‘Drag Race España’ Is the New Crown Jewel of the ‘Drag Race’ Kingdom

Fun fact: 25 new episodes of the Drag Race franchise have already aired in 2022… and we’re only 16 weeks into 2022. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as 2022 is the third year in a row of nonstop Drag Race. Between the mother series (RuPaul’s Drag Race, which wraps up its 14th season on April 22), the sister series (RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars; Season 7 debuts on Paramount Plus on May 20), and the increasing number of international children (UK, Canada, Holland, Down Under, Italia, Thailand, etc.), there’s a whole lot to keep up with — and some of those spinoffs can be overlooked, especially if they aren’t hosted by RuPaul.

That’s why I want to shine a spotlight on Drag Race España, which is currently airing Season 2 on WOW Presents Plus. Maybe this is a Drag Race spinoff that you’ve been sleeping on, maybe because it’s not hosted by RuPaul and/or it requires subtitles (or a lot of Spanish lessons on Duolingo). I’m here to tell you to wake up, because Drag Race España has become the best international Drag Race series — and we did not see that coming.

Let’s make one thing clear: I’m not here to talk trash about any other Drag Race series. Every single one of them has their pros and cons and goops and gags. I am, however, here to talk about how Drag Race España has quickly morphed into a consistent and entertaining series that simultaneously feels like a trailblazer and the scrappy Drag Race of yesteryear. It’s a real have-your-Tic-Tac-and-eat-it-too kinda gig.

Drag Race España Season 2 feels so confident because it’s building on a hella solid foundation. Season 1 delivered some of the most instantly iconic Drag Race moments of 2021, like avant-garde queen Inti refusing to lip sync for her life because she didn’t like the narrative production was putting on her.

That was just the first of a few lip sync moments in Season 1 that proved that the queens of Spain were not in the competition to be produced. They were all there to do what they wanted to do — even if that meant going above and beyond to help each other out (Carmen Farala just giving a runway look to another queen, or Dovima out Charlie Hides-ing Charlie Hides so Sagittaria could shantay). All of those queens stomped the runway so that the queens of Season 2 could strut.

There’s no better proof of this than in España Season 2’s talent show. It’s entirely possible that you’ve already heard a lot about this episode because it lit the Drag Race fandom on fire (well, at least those who are wisely keeping up with España). The talents on display were up there with the best we’ve ever seen on any Drag Race series. We got burlesque, opera diva realness, some keytar, fast food seduction, and multiple original bangers that turned the party and probably split pelvises. Like, resident freaky queen Onyx emerged from a space egg and gave birth to an alien baby on stage and she ended up in the bottom. Shit was wild.

Not to be outdone, the talent show episode also featured a monster runway that completely vaporized the entire Season 11 Monster Ball, UK’s Monster Mashup, and any other apopaloptic looks from memory. In fact, España’s Season 2 runways have been serving all season long. Marina flashing the judges in her gender-bending hometown look? Venedita Von Däsh’s dazzling nude illusion gown in the Almodóvar Leading Ladies runway? Onyx’s giant feature-ready creature??

Even the looks that aren’t winners are still worth screaming over, like Diamante Merybrown’s Kinder Egg reveal look. And that’s where España feels like it’s pushing the franchise forward, towards freakier and weirder runway fashions. But there’s one area where España feels like Drag Race of old: the “Untucked” segment.

I just… I just want you all to know that so far, the biggest altercation involved Juriji Der Klee going off on Marina for being too dramatic and farting too much in the Werk Room.

I tell you, I could have watched a full half hour of this.

I also have to give it up to host and head judge Supremme de Luxe, who regularly turns lewks that put RuPaul to shame — in the Werk Room. In drag, no one can touch Mama Ru. Facts are facts, America. But, as a gay man who absolutely lives for menswear, I have nothing but the utmost respect and unrestrained adoration for Supremme’s menswear drag.

RuPaul ain’t no slouch in this department, but Ru’s all-over print slim-fit suits feel very modern and American. Supremme’s suits come from fellow judge Ana Locking. The suits push modern gay style (which is always gonna default to slim-fit because of society) into vintage territory via regal double-breasted eleganza and powerful shoulders. What I love most is how the suits fill their slightly exaggerated, traditionally masculine silhouette with luscious color choices and fab color blocking. Supremme’s Werk Room suits illustrate a completely new way to be coded as a flaming homosexual, and I live for that.

And really, there is something in Drag Race España for every drag fan to live for. The host, the Javis, the runways, the fart monologues — take your pick. This show has it all and, at least for right now, it’s the crown jewel of the Drag Race franchise.

Stream Drag Race España on WOW Presents Plus