Open the Drag Vaults! Meet the Queens of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18

Fruitier, juicier, and starrier than ever, RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 features a sickening lineup of 14 new queens who are ready to compete for the grand prize of $200,000, an official makeup collaboration with Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics, and the title of America's Next Drag Superstar — with a premiere date already set for Friday, January 2 at 8 p.m. on MTV.

via: EW

Given the diversity of talent (and temperament) among the ladies this year, there's no one word or phrase that best describes the RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 cast. But, new queen Briar Blush — who hails from the drag mecca of Boston which previously birthed Jujubee, Katya, Plane Jane, and Kori King — is going to try: Essentially, as she tells EW with a devilish laugh, it's "13 other girls I don’t give a f--- about."

And if that's an indication of the drama that lies ahead, we'll certainly take it.

While they defy something as expected as classification, together the 14 queens make up the Drag Race season 18 cast, the first all-new batch of contestants to hit the Main Stage in nearly a year when new 90-minute episodes debut Friday, Jan. 2. And they're "out for blood" this time, as Indianapolis-based activist and special effects artist (she's worked with Marvel!) Ciara Myst explains to Entertainment Weekly in an exclusive round of video interviews dropping Friday on EW.com and EW's YouTube channel.

It's fitting, as others on the cast tell EW, because season 18 harkens back to the DNA that RuPaul and World of Wonder built Drag Race on back in 2009.

"I love this season, I think it’s kind of back to basics. It feels like a traditional season. You’ll see what happens," explains Myki Meeks. The Orlando-based entertainer's words hold weight, as she's closely related to classic Drag Race excellence through her drag aunt, Roxxxy Andrews. "It's a season full of queens who’ve been doing this. We all wanted this, we’ve been working, and we all hold our own. We’re not all figuring ourselves out on the show. Which is fun to watch, but it feels like, oh, this is for real. This is a pageant," she says.

Queens this year came to the show with stacked resumes longer than Luxx Noir London's 40-inch hair. Mia Starr not only danced on Rihanna's Loud tour, for Britney Spears in Las Vegas, Jennifer Lopez at the Super Bowl, and in Camila Cabello's "Havana" music video, she also competed on The Voice and America's Best Dance Crew.

Juicy Love Dion, drag granddaughter of fellow season 18 competitor Athena Dion (both are also related to RuGirls Morphine Love Dion and Plane Jane), grooved on national TV among the So You Think You Can Dance cast, while Athena regularly parties with The View cohosts Ana Navarro and Sunny Hostin at Miami's R House — which even led to a guest appearance on the talk show in 2024.

Outside of other talents (Kenya Pleaser is an impersonator who aims to be "like the Derrick Barry of Lizzo-isms") and drag family relations (Seattle's Jane Don't calls All Stars 10 queens Bosco and Irene the Alien her "hot, mean older sisters"), there's one great unifier among this eclectic group of gals.

“There are so many people who need this vaccine," Philadelphia queen and registered nurse Mandy Mango says when EW asks who, among the season 18 cast, she could (legally) administer the Drag Delusion Vaccine to. "Luckily, it is free, and I do know how to give it."

Well, in the words of Mama Ru, we can't wait to see how this turns out.

RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 premieres Friday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. on MTV, with the queens participating in a "Reclaim! Renew! Rejoice!" fashion challenge using leftover treasures from RuGirls of seasons' past. Read on for the full new cast of queens, and check back Friday on EW.com and EW's YouTube channel for our exclusive individual video interviews with the new queens.

'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 18 cast of queens:

Athena Dion

City: Miami, FL

Instagram: @athenadion

Named after the Greek goddess, Athena Dion brings legendary energy wherever she goes. A talented hostess and prolific drag mother, she has built a dynasty spanning Miami and Mykonos, Greece, counting Morphine Love Dion and Plane Jane among her drag daughters. This season, Athena makes Drag Race herstory alongside Juicy Love Dion, marking the first-ever mother/daughter duo to compete together.

Briar Blush

City: Boston, MA

Instagram: @briarblush

Boston's pin-up princess, Briar Blush is a walking contradiction: retro yet edgy, goth yet glamorous, sweet but with a sting. With her signature jet black hair and killer beat, she commands attention wherever she goes. Named after the thorns on a rose, Briar's sharp wit and prickly personality prove she's not here to be liked– she's here to be remembered.

Ciara Myst

City: Indianapolis, IN

Instagram: @the_ciara_myst

Indy's shapeshifting superstar, Ciara Myst blends sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and magic into her drag. A prosthetic makeup artist with credits ranging from Dynasty to Marvel Studios productions, Ciara Myst crafts her own costumes and promises to bring creature transformations to life on the main stage. A little ooky-spooky, a little ethereal, Ciara Myst is ready to haunt, mesmerize, and transform the competition one look at a time.

