
| 6 | 6 | December 23, 2021 | |
Special Episode: "Meet the Queens of Drag Race Italia Season 1"
Airdate: November 12, 2021
Synopsis:
Ciao, kitty girls. Meet the first 8 queens sashaying onto the Italian Werkroom!
Priscilla presenta le 8 protagoniste di Drag Race Italia in uno speciale in cui impareremo a conoscerle meglio. Ava Hangar, Divinity, Elecktra Bionic, Enorma Jean, Farida Kant, Ivana Vamp, Le Riche, Luquisha Lubamba: pronti a scoprire le nostre favolose Drag Queen?
Episode 1: "Ciao Italia"
Airdate: November 19, 2021
Synopsis:
In the premiere episode of Drag Race Italia, eight Italian queens enter the Werkroom and compete in a classic mini challenge: a photo shoot in Venice. Then they will be called on to create an Italian style dress to impress the judges on the catwalk.
Le 8 Drag Queen dimostreranno cos’è l’Italian Style con un outfit che lo rappresenti, una cartolina da Venezia e un Lip Sync eseguito al cospetto di un mito di tutte le generazioni: Cristina D’Avena!
- Guest Judge: Cristina D'Avena
- Mini Challenge: Pose for a photoshoot against wind and thunders on a traditional Venetian gondola
- Mini Challenge Winner: Elecktra Bionic
- Mini Challenge Prize: A jewelry piece by Aster Lab and the power to assign the materials for the maxi challenge, after taking a look at them for 20 seconds
- Maxi Challenge: Design an "Italian Style" look out of materials from old suitcases
- Runway Theme: Italian Style
- Maxi Challenge Winner: Farida Kant
- Bottom Two: Divinity and Luquisha Lubamba
- Lip Sync Song: "Occhi di Gatto" by Cristina D'Avena
- Eliminated: None
Entrance Order
| 1 | Divinity |
| 2 | Farida Kant |
| 3 | Ava Hangar |
| 4 | Ivana Vamp |
| 5 | Le Riche |
| 6 | Enorma Jean |
| 7 | Luquisha Lubamba |
| 8 | Elecktra Bionic |
Assigned Materials
| Contestant | Suitcase |
|---|---|
| Ava Hangar | Nonna Silvana |
| Divinity | Nonna Anna |
| Elecktra Bionic | Nonna Sofia |
| Enorma Jean | Nonna Claudia |
| Farida Kant | Nonna Gina |
| Ivana Vamp | Nonna Virna |
| Le Riche | Nonna Monica |
| Luquisha Lubamba | Nonna Alida |
Venice Photoshoot
Episode 2: "Divas"
Airdate: November 26, 2021
Synopsis:
The queens face a very funny mini challenge: limbo! In the maxi challenge, the queens will be tasked with starring in a commercial! On the Main Stage, they will have to give their best with a look that pays homage to great divas.
Un look ispirato alle Grandi Dive di sempre, un Limbo combattuto all’ultimo centimetro, una surreale Televendita. Chi verrà eliminata?
- Guest Judge: Fabio Mollo and Gianmarco Saurino
- Mini Challenge: Play limbo in 30-minute quick drag
- Mini Challenge Winner: Ava Hangar
- Mini Challenge Prize: A jewelry piece by Aster Lab and the power to pick the item for the maxi challenge first
- Maxi Challenge: Star your own infomercial for the item you chose
- Runway Theme: Grandi Dive
- Maxi Challenge Winner: Enorma Jean
- Bottom Two: Ivana Vamp and Le Riche
- Lip Sync Song: "Comprami" by Viola Valentino
- Eliminated: Ivana Vamp
- Farewell Message: "Ricordatevi sempre che siamo le prime in Tutto! Ps. Porca mattina! Vs Ivana Vamp"
Products and Runway Inspirations
| Contestant | Item | Product | Diva |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ava Hangar | Handset | Telefosì | Moira Orfei |
| Divinity | Magic wand | Bacchetta Magica | Beyoncé |
| Elecktra Bionic | Pills | Dreaming Caps | Dita Von Teese |
| Enorma Jean | Nothing | Nulla | Sophia Loren |
| Farida Kant | Canvas, brush and paint | Kit Free the C*nt[11] | Lady Gaga |
| Ivana Vamp | Decanter | Libertà | Maria Callas |
| Le Riche | App | Apperò che cozza! | Kim Kardashian |
| Luquisha Lubamba | Megaphone | Mega-fono | Britney Spears |
Episode 3: "Night of a Thousand Raffaella Carràs"
Airdate: December 3, 2021
Synopsis:
The third episode of Drag Race Italia is dedicated to the famous and loved LGBTQIA icon, Raffaella Carrà and includes a Rusical dedicated to her life.
