There is a new drag competition in town, and for the first time, it’s all about the kings!
Starting on June 22, LGBTQ+ network Revry is bringing audiences the first-ever weekly competition show dedicated to drag kings. Iconic drag king Murray Hill is hosting the new show, King of Drag, where 10 drag kings will compete for a place on the throne while celebrating gender diversity and gender expression. The judges table is stacked with talent, too with drag king extraordinaires Tenderoni and Wang Newton, Drag Race icons Sasha Velour and Gottmik, as well as Revry co-founder Damian Pelliccione as the permanent judges.
This king-sized drag series will feature mind-blowing performances, eye-catching costumes, and drag transformations that will leave your jaw on the floor.
“All 10 contestants will represent drag while promoting inclusion, authentic self-expression, and diverse gender identities as part of their acts,” Revry CEO Damian Pelliccione said in a statement. "We can’t wait to give the drag competition format a run for its money with something fresh and original.”
But who exactly will be competing for the crown? PRIDE did a deep dive on each of the kings, and here's everything we learned!
King of Drag premieres on June 22 at 22 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Revry.
Alexander the Great
Austin-based drag king Alexander the Great is a trans man who plans to use his time on King of Drag to show off his aerial acrobatic skills and conquer the gender binary. Not only is he an internationally recognized drag king who has performed in festivals all over the U.S. and Europe, but he also uses his platform to promote trans visibility and inclusion. Alexander was Mister Austin Entertainer of the year 2023, Mister Austin Pride 2022, a finalist for Austin's Best Drag Performer by the Austin Chronicle, and was named Top 25 Drag Kings in the World by DragKings.net in 2017. When he’s not on the stage performing in drag, Alexander teaches pole dancing to a trans and gender diverse crowd at the Austin Academy of Burlesque.
Why we're excited: With so many wins under his belt, Alexander seems like one to beat! We also can't wait to see his acrobatic and pole dancing skills put to work.
Alexander the Great
Big D
Big D is the drag king equivalent of your fave comedy queen, who loves to blend humor with theatricality when performing on stage. A self-described “comedy clown,” he plans to show off his unique blend of silliness and creativity on the show. As the oldest contestant in the competition, Big D may be comedic, but he also has the kind of experience that could make him hard to beat.
Why we're excited: We stan a comedy king!
Big D
Buck Wylde
Buck Wylde is a smooth Latin drag king who is dedicated to bringing drag to a wider audience. From dressing like a mustachioed lothario to the hottest devil you’ve ever seen, Buck is known for combining style, comedy, and advocacy. He founded “Buck Wylde’s Sausage Party,” a monthly drag brunch that gives seasoned vets and emerging kings a platform to express themselves. Before coming into his own as a powerful drag king, Buck ruled the skating rink as “Tigger Mortis” for the Assassination City roller derby team.
Why we're excited: Buck Wylde's costumes are going to be hard to beat, and we can't wait to see all that sex appeal on our screens.
Buck Wylde
Charles Galin King
LA drag king Charles Galin King uses facial expressions to bring creepiness and sex appeal to the stage, and plans to use their time in the competition to expand the idea of drag and celebrate masculinity in all its forms. Not only is Charles a successful drag king, but he’s also an aspiring actor and director.
Why we're excited: Weird and sexy? Sign us up!
Charles Galin King
Dick Von Dyke
Dick Von Dyke started life as a band kid before he discover the world of drag. Now he’s a high-energy king who looks just as good performing in a suit as he does shirtless. Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dick loves performing with a theatrical flair and smutty humor that keeps audiences on their toes. He’s a true provocateur who challenges gender norms with his drag.
Why We're excited: Dirty jokes and no shirt make a lethal combination.
Dick Von Dyke
Henlo Bullfrog
From dressing up as the drag version of the Babadook, the gayest horror monster around, to putting their special FX skills to work creating original characters, Henlo Bullfrog is a drag king superstar in the making. Not only has his work appeared on Skin Wars and RuPaul’s Drag Race, but he’s also the drag son of Sapphira Cristál, the runner-up of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16.
Why we're excited: With this much drag and special FX experience under his belt, our money is on Henlo getting far in the competition.
Henlo Bullfrog
King Molasses
King Molasses is a non-binary Black drag king who continues the legacy of Black and Latinx queer performers who pioneered drag and ballroom culture. For King, his drag is about mindfulness, a return to the spirit, and self-liberation. “What is surreal about my Black body in drag is that I can feel liberated in the context of a world that would rather see me dead at any given moment,” King told The 19th. “To be in the practice of doing drag is to be in connection with so many different art forms that represent the diaspora of the Black body.”
Participating in the brand-new competition show isn’t the first time King has been on TV. The Nigerian-born drag star has been on Good Morning America and contributed to the Vox documentary Drag Kings, Explained by Drag Kings.
Why we're excited: King speaks passionately about his craft and is incredibly talented. But if we're honest, we're also here for the muscles.
King Molasses
King Perka $exxx
King Perka $exxx has been doing drag since 2018 and is now a nationally touring performer who is known for social commentary and the perfect dad jokes while exploring gender expression. He has headlined the Austin International Drag Festival, the Hostess City Hoedown in Savannah, and performed at Oaklash in San Francisco. He was also voted Best Drag King and Best Alternative King in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he is based. King is also the drag brother of fellow King of Drag competitor Pressure K.
Why we're excited: King Perka is a seasoned professional who knows how to work a crowd.
King Perka $exxx
Pressure K
Atlanta, Georgia drag king Pressure K doesn’t follow the trends, he sets them. Pressure K is charisma personified and is the drag brother of King of Drag competitor King Perka $exxx. Not only is he a high-energy drag performer, but he also performs comedy under the name KB2funny.
Why we're excited: Because we love to laugh!
Pressure K
Tuna Melt
From a smooth-as-silk, mustachioed heartthrob to a rose-hat-wearing singer, Tuna Melt can do it all. He’s the king of theatricality, belting out lyrics, and rapping to a rapt audience. Tuna Melt was the runner-up in the NYC Glam Award-nominated Cake Boys #TakestheCake competition, has a professional background in music technology, and is a loud and proud advocate who fights for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and fair compensations for trans and queer artists.
Why we're excited: We know Tuna Melt will melt our hearts, and we can't wait!
