RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (Season 1)

RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under
1	2

Season 1
Overall Information
No. of Episodes	8
No. of Contestants	10
Premiere	May 1, 2021
Finale	June 19, 2021
Season Information
Winner	Kita Mean
Miss Congeniality	Anita Wigl'it
Host	RuPaul
Judges	Michelle Visage Rhys Nicholson RuPaul
Season Chronology
Next →	Season 2

The first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under was officially announced on August 26, 2019. On January 18, 2021 the official title of the series was announced by RuPaul through World of Wonder's social media. This also confirmed that the show would be airing on WOW Presents Plus, Stan Australia, and TVNZ. Down Under will also be broadcast on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

The cast was planned to be revealed at Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival on March 6, 2021. However, the cast was revealed hours earlier via World of Wonder.

The season premiered on May 1, 2021 globally at 4pm AEST (12am PST).

The winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under will receive a cash prize of A$30,000 (≈ US$22,434) and one year supply of Revolution Beauty Cosmetics.

The winner of the season was Kita Mean, with Art Simone, Karen From Finance, and Scarlet Adams all finishing as runners-up. Anita Wigl'it was unofficially voted as Miss Congeniality by her fellow castmates.

About The Show

Hosted by RuPaul, drag queen contestants compete in an elimination-style contest and strut their stuff in a variety of challenges - all to prove that they’ve got what it takes to be a Down Under drag queen superstar!

Contestants

Anita Wigl'it

Art Simone

Coco Jumbo

Elektra Shock

Etcetera Etcetera

Jojo Zaho

Karen From Finance

Kita Mean

Maxi Shield

Scarlet Adams

(Biographical information stated from during time of contest)

Rank	Contestant	Photo	Real Name	Age	Current City	Ep. 1	Ep. 2	Ep. 3	Ep. 4	Ep. 5	Ep. 6	Ep. 7	Ep. 8
						Runway	Snatch Game	Girl Groups	Design	Branding	Make Over	Talent Show	Grand Finale
1st (Winner)	Kita Mean		Nick Nash	34	Auckland, NZ	SAFE	SAFE	HIGH	SAFE	HIGH	WIN	BTM2	WINNER
2nd/3rd/4th (Runner-Up) (Orig. 9th)	Art Simone		Jack Daye	28	Melbourne, VIC, AU	HIGH	ELIM		RTRN + HIGH	SAFE Mini Chall. Winner	SAFE	LOW	RUNNER UP
2nd/3rd/4th (Runners-Up)	Karen From Finance		Richard Chadwick	32	Melbourne, VIC, AU	WIN	LOW	SAFE	BTM2	LOW	HIGH	LOW	RUNNER UP
	Scarlet Adams		Anthony Price	27	Perth, WA, AU	HIGH	LOW	WIN Team Captain	WIN	SAFE	BTM2	WIN	RUNNER UP
5th	Elektra Shock		James Luck	27	Auckland, NZ	BTM2 Mini Chall. Winner	LOW	BTM2 Team Captain	SAFE	WIN	LOW	ELIM
6th	Maxi Shield		Kris Elliot	46	Sydney, NSW, AU	SAFE	LOW	LOW	HIGH	BTM2	ELIM Mini Chall. Winner
7th	Etcetera Etcetera		Oliver Levi-Malouf	22	Sydney, NSW, AU	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	LOW	ELIM
8th (Miss Congeniality)	Anita Wigl'It		Nick Kennedy-Hall	31	Auckland, NZ	SAFE	WIN	HIGH	ELIM
9th	Coco Jumbo		Luke Viti Waqa	30	Sydney, NSW, AU	LOW	BTM2	ELIM
10th	Jojo Zaho		John Ridgeway	30	Newcastle, NSW, AU	ELIM

█ The contestant won RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under.

█ The contestant lost the final lip-sync, and is the runner-up.

█ The contestant won the maxi challenge.

█ The contestant received mainly positive critiques but did not win the maxi challenge.

█ The contestant was brought back to the competition and received mainly positive critiques but did not win the maxi challenge.

█ The contestant received mainly negative critiques but did not place in the bottom two.

█ The contestant placed in the bottom two and won the lip-sync for your life.

