Drag Race Thailand


Drag Race Thailand is a Thai reality competition show based on the American version with RuPaul. The series was licensed by the Kantana Group and premiered on. The show is hosted by fashion stylist Art-Arya, while drag performer Pangina Heals co-hosts.

Thai Drag

The co-host is the half-Thai, half-Taiwanese drag queen Pangina Heals. Heals spoke about drag as an artform, saying "People are understanding that drag isn’t about sex or gender, but about performance and making other people happy." Heals also addressed the idea that drag and "ladyboys" are the same thing, saying "Thai people are really accepting of transexual girls, especially with the popularization of the Miss Tiffany's pageant shows."
Heals is the most famous drag queen in Thailand, dubbed the "RuPaul of Thailand", and was the winner of Thailand's first TV drag competition T-Battle.

Format

Maxi challenges

The maxi challenges usually takes place before the runway, where the queens must perform in various challenges for a prize that usually consists' of gift cards and vacations. The winner of the maxi challenge are not exempt from elimination however, as that is determined via the runway challenge.

Runway challenges

Unlike RuPaul's Drag Race, Drag Race Thailand involves a runway challenge for the competitors, where their performance from the maxi challenge is tallied with their performance in the runway challenge. This determines the winner of the runway challenge, who will be safe from elimination. However, the bottom queens are usually determined through the runway challenge only.

Seasons

Season 1

The first season of Drag Race Thailand premiered on February 15, 2018, on LINE TV. The show was adapted from the American version RuPaul's Drag Race, with references and inclusion of RuPaul's music throughout the show. The winner of the first season was Natalia Pliacam, with B Ella winning Miss Congeniality.

Season 2

A casting announcement for season two was announced on 4 March 2018. A casting commercial was shown on September 13, 2018, and stated any genders were allowed to apply, as well as non-Thai citizens. The show premiered on 11 January 2019. The winner of the second season was Angele Anang, with Maya B'Haro winning Miss Congeniality.