By John Boone and Emily Krauser
11:26 AM PST, January 23, 2020
RuPaul's Drag Race is back, back, back again on Feb. 28, with 13 new queens competing for the title of America's Next Drag Superstar -- and they're all pledging allegiance to the drag. (It's an election year, girl, hence the oh-so-subtle patriotic theme.) "With each new generation of queens, the RuPaul's Drag Race revolution continues to drive culture," Mama Ru says of season 12. “And as more and more new viewers discover the show, the phenomenon continues to open hearts and minds with love, laughter and a whole lotta sass." Meet the queens who will be competing for the crown this season.
Aiden Zhane
Hometown: Acworth, Georgia
Instagram: @aiden_zhane
Hailing from rural Georgia, it’s apparent Aiden Zhane is attracted to the darker side of life. Horror films, Marilyn Manson and weirdness all inform her outlandish -- and original -- spooky persona.
Brita
Hometown: New York City
Instagram: @thebritafilter
Everyone who knows drag in New York City knows Brita. That’s because this hard-working Polynesian queen captivates audiences with her famous lip-syncs… no less than seven nights a week!
Crystal Methyd
Hometown: Springfield, Missouri
Instagram: @crystalmethyd
The only thing Crystal Methyd is addicted to is attention. And with her quirky fashions, incomparable makeup skills and screwball sense of humor, she’ll certainly be catching the judges’ eyes.
Dahlia Sin
Hometown: Los Angeles
Instagram: @dahlia_sin
Originally hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Dahlia Sin emerged from the Haus of Aja (of Season 9 and All-Stars fame). Now, this look queen lives in L.A., where she wows the West Coast with her urban brand of sexiness.
Gigi Goode
Hometown: Los Angeles
Instagram: @thegigigoode
This leggy fashion queen is only 21 but enters the competition with a sizeable social media following, as gorgeous fashion illustrations come to life and make her Instagram fans stan.
Heidi N Closet
Hometown: Ramseur, North Carolina
Instagram: @heidincloset
Heidi comes from a small country town in North Carolina. She playfully says there’s little to do there except count chickens and cows, but her infectious persona is sure to make her a global name very soon.
Jackie Cox
Hometown: New York City
Instagram: @jackiecoxnyc
The Persian princess of drag has arrived! Born in Canada and with Iranian heritage, Jackie Cox now considers the New York cabaret stage her home. She loves to write her own shows and bring them to life.
Jaida Essence Hall
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Instagram: @jaidaehall
Jaida Essence Hall always strives to be the essence of glamour. She originally wanted to be a fashion designer and now gets to live that fantasy as she models her own gorgeous creations.
Jan
Hometown: New York City
Instagram: @janjanjan
Jan is a musical theater queen and skilled singer who can belt tunes in the original key of a female popstar’s song. Ambitious and driven, she’s looking to slay the Drag Race performance challenges.
Nicky Doll
Hometown: New York City
Instagram: @thenickydoll
The first French contestant to compete in RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nicky Doll relocated from Paris to New York City, where she enchants audiences with her European catwalk, high fashions and seductive charm.
Rock M. Sakura
Hometown: San Francisco
Instagram: @rockmsakura
Rock M. Sakura’s aesthetic is an amalgamation of anime, manga and anything pink. With her high-energy, death-dropping performance style and dirty sense of humor, this is a queen who defies categorization.
Sherry Pie
Hometown: New York City
Instagram: @sherrypienyc
A campy, polished queen who knows her references, Sherry Pie will leave an audience in stitches. And with Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett as her icons, she’s certainly learned from the best.
Widow Von'Du
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Instagram: @thewidowvondu
The Widow is up in the building! A Missouri girl who lives life out loud, this queen can perform the house down… and dance circles around her competition.