RuPaul's Drag Race recruits queens from all over the United States to come together to compete to become "America's Next Drag Superstar." It's only natural that some of these queens come from one of the biggest places of mainstream entertainment in the world, and where Drag Race and Drag Race All Stars are filmed: Los Angeles.
With some of the biggest entertainment names based in the City of Angels, it is not a surprise that many hopeful and aspiring queens from Drag Race travel there in an attempt to be discovered or to have a better chance on the show. But to be an iconic queen in L.A., they have to really make a statement to stand out, and these queens have done just that on their respective seasons as well as in their careers after the show.
Raja
Before being a contestant on the show, Raja was the head make-up artist on America's Next Top Model. Inspired by the goth and punk subcultures, Raja decided to apply the skills she honed on Tyra Banks' hit reality show and became one of the City of Angels' top drag queens.
As the winner of season 3 of Drag Race, Raja immediately captured the attention of fans with her unique catwalk-style fashion (including her exquisite money look in one of the best Drag Race Ball outfits ever) and her slightly sarcastic wit. In addition to being a strong and consistent contestant, Raja was also part of season 3's "Heathers" clique, along with runner-up Manila Luzon, Carmen Carrera, and Delta Work. Most importantly, Raja broke ground as the first "look" queen to win Drag Race and would later influence future contestants such Naomi Smalls and season 10 winner Aquaria.
Willam
One of the most memorable contestants on season 4, and perhaps even the entire show, is Willam. Shamelessly egotistical, fans either loved or loathed Willam, but there was no denying that she was a talented queen and one of the most accomplished contestants to ever come out of Drag Race, having already developed a stable acting and singing career on top of drag.
Regardless of talent and fans' opinions, Willam will always be the contestant everyone remembers for being publically disqualified for breaking the rules. During a tightly sequestered production shoot, she snuck her then-boyfriend into her residence. As no contestants are allowed to personally interact with friends or family during filming, William was told to leave the show at the conclusion of episode 8.
Detox
Before appearing on the fifth season of Drag Race, Detox was already a well-known fixture on the drag scene in Southern California. After her season, the cool and shady queen is a firm Drag Race favorite who showed memorable outfits on the runaway and a sarcastic sense of humor.
With skills in looks and comedy, Detox was always a delight to watch and performed consistently well to finish as the runner-up on the highly competitive second season of All Stars. Perhaps her most memorable moment on Drag Race was her breathtaking black and white look in the season 5 finale. It was so good that a runway challenge was themed around it in season 8, cementing Detox's status as an iconic queen who has left a lasting imprint on the show.
Gigi Goode
Season 12 finalist Gigi Goode is one of the strongest and most consistent contestants ever to appear on Drag Race. She had flawless and imaginative runway looks, a strong and likable personality, and some brilliant acting skills that she showed throughout her season.
Although she didn't win the crown, Gigi had four well-deserved maxi-challenge wins, including one of the best Snatch Game performances, where she gave a hilarious and unique performance as Maria the Robot, a character based on real-life robot Sophia. Goode continues to hone her makeup skills and present flawless looks as a member of the House of Avalon, a drag community that also counts season 13 winner Symone as a member.
Jasmine Masters
While her time on Drag Race's seventh season and All Stars 4 was brief, there's no doubt that Jasmine Masters is an established icon in the Drag Race franchise. Unlike most other queens, Jasmine's iconic status isn't the result of anything memorable she did during her time on the show.
Nina Bo'nina Brown impersonated her in season 9's Snatch Game and was highly praised for it. In addition, Jasmine released a video in 2016 claiming how Drag Race has bought the art of drag's quality down. The video went viral and eventually led to the controversial queen appearing on All Stars 4 and having her own web show.
Dahlia Sin
She may have been the first contestant eliminated in season 12, that wasn't the last fans saw of Los Angeles queen Dahlia Sin. During the improv comedy challenge, Dahlia and her teammates were dressed as vegetables for their skit, with Dahlia dressed in a broccoli suit.
Although she was ultimately eliminated, the joke still landed and she became a running gag throughout the series, popping up time and time again dressed as broccoli. Dahlia will always be fondly remembered by Drag Race fans, just not in the conventional sense.
Vanessa 'Vanjie 'Vanjee
Not one Drag Race fan can see the name Vanessa Vanjie Mateo without hearing "Miss Vanjie" echoing in their heads. Vanessa was the first eliminated in season 10 but her very memorable exit had RuPaul in fits of laughter and became an instant hit worldwide. As a result, Vanessa was bought back for season 11, where she made it all the way to fifth place.
Although she didn't win a single maxi-challenge during her second time on the show, it didn't stop Vanessa from being a strong standout contestant and one of the most iconic queens in the Drag Race franchise. She currently headlines RuPaul's Drag Race Live! revue show at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas with fellow contestants Asia O'Hara, Yvie Oddly, and Kameron Michaels.
Valentina
Season 9's Miss Congeniality Valentina is one of Drag Race's most memorable contestants. Valentina was a sure contender for season 9's crown until she needed to lip-sync for her life to secure her place in the latter stages of the competition. When asked to remove her mask mid-lip-sync, she responded "I'd like to keep it on, please." This resulted in a very one-sided lip-sync in favor of Nina Bo'nina Brown and Valentina was sent home.
She was given a chance to redeem herself in All Stars 4 but she consistently ranked in the bottom two and was eventually eliminated by Latrice Royale in episode 7. Nevertheless, Valentina remains a beloved queen for many fans because of her impeccable runway looks and charming personality. In addition, she's a very vocal representative of the Los Angeles gay Latin community and frequently incorporates Mexican and Spanish influences into her drag shows.
Ongina
Ongina was one of the first-ever Drag Race contestants, coming in at fifth place in season 1. She was a strong contestant, having won two challenges and doing very well in almost every single episode. She later came back for All Stars 5 but was sadly eliminated in episode 2.
Ongina is also well known for her activism by openly coming out on the show as being HIV positive in the show. In addition, RuPaul's song "LadyBoy" was directly inspired by Ongina herself. Finally, Ongina popularized the "bald" look on the show that would later influence future contestants The Princess and season 9 winner Sasha Velour.
Gottmik
Gottmik is one of the most recent iconic queens to come from Drag Race. A worthy season 13 finalist, Gottmik quickly won the hearts of fans with her unique looks (including her trademark monochromatic make-up), hilarious acting, and overall likability. She's a contestant that many fans want to see in Drag Race All-Stars.
As well as being an excellent contestant, Gottmik made history as the first openly trans man to appear on the show and used moments of her screen time to openly talk about her own experiences.