Queen of the Universe: Judge Michelle Visage says acts leave her ‘gobsmacked’ every time

New reality show Queen of the Universe is helping transform the art of drag into a global phenomenon.

Vanessa Williams says drag has moved from a niche market to a global phenomenon. She’s on the judging panel for Queen of the Universe.

When RuPaul’s Drag Race favourite Michelle Visage and singer Vanessa Williams were asked to join a judging panel for a new reality TV series showcasing the talents of vocalists who also happen to be drag queens, it was a no-brainer.

“The illusion and transformation of drag is truly wondrous and I am always gobsmacked every time I see a new take on it,” Williams says.

“What’s great about this show is it’s worldwide so we see talents from all over the place and the creativity and the uniqueness on display is just a pleasure.”

The show, Queen of the Universe, will showcase at least 14 performers (including a contestant from Australia).

Hosted by British talk show staple, Graham Norton, the queens will demonstrate their vocal talents while showing off some fabulous drag. (British singer Leona Lewis and Drag Race All Stars champ Trixie Mattel round out the judges.)

“For me, it’s very different from RuPaul’s Drag Race because this isn’t about the drag, it’s about the singing,” says Michelle Visage, who has sat alongside her best friend RuPaul for more than a decade on Drag Race (and on the show’s spin-offs, including Drag Race Australia).

“Drag takes a back seat, really. But they have to be good – it’s not a frat house prank Halloween costume. The drag has to be up to snuff but I’m talking about your performance and I’m talking about your vocals – we’ll get to the drag in a minute. I’m just so grateful there’s a global platform for these queens around the world to show their vocal skills.”

Michelle Visage says the show will have artists from all over the world.

Williams, who says she’s been a fan of drag “for decades”, relished the chance to guide the show’s contestants.

“I’m 58 years old, so I have lived a life and performed all over the world. I have experience in just about every aspect of the business so I’m there to help. I want to be able to be a mentor, to be able to make them better performers and be heard as a human being and as a person.”

Williams, of course, is beloved by drag queens everywhere. (Famously, the end credits of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert featured the film’s Oscar-winning costume designer Tim Chappel dressed in drag and lip-synching to Williams’ iconic tune, Save the Best For Last.)

“I love it and, in some aspects, I always feel like I’m in drag, whether it’s performing, because I have to plug in the hair, put on the lashes, cinch in my waist, get my corset on and everything else,” she laughs.

But Visage, who has been involved in the drag scene since the 1980s, is hellbent on changing perceptions around drag performers including a persistent snobbery towards queens who also sing.

“It’s ridiculous and closed-minded and backwards and we’ve got to push this needle forward, don’t we? If you’re going to judge a pop star by what they look like because, realistically, it is a total package thing, every drag queen I know looks like a pop star so why couldn’t they do that? Why – because they’re gay or they’re queer? It’s ridiculous; we have our gay and queer pop stars, they’re out there so I think we need to celebrate the drag ones as well.”

Vanessa Williams is looking forward to being a judge.

Both Williams and Visage say Queen of the Universe is a by-product of the success of Drag Race (which has won a staggering 24 Emmys).

“It shows that drag has moved from a niche market to a global worldwide pop phenomenon,” Williams says.

“My four kids grew up watching Drag Race, they know all the drag queens. My youngest, who’s 21, gets so excited by it – these are the pop stars of her generation.”

Visage says she “never expected” Drag Race to become so universally beloved.

“When I got into drag and the whole ballroom culture, I knew I had found a home for me and I had found a community where I belonged, where I wasn’t being bullied or made fun of,” she says.

“So for me drag was always important and it was marginalised even within the queer community in New York City in the late 1980s – it was not what it is today. Did I expect it? No. Am I super thrilled and just excited and everything you could imagine that this art form is finally validated? Yes.

“We have a lot further to go with it, but it’s definitely on its way because of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

“This is a global stage for those artists who never would have had the opportunity. If I can encourage them to keep at their passion – it’s so much fun to watch it be realised.”

Queen Of the Universe is now streaming on Paramount+

Originally published as Queen of the Universe: Judge Michelle Visage says acts leave her ‘gobsmacked’ every time