█ The contestant placed in the bottom two, lost the lip-sync for your life, and was eliminated.

Queen's Winning Earnings

Name	Money
Kita Mean	$30,000
Art Simone	$0
Karen From Finance	$3,000
Scarlet Adams	$5,000
Elektra Shock	$0
Maxi Shield	$0
Etcetera Etcetera	$0
Anita Wigl'it	$5,000
Coco Jumbo	$0
Jojo Zaho	$0

Episodes

Series #	Episode #	Episode Title	Air Date
1	1	G'day G'day G'day	May 1, 2021
2	2	Snatch Game	May 8, 2021
3	3	Queens Down Under	May 15, 2021
4	4	Rucycled	May 22, 2021
5	5	Marketing Hats	May 29, 2021
6	6	Family Resemblance	June 5, 2021
7	7	Talent Show Extravaganza	June 12, 2021
8	8	Down Under Grand Finale	June 19, 2021

Episode 1: "G'day G'day G'day"

Airdate: May 1, 2021

Synopsis: We meet the Australian and New Zealand drag queens competing to become down under’s first Drag Race superstar. It’s a hometown homage this week, as the queens showcase their personalities at the ‘get to know you’ ball.

Episode 1 Judges

• Special Guest: Taika Waititi
• Mini Challenge: Audition for the new movie: Thar
• Mini Challenge Winner: Elektra Shock
• Mini Challenge Prize: A necklace set from Fierce Drag Jewels
• Maxi Challenge: Present a nude illusion look and a home town look on the main stage.
• Runway Themes: Born Naked and No Place Like Home
• Maxi Challenge Winner: Karen From Finance
• Maxi Challenge Prize: $3,000 tip from Mary's Poppin' in Adelaide
• Bottom Two: Elektra Shock and Jojo Zaho
• Lip Sync Song: "Tragedy" by Bee Gees
• Eliminated: Jojo Zaho
• Farewell Message: " ♡ I am so happy to call each & everyone of you mob (sisters). Bring that crown home Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi xoxo Jojo Zaho x now clean this mirror Bitch lol 💋"

Entrance Order

1	Art Simone
2	Maxi Shield
3	Jojo Zaho
4	Elektra Shock
5	Scarlet Adams
6	Coco Jumbo
7	Kita Mean
8	Etcetera Etcetera
9	Anita Wigl'it
10	Karen From Finance

Runway Inspirations

Queen	Hometown
Anita Wigl'it	Leigh
Art Simone	Melbourne
Coco Jumbo	Coffs Harbour
Elektra Shock	Auckland
Etcetera Etcetera	Canberra
Jojo Zaho	Newcastle
Karen From Finance	Melbourne
Kita Mean	Auckland
Maxi Shield	Ballina
Scarlet Adams	Perth

Episode 2: "Snatch Game"

Airdate: May 8, 2021

Episode 2 Judges

Snatch Game Panel

Synopsis: It’s the time we’ve all been waiting for, as the queen’s don their best celebrity get-up to compete in the infamous celebrity impression Olympics. It’s Snatch Game, baby!

• Special Guests: Kylie Minogue and Danni Minogue
• Maxi Challenge: Snatch Game
• Runway Theme: Sea Sickening
• Maxi Challenge Winner: Anita Wigl'it
• Maxi Challenge Prize: $5,000 tip from Barefoot Wine Australia
• Bottom Two: Art Simone and Coco Jumbo
• Lip Sync Song: "I'm That Bitch" by RuPaul
• Eliminated: Art Simone
• Farewell Message: "P.S WATCH Highway to heel! REDЯUM ♡ ART Karen bring home that crown ♡"

Snatch Game Characters

Queen	Celebrity
Karen From Finance	Dolly Parton
Art Simone	Bindi Irwin
Coco Jumbo	Lizzo
Anita Wigl'it	Queen Elizabeth II
Scarlet Adams	Jennifer Coolidge
Elektra Shock	Catherine O'Hara
Maxi Shield	Magda Szubanski
Etcetera Etcetera	Lindy Chamberlain
Kita Mean	Dr. Seuss

Episode 3: "Queens Down Under"

Airdate: May 15, 2021

Synopsis: The queens are split in two, as they compete in the ultimate girl group sing-off.

