| Queen of the Universe | |||||
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The international drag-singing competition Queen of the Universe was announced on February 25, 2021[1]. The competition is available to watch on the streaming service Paramount Plus and is also being directed by the producers of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Casting for the show began on May 6, 2021[2] and filming for the season took place on September 28 and 29, October 1, 4, 6 and 8, 2021, at London's Excel Centre with live audiences.[3] On September 27, 2021, RuPaul's Drag Race UK judge Graham Norton was announced as the host of the show.[4]
On November 10, 2021, the fourteen international contestants competing for the title of "Queen of the Universe" and $250,000 were revealed.[5] On the same occasion, it was also announced that the show would premiere on December 2, 2021.
On December 26, 2021, Grag Queen was crowned the Queen of the Universe, while Ada Vox placed as a runner-up.
On May 2023, Regina Voce was announced as one of the contestants on Season 1 of Drag Race México. She placed as a runner-up, alongside Gala Varo and Matraka.
Grag Queen was unveiled as the host of Drag Race Brasil on July 12, 2023.[6]
About The Show
High heels, high octaves, high competition — this drag queen singing competition will blow your wig off.[7]
“This all new Eurovision-like singing competition will feature drag queens from around the world who will compete in an attempt to be crowned the Ultimate Queen of the Universe.”
Contestants
(Stage names, ages and locations stated from during time of contest)
| Rank | Contestant | Photo | Age | Location[8] | Ep. 1 | Ep. 2 | Ep. 3 | Ep. 4 | Ep. 5 | Ep. 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Throw Back |
Duets | Semi- Finals |
Grand Finale | |||||||
| 1st (Winner) |
|
Grag Queen | 
|
26[9] | Canela, Brazil |
ADV | ADV | ADV | ADV | WINNER | |
| 2nd (Runner-Up) |
|
Ada Vox | 
|
28 | San Antonio, USA |
ADV | ADV | ADV | BTM3 | RUNNER UP | |
| 3rd |
|
Aria B Cassadine | 
|
TBA | Atlanta, USA |
ADV | ADV | ADV | ADV | ELIM | |
| 4th/5th (Orig. 9th-14th) |
|
La Voix | 
|
41[10] | London, England |
ELIM | RTRN + ADV |
BTM4 | ELIM | GUEST | |
| 4th/5th | 
|
Rani Ko-HE-Nur | 
|
30[11] | Mumbai, India |
ADV | ADV | ADV | ELIM | GUEST | |
| 6th | 
|
Leona Winter | 
|
26 | Paris, France |
ADV | BTM3 | ELIM | GUEST | ||
| 7th/8th | 
|
Gingzilla | 
|
38 | Sydney, Australia |
ADV | ADV | ELIM | GUEST | ||
|
Regina Voce | 
|
39 | Mexico City, Mexico |
ADV | BTM3 | ELIM | GUEST | |||
| 9th | 
|
Matante Alex | 
|
TBA | Montréal, Canada |
ADV | ELIM | GUEST | |||
| 10th-14th |
|
Jujubee | 
|
37 | Boston, USA |
ELIM | GUEST | ||||
|
Betty Bitschlap | 
|
TBA | Copenhagen, Denmark |
ELIM | GUEST | |||||
|
|
Chy'enne Valentino | 
|
TBA | Chicago, USA |
ELIM | GUEST | |||||
|
|
Novaczar | 
|
25[12] | New York City, USA |
ELIM | GUEST | |||||
|
Woowu | 
|
TBA | Guangzhou, China |
ELIM | GUEST | |||||
- █ The contestant won Queen of the Universe.
- █ The contestant was a runner-up.
- █ The contestant appeared on the "Reunion" episode and was still in the running.
- █ The contestant advanced in the competition by Audience Vote.
- █ The contestant advanced in the competition by the Pop Diva Panel.
- █ The contestant returned to the competition and advanced.
- █ The contestant placed in the bottom and remained in the competition.
- █ The contestant placed in the bottom and was eliminated.
- █ The contestant placed in the bottom and won the Sing for your Life.
- █ The contestant placed in the bottom and lost the Sing for your Life.
- █ The contestant appeared as a guest, but was out of the running.
