‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Franchise Expands With ‘Drag Race Down Under vs The World’ 

The RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise is expanding further down under. 

World of Wonder announced the addition of Drag Race Down Under vs The World to the franchise’s growing international slate on Tuesday. The new series, which will be hosted by Michelle Visage, will see contestants from around the world compete against one another in the Australian and New Zealand-based series. 

Down Under vs The World arrives as the third vs The World spinoff for the franchise, following in the footsteps of both the British and Canadian-set vs The World series. 

Originally dubbed RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, the Australian and New Zealand-based spinoff debuted in 2021. In March 2024, the series was renamed to simply Drag Race Down Under and Visage, a longtime judge on the main series and its RuPaul-hosted installments, stepped up as host for season four. 

Of being asked to host Drag Race Down Under, Visage told The Hollywood Reporter she had “zero hesitation” when asked to step into the role. “Also, what a freaking honor. Me and some of our fabulous queens from Down Under joining me? It’s just wonderful,” she added.

Alongside Visage on the judges panel are actor and comedian Rhys Nicholson and Drag Race Down Under season four winner Lazy Susan. The series will hit World of Wonder’s streaming service WOW Presents Plus in the U.S. and select territories soon. 

“We couldn’t be more excited to expand the Drag Race legacy. We are going totally Global as local legends face off against global icons,” said WOW co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato in a statement. “Down Under vs The World promises a season packed with unfiltered moments, fashion and lip syncs that will leave no lash unglued.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World, the inaugural international spinoff, was a first of its kind, enlisting a slate of Drag Race queens from varying franchises around the world. Season one debuted in 2022, and has continued to birth a slew of varying global shows. 

In 2024, the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars arrived, which uniquely saw a dozen queens from 12 different countries compete for a place in the International Pavilion at the Drag Race Hall of Fame. Alyssa Edwards, from season five and All Stars season two of the main U.S. series, won the crown. 

Drag Race has continued to grow outside of the original American series. WOW most recently added Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale to its slate in August, featuring a cast of Asian drag queens from across the franchise. The news of the new vs The World series, too, comes on the heels of RuPaul’s Drag Race being renewed for season 18, alongside All Stars for an 11th installment. 

Drag Race Down Under vs The World is a WOW production in collaboration with Stan in Australia and WOW Presents Plus. Bailey, Barbato, Tom Campbell and RuPaul Charles serve as executive producers for WOW. Alicia Brown serves as an executive producer for Stan.