Associate Editor of OutClique. Writer for PRIDE. Buffalo wing aficionado. Traveler. Former hairy drag queen. Carrie Bradshaw wannabe. Home is New York City.
This Carrie Bradshaw Drag Impersonator Just Made 2016 A Whole Lot Better
Meet Dan Clay. Dan is a strategy consultant living in New York City. "It is much closer to a Miranda job...but I try to bring a little Carrie to it," he told us. Photo: Instagram (@dan_clay)
As the uber-popular reality show gets ready for its 18th season, a new trailer is out, and so is the list of guest judges.
This season, joining main judges Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, and Ts Madison is a lineup of pop culture icons including Cardi B, Teyana Taylor, Brook Shields, Law Roach, and Iman.
Scroll through to see all the guest judges for the new season, as well as the new trailer!
Season 18 of RuPaul's Drag Race premieres on MTV on Friday, January 2.
Last night, episode four of The Boulet Brothers’ Titans dropped on Shudder and immediately went viral. While this show—and its progenitor Dragula—has never pulled punches and has brought endless moments of incredible and memeable drama, as well as terrifying drag excellence, this week’s episode was particularly, well, riveting. From rivalries exploding to a hot mic moment and one contestant going to the ER, this episode will go down in the annals of pop culture as one of the most captivating to grace our screens.
But it’s all part of the legacy of this show, which has always left us gagged. Why not take a trip down this cursed memory lane, by recalling 18 times these shows left us utterly shook, cheering, and with our jaws on the floor.
Melissa Befierce vs Xochi Mochi mud wrestling (season 1, episode 2)
Shudder
Season one may not have had the budget of later seasons, but it already had the magic, and one especially wild moment. That, of course, came in the second episode when Melissa Befierce faced off in a mud wrestling match with Xochi Mochi — and it got real. While other shows may claim that drag is not a “full contact sport,” in the world of The Boulets, it certainly is. The two rolled around, taking down the entire cage in the process.
The boudoir explodes with drama in the premiere (season 2, episode 1)
Shudder
It took roughly zero seconds for the drama to kick off in the second season of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula. As soon as the cast made its way to the boudoir, preexisting rivalries exploded to the surface. First, James Majesty (now just known as Majesty) faced off with Monikkie Shame over bookings, alleged drug use, and social media shenanigans. But they weren’t the only queens trading barbs—Biqtch Puddin and Abhora started airing out their drama over Biqtch’s aesthetic, an onstage kiss, and some boyfriend tension. Oh, and Majesty and Kendra Onixxx also mixed it up. This was the moment fans knew they were in for an iconic season—and they were right.
The human pin-cushion extermination challenge (season 2, episode 1)
Shudder
If you thought the premiere episode started wild, that argument had nothing on the extermination that followed. Felony Dodger, Erika Klash, and Monikkie Shame were all sent to the bottom, where they were pierced with progressively larger gauge needles. While there have been many extreme and terrifying extermination challenges since, there’s something about this early one that remains the most shocking and haunting.
The queens get exposed in a polygraph test (season 2, episode 5)
Shudder
While polygraph tests may be a staple of reality TV, of course, the Boulets made theirs the most diabolical. As the contestants’ true feelings about one another were revealed, Erika Klash left her fellow castmates shook when she admitted she was sexually attracted to a family member. She later clarified that it was a distant cousin she met as an adult, but still, that gag-worthy moment remains one of Dragula’s biggest shockers.
Landon Cider dines on live spiders (season 3, episode 1)
Shudder
Landon Cider’s luck would certainly improve over her time in the competition, but she kicked off the season by pulling the short straw—or rather, the short makeup compact—leading her to have to consume a jar of live spiders. You’ll never unsee them tipping the jar into their mouth, with the spiders falling all over their face.
Hollow Eve vs Dollya Black in “freezer tampon-gate” argument (season 3, episode 3)
Shudder
Audiences learned two things in the third episode of season three: that Hollow Eve and Dollya were roommates during production, and that Hollow—who took their filthy art very seriously—was storing used tampons in the freezer when Dollya whispered about it behind their back. What a time to be alive!
