TOP 10: "Drag Race Down Under” Season 4 Promo Looks
“Drag Race Down Under” returns for Season 4 this fall, and there have been some big changes in the Southern Hemisphere! RuPaul will not return to host the fourth installment; instead it’s Michelle Visage’s turn to run the house as she judges the dolls when the new season debuts on WoW Presents+ on November 1.
Aussie comedian Rhys Nicholson returns as the other regular panelist — which is great, we love Rhys! — and Michelle will reportedly be joined by “Drag Race” royalty as the rotating guest judges. We can’t wait to see how this turns out!
Below find the Great Pop Culture Debate's ranking of the Top 10 “Down Under” promo looks, as well as our initial impressions after the queen reveal. Disagree with our takes? Tell us about it in the comments!
Also, if you haven’t been reading our “RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars” recaps every week, now is a great time to catch up! Check out the “Global All Stars” recaps here and come back each Saturday morning for new ones.
Here’s the “Down Under 4” Meet the Queens:
10. Lucina Innocence (28, Auckland, NZ)
Hot take: I actually like all of these promo looks. The “doll house” prompt was broad enough that it gave the queens plenty of freedom to express themselves, and most of them made the most of this first shot. Lucina’s look is cute, very sex kitten, very come-hither. But a corset and stockings is just never going to blow me away for a promo. I also found her energy in the Meet the Queens to be quite subdued. But she has some great credentials! Also, she’s 6’7” in heels? That’s basically a building.
9. Olivia Dreams (26, Wellington, NZ)
Olivia took the opposite tact from Lucina, giving us EVERYTHING on her body. We have stockings with tiny bows, a massive sheer overlay with an even BIGGER bow, a darker blue undergarment, a big collar, a choker, massive pigtails. For some people it’ll be too much, but I appreciate the “more is more” aesthetic. I enjoyed her Meet the Queens; she’s self-deprecating but so warm. She also seems to have a compelling back story and I can’t wait to learn more.
8. Freya Armani (24, Brisbane, Australia)
Love the concept of this look, but the execution has some issues. It’s giving Bootsy Collins, it’s giving funk. Unfortunately it’s also giving puckers and wrinkles where I’m fairly sure there were not meant to be. Still, Freya was a stand-out in her Meet the Queens, confident and bubbly. The camera loves her and she seems to love it right back. Excited for her!
7. Brenda Bressed (24, Melbourne, Australia)
Brenda’s look and Meet the Queen are fun and campy — she’s the kind of queen that immediately excites me. Completely got the Dolly Parton reference she was going for here, but the problem, for me, is that this is SO reminiscent of Trixie’s “All Stars 3” promo that you cannot help to compare the two, and that’s an insanely high bar for any queen. Brenda previously participated on “The Voice Australia,” which means she has some reality-show chops in addition to her vocal ones.
6. Karna Ford (27, Sydney, Australia)
Our first Filipino queen on “Down Under” — big fall for Filipino queens given two competing on “UK6” and “DRPh3” wrapping up this week — is giving us straight-up Cynthia the doll from “Rugrats.” It’s bold to do a promo look that is, essentially, cosplay (arguably elevated cosplay), and I’m not entirely sure Karna is successful here. But I liked her Meet the Queen and she’s apparently quite the dancer.
5. Vybe (32, Sydney, Australia)
A friend pointed out that Vybe’s promo look may be a specific reference to Dolly Parton in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and if that’s the case, I love it even more. As it stands, it’s an excess of everything, with more ruffles than a bag of ridged potato chips, and a massive train. The mug and wig are perfection. Vybe is clearly a pro, and her Meet the Queens interview should be studied by every applicant going on “Drag Race.” THAT is how you come off as engaging, and excite the audience. Already obsessed with Vybe!
4. Nikita Iman (27, Sydney, Australia)
One of the most interesting promo looks I’ve seen in a while, Nikita looks like she’s being attacked by the world’ most aggressive shower poof, but by god she is still going to SERVE. And she DOES. Nikita has a ballroom background, and it is clear that she competed in the Face category — stunerella. And that body? My goodness. I will say that I did not care for her Meet the Queens video. I’m all for being cunty, but if you’re going to throw shade, you better be able to deliver the lines.
3. Lazy Susan (32, Melbourne, Australia)
Easily the name of the season — it’s crazy that it took nearly 20 years of RuPaul to get a queen on the cast named “Lazy Susan” (not counting Plane Jane’s Pit Crew makeover from Season 16). Susan’s look actually demonstrates considerable effort. It looks simple enough, but the proportions and sheen of the fabric and the accessories perfectly evoke plastic clothing; I wonder if the inspo was Polly Pocket. Lazy had a wonderful Meet the Queens, and between the two, she is an early favorite for the season.
2. Mandy Moobs (33, Brisbane, Australia)
My runner-up will be polarazing, but I love this maximalist take on a babydoll dress. It is readily apparent that Mandy is a professional. Everything here is meticulous — the make-up, the wig, the look, everything. Her Meet the Queens put me immediately at ease and left me thinking that we have some real drag titans in the work room this season. After last season’s very green group, we need it!
1. Max Drag Queen (24, Melbourne, Australia)
This queen — daughter to “Down Under” Season 3 winner Isis Avis Loren — is beautiful and this dress is a visual feast. I don’t know if it was the intention, but I’m getting modern ragdoll. The scraps are pieced together so thoughtfully, including the nods to “Drag Race” in the checkered fabric. It’s a wonderful promo. The Meet the Queens was not as successful, as I couldn’t really get much of a sense of Max’s personality, just that they were great at drag. And I believe it! But I need to see more “Max.”
We also did a YouTube reaction video with our thoughts on the promos. (Make sure to subscribe to our channel for more YouTube-exclusive content!)
What do you think of the “Drag Race Down Under 4” promos? Which queens had your favorite looks? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. And make sure you check out our previous “Drag Race” recaps!
And make sure to check out our other Top 10 lists for more great pop-culture rankings!
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