Episode 3 Judges

• Special Guests: Leland and Troye Sivan
• Mini Challenge: Show their best slow-motion surf rescue
• Mini Challenge Winner: Scarlet Adams and Elektra Shock
• Mini Challenge Prize: A $2,500 gift card from Glitter au Gogo to Scarlet and a $2,500 gift card from Philman's WerqShop to Elektra.
• Maxi Challenge: Record vocals and perform in a girl group number for the original song "Queens Down Under."
• Runway Theme: Bogan Prom Realness
• Maxi Challenge Winner: Scarlet Adams
• Maxi Challenge Prize: Custom prosthetic piece from BODYFX worth $4,500
• Bottom Two: Coco Jumbo and Elektra Shock
• Lip Sync Song: "Shake Your Groove Thing" by Peaches & Herb
• Eliminated: Coco Jumbo
• Farewell Message: "I ♡ You My Sisters The Party 💋 STARTS 💋 NOW!!! ♡ Jumbo!! PS WATCH OUT Bitch!"

Girl Group Sing-Off

Outback Fake-Hoes		Three and a Half Men
	Anita Wigl'it		Elektra Shock
	Coco Jumbo		Karen From Finance
	Etcetera Etcetera		Kita Mean
	Scarlet Adams		Maxi Shield

Episode 4: "Rucycled"

Airdate: May 22, 2021

Synopsis: The queens are put through their paces with a sewing challenge that has them showcasing their best thrift flip.

Episode 4 Judges

• Guest Judge: Elz Carrad
• Returned: Art Simone
• Maxi Challenge: Use crusty castoffs from an op-shop to create their own runway looks.
• Maxi Challenge Winner: Scarlet Adams
• Maxi Challenge Prize: $2,500 gift card from Elea's Closet
• Bottom Two: Karen From Finance and Anita Wigl'it
• Lip Sync Song: "I Begin To Wonder" by Dannii Minogue
• Eliminated: Anita Wigl'it
• Farewell Message: "To my beautiful Queens, You are everything to me! I came in with 3 Kiwi sisters and leave with a whole Australian sister-hood. Never forget my Dry Ass Pussy!! Anita P.S: See you in two weeks in the trash!!"

Episode 5: "Marketing Hats"

Airdate: May 29, 2021

Synopsis: The queens put their marketing hats on, as they are given the challenge to create and market a product, green screen infomercial and all.

Episode 5 Judges

• Special Guest: Suzanne Paul
• Guest Judge: Rena Owen
• Mini Challenge: Reading is Fundamental
• Mini Challenge Winner: Art Simone
• Mini Challenge Prize: A state-of-the-art sewing machine from Singer.
• Maxi Challenge: Create and market their own brand of yeast spread.
• Runway Theme: Finest Sheila in the Bush
• Maxi Challenge Winner: Elektra Shock
• Maxi Challenge Prize: A luxury four-night stay at a Sofitel property of her choice
• Bottom Two: Maxi Shield and Etcetera Etcetera
• Lip Sync Song: "Absolutely Everybody" by Vanessa Amorosi
• Eliminated: Etcetera Etcetera
• Farewell Message: "YIPEE YIPEE! TRANS PEOPLE DESERVE MORE! I LOVE YOU BITCHES ♡ ETC THE GLAMOUR BUG xo"

Yeast Spread

Queen	Yeast Spread's Name
Art Simone	Art's Yeast Yank Extractor
Elektra Shock	Topped
Etcetera Etcetera	Piss
Karen From Finance	Discharge
Kita Mean	Yeasty Nuts
Maxi Shield	Hornbag Yeast Concentrate
Scarlet Adams	Snatch

Episode 6: "Family Resemblance"

Airdate: June 5, 2021

Synopsis: Can you see the family resemblance? The queens are challenged to makeover and raise their very own drag family members, out of drag first timers.

