“RuPaul’s Drag Race” has featured several transgender contestants at different points in their journeys. While several contestants came out as trans during or after filming, Peppermint was the first transgender woman to compete in Season 9 and Gottmik was the first transgender man to compete in Season 13 (left). Kylie Sonique Love became the first trans winner, taking home the All Stars 6 crown. Season 14 included a historic 5 transgender contestants, including fan favorite Kornbread (center) and eventual winner Willow Pill (right).
Click through to see all the trans queens that have competed on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and its “All Stars” editions. The queens are ordered by the season they competed in, not necessarily when they came out as trans.
Kylie Sonique Love, Season 2/All Stars 6
After initially competing as Sonique in Season 2, she decided to go by her real full name, Kylie Sonique Love on “All Stars” 6, saying “you only do additions, never subtractions.” She became the first trans winner on the show, declaring, “I’m so grateful to Paramount+, World of Wonder and RuPaul for taking everything she’s learned in the business and for giving people like me an opportunity.
Carmen Carrera, Season 3
Carmen transitioned after competing and has since become a famous model and trans activist.
Stacy Layne Matthews, Season 3
Stacy, a self-proclaimed “country queen,” won the Snatch Game in her season portraying Mo’nique’s character from “Precious.” She also made a cameo in All Stars 4, though she has never competed in an All Stars edition.
Lashauwn Beyond, Season 4
Lashauwn was one of three queens from her season that transitioned afterwards, the other two being Jiggly Caliente and Kenya Michaels.
Jiggly Caliente, Season 4/All Stars 6
Jiggly initially competed on Season 4 and returned for All Stars 6 after transitioning. She also got new teeth and slimmed down between her stints on the show.
Kenya Michaels, Season 4
Kenya Michaels, a petite (5’0) Puerto Rican queen, was a fan favorite known for her beauty and high energy.
Monica Beverly Hillz, Season 5/All Stars 8
Monica tearfully revealed that she was in the midst of transitioning after receiving a critique for being “sad” and off her game. She survived being in the bottom 2 that week but was eliminated the following week.
Adore Delano, Season 6/All Stars 2
Delano was a fan-favorite who made it to the Top 3 in Season 6 against much more experienced queens Bianca Del Rio and Courtney Act.
She appeared in All Stars 2 but quit in the second episode.
In July 2023, Delano came out as transgender via an Instagram video.
“I wanted to let everybody know that I am transitioning, and I kept it really of hush-hush the first three months because I wanted to go through the beginning stages of the puberty privately,” she said. “I’ve found that it’s been very enlightening and has made me probably the happiest I’ve ever been in my adult life.”
Laganja Estranja, Season 6
Laganja, best known for her werk room death drop, announced she was trans in June 2021.
Gia Gunn, Season 6/All Stars 4
Gia competed in Season 6 before transitioning and appearing in All Stars 4 as a transgender woman.
Peppermint, Season 9
As previously mentioned, Peppermint is the first contestant to enter “Drag Race” as a transgender woman. She made it to the finale of Season 9, losing out to eventual winner Sasha Velour.
Aja, Season 9/All Stars 3
Aja was a surprise selection for All Stars 3 after a 9th-place finish in Season 9. She quickly redeemed herself in the talent show, where she delivered a jaw-dropping split jump.
She transitioned with the help of GoFundMe after her “Drag Race” appearances.
Eureka O’Hara, Season 9 & 10/All Stars 6
Fans met the bigger-than-life personality in Season 9, but she was injured halfway through and given permission to return in Season 10. where she placed in the Top 3. She now stars in the show, “We’re Here.”
Eureka has experienced periods of gender fluidity, but currently identifies as a transgender woman.
Gigi Goode, Season 12
The finalist from Season 12 began to transition during the pandemic by undergoing hormone replacement therapy and facial feminization surgery.
Gigi said the show “Veneno” helped her define who she’s “supposed to be. And to me, that’s a trans non-binary person.”
Gottmik, Season 13
Gottmik made history as the series’ first transgender man. With edgy looks and polished make-up skills, Gottmik made it all the way to the top 4.
Kerri Colby, Season 14
Kerri proudly wore the colors of the trans flag — light blue, pink and white — in her Season 14 entrance look.
The stunner was one of five transgender queens competing in her season.
Willow Pill, Season 14
Season 14’s winner Willow Pill announced she was transgender in March, adding she underwent facial feminization surgery and was receiving low doses of hormones.
Kornbread, Season 14
Kornbread was an early front-runner given her razor-sharp wit and humor, but was sidelined due to an ankle injury (Season 14 winner Willow Pill, Kornbread’s best friend on the show, even thanked “Kornbread’s ankle” after taking the crown). Kornbread credits Kerri Colby as helping her through her trans journey.
Jasmie Kennedie, Season 14
Jasmine surprised all of her castmates — and even herself — when she emotionally declared “I am trans” for the very first time. Jasmine had idolized her castmate Kerri Colby’s self-confidence and beauty and seeing it in person helped Jasmine come out.
Bosco, Season 14
The self-proclaimed “Demon Queen of Seattle” was a strong competitor when her drag race was derailed. Fortunately, she possessed the sole golden chocolate bar of the season, allowing her to avoid elimination.
She was one of five transgender queens competing her season.
Sasha Colby, Season 15
Sasha Colby, a polished pageant veteran many of the other queens look up to, took the Season 15 crown.
She is also the drag mother of trans Season 14 contestant, Kerri Colby.