Maddelynn Hatter gives “Clint” a piece of her mind (season 3, episode 4)
Shudder
There are some sentences you hear rather than read, and “Fuck the big picture, Clint!” is absolutely the former. This was shouted by Maddelynn Hatter in the fourth episode of season 3, when she found herself in the bottom and facing an extermination that included the contestants throwing rotten food and insults at her. Humiliated at the prospect, Maddelynn spiraled, threatened to quit, and when production tried to comfort her and talk her down, she gave them an earful.
Hollow Eve loudly defends their art (season 3, episode 5)
Shudder
Say what you will about Hollow Eve, but this artist kept us fed during their whole time on Dragula, and they went out with a bang! After receiving negative critiques for their menstrual-themed look, they gave their castmates, production, and likely anyone within a 10-mile radius a piece of their mind.
Priscilla Chambers performs with a stillborn cow (season 3, episode 6)
Shudder
One of the tenets of the show is filth, and season three brought the filth in spades. But one moment in particular lives rent-free in the minds of fans: when Priscilla Chambers performed with a preserved stillborn cow on stage during the Haunted Hospital floor show. While the performance landed her in the bottom two, it’s certainly a top moment when it comes to shock value.
The cauldron boils over (season 4, episode 5)
Shudder
They don’t call it a cauldron for nothing, since it’s the place where the cast is meant to stir the pot. But the pot boiled over—and then some—during the fifth episode of Season Four, when the tension erupted between, well, kind of everyone. Signourney Beaver and HoSo TerraToma, then La Zaveleta, Bitter Betty, and Jade Jolie had a blow-up that left the rest of the cast in shocked silence. “We’re best friends!” Not so much.
Desiree Dik throws a dead *checks notes* whole chicken (season 666, episode 3)
Shudder
The Boulets revealed that season 666 of the show was cast entirely from their stack of “wild card” contestants, and it showed—particularly when one argument in the cauldron between Desiree Dik and Yuri culminated with Desiree launching raw fowl at her castmate.
Majesty quits the show (season 666, episode 5)
Shudder
As shocking as Majesty joining the cast of Season 666 was, their exit was even more of a twist. After a confrontation with castmate Anti Heroine, in which she accused Majesty of being disingenuous and a narcissist, Majesty decided to eliminate herself from the competition. But rather than do so on-screen, the cast learned of her exit via a note read in the laboratory. Everyone was shocked by the turn of events, most of all the audience.
Submerged cages fright feat (Titans season 1, episode 7)
Shudder
While the Human Pincushion may be the most shocking extermination challenge, the Fright Feat that left audiences absolutely gobsmacked featured the cast being put in cages, submerged in water, and forced to climb through pipes to enter a code. Simply watching this on-screen will leave you gasping for air.
Melissa Befierce breaks down and quits (Titans season 1, episode 7)
Shudder
The first season of Titans featured a ton of romance drama, specifically a love triangle featuring HoSo Terra Toma, Astrud Aurelia, and (a very reluctant) Abhora. What the cast didn’t realize is that off-screen, Melissa Befierce was dealing with the dissolution of her marriage. Worn down by the drama and what she interpreted to be fakeness among her cast, Melissa hit her breaking point in episode seven and decided to leave the competition, despite Koco Caine’s best attempts to get her sister to stay.
Koco Caine reads the remaining Titans for absolute filth (Titans season 1, episode 8)
Shudder
Following Melissa’s exit from the competition, the remaining cast—minus Koco—found themselves discussing Melissa's choice to leave, unaware that Koco was listening from the wings. When she entered the room, she proceeded to give her sisters the most epic verbal lashing the show has ever seen. They were shook, audiences were riveted, and difficult truths were spoken with razor-sharp and cutting clarity.
La Zavaleta melts down, hugs a tree, and then needs the Heimlich maneuver (Titans season 2, episode 4)
Shudder
Whew! Episode four of Titans is truly one for the history books. Let’s start with La Zavaleta kicking off the episode with a full meltdown as the backstory of the tension between her and Jay Kay comes to light — yes, it involves a man. Not only does she demand someone call her mom, but she runs to the parking lot, where she is discovered hugging a tree by Cynthia Doll. After being talked down, she returns to the set for the Fright Feat, which includes eating a full clove of garlic, only to choke on it and need the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge it. What a wild ride.