Le Drag Queen rendono omaggio a Raffaella Carrà tra un quiz, un Rusical e una sfilata con caschetti biondi inclusi. Drag Race Italia celebra la più grande icona LGBT di sempre!
- Special Guest: Andrea Attila Felice, Stefano Magnanensi and Tiziano Ferro
- Guest Judge: Nick Cerioni and Vladimir Luxuria
- Mini Challenge: Put together a puzzle of an iconic Raffaella Carrà look
- Mini Challenge Winner: Elecktra Bionic
- Mini Challenge Prize: A jewelry piece by Aster Lab
- Maxi Challenge: Star in a Rusical dedicated to Italian pop and LGBTQ+ icon Raffaella Carrà
- Runway Theme: Che Carrà Sei?
- Maxi Challenge Winner: Divinity
- Bottom Two: Ava Hangar and Le Riche
- Lip Sync Song: "Fiesta (Spanish Version)" by Raffaella Carrà
- Eliminated: None
Puzzle Looks
| Contestant | Puzzle Look |
|---|---|
| Ava Hangar | Ma che sera |
| Divinity | Tuca tuca |
| Elecktra Bionic | Fatalità |
| Enorma Jean | Milleluci |
| Farida Kant | Fantastico |
| Le Riche | Rumore |
| Luquisha Lubamba | Raffaella Carrà Show |
Episode 4: "Snatch Game & Fab 80's"
Airdate: December 8, 2021
Synopsis:
The queens await the arrival of the judges in the Werkroom who share the theme of the mini challenge: Makeup in the Dark. Which of them will be able to do perfect makeup in the dark? And who will be able to do an amazing impersonation in the Snatch Game? On the runway, we take a dip in the fabulous 80’s!
È il momento di un classico di Drag Race: lo Snatch Game. Poi, in passerella ricordando i favolosi anni ’80 in compagnia di Donatella Rettore.
- Special Guests: Michele Magnani and Vincenzo De Lucia
- Guest Judges: Giancarlo Commare and Donatella Rettore
- Mini Challenge: Do your makeup in a dark room
- Mini Challenge Winner: Elecktra Bionic
- Mini Challenge Prize: A selection of products from MAC Cosmetics worth €500
- Maxi Challenge: Snatch Game
- Nominees: Ava Hangar and Enorma Jean
- Lip Sync Song: "Champion" by RuPaul Charles
- Expelled: Enorma Jean
- Farewell Message: La drag è un'artista con le palle. Le mie non sono grandi, sono ENORMI.
- Runway Theme: I Favolosi Anni 80
- Maxi Challenge Winner: Le Riche
- Maxi Challenge Prize: A selection of products from MAC Cosmetics worth €750
- Bottom Two: Ava Hangar and Divinity
- Lip Sync Song: "Kobra" by Donatella Rettore
- Eliminated: Divinity
- Farewell Message: "Colorate il mondo con la nostra arte xoxo Divinity"
Makeup in the Dark Pairs and Order
| # | Contestants | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elecktra Bionic | Enorma Jean |
| 2 | Farida Kant | Le Riche |
| 3 | Ava Hangar | Luquisha Lubamba |
| 4 | Divinity | |
Snatch Game Characters
| Contestant | Character |
|---|---|
| Ava Hangar | Alice Kessler |
| Ellen Kessler | |
| Divinity | Belén Rodríguez |
| Elecktra Bionic | Francesca Cipriani |
| Enorma Jean | Rita Levi-Montalcini |
| Farida Kant | Alessandra Celentano |
| Le Riche | Valeria Marini |
| Luquisha Lubamba | Elettra Lamborghini |
Episode 5: "Long Live the Drag Bride"
Airdate: December 17, 2021
Synopsis:
For the semi-final, friends and relatives will get makeovers to become drag queens for a night. On the Main Stage, the category is "Long Live the Drag Bride."