Episode 6 Judges

• Special Guests: Aunty Donna
• Mini Challenge: Whatcha Packin' Down Under?
• Mini Challenge Winner: Maxi Shield
• Mini Challenge Prize: $2,000 gift card from Amped Accessories
• Maxi Challenge: Transform sportsmen into drag queens.
• Runway Theme: Drag Family Resemblance
• Maxi Challenge Winner: Kita Mean
• Maxi Challenge Prize: A $2,500 prize package from House of Priscilla for Keta, and a $1,500 gift card from DailyJocks for Feta
• Bottom Two: Maxi Shield and Scarlet Adams
• Lip Sync Song: "Better The Devil You Know" by Kylie Minogue
• Eliminated: Maxi Shield
• Farewell Message: "I HAD TO STAND ON A STOOL TO WRITE THIS! I ❤ you All So much MAXI xx"

Makeovers

Queens	Makeover Guest
	Name	Drag Name
Art Simone	Jonah	Craft Simone
Elektra Shock	Fara	Riri Action
Karen From Finance	Wolf	Debbie From Reception
Kita Mean	Carl	Feta Mean
Maxi Shield	Dan	Cilla Wet
Scarlet Adams	Brad	Sapphire Adams

Episode 7: "Talent Show Extravaganza"

Airdate: June 12, 2021

Synopsis: The queens compete in a talent show and attempt to cement their place in the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under.

Episode 7 Judges

• Special Guests: Raven and The Veronicas
• Maxi Challenge: Compete in a Talent Show
• Runway Theme: How's Your Head, Piece?
• Maxi Challenge Winner: Scarlet Adams
• Maxi Challenge Prize: A custom line of merchandise and a $5,000 cash tip
• Bottom Two: Elektra Shock and Kita Mean
• Lip Sync Song: "Untouched" by The Veronicas
• Eliminated: Elektra Shock
• Farewell Message: "only 1 queen could beat me... and that's the Winner of Rupauls Drag Race Down under ✧ Kia Kaha. THANK YOU Elektra SHOCK ☆"

Talent Show

Queen	Talent		"Who Should Go Home Tonight?"
Karen From Finance	Ballooning		Elektra Shock
Art Simone	Contemporary Mouth Art		Elektra Shock
Kita Mean	Quick Change Magic		Elektra Shock
Scarlet Adams	Pole Dancing		Elektra Shock
Elektra Shock	Modern Dance		Art Simone

Top Four of Season 1

Queen	Challenge Wins	Up for Elimination
	0	1 (Ep. 2)
	1 (Ep. 1)	1 (Ep. 4)
	1 (Ep. 6)	1 (Ep. 7)
	3 (Eps. 3, 4, 7)	1 (Ep. 6)

Episode 8: "Down Under Grand Finale"

Airdate: June 19, 2021

Synopsis: The final queens write their own verses to RuPaul’s “I'm a Winner, Baby” and compete to be crowned winner of the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under.

Episode 8 Judges

• Special Guest: Olivia Newton-John and Chloe Lattanzi
• Main Challenge: Write, sing, and perform the Down Under version of RuPaul's song "I'm a Winner, Baby".
• Runway Theme: Best Drag
• Lip Sync Song: "Physical" by Olivia-Newton-John
• Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Season 1: Kita Mean
• Runners-Up: Art Simone, Karen From Finance and Scarlet Adams

Season 1 Top Four

Season 1 Winner, Kita Mean

Queens' Votes for Miss Congeniality

Queen	Choice for Miss Congeniality		Queen	Votes
Anita Wigl'it	Coco Jumbo		Anita Wigl'it	4
Art Simone	Anita Wigl'it
Coco Jumbo	Anita Wigl'it
Elektra Shock	Karen From Finance
Etcetera Etcetera	Maxi Shield		Maxi Shield	2
Jojo Zaho	Etcetera Etcetera
Karen From Finance	Anita Wigl'it		Coco Jumbo	1
Kita Mean	Maxi Shield
Maxi Shield	Anita Wigl'it		Etcetera Etcetera	1
Scarlet Adams			Karen From Finance	1

NOTE: Scarlet Adams was not interviewed and did not cast her vote.

Gallery

Logo

RuPaul Promo

RuPaul Premiere Promo

Rhys Nicholson Promo

Poster

Check out the lookbook gallery to see the queens' looks from each episode.

Check out the lookbook gallery to see the queens' planned looks for each episode.

