Drag Race Features First Contestant to Have Transitioned

RuPaul’s Drag Race has featured its first ever transitioned queen in the Holi-Slay Spectacular Christmas special that aired on December 7th.

Sonique, who came out as trans in season 2 of the series, was brought in to appear in the special. Her inclusion comes after a series of controversial remarks made by RuPaul back in March when he said he would never include a trans person who has completely transitioned.

“You can identify as a woman and say you’re transitioning, but it changes once you start changing your body,” he said.

“It takes on a different thing; it changes the whole concept of what we’re doing.

“You can take performance enhancing drugs and still be an athlete, just not in the Olympics.”

While Sonique’s trans identity was never specifically referenced in the Christmas special RuPaul did make one minor tweak by changing his catch phrase to: “Ladies and gentleman, start your engines, and may the best woman win.”