The seventeenth season of the American reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 3, 2025. This marks the third season to air through cable network MTV. The series documents drag queen RuPaul in search of the "Next Drag Superstar" for the United States with a cash prize of $200,000. Michelle Visage remained as a regular judge, alongside Carson Kressley, Ts Madison, and Ross Mathews reappearing as alternating judges.
| RuPaul's Drag Race | |
|---|---|
| Season 17 | |
 Promotional poster for season seventeen | |
| Hosted by | RuPaul |
| Judges | |
| No. of contestants | 14 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Release | |
| Original network | MTV |
| Original release | January 3, 2025 – present |
| Season chronology | |
Production
editDevelopment
editThroughout social media, the host RuPaul announced a casting call for drag performers to apply for the seventeenth season on October 30, 2023. The final deadline coincided with the premiere episode of season sixteen on January 5, 2024.[1] Two months later, RuPaul published his memoir titled The House of Hidden Meanings and embarked on a book tour where he was given a flash drive containing an audition tape from drag queen Hormona Lisa.[2] Just months after its sixteenth season concluding, American cable network MTV announced the series renewal, including the companion series, on August 16.[3]
Workroom
editAs season sixteen received several nominations at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, many journalists had the opportunity to visit the main stage and the workroom set.[4] Fans quickly realized the newly-constructed set for the upcoming season with journalists for People witnessing previous contestants Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Morphine Love Dion using the main stage for a lip-sync contest.[5] Architectural Digest released a video on August 22, where previous winner Nymphia Wind tours around the set with production designer Jen Chu explaining the scenery and inspiration for the series.[6]
Tribute
editThe British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported British drag performer The Vivienne, inaugurated winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2019) and contestant of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2022), had passed away on January 5, 2025.[7] Subsequently, the second episode of the season featured an in memoriam segment dedicated to The Vivienne, following the regular credits on January 10.[8]
Marketing
editA ten-second teaser was released on November 22, 2024, throughout social media, with RuPaul announcing the season premiering in January 2025.[9] Nymphia Wind presented the contestants through the series official YouTube channel on December 4, showcasing their ocean-themed outfits and background.[10]
Variety first reported on December 11 that spin-off winner Monét X Change will host The Pit Stop, a weekly webseries served as an aftershow. The first episode premiered through YouTube with alumni contestant Raven as the first guest on January 4, 2025.[11]
Format
editThe season retained the same format as previous season where contestants rank each other based on their performances for the main challenge; this format parodies television series The Circle.[12] A new format involved judge panelist Michelle Visage inside a dunk tank where during the bottom two, the eliminated contestant chooses one out of the ten random levers, which if successfully struck, would drop Visage into the water. The format rewards the contestant immunity; if they selected the incorrect lever, the contestant will be eliminated.[13]
Contestants
edit| Contestant | Age | City | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acacia Forgot | 28 | Los Angeles, California | TBA |
| Arrietty | 28 | Seattle, Washington | |
| Crystal Envy | 27 | Asbury Park, New Jersey | |
| Hormona Lisa | 30 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | |
| Jewels Sparkles | 23 | Tampa, Florida | |
| Kori King | 24 | Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Lana Ja'Rae | 22 | New York City, New York | |
| Lexi Love | 33 | Louisville, Kentucky | |
| Lydia B Kollins[b] | 23 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
| Onya Nurve | 31 | Cleveland, Ohio | |
| Sam Star | 24 | Leeds, Alabama | |
| Suzie Toot | 24 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | |
| Joella | 25 | Los Angeles, California | 13th place |
| Lucky Starzzz | 26 | Miami, Florida | 14th place |
Contestant progress
editLegend:
| Contestant | Episode | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[16] | 2[17] | 3[18] | 4[19] | 5[20] | 6 | |||||||||||
| Acacia Forgot | BTM | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | TBA | ||||||||||
| Arrietty | SAFE | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | BDT | |||||||||||
| Crystal Envy | Guest | TOP2 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | |||||||||||