Check out the video gallery to see challenge performances, runways, lip syncs, and more!

Trivia

• Drag Race Down Under is the first season...
  • ... to have Snatch Game as the second competitive episode on a regular season.
  • ... to have the lowest Tops to Bottoms ratio, with 1:6 during the Snatch Game.
  • ...to feature a queen of...
    • ...Fijian descent, Coco Jumbo.
    • ...Lebanese descent, Etcetera Etcetera.
    • ...Indigenous Australian descent, Jojo Zaho.
  • ... to have a drag duo win the major titles of the season.
    • Anita Wigl'it won the title Miss Congeniality, while Kita Mean won the title of Down Under's First Drag Superstar.
  • ... to have four queens compete in the final lip sync for the crown, as opposed to just two or three.
• Drag Race Down Under is the second season...
  • ...to feature Indigenous Oceanian queens (Coco and Jojo) after Brita.
  • ...to have queens who were previously involved in another Drag competition series, Anita Wigl'it, Kita Mean, and Elektra Shock.
    • Elektra was a runner-up on House of Drag Season 2, which Anita and Kita judged.
    • The first being The Switch Drag Race (Season 2), which Gia Gunn and Kandy Ho competed on.
  • ...to have the promotional looks be the same as the entrance looks, the first being All Stars 5.
  • ... to feature a queen/queens from Down Under after RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6 with Courtney Act.
  • ... where a queen, Elektra Shock, referred to someone as the winner in their lipstick message and it ended up coming true later in the season.
    • This happened on Season 3 with Mariah Paris Balenciaga's message about Raja winning.
  • ... to have an eliminated queen return, reach the finale and place as one of the runners-up, after Kandy Zyanide and Kana Warrior.
  • ... in the Drag Race franchise to have a three-way tie in placements after The Switch Drag Race (Season 2), in which Gia Gunn, Pavel Arámbula and Sofía Camará placed as runners-up (2nd/3rd/4th). In Down Under's case, Art Simone, Karen From Finance, and Scarlet Adams all placed as runners-up (2nd/3rd/4th).
• Drag Race Down Under is the fourth season hosted by RuPaul to have a Runway Challenge in the first episode after Season 9, UK Season 1, and UK Season 2.
  • This is also the second season to have RuPaul judge the Challenge out of drag, after Season 9.
  • All of these episodes also had two runway categories, with one of them always being "Hometown".
• Drag Race Down Under has the second earliest Snatch Game in all of the Drag Race franchise, tied with All Stars 2.
  • Both of their Snatch Game’s were on the second episode of their respective seasons.
    • This will also be the largest earliest Snatch Game, as All Stars 2 only had 8 queens doing the Snatch Game.
• Drag Race Down Under has the earliest instance of two Maxi Challenge winners in the bottom two together, with Karen From Finance and Anita Wigl'it lip-syncing against each other in episode 4.
• According to a deleted tweet made by Art Simone, the lip sync between her and Coco Jumbo was recorded three times. This was subtly confirmed by Maxi Shield.
• Based on this series alone, RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under is currently the lowest rated Drag Race series on IMDb, with an average score of 5.4/10.
  • Reasons for critical and viewer dissatisfaction with the series include its seemingly low budget and poor quality production, perceived poor decision making by the judges and their favouritism towards certain contestants against others, the unexplained return of Art Simone in the fourth episode, the quality of the challenges and questionable performances in them, and numerous racism controversies resolving the lack of ethnic minority representation, along with past racism from queens Scarlet Adams and Karen From Finance.
• Art Simone revealed in an interview that the season was only filmed in 2.5 weeks, and there weren't any days off during filming.

Navigation

RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Season 1
Winner	Kita Mean
Runners-Up	2nd, 3rd & 4th: Art Simone, Karen From Finance & Scarlet Adams
Other Queens	5th: Elektra Shock • 6th: Maxi Shield • 7th: Etcetera Etcetera • 8th: Anita Wigl'it (Miss Congeniality) • 9th: Coco Jumbo • 10th: Jojo Zaho
Judges	RuPaul • Michelle Visage • Rhys Nicholson
Pit Crew	Max Currie • Sean Walters • Rod Tian