RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race: 5 Celebrities Who Really Embraced The Fantasy (& 5 Who Didn’t)
The RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise has another successful spin-off with Secret Celebrity Drag Race. Here are the celebs that really embraced the show.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise has found yet another successful spin-off with Secret Celebrity Drag Race. With all four episodes of the series’ first season now out, we can look back at the various celebrities that were featured as competitors and evaluate whether they were able to fully embrace the fantasy of a drag persona.
It is safe to say that some episodes of RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race were way more successful than others, and a lot of it had to do with how committed the contestants were during each episode. Read below to find out which celebrities really embraced the drag character inside of them.
10 EMBRACED IT: Matt Iseman
It’s no secret that Matt Iseman (American Ninja Warrior, The New Celebrity Apprentice) looks like the typical straight jock in his 40s – an archetype that has been directly opposed to the LGBTQIA+ community through the years. On Secret Celebrity Drag Race, however, Matt Iseman displayed a genuine willingness to learn and deep respect for a queer space, which was noted by the Queen Supremes, the judging panel, and even the viewers at home.
Despite looking like a straight male who would never embrace his feminine side, Matt Iseman (a.k.a. Bette Bordeaux) came off as the poster child for the classic RuPaul mantra “we’re all born naked and the rest is drag.”
9 DID NOT: Jordan Connor
There was nothing but great intentions from Jordan Connor (Riverdale) during his appearance on RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race. However, many Drag Race fans had a pretty negative reaction to that first episode, which featured two straight men really struggling to get out of their ‘masculine’ box.
While it was certainly endearing to watch Jordan Connor turn into Babykins La Roux, there was something that felt very similar to the Drag Race season 3 makeover challenge “Jocks in Frocks” – this was a guy struggling to do drag. As Laganja Estranja would say, “props to you, mama!”, but the fantasy just wasn’t entirely there.
8 EMBRACED IT: Vanessa Williams
It is pretty unanimous among Drag Race fans that Vanessa Williams was the most famous – and most exciting! – celebrity to compete on the first-ever season of RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race. Vanessa had been a longtime supporter of RuPaul and Drag Race, being featured as a guest judge all the way back on season 3 and then again on All Stars 3.
It was undoubtedly hard for someone as iconic as Vanessa Williams to disappear into a drag persona. And yet, she surprisingly pulled it off with the character of Vanqueisha De House. The series’ second episode featured a tough competition between Loni Love, Tami Roman, and Vanessa Williams, but there’s no argument that the latter deserved that win.
7 DID NOT: Phoebe Robinson
There was nothing objectively bad about the drag persona that Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens) attempted to embody. However, in comparison to the other celebrities that competed in the series, Phoebe wasn’t entirely up to par.
In many ways, the Cocotini drag persona was still very much so the comedian Phoebe Robinson. Given that the premise of Secret Celebrity Drag Race is to embrace a side of yourself that you probably didn’t even know was there, Phoebe’s transformation was just not as impactful as one might expect to see.
6 EMBRACED IT: Nico Tortorella
Nico Tortorella (Younger) has been a huge fan of Drag Race for many years and was even featured as a guest judge on season 10. As Olivette Isyou, Nico fully embraced their gender fluidity in a new way, showcasing a lived-in fantasy that certainly existed inside them.
Unfortunately, Nico Tortorella did seemingly get in their head during Secret Celebrity Drag Race, which ultimately cost them the win. With that said, there’s no denying that Nico completely embraced the drag fantasy, which is the ultimate premise of this spin-off.
5 DID NOT: Loni Love
It was fantastic to watch the always hilarious Loni Love (The Real) in full beat competing on Secret Celebrity Drag Race. However, like other contestants in the series, there was something about the drag persona Mary J. Ross that still felt very much like the Loni Love that fans have known and loved for years.
While drag personas are undoubtedly extensions of the people underneath them, there is a level of transformation that feels clearer with some and foggy with others. Loni Love was a fierce competitor on Secret Celebrity Drag Race, but it is hard to argue that her transformation was as impactful as others on the show.
4 EMBRACED IT: Hayley Kiyoko
Since the very beginning of her career, singer Hayley Kiyoko has identified as a lesbian woman. On Secret Celebrity Drag Race, Hayley opened up about being a “butch” girl who struggled with presenting herself as more feminine.
Hayley Kiyoko’s transformation on Secret Celebrity Drag Race was one of the most surprising ones in the entire series, given that all the women who competed before her and alongside her had absolutely no qualms with makeup, heels, and the likes. In the end, Hayley learned that drag did not necessarily mean ‘feminine,’ and that she could still be herself even while unlocking this different part of her personality.
3 DID NOT: Jermaine Fowler
Comedian Jermaine Fowler had one of the most heartfelt moments in the entire Secret Celebrity Drag Race series, as he turned to look at himself in the mirror and saw the image of his mother right in front of him. With that said, there was a feeling that the emotional journey of seeing his mother in himself wasn’t enough for Jermaine to allow himself to let loose.
The only time we saw Jermaine Fowler (a.k.a. Miss Mimi Teapot) truly shining was during the Snatch Game – where he impersonated Kevin Hart, which is something he had years of experience doing. All in all, fans just did not see Jermaine unlocking a truly different side of himself, despite experiencing a beautiful physical transformation that could’ve served as fodder.
2 EMBRACED IT: Dustin Milligan
No one could have anticipated that Dustin Milligan (Schitt’s Creek) was this big of a RuPaul’s Drag Race fan and this excited about getting himself in drag, but the actor’s appearance on Secret Celebrity Drag Race was certainly one for the books.
During his episode, Dustin Milligan truly transformed into the Rachel McAdamsapple drag persona and never held back. The challenge of the week was a roast, and we watched this otherwise very nice and sweet actor turn into a queen who read all the judges for filth.
1 DID NOT: Madison Beer
Singer Madison Beer was one of the most beautiful contestants in the entire first season of RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race. However, there was something about her Coral Fixation drag persona that felt more like a character that a pop star would embrace for a music video and less of a lived-in drag personality that revealed a completely different side to Madison.
All in all, Madison Beer was a fierce and lovable contestant on Secret Celebrity Drag Race, but it is hard to argue that she fully embraced a fantasy that went beyond her comfort zone.