Dollya Black gets called out by Dracmorda during a hot mic moment (Titans season 2, episode 4)
Shudder
For the last few episodes, Dollya Black had found herself the target of her castmates’ increasing ire as more details of her behind-the-scenes conversations with producers about their “misbehavior” came to light. But this all came to a head when Dollya, off camera but not off mic, began recounting how production was “threatening” to do a wellness check on her — and none other than Dracmorda, along with the production team, called her out on it.
Abhora is rushed to the emergency room (Titans season 2, episode 4)
Shudder
After being named one of the bottom three in the Nosferatu Beach Party challenge, Abhora was tasked with eating various meats and blood. However, she took it a little too far and also feasted on some props, too — ones that they were specifically instructed not to eat. This led Abhora to become sick and was rushed off to the emergency room.
'Rocaille' gown for the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, 2024-2025; Diego Montoya portrait; Purple gown with cape, collar, and accessories commissioned by Sasha Velour, 2019.
museum images: Eric Lubrick (@ericlubrick)/Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields; headshot: Mettie Ostrowski (@mettieostrowski)
Diego Montoya's work as a fashion designer has not only been heavily featured on the RuPaul's Drag Race runway over the years, but he's also won two Emmy Awards as a costume designer in all four seasons of HBO's We're Here. After creating so many extraordinary outfits for drag artists that looked like pieces of art, Montoya flips the script — bringing his queer and Latine sensibilities and honoring drag artistry in an exhibition at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.
"This is the first time my costume work has been presented in a major museum setting," Montoya tells Out. "I've had individual installation-based pieces in museums before, but costume design has been my primary focus for over a decade now, so having a collection of my work exhibited in this grand context feels really special."
This museum exhibition — named Resplendent Dreams: Reawakening the Rococo — opened on June 6, 2025 and will continue through March 29, 2026. Featuring pieces created for queens like Sasha Velour, Blair St. Clair, Kandy Muse, Jimbo, and Miz Cracker, this is not only a huge milestone for Montoya as a designer, but also an achievement for drag artistry overall to literally be seen at an art museum.
"It's surreal! I've always dreamed of having my work shown in a museum, but to have it be featured in a way centered around the queerness and drag has exceeded anything I could have hoped for," Montoya says. "Our work often thrives in spaces overlooked by traditional institutions, so to see it treated with such care, and presented with the full resources of the museum, meant the world to me. It gives me hope to see museums beginning to make space for this kind of work and for the communities it represents."
The 'Poodle Gown' commissioned by Jimbo, 2022; Purple gown with cape, collar, and accessories commissioned by Sasha Velour, 2019; Delft dress and headpiece commissioned by Miz Cracker, 2019.
Eric Lubrick (@ericlubrick)/Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
While Drag Race fans can quickly recognize Montoya's looks (and which queens wore them) displayed at the museum, the designer highlights a new piece that he created for this exhibit.
"There are too many things I could say about all of these pieces; they all hold so many memories and fun anecdotes, and I'm weirdly sentimental about each of them," he says. "We made one new piece, 'Rocaille,' specifically for this exhibition, which is Newfields's first-ever fashion commission. Knowing that she will be preserved and have a life beyond me is so cool."
The new piece in question, "Rocaille," was created with Indiana drag artist and actor Blair St. Clair in mind. The outfit's official description reads:
"Referencing the shell motif that is a mainstay of Rococo décor, the new ensemble is designed in an exaggerated mermaid shape. It includes elaborate hip panels and a framing collar reminiscent of eighteenth-century European royal fashion, and is topped with a feathered headdress that recalls such pieces worn by Las Vegas showgirls and cabaret performers. With its opulent reimagining of drag costume and its liberating possibilities for gender expression, Diego's work is both a technical leap forward in fashion design and a radical statement on the potential of clothing to transform our sense of self."
Blair St. Clair wearing 'Rocaille' gown for the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, 2024-2025.