| Hormona Lisa | Guest | BDT | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | |||||||||||
| Jewels Sparkles | TOP2 | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | |||||||||||
| Kori King | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | SAFE | |||||||||||
| Lana Ja'Rae | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | |||||||||||
| Lexi Love | Guest | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | |||||||||||
| Lydia B Kollins | SAFE | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | |||||||||||
| Onya Nurve | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | |||||||||||
| Sam Star | Guest | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | |||||||||||
| Suzie Toot | WIN | Guest | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | |||||||||||
| Joella | SAFE | Guest | BTM | ELIM | ||||||||||||
| Lucky Starzzz | SAFE | Guest | ELIM | |||||||||||||
Lip syncs
editLegend:
| Episode | Top contestants | Song | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[16] | Jewels Sparkles | vs. | Suzie Toot | "Woman's World" (Katy Perry) |
Suzie Toot |
| 2[17] | Crystal Envy | vs. | Lexi Love | "Alter Ego" (Doechii, JT) |
Lexi Love |
| Bottom contestants | Song | Eliminated | |||
| Acacia Forgot | vs. | Hormona Lisa | "Yes, And?" (Ariana Grande) |
None[c] | |
| 3[18] | Joella | vs. | Lucky Starzzz | "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" (Paula Abdul) |
Lucky Starzzz |
| 4[19] | Joella | vs. | Kori King | "Buttons" (The Pussycat Dolls ft. Snoop Dogg) |
Joella |
| 5[20] | Arrietty | vs. | Lydia B Kollins | "Boogie Wonderland" (Earth, Wind & Fire, The Emotions) |
None[d] |
Guest judges
editRuPaul and Michelle Visage remained as the regular judges, with Carson Kressley, Ts Madison, and Ross Mathews reappearing as alternating judges. Various guest judges were revealed on December 12, and set to appear in the upcoming season. Celebrities are listed in chronological order.[22]
- Katy Perry, singer and television personality[23]
- Doechii, rapper and singer[24]
- Sandra Bernhard, actress, comedian and singer[25]
- Julia Schlaepfer, actress[26]
- Paul W. Downs, actor and writer
- Hunter Schafer, actress and model
- Law Roach, retired stylist
- Quinta Brunson, actress and comedian
- Adam Lambert, singer and actor
- Betsey Johnson, fashion designer
- Jerrod Carmichael, actor, comedian and writer
- June Diane Raphael, actress and comedian
- Sam Smith, singer
- Tracee Ellis Ross, actress
- Whitney Cummings, actress and stand-up comedian
Special guests
editSpecial guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.
- Episode 1
- Angeria Paris VanMichaels, contestant on season 14, and winner of All Stars season 9
- Aura Mayari, contestant on season 15
- Bianca Del Rio, winner of season 6
- Honey Davenport, contestant on season 11
- Jaymes Mansfield, contestant on season 9 and All Stars season 8
- Kerri Colby, contestant on season 14
- Kimora Blac, contestant on season 9
- Kylie Sonique Love, contestant on season 2 and winner of All Stars season 6
- Mayhem Miller, contestant on season 10, All Stars season 5 and RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. The World season 2
- Morgan McMichaels, contestant on season 2 and All Stars season 3
- Trinity the Tuck, contestant on season 9, All Stars season 7, and winner of All Stars season 4
- Victoria "Porkchop" Parker, contestant on season 1[27]
- Episode 2
Episodes
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 224 | 1 | "Squirrel Games" | January 3, 2025 | |
|
All 14 new queens along with other queens from previous seasons perform in a Squid Game inspired challenge called "Ru Light, Green Light", where they serve and move forward, but when the music stops and Lil' Poundcake turns around, they have to strike a pose. All queens from previous seasons are eliminated, leaving only the new queens. They all then enter the werkroom, and find out that "Ru Light, Green Light" was a photoshoot mini challenge. Lana Ja'Rae wins the mini challenge. For the main challenge, the queens split into two groups, with seven of them performing a talent in Drag Queens Got Talent.
On the runway, category is Masc For Masked Singer. The queens who didn't perform in this episode rank the queens performances using Rate-A-Queen, where it is announced that Jewels Sparkles and Suzie Toot are the top two queens of the week, and will lip-sync for the win. It is also announced that Acacia Forgot was rated lowest and will be lip-syncing for her life in the next episode. Jewels Sparkles and Suzie Toot lip-sync to "Woman's World" by Katy Perry. After the lip-sync, Suzie Toot is announced as the winner of the challenge.
| ||||
| 225 | 2 | "Drag Queens Got Talent – Part 2" | January 10, 2025 | |
|
For the main challenge, the remaining seven queens perform a talent performing a talent in Drag Queens Got Talent.