Episodes
| Series # | Episode # | Episode Title | Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | This Is Me (Part 1) | December 2, 2021 |
| 2 | 2 | This Is Me (Part 2) | |
| 3 | 3 | Turn Back Time | December 9, 2021 |
| 4 | 4 | Duets | December 16, 2021 |
| 5 | 5 | Bad Girls | December 23, 2021 |
| 6 | 6 | Holi-Gay Finale | December 29, 2021 |
Episode 1: "This is Me (Part 1)"
Airdate: December 2, 2021
Synopsis: Expect high heels, high octaves and high drama that'll blow your wig off as we meet the queens who will be competing for the $250,000 prize and the title of QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE.
- Maxi Challenge: Bring a look and performance that shows off who the contestants are.
Entrance Order
| 1 | Chy'enne Valentino | 
|
| 2 | Gingzilla |
|
| 3 | Woowu | 
|
| 4 | Leona Winter |
|
| 5 | Betty Bitschslap | 
|
| 6 | Novaczar |
|
| 7 | Grag Queen |
|
Performance Order
| # | Contestant | Song | Original Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grag Queen | "Rehab" | Amy Winehouse |
| 2 | Betty Bitschlap | "Dance Monkey" | Tones and I |
| 3 | Chy'enne Valentino | "Wrecking Ball" | Miley Cyrus |
| 4 | Woowu | "Material Girl" | Madonna |
| 5 | Novaczar | "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" | Britney Spears |
| 6 | Gingzilla | "Human" | Rag'n'Bone Man |
| 7 | Leona Winter | "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" | Édith Piaf |
Episode 2: "This is Me (Part 2)"
Airdate: December 2, 2021
Synopsis: The global drag singing competition continues as new queens arrive - and some must face elimination. Who will move forward to win the $250,000 prize and the title of QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE?
- Maxi Challenge: Bring a look and performance that shows off who the contestants are.
- Eliminated: Betty Bitschlap, Chy'enne Valentino, Jujubee, La Voix, Novaczar, Woowu
Entrance Order
| 1 | Ada Vox |
|
| 2 | Rani Ko-HE-Nur | 
|
| 3 | Jujubee |
|
| 4 | Regina Voce | 
|
| 5 | Matante Alex | 
|
| 6 | Aria B Cassadine |
|
| 7 | La Voix | 
|
Performance Order
| # | Contestant | Song | Original Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ada Vox | "At Last" | Etta James |
| 2 | Regina Voce | "Caruso" | Lucio Dalla |
| 3 | Rani Ko-HE-Nur | "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" | Asha Bhosle |
| "Laila Main Laila" | Shah Rukh Khan | ||
| 4 | La Voix | "Mourir Sur Scene (I Was Born to Sing Forever)" | Shirley Bassey |
| 5 | Jujubee | "Into You" | Ariana Grande |
| 6 | Matante Alex | "He Taught Me to Yodel" | Rosalie Allen |
| 7 | Aria B Cassadine | "Rise Like a Phoenix" | Conchita Wurst |
Episode 3: "Turn Back Time"
Airdate: December 9, 2021
Synopsis: The queens "turn back time" with looks and performances from an important era in their lives. For the first time, the studio audience will vote for their favorites - who will survive?
- Maxi Challenge: Bring a look and performance that depicts a classic era that holds a special place in their hearts.
- Returned: La Voix
- Eliminated: Matante Alex
Performance Order
| # | Contestant | Era | Song | Original Artist | Audience Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aria B Cassadine | 1970s | "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" | Sylvester | ADVANCED |
| 2 | Leona Winter | 1980s | "The Winner Takes It All" | ABBA | BOTTOM 3 |
| 3 | Regina Voce | 1990s | "Un-Break My Heart" | Toni Braxton | BOTTOM 3 |
| 4 | Grag Queen | 1950s | "Dream a Little Dream of Me" | Ella Fitzgerald | ADVANCED |
| 5 | Matante Alex | 1980s | "9 to 5" | Dolly Parton | ELIMINATED |
| 6 | Rani Ko-HE-Nur | 1990s | "My Heart Will Go On" | Celine Dion | ADVANCED |
| 7 | Ada Vox | 1960s | "I Put a Spell on You" | Nina Simone | ADVANCED |
| 8 | Gingzilla | 1990s | "Believe" | Cher | ADVANCED |
| 9 | La Voix | 1970s | "Car Wash" | Rose Royce | ADVANCED |
Episode 4: "Duets"
Airdate: December 16, 2021
Synopsis: There's a shocking twist in store for the remaining queens as they are forced to pair up and perform original duets in hopes to win over the studio audience and the "Pop Diva Panel".