Eric Lubrick (@ericlubrick)/Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Unsurprisingly, Montoya went above and beyond to ensure that these drag looks were properly presented to the public. "It was important to me and my team that the costumes weren't presented like regular gowns on mannequins," he explains. "But, rather, that they really felt like the embodiment of a drag queen. Mandie Holden and her team did such a beautiful job of customizing all of the mannequins and their poses to reflect the dramatic drag silhouettes."
Montoya adds, "Each one is covered in pearl-finish with a slight shimmer and has long pearl nails to match. We also made all the mannequins custom masks with pearl embellishments and hand-cut and curled pearlized lashes to represent the 'drag face.' Makeup is so important in drag, and this was our way of honoring that transformative element."
"Hopefully when people see these cinched, padded, shimmery bodies with long nails, outstretched arms and long lashes — they'll appreciate how much work goes into a drag artist's actual transformation," he muses.
The 'Perfume Bottle Dress' commissioned by Kandy Muse, 2019; An overview of the exhibit featuring Diego Montoya's work; Crystal catsuit with half-gown commissioned by Blair St. Clair, 2019.
Eric Lubrick (@ericlubrick)/Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Born in Lima, Peru, Montoya was only 10 when he and his family moved to Miami. As one queer Latino immigrant to another, I ask Montoya how he's been navigating the current political climate in the U.S.
"It's been painful to witness how this administration has framed immigrants as some kind of threat, reducing real human lives to political talking points," he says. "Unfortunately, this is nothing new, and just like artists in the past — and as will the ones who will come after me hopefully understand — it's important to stay visible, create with honesty, and use your art to remind people of our shared humanity."
Montoya continues, "We have lost too much queer art and history. I am grateful to those who have preserved our stories until it was safe to share, and I hope we won't have to pass it along in secret ever again. As an immigrant, I carry deep pride in having made, even in a small way, a contribution through my work, and in being able to represent my community."
For an exhibition to include so many queer artists, feature a Latino creative like Montoya, and display drag artistry so prominently, one should absolutely recognize the big swing that the museum and its team have taken. Thank goodness.
'Suite of Textile and Fashion Arts' at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.
Eric Lubrick (@ericlubrick)/Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Montoya credits Michael Vetter, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art at the IMA, for putting together this exhibition named Resplendent Dreams: Reawakening the Rococo, which showcases the influence of the Rococo period through contemporary art by three artists: Montoya, Robert Horvath, and Anthony Sonnenberg.
"It's been exciting to see how our individual approaches, while very different, come together around this shared influence," Montoya remarks. "It's also very interesting to see our work in conversation with the Rococo pieces from the museum's permanent collection, which are also included in this exhibition."
When asked for comment, Vetter tells Out that "the response to the exhibition so far has been tremendous — guests have been blown away by the intricacy and beauty of these works and the labor involved in creating them."
Vetter adds, "Visitors have been particularly excited to see Diego's pieces in conversation with works in other media (ceramics, painting, and video) that are more typical of the kinds of things you'd see in an art museum."
'Style of Extravagant Wig Design' station in the Resplendent Dreams: Reawakening the Rococo exhibition at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.
Eric Lubrick (@ericlubrick)/Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
So, what's next for Montoya?
"I'm really interested in expanding into more long-form storytelling in areas like theatre and film, where the work can shape a more complete narrative," he replies. "Much of what we've been creating in the studio recently are singular pieces for specific moments, but I'm eager to explore world-building through costume."
Montoya concludes, "I feel very lucky that we get asked to do all kinds of things, and that we're flexible enough to often mold to the needs of a particular project. As long as I get to keep creating, I'm open to wherever life may take me. I've also always wanted to do jewelry… Who knows!"
For more information about the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields and its Resplendent Dreams: Reawakening the Rococo exhibition, visit DiscoverNewfields.org. Photography courtesy of Eric Lubrick and Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.
No Kings rally, Austin, Texas, June 2025; Texas A&M University golden seal
Vic Hinterlang/Shutterstock; University of College/Shutterstock
West Texas A&M University's drag show ban has finally been blocked by an appeals court after a two years-long legal battle.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturned a district court ruling on Monday, finding that university president Walter Wendler's unilateral cancellation of a campus drag show hosted by LGBTQ+ student organization Spectrum WT to raise money for suicide prevention was unconstitutional.
