Katy Perry Revealed asRuPaul's Drag RaceSeason 17 Premiere Guest Judge: Watch Trailer

Mar. 15, 2025

Katy Perry and RuPaul.Photo:Doug Peters/PA Images via Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Doug Peters/PA Images via Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Katy Perryis going from “California Gurls” to RuGirls.

“She ate, she chewed, she swallowed,” the “Dark Horse” singer — clearly impressed with one queen’s performance — says in the new trailer, which you can watch above.

This marks Perry’s first appearance on the drag competition series. She previously featuredRPDRdrag queens in herSNLperformanceof “Swish, Swish” and her Vegas show.

Perry joins a long line of A-list singers who have served as premiereguest judgesincludingLady Gaga(Season 9), Christina Aguilera (Season 10), Miley Cyrus (Season 11),Nicki Minaj(Season 12), Lizzo (Season 14) and Ariana Grande (Season 15).

Other stars that will join the judges' table include Doechii, Sandra Bernhard, Julia Schlaepfer, Paul W. Downs, Hunter Schafer, Quinta Brunson, Jamal Sims, Law Roach, Adam Lambert, Betsey Johnson, Whitney Cummings, Sam Smith, Jerrod Carmichael, June Diane Raphael and Tracee Ellis Ross.

RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews and Ts Madison are returning as judges.

This season’s 14 contestants, affectionately called RuGirls, are Acacia Forgot (Los Angeles); Arrietty (Seattle); Crystal Envy (Asbury Park, N.J.); Hormona Lisa (Chattanooga, Tenn.); Jewels Sparkles (Tampa, Fla.); Joella (Los Angeles); Kori King (Boston); Lana Ja’Rae (New York); Lexi Love (Louisville, Ky.); Lucky Starzzz (Miami); Lydia B Kollins (Pittsburgh); Onya Nurve (Cleveland, Ohio); Sam Star (Leeds, Ala.); and Suzie Toot (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).

Last season, Nymphia Wind took the season 16 crown, becoming theshow’s first East Asian winner.

Nymphia is one of the few queens inDrag Racehistory never to find herself in the bottom 2. In Season 17, a new twist for competitors who have been eliminated will be introduced.

Called the Badonka Dunk Tank, following the lipsync, each eliminated queen has a chance to receive immunity and save themselves from having to sashay away. Queens will choose from 10 levers and if they pick one of the two levers that dunks Michelle Visage, they get to remain in the competition. If not, they will be eliminated.

source: people.com