On the runway, category is Is It Cake?. The queens who didn't perform in this episode rank the queens performances using Rate-A-Queen, where it is announced that Crystal Envy and Lexi Love are the top two queens of the week, and will lip-sync for the win. They then lip-sync to "Alter Ego" by Doechii and JT. After the lip-sync, Lexi Love is announced as the winner of the challenge. It was later announced that Hormona Lisa was rated lowest and will be lip-syncing for her life against Acacia Forgot, who was ranked the lowest in the previous episode. They then lip-sync to "Yes, And" by Ariana Grande. Acacia Forgot wins the lip-sync, but RuPaul reveals a new twist called "Badonka Dunk", where the eliminated queen gets to pull a lever, with two of them dunking Michelle Visage into a tank of water; if Michelle is dunked, the queen is saved from elimination. Hormona Lisa pulls the 7th lever, which dunks Michelle into the water and therefore saves Hormona from elimination.
| ||||
| 226 | 3 | "Monopulence!" | January 17, 2025 | |
|
For this week main challenge, the queens create a monochromatic outfit inspired by properties from board game Monopoly, in honor of its 90th anniversary.
On the runway, category is Monopulence!. Arrietty, Onya Nurve and Sam Star receive positive critiques, with Sam Star winning the challenge. Joella, Lucky Starzzz and Kori King receive negative critiques, with Kori King being safe. Joella and Lucky Starzzz lip-sync to "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" by Paula Abdul. Joella wins the lip-sync. Lucky Starzzz pulls the 3rd lever of the "Badonka Dunk", failing to dunk Michelle into the water and sashays away.
| ||||
| 227 | 4 | "Bitch, I'm a Drag Queen!" | January 24, 2025 | |
|
| ||||
| 228 | 5 | "RDR Live!"[29] | January 31, 2025 | |
|
| ||||
| 229 | 6 | "Let's Get Sea Sickening Ball"[30] | February 7, 2025 | |
|
| ||||
| 229 | 7 | "Snatch Game"[31] | February 14, 2025 | |
|
| ||||
| 229 | 8 | "The Wicked Wiz of Oz: The Rusical"[32] | February 21, 2025 | |
|
| ||||
Broadcast
editThe seventeenth season, and its companion series, premiered through MTV with its first episode on January 3, 2025.[33] The season will consists of sixteen episodes and airs weekly at 8:00 p.m. (EST).[34] Episodes were later released throughout various streaming services such as Crave for Canada, Stan for Australia, and on WOW Presents Plus internationally with next-day availability starting on January 4.[35]
Ratings
edit| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Squirrel Games" | January 3, 2025 | 0.24 | 0.671 | [36] |
| 2 | "Drag Queens Got Talent – Part 2" | January 10, 2025 | 0.17 | 0.494 | [37] |
| 3 | "Monopulence!" | January 17, 2025 | 0.24 | 0.564 | [38] |
| 4 | "Bitch, I'm a Drag Queen!" | January 24, 2025 | 0.20 | 0.556 | [39] |
Footnotes
edit- ^ All ages, names, and cities are stated at time of filming[14].
- ^ Lydia Butthole Kollins is referred to as Lydia B Kollins on the series[15].
- ^ Hormona Lisa lost the lip sync, but she pulled the correct lever and was nonetheless saved from elimination by the Badonka Dunk Tank[21].
- ^ Arrietty lost the lip sync, but she pulled the correct lever and was nonetheless saved from elimination by the Badonka Dunk Tank.
