The thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 1 and concluded on April 23, 2021. The cast was announced via Twitter on December 9, 2020. The competition is broadcast on VH1 in the United States and showcases 13 new queens competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar". VH1 renewed both RuPaul's Drag Race and its spin-off RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars for a thirteenth and sixth season respectively on August 20, 2020. Casting calls for season 13 were opened in December 2019. In addition to airing on VH1, the premiere episode was simulcast across 5 other channels: Logo, MTV, MTV2, Pop, and The CW, becoming the most-watched episode in the franchise's history.
After the season's first teaser trailer was accidentally leaked a day prior, the cast was officially revealed by season 12 winner Jaida Essence Hall on December 9, 2020. The teaser revealed that the season's premiere would consist of six "Lip-Sync for Your Life" battles in a Lip-Sync Extravaganza, along with a new socially distanced stage and design. The season welcomed Gottmik, the show's first ever openly transgender male and assigned female at birth contestant since the series began in 2009.
The season was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, relying on strict protocols, including isolation and testing of contestants, judges, and crew. On February 26, 2021, the series aired Corona Can't Keep a Good Queen Down detailing the season's production amid the pandemic, including unseen footage and reflections from the cast. The winner of the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Symone, with Kandy Muse as the runner-up and LaLa Ri as Miss Congeniality.
Contestants
Ages, names, and cities stated are at time of filming.
+Contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 and their backgrounds Contestant Age Hometown Outcome Symone 25 Los Angeles, California Kandy Muse 25 New York City, New York Gottmik 23 Los Angeles, California 3rd place Rosé 31 New York City, New York Olivia Lux 26 New York City, New York 5th place Utica Queen 25 Utica, Minnesota 6th place Tina Burner 39 New York City, New York 7th place Denali 28 Chicago, Illinois 8th place Elliott with 2 Ts 26 Las Vegas, Nevada 9th place LaLa Ri 30 Atlanta, Georgia 10th place Tamisha Iman 49 Atlanta, Georgia 11th place Joey Jay 30 Phoenix, Arizona 12th place Kahmora Hall 28 Chicago, Illinois 13th place
Notes:
Contestant progress
Lip syncs Legend:
Episode Contestants Song Winner 1 Joey Jay vs. Kandy Muse "Call Me Maybe"(Carly Rae Jepsen) Kandy Muse Denali vs. LaLa Ri "When I Grow Up"(The Pussycat Dolls) LaLa Ri Symone vs. Tamisha Iman "The Pleasure Principle"(Janet Jackson) Symone Gottmik vs. Utica Queen "Rumors"(Lindsay Lohan) Gottmik Olivia Lux vs. Rosé "Ex's & Oh's"(Elle King) Olivia Lux Elliott with 2 Ts vs. Kahmora Hall vs. Tina Burner "Lady Marmalade"(Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, Pink) Tina Burner 2 Olivia Lux vs. Symone "Break My Heart"(Dua Lipa) Symone 3 Denali vs. Rosé "If U Seek Amy"(Britney Spears) Denali Episode Contestants Song Eliminated 4 Denali vs. Kahmora Hall "100% Pure Love"(Crystal Waters) Kahmora Hall 5 Joey Jay vs. LaLa Ri "Fancy"(Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX) Joey Jay 6 Kandy Muse vs. Tamisha Iman "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)"(Blu Cantrell) Tamisha Iman 7 Elliott with 2 Ts vs. LaLa Ri "Whole Lotta Woman"(Kelly Clarkson) LaLa Ri 8 Kandy Muse vs. Symone "Boss"(Fifth Harmony) None 9 Elliott with 2 Ts vs. Utica Queen "Fascinated" (Company B) Elliott with 2 Ts 10 Denali vs. Olivia Lux "Shackles (Praise You)"(Mary Mary) Denali 11 Tina Burner vs. Utica Queen "My Humps"(Black Eyed Peas) Tina Burner 12 Symone vs. Utica Queen "No Tears Left to Cry"(Ariana Grande) Utica Queen 13 Kandy Muse vs. Olivia Lux "Strong Enough"(Cher) Olivia Lux 14 Gottmik vs. Kandy Muse vs. Rosé vs. Symone "I Learned from the Best (HQ2 Radio Mix)"(Whitney Houston) None Episode Contestants Song 15 Kahmora Hall "Something He Can Feel"(En Vogue) Joey Jay "I Want You Back"(NSYNC) Tamisha Iman "Arrogant"(Tamisha Iman) LaLa Ri "Bad Bitch Tip"(LaLa Ri ft. Ocean Kelly) Elliott with 2 Ts "Hideaway"(Kiesza) Denali "How You Like That"(BLACKPINK) Tina Burner "Turn It & Burn It"(Tina Burner) Utica Queen "You Should Be Sad"(Halsey) Olivia Lux "I'm Goin' Down"(Mary J. Blige) Contestants Song Winner Denali(NCTE) vs. LaLa Ri(NBJC) "Be My Lover"(La Bouche) Denali 16 Kandy Muse vs. Rosé "Work Bitch"(Britney Spears) Kandy Muse Gottmik vs. Symone "Gimme More"(Britney Spears) Symone Kandy Muse vs. Symone "Till the World Ends"(Britney Spears) Symone Notes:
Guest judges Jamal Sims, choreographer (episodes 2 and 8) Nicole Byer, stand-up comedian (episodes 3 and 5) Loni Love, comedian and television host (episodes 4, 6, 10 and 12) Ts Madison, LGBT activist (episodes 7 and 9) Cynthia Erivo, English actress, singer and songwriter (episode 13)
Special guests Guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.
Episode 4 Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Canadian actor and Canada's Drag Race judge
Episode 5 Stuart Vevers, British fashion designer and Coach's executive creative director
Episode 6 Miguel Zarate, choreographer
Episode 8 Anne Hathaway, American actress
Episode 9 Victoria "Porkchop" Parker, contestant on season 1 Raven, runner-up of both season 2 and the first season of All Stars
Episode 10 Char Margolis, author and self-proclaimed psychic medium
Episode 11 Jaida Essence Hall, winner of season 12
Episode 12 Norvina, president of Anastasia Beverly Hills Valentina, contestant and Miss Congeniality on season 9 Nina West, contestant and Miss Congeniality on season 11 Heidi N Closet, contestant and Miss Congeniality on season 12
Episode 13 Scarlett Johansson, American actress and singer Colin Jost, American comedian
Episode 14 Jamal Sims, choreographer
Episode 16 Jaida Essence Hall, winner of season 12 Cory Booker, United States senator from New Jersey Paris Hilton, television personality Bob the Drag Queen, winner of season 8 Thorgy Thor, contestant on season 8 and All Stars season 3 Kennedy Davenport, contestant on season 7 and All Stars season 3 Latrice Royale, contestant on season 4; All Stars season 1 and season 4 Cynthia Lee Fontaine, contestant on season 8 and season 9, Miss Congeniality on season 8 Victoria "Porkchop" Parker, contestant on season 1 Eureka O'Hara, contestant on season 9 and season 10 Heidi N Closet, contestant and Miss Congeniality on season 12
Episodes
Ratings
References