La semifinale è caratterizzata dalla rivisitazione in salsa drag del giorno più bello, da condividere con amic* e fidanzat* per ritrovarsi sul Main Stage, di fronte alla giuria di Drag Race Italia, al grido di "Viva la sposa"!
- Guest Judges: Coco Rebecca Edogamhe and Enzo Miccio
- Mini Challenge: Find words with the letters given, written on the pants of the Pit Crew
- Mini Challenge Winner: Ava Hangar
- Mini Challenge Prize: A jewelry piece by Aster Lab and the power to pick the item for the maxi challenge first
- Maxi Challenge: Makeover one of your loved ones as your best woman and yourself as a bride
- Runway Theme: Viva La Sposa!
- Maxi Challenge Winner: Farida Kant
- Maxi Challenge Prize: TBA
- Bottom Two: Ava Hangar and Luquisha Lubamba
- Lip Sync Song: "Cicale" by Heather Parisi
- Eliminated: Ava Hangar
- Farewell Message: "Continuate a fare la storia. Là fuori ci aspetta un mondo bellissimo. LOVE, AVA"
Scrabble Answers
| Contestant | Round # | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Ava Hangar | vangate | tediosa | favolosa |
| Elecktra Bionic | tegana | ||
| Farida Kant | vegana | udito | unsaid |
| Le Riche | vagante | N/A | |
| Luquisha Lubamba | vegana | seti | |
- █ The answer was deemed as not valid, and the contestant was eliminated
- █ The contestant answered first, and thus won the mini challenge
Makeover Pairs
| Contestant | Makoever Partner | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Relationship | |
| Ava Hangar | Mattia | Best Friend |
| Elecktra Bionic | Luciana | Best Friend |
| Farida Kant | Yuri | Partner |
| Le Riche | Vincenzo | Best Friend |
| Luquisha Lubamba | Jacopo | Partner |
Finalists
| Contestant | Challenge Wins | Up for Elimination |
|---|---|---|
|
0 | 0 |
|
2 (Eps. 1, 5) |
0 |
|
1 (Ep. 4) |
2 (Eps. 2, 3) |
|
0 | 2 (Eps. 1, 5) |
Episode 6: "Grand Finale - Drag Race Italia"
Airdate: December 23, 2021
Synopsis:
It's time for the grand finale! Our four finalists will tackle a classic Drag Race mini challenge that won’t fail to create shade: Reading is fundamental. Then they'll have a cup of tea with one of the judges before writing verses and performing “A Little Bit of Love" by RuPaul. Who will be Italy's First Drag Superstar?
Il Gran Finale è arrivato. È giunto il momento dell’incoronazione. Dopo la sfilata simbolo di Drag Race, “Eleganza Extravaganza”, sarà finalmente eletta la vincitrice di Drag Race Italia. Chi sarà la prima Italia’s Next Drag Superstar?
- Special Guests: Andrea Attila Felice, Michelle Visage and RuPaul
- Guest Judge: Ambra Angiolini
- Mini Challenge: Read the other contestants with a megaphone while standing on a box
- Mini Challenge Winner: Elecktra Bionic
- Maxi Challenge: Write and choreograph your own verse to "A Little Bit of Love" by RuPaul
- Runway Theme: Eleganza Extravaganza
- Miss Drag Simpatia: Luquisha Lubamba
- Eliminated: Luquisha Lubamba
- Lip Sync Song: "Non Sono Una Signora" by Loredana Bertè
- Winner of Drag Race Italia Season 1: Elecktra Bionic
- Runners-Up: Farida Kant and Le Riche
Who Should Win Drag Race Italia?
| Eliminated Contestant |
Choice |
|---|---|
| Ava Hangar | Elecktra Bionic |
| Divinity | Farida Kant |
| Enorma Jean | Herself |
| Ivana Vamp | N/A |
Trivia
- Season 1 of Drag Race Italia is...
- The first in the franchise...
- ...to have all of its contestants names start in the first half of the Latin alphabet.
- ...to have two queens be nominated for a lip sync due to poor behavior behind the scenes, Ava Hangar and Enorma Jean.
- ...to have a mini challenge winner on the finale episode, Elecktra Bionic.
- ...to crown a winner with no maxi challenge wins, Elecktra Bionic.
- ...to have the least number of contestants in any season of Drag Race with eight queens.
- The fourth in the franchise...
- ...to take place in Europe, after RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Drag Race Holland and Drag Race España.
