The reigning 'Drag Race' superstars of 2023!
This year included the highest number of RuPaul’s Drag Race seasons in herstory. And as each new winner snatched her own crown, 2023 featured a record-breaking 13 winners of Drag Race within the same calendar year.
In 2022, a total of 11 queens entered the global winners circle of Drag Race. This year, the franchise broke that record by crowning 13 queens around the world. These winners were featured in the 15th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and All Stars 8 in the US; new seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, Drag Race España, Drag Race France, Drag Race Philippines, and Drag Race Italia; and brand-new shows like Drag Race Belgique, Drag Race Sverige, Drag Race México, Drag Race Brasil, and Drag Race Germany.
Scroll through to check out all 13 queens who won their respective seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2023!
Drag Couenne – 'Drag Race Belgique' Season 1
The first crowned winner of 2023 was Drag Couenne, who won the very first season of Drag Race Belgique after winning three maxi challenges and never landing in the bottom two. Hosted by Canada’s Drag Race runner-up Rita Baga, the grand finale of Belgique had a top three consisting of Drag Couenne, Athena Sorgelikis, and Susan. In the end, Couenne snatched the crown, and Sorgelikis finished as the runner-up.
Sasha Colby – 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 15
Sasha Colby won season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race after winning four maxi challenges and never having to lip sync for her life. She is the first-ever contestant to enter the competition already publicly out as a trans woman and then go on to become America’s Next Drag Superstar. With the title, Colby also won the largest-ever cash prize for a regular season of the flagship Drag Race series: $200,000.
Admira Thunderpussy – 'Drag Race Sverige' Season 1
The first season of Drag Race Sverige has crowned its winner: Admira Thunderpussy. This queen competed at the finale against Fontana and Vanity Vain, and she definitely had the best track record out of the three. Overall, Thunderpussy won three maxi challenges and never landed in the bottom two, which certainly gave her the edge in terms of numbers.
Pitita – 'Drag Race España' Season 3
Pitita was crowned the winner of Drag Race España season three after winning four maxi challenges. This queen won the ball, an acting challenge, the Rusical, and the improv challenge. She only fell in the bottom once, for the stand-up comedy challenge. At the finale, Pitita came out victorious after competing for the crown against runner-up Vania Vainilla.
Jimbo – 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8'
Jimbo has entered the Drag Race Hall of Fame after winning RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8. The Canadian queen won four maxi challenges during the competition: the “RDR Live!” improv challenge, the “Screen Queens” advertisement challenge, the Snatch Game, and the comedy roast challenge. Going into the finale with Kandy Muse, Jimbo was certainly the frontrunner to snatch the crown – and she did!
Keiona – 'Drag Race France' Season 2
After competing in the third season of Legendary alongside the House of Revlon Paris, Keiona was cast as a contestant on season two of Drag Race France. Throughout the season, she won two maxi challenges – the Rusical and the Ball – and placed high every single week, never landing in the bottom even once. In the end, Keiona came out victorious after lip syncing for the crown against Sara Forever to “Titanium” by Sia.
Cristian Peralta – 'Drag Race México' Season 1
Cristian Peralta had a remarkable run during the first season of Drag Race México as she completely blew away the competition in terms of track record. Overall, Peralta won as many as fixe maxi challenges – a runway challenge, the Rusical, the Snatch Game, the stand-up comedy challenge, and the makeover challenge. In turn, Peralta never landed in the bottom two throughout the competition. After getting to the grand finale with Gala Varo, Matraka, and Regina Voce, Peralta was crowned by judges Valentina and Lolita Banana as the first-ever winner of Drag Race México.
Isis Aven Loren – 'RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under' Season 3
Over the course of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under season three, Isis Avis Loren won three maxi challenges – the design challenge, the talent show, and the makeover challenge. As she reached the grand finale alongside Gabriella Labucci and Flor, Loren was the only finalist to never land in the bottom two during the competition. As expected, Mama Ru crowned Loren as the winner of Down Under season three.
Captivating Katkat – 'Drag Race Philippines' Season 2
Captivating Katkat won the Snatch Game and an acting challenge during the exciting second season of Drag Race Philippines. Besides those two challenge wins, Katkat also survived a bottom-two placement toward the end of the competition. At the finale, Katkat lip synced for the crown against fellow finalists Arizona Brandy, Bernie, and M1ss Jade So… and ended up being the crowned queen of Drag Race Philippines season two!
Organzza – 'Drag Race Brasil' Season 1
Organzza arrived at the grand finale of Drag Race Brasil season one with the best track record in the competition. Along with her fellow finalists Betina Polaroid, Hellena Malditta, and Miranda Lebrão, all four of them had landed in the bottom two at least once on the show. In turn, Organzza won three maxi challenges on Drag Race Brasil, which included the girl-group challenge, the acting challenge, and the makeover challenge. In the end, Organzza was crowned Brasil’s First Drag Superstar.
Pandora Nox – 'Drag Race Germany' Season 1
In 2023, Pandora Nox became the first cisgender woman in herstory to win any season in the Drag Race franchise. She competed in the first season of Drag Race Germany and won three maxi challenges: a runway challenge, a commercials challenge, and the ball. At the finale, Nox competed against Metamorkid and Yvonne Nightstand. After a lip sync for the crown to the tune of Conchita Wurst’s “Rise Like a Phoenix,” Nox was crowned the first winner of Drag Race Germany.
Ginger Johnson – 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK' Season 5
The four first seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK made its frontrunners very obvious right away. The Vivienne in season one, Lawrence Chaney in season two, and Krystal Versace in season three, and Danny Beard in season four all started their seasons with a “winner’s edit.” But the fifth season of Drag Race UK mixed things up, and it didn’t make its frontrunners so clear for a little while. Eventually, though, Ginger Johnson stacked up three consecutive maxi challenge wins – the improv challenge, the Rusical, and the Snatch Game – and won the crown at the grand finale against finalists Michael Marouli and Tomara Thomas.
Lina Galore – 'Drag Race Italia' Season 3
Despite landing in the bottom two twice, Lina Galore had a strong track record that included winning three maxi challenges: the improv challenge, the Roast challenge, and the girl-groups challenge. Galore reached the grand finale of Drag Race Italia season three along with Melissa Bianchini, La Sheeva, and Silvana Della Magliana. In the end, Galore and Bianchini lip synced for the crown to “Furore” by Paola & Chiara – and Galore was crowned as the last Drag Race winner of 2023, baby!