RuPaul is shaking things up with a new secretive format for Celebrity Drag Race, and a sneak peek at the first five minutes is finally here.
The first season of the celeb-themed spin-off saw three celebrities step into the world of drag, undergoing a dramatic transformation with the help of Drag Race faves, before competing for prize money — for charity, of course.
While season two has a similar premise, there’s one major twist. The celebrities’ identities will remain a secret until they have been eliminated from the competition.
Nine have been chosen to compete this season, with the idea being that viewers will be able to focus on their “charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent” without knowing who they truly are. And, in familiar Drag Race fashion, the celebs will compete in weekly lip sync extravaganzas before the bottom two lip sync for their lives at the end.
In addition to upping the mystique, the show is also upping the prize — this season’s winner will get $100,000 donated to the charity of their choice.
The new format is already being compared to that of the Masked Singer, although contestants on that show are significantly more covered. However, we all know just how dramatically drag can transform a person, and relying on that to keep the gag going is a fun idea. Although whether it will stop super fans and internet sleuths from figuring out who’s who early on remains to be seen.
RuPaul, Michele Visage, Carson Kressley, and Ross Matthews will return as judges for Secret Celebrity Drag Race, while Monét X Change, Jujubee, and Brooke Lynn Hytes will serve as mentors to the baby queens. We can also look forward to guest appearances from other RPDR alums along the way.
RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race premieres Friday, August 12, on VH1, but you can check out a trailer and a sneak peek below.
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