International drag icon, RuPaul, is back in Blighty with his cult competitive reality show. Rooted in camp, British pop culture, and famed for its unpredictability, Drag Race UK fans will be delighted with a rambunctious new cast, and a competition with even more twists, more laughs and more sass.
So start your engines, and control your excitement as a fresh new set of amazing drag queens compete to be crowned the UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar in one the world’s most unpredictable, glamorous, and fiercely entertaining races.
About to embark on its sixth season, the multiple award-winning flagship BBC Three show is highly anticipated every autumn by its huge young and ardent fanbase. The competition sees hopeful drag queens compete across ten weeks in a variety of spicy challenges and iconic games designed to test their drag mettle, with the winner of the week being awarded a coveted RuPeter badge, and the bottoms of the week facing a lip sync for their life and the risk of elimination.
RuPaul, affectionately known as Mama Ru, leads an esteemed judging panel that includes regular judges, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr, Graham Norton and a bevy of celebrity guest judges, who this year range from Mabel to Simon Le Bon!
Together, they deliberate the fate of the queens but it is queen of queens, Mama Ru, who has the final word on who shantays or sashays away from the competition.
Handpicked by RuPaul, this year’s cast of twelve gorgeous drag queens represent a heady mix of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, talent, and accents with queens from across the Nations coming together in a bid to be crowned the UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar.
We caught up with Charra Tea, 23, from Belfast…
Pronouns out of drag: He/Him
Pronouns in drag: She/Her
Introduce yourself!
Hello world! My name is Charra Tea, I’m 23 and I am from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Woo!
How does it feel to be a Ru girl?
I feel like I’m on a prank show and any minute now, someone’s going to pop up and say, “Just joking!”. I’m so excited! Meeting RuPaul for the first time is going to be so surreal. I’m obsessed and I’m hoping she can understand this gorgeous Belfast accent.
What inspires your drag?
I was an artsy kid growing up and I’ve always been drawn to big, bold, bright colours which I incorporate into my drag. Some people call it tacky, but I love that and I embrace the tacky!
What would you see at a typical Charra Tea show?
If you were to come to a Charra Tea show, expect to see a pop culture parrot. I love incorporating random niche quotes in my shows from all the UK pop culture legends – Gemma Collins, Kim Woodburn, Nadine Coyle – I love them all!
How did you get into drag?
My drag aspirations began after I watched the movie Hairspray. I thought to myself I want to do that and now I’ve been doing drag for around five years! I love the transformation and confidence that drag gives me.
What’s the drag scene in Belfast like?
There’s not a massive drag scene in Belfast, but in our little scene is expanding with something for everyone. There are so many amazing drag queens in the area, I’m so proud to represent Belfast on Drag Race UK.
What are you most excited about?
I’m definitely not a seamstress, but I can put an outfit together. If it stays on, that’s another story! I’ve also been in a few school plays in my time, so I think I might have the acting and comedy challenges sorted! This is the Olympics of drag so I’m just excited for everything! I’m especially excited to show people that even a little shy child like me can grow up to fulfil my dream!
How competitive are you?
I’m very competitive. I always like to be the best. I’ve only competed a few times in drag, and only won once, so hopefully I can win again. Fingers crossed!
What would it mean to be the UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar?
To win Drag Race UK would be incredible. Who goes on Drag Race and doesn’t want to win? I’m fun, fresh, I’m not afraid to be tacky and be myself and I love primary colours. I want that crown!
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