.png){kind=logo}
6 days ago
8
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
January 9, 2026 | 10:25am
The contestants of "Drag Race UK vs the World" Season 3
RuPaul's Drag Race UK via Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — Three drag queens with Filipino heritage are competing on the third season of "Drag Race UK vs. The World".
The reality competition unveiled the 10 contestants joining the international all-stars version of "RuPaul's Drag Race UK", a lineup that includes Minty Fresh, Melinda Verga and Zahirah Zapanta.
Minty competed on the inaugural season of "Drag Race Philippines" where she just missed out on the finale, finishing fifth.
The Filipino-Canadian Manila-born Melinda similarly finished fifth on the fourth season of "Canada's Drag Race". During that run, Melinda won the iconic Snatch Game challenge for impersonating Manny Pacquiao.
Melinda also co-hosted "Binge Queens" for "Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale" last year and competed on the second season of "The Traitors Canada".
Zahirah, who was born in Bulacan but moved to Nottingham at 10 years old, finished 10th on "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" Season 6.
In the last season of "RuPaul's Drag Race UK", Filipino drag star Marina Summers — the runner-up of Minty's season — made it all the way to the finale. That season was won by local queen Tia Kofi, crowned by predecessor Blu Hydrangea.
The other contestants on this new season are:
- Fontana - "Drag Race Sverige" runner-up
- Gawdland - "Drag Race Thailand" Season 3 3rd place finisher
- Kate Butch - "Drag Race UK" Season 5 5th place finisher
- Mariah Balenciaga - "Drag Race" Season 3 9th place finisher and "Drag Race All Stars" Season 5 8th place finisher
- Serena Morena - "Drag Race" Mexico Season 1 8th place finisher
- Sminty Drop - "Drag Race UK" Season 4 9th place finisher
- The Only Naomy - "Drag Race Germany" 10th place finisher
"Drag Race UK vs. The World" Season 3 premieres on WOW Presents Plus this January 27.
Meet the Queens. Producer World of Wonder dropped the "Meet the Queens" videos of each contestant themed after a newsroom.
"I stacked my p***y up, all the way up!" Melinda started her video, pretending to be a "Karen" alien asking for a drink.
Melinda expressed her excitement to show the world her talents, calling herself an "international, universal, intergalactic phenomenon" while noting her messy nature goes with being fun, fierce and fabulous.
She even went as far to say her and drama form a symbiotic relationship, and cited her "Traitors" experience as license to backstab and manipulate competitors.
Zahirah said in her segment she might be louder and more annoying since her last "Drag Race" outing which humbled her.
"I'm a Brit-Filipino so I will be welcoming all of my international sisters before I send them home," Zahirah chuckled, citing beauty as her strength.
Minty started out her video with her iconic "fresh" introduction, "Mabuhey-hey-hey BBC... I am the face, the fashion, the fantasy, the future of drag."
The Filipina queen noted that she was the first-ever challenge and badge winner of "Drag Race Philippines", which is now three seasons in (four if one includes "Slaysian Royale"), and quips still being the prettiest contestant.
She claimed being robbed of a spot in her season's finale so appearing on "Drag Race UK vs. The World" is to reclaim what's hers, touting her performances in drag shows.
"Filipino drag is drag excellence," ended Minty as she shouted out Marina, vowing to avenge her fellow Filipina. "I'm very strategic. But it's a secret, don't tell anyone, okay? 'Cause it's nice to be a silent killer sometimes." — Video from WOW Presents' YouTube channel
RELATED: Brightest star 'Brigiding' wins 'Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale'