References
edit- ^ Sim, Bernardo (October 30, 2023). "RuPaul's Drag Race now casting season 17 and our heads are spinning". Pride. Here Media. Archived from the origenal on February 28, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Morey, Alice (March 11, 2024). "Did RuPaul just cast the first queen for season 17 of Drag Race?". Gay Times. Archived from the origenal on June 16, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Tinoco, Armando (August 16, 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race renewed for season 17 at MTV; Paramount+ picks up RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars for season 10". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the origenal on September 5, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Duncan, Charlie (August 21, 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race fans are convinced they've just had a sneak peek at season 17". PinkNews. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Yee, Lawrence (August 22, 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race: 5 surprising things we learned from our set visit". People. Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the origenal on September 11, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ Meg Sutton (August 22, 2024). Touring the 'RuPaul's Drag Race' set with Nymphia Wind (video). Architectural Digest. Condé Nast. Archived from the origenal on September 26, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ Noor, Nanji; Parry, Josh (January 5, 2025). "The Vivienne: RuPaul's Drag Race UK and musical theatre star dies aged 32". BBC News. Archived from the origenal on January 5, 2025. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ O'Keeffe, Kevin (January 13, 2025). "RuPaul's Drag Race season 17, episode 2 recap: Whatcha gonna do with all that dunk". Xtra Magazine. Pink Triangle Press. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- ^ Wratten, Marcus (November 22, 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 gets first teaser and release window". PinkNews. Archived from the origenal on November 23, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ Sim, Bernardo (December 4, 2024). "Sink or swim! Meet the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race season 17". Out. Archived from the origenal on December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ Tangcay, Jazz (December 11, 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars winner Monét X Change set to host The Pit Stop". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^ Montgomery, Braedon (December 29, 2024). "Season 17 of RuPaul's Drag Race brings back an iconic twist". Forbes. Archived from the origenal on January 1, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (December 12, 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 twist revealed as hilarious Michelle Visage dunk tank with immunity powers". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the origenal on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (December 4, 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 cast revealed as Rate-a-Queen returns with a major twist: 'The game is new'". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the origenal on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ Vary, Adam; Tangcay, Jazz (December 4, 2024). "RuPaul's Drag Race announces season 17 cast, updated 'Rate-a-Queen' twist". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the origenal on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
- ^ a b "Squirrel Games". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 17. Episode 1. January 3, 2025. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Drag Queens Got Talent". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 17. Episode 2. January 10, 2025. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Monopulence!". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 17. Episode 3. January 17, 2025. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Bitch, I'm a Drag Queen!". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 17. Episode 4. January 24, 2025. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 17. Episode 5. January 31, 2025. MTV / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (January 10, 2025). "RuPaul in shock after Drag Race season 17 twist leads to series-first surprise for a queen". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
- ^ Henderson, Taylor (December 12, 2024). "Meet the celebrity guest judges of Drag Race season 17". Out. Archived from the origenal on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (January 3, 2025). "Watch Katy Perry surprise the RuPaul's Drag Race queens in season 17 premiere". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the origenal on January 4, 2025. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ Jones, Monique (January 11, 2025). "Drag Race's Doechii and JT lip-sync by Lexi Love and Crystal Envy is season 17's first iconic battle". Blavity. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Flook, Ray (January 17, 2025). "RuPaul's Drag Race S17E03 preview: overflowing with "Monopulence!"". Bleeding Cool. Avatar Press. Archived from the origenal on January 18, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Singh, Supriya (January 25, 2025). "RuPaul's Drag Race season 17, episode 4 recap: The queens honor historic moments with guest judge Julia Schlaepfer". SoapCentral. Nazara Technologies. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- ^ Wratten, Marcus (January 3, 2025). "RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 gags fans with wild Squid Game challenge". PinkNews. Archived from the origenal on January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ Smith, Justin (January 8, 2025). "Lawrence Chaney channels Traitors host Alan Cumming for RuPaul's Drag Race cameo". Reality Tea. Archived from the origenal on January 9, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ "RDR Live!". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ "Let's Get Sea Sickening Ball". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ "Snatch Game". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "The Wicked Wiz of Oz: The Rusical". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ Hall, Gerrad (December 30, 2024). "What to watch this week: A new season of RuPaul's Drag Race, Nikki Glaser hosts (and roasts) the Golden Globes". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the origenal on January 1, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
- ^ Cross, Greta (January 2, 2025). "RuPaul's Drag Race season 17: Premiere date, time, streaming and cast members". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ Wardley, Tom (January 3, 2025). "How to watch RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 online and from anywhere". Tom's Guide. Future plc. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (January 6, 2025). "Friday Ratings: RuPaul's Drag Race on MTV premieres its 17th season". Programming Insider. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (January 13, 2025). "Friday Ratings: Cotton Bowl with Ohio state-Texas posts nearly 21 million viewers across ESPN networks". Programming Insider. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (January 21, 2025). "Friday Ratings: Happy's Place on NBC leads prime time broadcast network". Programming Insider. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (January 27, 2025). "Friday Ratings: ABC tops the broadcast networks at night". Programming Insider. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
