'Canada's Drag Race' Judges Reveal What Viewers Can Expect From The New Series
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! After many months of waiting, the premiere of Canada’s Drag Race is right around the corner and excitement is high. Recently, Narcity spoke with the show’s judges, and they opened up about everything from finding out about the show to working with celebrity guests.
A year ago, word got out that Canada would be getting its own version of RuPaul’s Drag Race, featuring a cast and panel consisting entirely of the Truth North’s most fierce queens and celebrity judges.
Fans of the franchise were ecstatic, and as it turns out, those asked to judge the show had a very similar reaction.
“I was shocked at first, and when I found out that they wanted me as a permanent judge I was even more shocked. I was excited, I was star-struck, I didn’t know what to do with myself,” Jamaican-Canadian model Stacey McKenzie gushed.
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, who previously appeared as a guest host on season nine of RuPaul’s Drag Race, felt the same kind of excitement.
“I dreamed of becoming a permanent judge on Drag Race but I didn’t know if or how it would ever happen, but it just so happens that it came to fruition through the brilliant creation of Canada’s Drag Race,” the actor explained.
“I felt so excited to be surrounded by a group of likeminded individuals on a show for queer people by queer people.”
Sitting beside Bowyer-Chapman and McKenzie on the judge’s panel is none other than RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11 runner-up, Brooke Lynn Hytes.
In the interview, Hytes revealed that she felt the same enthusiasm as her co-stars and that being on the show was a “dream come true”.
For those unsure of what to expect from Canada’s Drag Race, the drag queen explained that the show’s formula stays incredibly close to the original show — the only difference is that there’s no RuPaul.
“I think we did a really great job of working well together as a team. We all bring such different points of view and knowledge from our fields in the arts. We really do make the perfect combination,” Hytes raved about her partners.
We may not be seeing Queen Ru on the main stage, but there will be plenty of celebrity guest appearances throughout the season.
The trio of judges raved about working with the likes of Tom Green, Deborah Cox, and Amanda Brugel, but it turns out that the one non-Canadian on the list was actually their favourite to share the panel with.
“Michelle Visage was my favourite. I wouldn’t be here, I feel if it wasn’t for Michelle Visage and RuPaul,” Bowyer-Chapman revealed.
“I owe so much of what I know about judging on Drag Race to Michelle Visage, so to have her join us on the set of Canada’s Drag Race, it was beyond a dream come true and it made everything feel so real.”
“I learned so much sitting next to her that day on the panel, just because she gives great critiques in a little tiny soundbite that you can use,” Hytes chimed in.
Canada’s Drag Race does an incredible job of representing Canada’s LGBTQ+ community, and Bowyer-Chapman urges fans to share the series with their friends and family.
“It gives them an opportunity to expand their consciousness and realize that there’s nothing to be afraid of, there’s only energy to be celebrated on this show,” the actor said.
Canada’s Drag Race is set to premiere on Thursday, July 2. You can check out the fabulous trailer for the reality series below.