As RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2 nears its end, it's time to look back at all the queens who managed to earn themselves a RuPeter badge after winning a maxi challenge on the show. Since the series premiered on the BBC in 2019, Drag Race UK has been a massive success with the fans. It has been a huge hit for the BBC as well, as the network promptly renewed the show for a second season, and a third season is already rumored (but still not confirmed, as of this writing). Indeed, the caliber of queens that have been cast on the show is mind-blowing.
Because the BBC is a public service broadcast network owned by the United Kingdom government, reality competitions like RuPaul's Drag Race UK don't get to award cash prizes to its contestants. But the point of competing on Drag Race - even in the American edition - is to get exposure via this massive platform. Alas, the winner of Drag Race UK still walks away with their own digital TV series with the WOW Presents Plus streaming service. Furthermore, maxi challenge winners are also awarded RuPeter badges to celebrate their performance in that particular week.
In two seasons of Drag Race UK, a total of 10 queens have managed to win at least one RuPeter badge for themselves. The current record-holder is Bimini Bon-Boulash, who won four badges throughout season 2. Tied in second place, with three RuPeter badges, are season 1's The Vivienne, Divina De Campo, and Baga Chipz, as well as season 2's Lawrence Chaney. A'Whora comes in third with her two badges from season 2. Then come the queens who won one RuPeter badge on the show: season 1's Blu Hydrangea and season 2's Tayce, Veronica Green, and Asttina Mandella.
The Drag Race UK series has featured a total of 22 queens on the show between seasons 1 and 2, so less than half of them have gone on to win a RuPeter badge so far. With things looking good for the future of Drag Race UK on the telly, one can only imagine if Bimini Bon-Boulash's record-breaking track record will ever be matched or even surpassed in the future. For now, however, it is safe to assume that Bimini will remain the ultimate RuPeter badge winner for some time.
Next week, the queens will face each other off at the RuPaul's Drag Race season 2 finale. Only one of them will be able to snatch the crown!
RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2 finale will air on Thursday, March 18th at 11am PT / 2pm ET exclusively on WOW Presents Plus in the US and select territories worldwide, day-and-date with its international airing on the BBC iPlayer in the UK.