- ...to have episodes with different titles depending on the platform they aired on. On Discovery+, the Meet the Queens special was titled "Meet the Queens", while on WOW Presents Plus, it was titled "Meet the Queens of Drag Race Italia Season 1". The same happened with the first episode, slightly changed from "Ciao Italia!" on Discovery+ to "Ciao Italia" on WOW Presents Plus.
- The fifth to be non-English speaking, after The Switch Drag Race, Drag Race Thailand, Drag Race Holland and Drag Race España.
- The eighth international instalment of the Drag Race franchise, following the Chilean, Thai, British, Canadian, Dutch, Spanish, and Australian-New Zealander.
- The season with the oldest cast across the entire Drag Race franchise, with an age average of 33.625.
- The season with the fewest contestants across the entire Drag Race franchise, with just 8.
- The first in the franchise...
- As revealed by Priscilla on Instagram, the reason Ava Hangar and Enorma Jean were punished and asked to lip sync on Episode 4 was due to insulting cast and crew members and committing blasphemy.[12]
- Ava Hangar later clarified she only committed blasphemy.[12]
- According to an article by Italian news site Spetteguless...[7]
- 1000 drag queens auditioned for Season 1 of Drag Race Italia.
- The season was filmed in a total of 720 hours.
- The contestants spent a total of 208 hours doing their makeup during the season.
- The filming, production and editing crew consisted in a total of 80 people.
- The third episode was dedicated to the late Italian singer Raffaella Carrà, who died on July 5, 2021.[13]
- Just like other installments of the Drag Race franchise, three different crownings were filmed, one for each of the top three contestants (Elecktra Bionic, Farida Kant and Le Riche).[14]
- The title of Miss Drag Simpatia was assigned by hair products brand Wella Professionals Italia, one of the sponsors for the season.[15]
- Season 1 suffered from some editing errors:
- In Episode 4's expulsion lip sync between Enorma Jean and Ava Hangar, RuPaul's song "Champion" is written as "Champions".
- In Episode 6, when the eliminated queens return, Luquisha Lubamba is mistakenly given Le Riche's name plate in her confessional.
- In a TikTok video, Luquisha Lubamba revealed some behind the scenes facts about filming:[16]
- Before the entrances in Episode 1, all contestants were kept in a different hotel.
- Contestants had to wear a microphone at all times and every single word they said was transcribed by a designated crew member.
- Each runway was recorded up to three times, with and without music.
- The Rumix performance in Episode 6 was recorded seven different times.
- Each mirror in the Werk Room had a hidden camera behind it.
- The sets for the Werk Room and the Mainstage were right next to each other inside the same theater.
- The contestants were forbidden to have any contact with people outside for the entire filming process.
- Confessionals were recorded every two or three days.
- The audio track for the Rusical was recorded in a professional setting, while the one for the Rumix was recorded on the Mainstage arranged as recording studio.
Gallery
Episode Sections
Main Judges Promos
Guest Judges Promos
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Check out the lookbook gallery to see the contestants' looks from each episode.
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Check out the lookbook gallery to see the contestants' planned looks for each episode.
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Check out the video gallery to see challenge performances, runways, lip syncs and more!
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References
Drag Race Italia Season 1
| |
| Winner | Elecktra Bionic |
|---|---|
| Runners-Up | 2nd & 3rd: Farida Kant & Le Riche • 4th: Luquisha Lubamba (Miss Drag Simpatia) |
| Other Contestants | 5th: Ava Hangar • 6th: Divinity • 7th: Enorma Jean (Disqualified) • 8th: Ivana Vamp |
| Hosts | Chiara Francini • Priscilla • Tommaso Zorzi |
| Judges | Chiara Francini • Priscilla • Tommaso Zorzi |
| Pit Crew | Marco Da Roit • Marco Foltran • Rexhino "Gigi" Kalja • Riccardo Trulli • Rinaldo • Rosario Buondonno • Vincenzo Di Prisco |
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| See also: | Winners • Runners-Up • Miss Congeniality • Lip Sync Performances • Challenge Winners • Maxi Challenge • Mini Challenge • Who Should Go Home Tonight? • Farewell Messages • Pit Crew • Judges • The Mainstage • The Werk Room • Casting Calls • Crown and Scepter • WOW Presents Plus • Tours • Web Series • Podcasts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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