Everybody said “Love” last weekend with RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2022, one of the biggest events in the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise, made even bigger with fans and queens coming back together after the pandemic.
The day featured many of the franchise’s favorite queens from around the world, including Willow Pill, Jinkx Monsoon, Monét X Change, Raja, Carmen Farala, Tayce, Envy Peru, Shea Couleé, The Vivienne, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, Alexis Mateo, Trinity the Tuck, Kornbread The Snack Jeté, Priyanka, Kita Mean, Lawrence Chaney, Symone and Kylie Sonique Love.
More fan favorites included Icesis Couture, A’Whora, Jan, Yuhua Hamasaki, Aquaria, Mariah Balenciaga, Alaska, Tammie Brown, Kim Chi, Heidi N Closet, Eureka O’Hara, Gigi Goode, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Adore Delano, Kameron Michaels, Naomi Smalls, Pandora Boxx, Blu Hydrangea, Kahmora Hall, Mrs. Kasha Davis, Scarlet Envy, Nicky Doll, Vivacious, Dusty Ray Bottoms, Baga Chipz, Shuga Cain, Sasha Velour and more.
RuPaul and Michelle Visage were, of course, in attendance, with fellow Drag Race judge Carson Kressley as well as Ts Madison, Cheyenne Jackson, Julia Butters, Lisa Loeb, Adam Shankman, and Daniel Franzese, and World of Wonder co-founders & DragCon co-creators Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.
Events included panels and live podcasts featuring Franzese, Kressley, the Fashion Photo Ruview panel and a panel led by Variety’s Marc Malkin for upcoming film Fire Island starring Joel Kim Booster and Matt Rogers and featuring Jan and Hamasaki. Also, the World of Wonder WOWIE Awards honored the best in artistry, activism, entertainment and more. Kids were also able to take part in the family-friendly con thanks to the LA Public Library System sponsoring Drag Queen Story Hour and a special runway for kids to show off their extravaganza eleganza.
New additions to the Drag Race franchise were also announced during the DragCon weekend. Drag Race Philippines will come to WOW Presents Plus exclusively on Aug. 18 with Jiggly Caliente announced as one of the show’s permanent judges. Vanjie will also star in her own reality series, Vanjie: 24 Hours of Love. Second seasons of All The Queens Men and Painted with Raven were also announced.
RuPaul and World of Wonder’s Bailey and Barbato talked about how excited they were to reconnect with fans.
“The return of DragCon LA exceeded my wildest expectations. To our dazzling queens, our amazing vendors, and each and every one of our beautiful attendees, thank you for three dragalicious days of love, light and laughter. It takes a village, people!” said RuPaul in a statement. “The celebration continues later this week as RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 makes its global debut on Friday, May 20.”
“At this time in our herstory where we have spent so many months isolated from one another, we are especially delighted to bring our tribe together again to celebrate life and love at RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2022. Drag is the resistance!” said Barbato and Bailey in a statement. “We thank the talented queens and gorgeous attendees of all ages and walks of life who joined us from all over the globe. Cheers with a House of Love cocktail and see you for RuPaul’s DragCon UK in January!”
Tickets for RuPaul’s DragCon UK, taking place Jan. 6 through Jan. 8, 2023, are now on sale, with ticket buyers breaking day one ticket sales records.
Check out some select photos from DragCon LA below:
