Queens from RuPaul's Drag Race come from a diverse number of cities and states throughout America. While a good number of contestants come from such U.S. entertainment capitals as New York and Los Angeles, some of these queens come from regions that aren't normally known for drag.
According to Pop South, Southern queens are "pros at drag performances" due to the pageant-competing Southern women they had as role models who had large hair and lots of make-up. While the pageant look applies to some Drag Race Southern queens, what all of them have in common is a consummate professionalism that allowed them to establish their unique personas on the show and attain success after their memorable stints on the iconic series.
Latrice Royale (Florida)
"Large and in charge" and "chunky yet funky" fan-favorite Latrice Royale made her presence know the moment she set foot in the workroom on season 4, in which she made it to the semi-final and was crowned Miss Congeniality. Her most iconic moments are her hilarious portrayal as the prison guard of Tuckahoe Prison and one of the show's most memorable quotes "The shade... the shade of it all."
Latrice has appeared in two seasons of Drag Race All Stars, where she teamed up with and befriended fellow Drag Race icon Manila Luzon. While unsuccessful in her attempts to be "America's Next Drag Superstar," Latrice has achieved legendary status among the show's fans and her fellow queens. When fellow All Stars contestant Valentina had to theoretically chose between her friend Trinity the Tuck and Latrice, Valentina quickly chose the latter and said she couldn't vote out a living legend.
Roxxxy Andrews (Florida)
Florida-born Roxxxy Andrews was a strong contestant, reaching the final in season 5 and coming in fourth in the second season of All Stars. She was a lip-sync assassin during her time on All Stars but what makes Roxxxy an iconic queen is having the first-ever wig "RuVeal" in Drag Race, which was during a lip-sync for your life performance with Alyssa Edwards to Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair." It was so iconic that a runway theme was dedicated to that moment in All Stars 3. Furthermore, it was dubbed by Ru himself as her favorite lip-sync battle ever, as stated in Yahoo Entertainment, and it was a deserved double "Shantay, you stay."
Shangela (Texas)
Shangela is probably one of the most iconic contestants ever to appear on Drag Race. Love her or loathe her, Shangela has always been something of an underdog, being the first eliminated in season 2 after only five months of drag experience, but became the first returning contestant of the show when she came back in season 3.
Born and raised in Texas, Shangela's signature catchphrase "Hallelloo!" is very befitting to her Southern roots. But perhaps her most unforgettable moment is her explosive rant at Mimi Imfurst in Untucked, where her self-affirming phrase "Because I am what? Sickening!" quickly became one of Drag Race's most memorable quotes. Shangela is also the first and only Drag Race alum to appear in a film nominated for Best Picture (A Star is Born).
Eureka O'Hara (Tennessee)
Another beloved contestant to appear in two seasons of Drag Race is Eureka O'Hara. Also a contestant on All Stars 6, the Tennessee-born queen sadly had to withdraw from season 10 due to a leg injury but they were guaranteed a space in the following season, where they became one of the strongest contestants of the season and made it to the final three.
Eureka was a very amicable contestant but it didn't stop frequent confrontations with The Vixen, which ended with a very memorable walk-out from the activist queen during the season 11 reunion. While she is divisive with her fellow queens, Eureka has shown throughout the years a mastery of the drag artform with her excellent lip-syncing skills and memorable fashion.
ChiChi DeVayne (Louisiana)
Louisiana queen ChiChi DeVayne was one of season 8's strongest competitors, coming in fourth place and later appearing in All Stars 3. She is most noted for her incredible lip-sync to Dreamgirls' signature tune "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", which, according to BBC News, was considered "iconic in Drag Race history."
ChiChi sadly passed away in 2020 due to pneumonia complications impacted by scleroderma. A fitting tribute was made to the beloved queen during the season 13 finale.
Heidi N Closet (North Carolina)
From North Carolina, Heidi N Closet is one of Drag Race's sweetest and most beloved contestants. Popular with fans, the judges, and her fellow contestants, it was no wonder she was crowned Miss Congeniality of season 12. She is a queen that fans would love to see return for All Stars.
While Heidi was mostly remembered for having been advised to change her name by RuPaul, her best moment was her successful acting performance in the "Droop" challenge. This acting skit utilized her now-signature tooth whistle, sweet Southern charm, and her hilarious "Tears of a Drag Queen" catchphrase.
Alexis Mateo (Florida)
Pageant queen Alexis Mateo made an impact in season 3 with her positive demeanor, stunning runway looks, and in particular, her touching military video which won her the challenge for that meek. She went on to appear in the first and fifth seasons of All Stars but walked away without a crown.
During All Stars 5, Alexis was involved in perhaps one of All Stars' biggest dramas, as India Ferrah claimed she was campaigning to have Shea Coulee eliminated. These allegations were later proven false in the show and restored Alexis' pristine reputation. Alexis is also the drag mother of one of the show's most iconic queens, Vanessa "Vanjie" Mateo, and continues to be one of the show's most identifiable stars.
Ginger Minj (Florida)
Season 7 runner-up Ginger Minj has been a staple favorite in Drag Race, having also competed in two seasons of All Stars. With her giant hair, extravagant makeup, and sparkling attire, Florida-born Ginger Minj is the embodiment of a typical Southern queen.
Despite the pageantry looks, Ginger has proven to be an excellent comedienne. In fact, she is the second queen to win two Snatch Games, one in season 7 and another in All Stars 6. Her performance as British pop singer Adele in season 7's Snatch Game remains one of the most popular impressions in the show's history.
Symone (Arkansas)
The first contestant from Arkansas, season 13's winner Symone has become one of the most recent iconic queens in the show's history, and deservedly so. Symone was an extremely strong contestant by winning four challenges, delivering flawless runway looks, and performing hilarious comedy in acting challenges.
What also made Symone a favorite with the show's fans was her sympathetic moments of vulnerability and her stunning Black Lives Matter runway look that left the judges speechless. Symone's winning combination of visually stunning aesthetics and thought-provoking substance made the queen the runaway favorite of her season and already one of the most beloved queens in the franchise's history.
Alyssa Edwards (Texas)
With a number of memorable quotes and terms to her name, her trademark tongue pop, and her shady rivalry with Coco Montrese, Texas queen Alyssa Edwards is considered a legend in the world of Drag Race. with her appearances on season 5 of Drag Race and season 2 of All Stars, Alyssa displayed a wide array of talents, from dancing to acting to, that have placed her
To add to her legendary status, Alyssa is one of the most successful queens outside of the show. She owns a dance studio, which is the main subject of the Netflix docuseries Dancing Queen, and is fifth on New York Magazine's list of the most powerful drag queens in America. Alyssa also frequently returns to the show that made her famous by serving as a guest choreographer to the Drag Race's many dance numbers.