Queen of the Universe (season one) has got to be one of the best talent competitions I have seen in years. It has a 1980s esthetic and at times is more reminiscent of a variety show than a talent contest. But it is a contest in every sense and is sheer entertainment.
What sets Queen of the Universe apart from most drag competitions is that these girls don’t lip sync. This is a singing and drag competition, so they need to be the entire package. If you think the best parts of Ru Paul’s Drag Race are the acting and vocal challenges, then this show for you.
The show is hosted by Graham Norton. The judges are Vanessa Williams, Leona Lewis, Trixie Mattel, and Michelle Visage. The winner takes home $250,000.
The contestants come from around the world: Grag Queen (Canela, Brazil), Ada Vox (San Antonio, United States), Aria B Cassadine (Atlanta, United), La Voix (London, United Kingdom 9, Rani Ko-He-Nur (Mumbai, India), Leona Winter (Paris, France), Gingzilla (Sydney, Australia), Regina Voce (Mexico City, Mexico), Matante Alex (Montreal, Canada), Betty Bitschlap (Copenhagen, Denmark), Chy’enne Valentino (Chicago, United States), Jujubee (Boston, United States), Novaczar (New York City, United States), Woowu Guangzhou (Guangzhou, China).
Unlike other competition shows, Queen of the Universe quickly whittles down the competition by throwing off multiple queens per episode. This really speeds up the show while amping up the drama. The contestants are visibly concerned and ensures that every performance counts. And since the contestants are forced to be at the top of their game for every performance, the entertainment value is fantastic. The queens look amazing, sound fantastic, and put on a show you won’t forget.
Since this is a first season show, none of the drag queens knew what to expect. And while it’s a fairly unique show, it does take from pageants and Ru Paul’s Drag Race to ensure a successful run. I enjoyed the interviews between the judges and the drag queen at the end of each set. The occasional pageant type questions also work.
While I enjoy getting to know about the girls through videos prior to their sets, I don’t think it’s necessary to show the contestants interacting backstage. Those parts feel contrived and fake. Queen of the Universe is about talent and not personalities.
You can watch Queen of the Universe on Paramount+.
