Dancing with the Stars is shaking things up a bit with the new season, announcing this week that Shangela has joined the cast as the reality show’s first ever drag queen contestant.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race alum will be partnered with Gleb Savchenko for season 31 of the popular dance competition, and is more than ready to prove her moves.
“I feel so honored to be the first drag entertainer to compete on the show,” she wrote on Instagram. “It’s about darn time!!! So all y’all who’ve been in my corner all these years, tell a friend!”
“Let’s go win this Crown… I mean, Mirrorball!” she added.
Fans of the drag queen were hyped for her over the announcement, and wasted no time yelling as much across social media.
While Shangela may be the first drag queen on the original U.S. iteration of Dancing with the Stars, Australia beat us to the punch by including Courtney Act on their show in both 2019 and earlier this year, for an All Stars edition.
Dancing with the Stars, like many well-established reality shows, has been slow to catch up to the inclusivity of modern times. It was just last year that JoJo Siwa became the first female contestant to compete with a female dance partner on the show. But seeing these steps continue in the right direction rather than halt or wind it back is promising, at least.
Season 31 will also see Wayne Brady, Selma Blair, Jordin Sparks, Cheryl Ladd, Daniel Durant, and Trevor Donovan join the cast, along with Jessie James Decker, bodybuilder Joseph Baena, weatherman Sam Champion, TikTok influencer Charli D’Amelio and her mother, Heidi, The Bachelorette’s Gabby Windey, Jersey Shore’s Vinny Guadagnino, and The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Teresa Giudice.
Tune in on Monday, September 19 to see Shangela shine!
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