- Special Guest: Leland, Tori Kelly
- Maxi Challenge: Perform an original song as duets for the Pop-Diva Panel
- Eliminated: Gingzilla, Regina Voce, and Leona Winter
Performance Order
| # | Duo | Theme | Song | Audience Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grag Queen | Red Velvet[13] | "Damn that Man" | ADVANCED |
| Rani Ko-HE-Nur | ||||
| 2 | Gingzilla | Pretty in Pink[14] | "Girl Power" | ELIMINATED |
| Regina Voce | ||||
| 3 | La Voix | Blue Denim Delight[15] | "Friends Forever" | BOTTOM 4 |
| Leona Winter | ||||
| 4 | Ada Vox | Sexy Silver[16] | "Back Off, Bitch" | ADVANCED |
| Aria B Cassadine |
Song for Your Life:
| Queen | Survival Song | Original Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Voix | "Don't Rain on My Parade" | Barbra Streisand | ADVANCED |
| Leona Winter | "Edge of Glory" | Lady Gaga | ELIMINATED |
Episode 5: "Bad Girls"
Airdate: December 23, 2021
Synopsis: It's the semifinals of the global search and time for the queens to unleash their wild sides as they sing songs from their favorite iconic "bad girl" artists in hopes of securing a spot in the finale".
- Maxi Challenge: Bring a look and song fitting the theme of Bad Girls for the Pop Diva Panel
- Eliminated: La Voix and Rani Ko-HE-Nur
Performance Order
| # | Contestant | Song | Original Artist | Audience Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ada Vox | "Cuz I Love You" | Lizzo | BOTTOM 3 |
| 2 | Rani Ko-HE-Nur | "Bad Romance" | Lady Gaga | ELIMINATED |
| 3 | Aria B Cassadine | "Bad Girls" | Donna Summer | ADVANCED |
| 4 | La Voix | "Welcome to Burlesque" | Cher | ELIMINATED |
| 5 | Grag Queen | "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" | Cyndi Lauper | ADVANCED |
Top Three of Season 1
| Contestant | Home Country | Up for Elimination |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1 (Ep. 5) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
Episode 6: "Holi-Gay Finale"
Airdate: December 29, 2021
Synopsis: The holidays are a drag as the queens have one final chance to prove they have what it takes to make it to the top. Who will take home the $250,000 prize and title of QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE? ".
- Opening Performance: The Top 3 and eliminated contestants perform an original song "Drag Queen Holiday"
- Maxi Challenge: Bring two performances to the Main Stage, one fitting the theme Holi-Gays and one fitting the theme Showstoppers
- Eliminated: Aria B Cassadine
- Winner of Queen of the Universe Season 1: Grag Queen
- Runner-Up: Ada Vox
Holi-Gay Performance Order
| # | Contestant | Song | Original Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grag Queen | Jingle Bell Rock | Bobby Helms |
| 2 | Aria B Cassadine | Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer | The Temptations |
| 3 | Ada Vox | Pure Imagination | Gene Wilder |
Showstoppers Performance Order
| # | Contestant | Song | Original Artist | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aria B Cassadine | This is the Moment | Anthony Warlow | ELIMINATED |
| 2 | Ada Vox | Open Arms | Journey | RUNNER-UP |
| 3 | Grag Queen | Rise Up | Andra Day | WINNER |
Trivia
- This is the first drag singing competition distributed by Paramount +.
- The logo of the season features Grag Queen, the winner of the season, in the center of all the other competing queens.
- Two crownings were filmed, one for Ada Vox and one for Grag Queen.[17]
- Contestants had around 40 minutes to do their makeup.[17]
Gallery
Judges Promos
Host
Judge
Judge
Judge
Judge
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Check out the lookbook gallery to see the contestants' looks from each episode.
|
References
Queen of the Universe Season 1
| |
| Winner | Grag Queen |
|---|---|
| Runners-Up | 2nd: Ada Vox • 3rd: Aria B Cassadine |
| Other Contestants | 4th & 5th: La Voix & Rani Ko-HE-Nur • 6th: Leona Winter • 7th & 8th: Gingzilla & Regina Voce • 9th: Matante Alex • 10th-14th: Betty Bitschlap, Chy'enne Valentino, Jujubee, Novaczar & Woowu |
| Host | Graham Norton |
| Judges | Leona Lewis • Michelle Visage • Trixie Mattel • Vanessa Williams |