“Because theatrical performances plainly involve expressive conduct within the protection of the First Amendment, we find the plaintiffs’ drag show is protected expression, discrimination among such shows must pass strict scrutiny," the court wrote in its opinion. "President Wendler did not argue, either before the district court or on appeal, that restricting the intended drag show would survive strict scrutiny. Based on the record before us, the district court erred in concluding that the plaintiffs were not substantially likely to succeed on the merits of their First Amendment claim."
Wendler single-handedly made the decision to cancel the event, which was originally scheduled at an on-campus facility on March 22, 2023, announcing in an email to students and staff that “West Texas A&M University will not host a drag show on campus.” In the message, which contained the subject line “A Harmless Drag Show? No Such Thing," Wendler stated that humans are “created in the image of God" and that drag shows supposedly do not “preserve a single thread of human dignity."
“As a performance exaggerating aspects of womanhood (sexuality, femininity, gender), drag shows stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others and discriminate against womanhood," he wrote.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) filed a lawsuit on behalf of Spectrum WT against Wendler and the university, accusing them of violating their freedom of speech. The case escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court, which opted not to intervene in March of last year, leaving in place the district court's ruling that effectively upheld the ban. The appeals court ruling overturns this, allowing for future events to take place.
“FIRE is pleased that the Fifth Circuit has halted President Wendler’s unconstitutional censorship and restored the First Amendment at West Texas A&M,” FIRE Supervising Senior Attorney, JT Morris, said in a statement. “This is a victory not just for Spectrum WT, but for any public university students at risk of being silenced by campus censors.”
Tia Kofi and The Vivienne as Glinda and Elphaba; The Vivienne; The Vivienne and Baga Chipz
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images; Santiago Felipe/Getty Images; Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for World Of Wonder Productions
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne is being remembered in a new documentary, Dear Viv, which traces the beloved performer’s life from a rising star of British drag to an international fan favorite—and the sudden tragedy that took them far too soon.
The Vivienne, whose real name was James Lee Williams, died in January 2025 at age 32 of cardiac arrest due to ketamine complications. A trailblazer in and out of drag, they were the first winner of Drag Race UK, a contestant on All Stars 7, and the first drag queen to ever compete on Dancing on Ice.
When The Hollywood Reporter revealed the release date for Dear Viv on August 7, the team behind the doc said they made it because the outpouring of love after The Vivienne’s death made it clear her story needed to be told.
“Viv died just shortly before DragCon UK, and it was devastating,” said World of Wonder co-founder Fenton Bailey. “We called [her memorial booth] ‘Dear Viv,’ and the outpouring, what people wrote on the wall and in the book, was just so moving and powerful… It was like, we’ve got to document this.”
'Dear Viv' trailer
On the heels of the release date announcement, Entertainment Weekly has released an exclusive first look at the upcoming film—and the result is already tugging heartstrings.
The preview clip features emotional interviews with The Vivienne’s fellow queens and friends, including All Stars 7 castmate Raja and Drag Race UK season 1 sisters Cheryl Hole and Baga Chipz. “The Vivienne was British drag with this modern polish,” says Tia Kofi, while Baga adds: “If you’re gorge and you’re talented, you’ve got nothing to prove.”
There’s also never-before-seen childhood footage and a glimpse at The Vivienne’s original audition tape, including a rough cut of the Donald Trump impersonation that helped them win Snatch Game. In the doc’s final moments, The Vivienne says, “It’s really nice to show people that you are a real person under all that glamor.”
'Dear Viv' exclusive clip
Alongside the doc’s announcement, The Vivienne’s family has launched a weekly support group in their honor. House of the Vivienne is a new drug and alcohol addiction center in Colwyn Bay led by their sister Chanel Williams. “James would want you to know you matter, your life matters and there is help. There is always hope,” she said to the BBC.
Dear Viv premieres August 28 on BBC Three and iPlayer in the U.K. and will stream globally on WOW Presents Plus.