Darlene Mitchell

City: Los Angeles, CA

Instagram: @itsdarlenebtw

A country, camp queen, Darlene Mitchell blends soap opera glamour with Midwestern trailer trash panache. Known for her signature Peg Bundy-style hair, she originally hails from Greentown, Indiana, and once performed under the name Trash. After 10 years in drag — but a five-year hiatus from the performance circuit — Darlene comes to the competition to see if RuPaul and the main stage can coax her back out of her bedroom once more.

DD Fuego

City: New York, NY

Instagram: @ddfuego

Fiery and feisty, DD Fuego is a full-on production, serving runway-ready looks with a wink and a nod. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, she brings the heat without the cha-cha-cha Latina clichés. A former production designer for TV and off-Broadway theater, she created behind the scenes before stepping into the spotlight. High heat and maximum impact, DD Fuego leaves nothing on the stage but smoke.

Discord Addams

City: St. Petersburg, FL

Instagram: @discordxaddams

Who's ready for a little chaos? Discord Addams is a high-fashion punk rock maximalist, serving looks packed with safety pins, studs, and unapologetic attitude. Known for playing guitar in a punk rock band, Discord brings a dark, raw energy to the stage. Her ultimate goal: To trade the mosh pit for the runway and become a bona fide drag rock star.

Jane Don't

City: Seattle, WA

Instagram: @heyjanedont

Inspired by old-school funny ladies like Bette Midler and Joan Rivers, Jane is a comedy queen serving up sharp jokes and even sharper shoulder pads. Counting as her drag sisters both Bosco (Drag Race season 14 and All Stars 10) and Irene The Alien (Drag Race season 15 and All Stars 10), Jane Don't walks into the competition ready to make her own mark and make the other queens sweat.

Juicy Love Dion

City: Miami, FL

Instagram: @thejuicylove

Small in size, colossal in talent, Juicy Love Dion turns every performance into a masterclass in dance. Self-described as "Miami's Afro-Cuban dancing doll," Juicy brings energy, precision, and flair to every stage she steps on. A proud member of the Dion Dynasty, she's the drag daughter of Morphine Love Dion and technically the drag granddaughter of fellow competitor Athena Dion, proving that in the Dion Dynasty, the juice flows through every generation.

Kenya Pleaser

City: Sumter, SC

Instagram: @kenyapleaser

This Southern showstopper is already serving you the answer to the question in her name: Can you please her? Only if you can handle all this auntie energy and attitude! A celebrated Lizzo impersonator, Kenya mixes heart, humor, and high energy performances that get the crowd on their feet. Kenya is here to show the world that Southern charm, curves, and confidence are a winning combination.

Mandy Mango

City: Philadelphia, PA

Instagram: @mandyy.mango

"A mango a day keeps the doctor away!" Mandy Mango is Philly's favorite fruit, serving kooky, conceptual looks with playful flair. By day, she's a nurse specializing in HIV and sexual health, caring for the LGBTQ+ community. By night, she's giving the stage a healthy dose of fruity energy. With a cheeky bedside manner, Mandy Mango prescribes high doses of charisma, charm, and contagious energy with every performance.

Mia Starr

City: West Palm Beach, FL

Instagram: @theofficialmiastarr

Mia Starr is a 1990s/early 2000s hip-hop dancing diva bringing urban style, sharp choreography, and powerhouse personality to the main stage. A talented backup dancer with world tour credits for Rihanna, and Britney Spears, and a Super Bowl performance with JLo — she started drag 17 years ago, took a 14-year break to chase her dance career, and now she's back… Ready to shine front and center.

Myki Meeks

City: Orlando, FL

Instagram: @myki.meeks

"Gorgeously stupid, and stupidly gorgeous," Myki Meeks is Orlando's dynamic theatrical powerhouse. A self-described "recovering theater kid," Myki blends glamour with camp, lights up the room as a host, and is known back home for her quick wit and ease with a microphone. A talented actress and consummate performer, Myki brings a stage presence that will keep the competition on its toes.

Nini Coco

City: Denver, CO

Instagram: @theninicoco

A high-energy, high-fashion diva from the Mile High City, Nini Coco is equal parts theatrical and fierce. A skilled costume designer, she blends conceptual looks with show-stopping performances. Having quit her day job as a mechanical engineer, she's here to prove that trading blueprints for sequins is a risk worth taking - because in her world, it's all or nothing.

Vita VonTesse Starr

City: Montgomery, AL

Instagram: @vitavontessestarr

Calling herself "Queen V," Vita VonTesse Starr is a pageant powerhouse and an icon of opulence. Hailing from the famed Starr drag family, she's a multi-titleholder who brings elegance, precision, and a flair for the dramatic to every performance. Vita handcrafts show-stopping looks that match her stage presence, making her a formidable competitor in any sewing challenges.

Watch: Meet the Queens of RuPaul's Drag Race season 18.