Past winners and new contestants of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” gathered at New York City’s Aqua Roma on Tuesday to celebrate the show’s upcoming Season 18, which is set to premiere on Jan. 2 on MTV. As one would expect, overly flamboyant looks dominated the event’s red carpet, with drag queens bringing the broadest range of fashion references, including nods to Vivienne Westwood and Schiaparelli, as well as to “Power Rangers” and “K-Pop Demon Hunters.”
“The fashion looks good! You know why? Because the girls aren’t young. They’re all above 30,” Monét X Change, winner of “All Stars Season Four,” told WWD on the red carpet. “They got the experience on. They have the experience to know enough designers to choose good dresses. I’m very excited about the fashion this season.”
Sasha Velour, who was wearing a dress inspired by her Season Nine victory crown, also showed her excitement for what’s to come. “Fashion is really like a business, and I think they take a lot of inspiration from drag. And it goes both ways because we love to look at the runways. We love to follow trends. I think drag is all about remixing and reinventing trends,” Velour said.
Among the red carpet guests were also Bronwyn Newport, Ashley Park and New York City Council member Erik Bottcher. “Drag is an act of defiance, and it has been since its earliest days. Over the centuries, there have been people who wish Drag Race season 18 was not happening. Not only is it happening, but it’s also going to be the biggest yet, because the American people reject, hey. The queens here today are standing up to the right-wing extremist MAGA movement, just by performing their art. And we are here to support them,” Bottcher said.
WWD talked to the 14 queens who are competing for the $200,000 cash prize and the coveted title of America’s Next Drag Superstar in “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18. See the inspiration behind their looks below.
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Discord Addams
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Discord Addams: “This outfit was created by my partner, Gidget Von Addams. She made everything from the wig down to the outfit. It was definitely inspired by Vivian Westwood. I wanted to look very chic, but very punk. It’s got a big spray-painted anarchy sign at the bottom that disappears in the shift fabric. I wanted it to look like I had armor on, and a kind of mixture of being very delicate, but very harsh at the same time.”
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DD Fuego
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV DD Fuego: “I am wearing archival Zach Posen dress, Betsy Johnson’s shoes and Jennifer B earrings. I do a lot of things about like flames and fire, but today I’m going for smoke because where there’s smoke, there’s fuego.”
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Briar Blush
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Briar Blush: “My dress was made by a wonderful New York designer named Jasmine. We collaborated on the design of this, and we picked out only ethically sourced fabrics. It’s inspired by Princess Punk, I would describe it, Vivienne Westwood, all of that.”
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Athena Dion
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Athena Dion: “This is inspired by my Greek heritage. We’re giving evil eyes because, you know, there are a lot of eyes on you at all times. You’ve got to be protected from the evil energy, so I’m protected. I’m guarded all over, I’m Greek, I have the colors of the Aegean and the Mediterranean seas, and I’m just feeling like a true Greek goddess.”
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Ciara Myst
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Ciara Myst: “I partnered with Beck Jones, who’s also an amazing New York designer, and I wanted to dragify the character Ivan Ooze, who’s a super villain in the ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ movie. I love ‘Power Rangers.’ I think the flamboyance of supervillains really inspires my drag, and so this is for all the ‘Power Rangers’ fans out there.”
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Juicy Love Dion
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Juicy Love Dion: “This outfit was made by Rochart from Bologna, Italy. He is an amazing, amazing seamstress, as you can see. He has done everything for me for this entire season. So we’re going to see a lot of Rochart design. And this inspiration was like the ‘Van Helsing’ Wives. I just wanted to feel gorgeous, like Beyoncé in the ‘Partition’ music video. And I feel gorgeous, vampy, chic, stunning, and happy.”
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Mandy Mango
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Mandy Mango: “I’m wearing a reference to Rumi, the leader of Huntrix from ‘K-pop Demon Hunters,’ my favorite movie this year. Just hearing ‘Gold’ in the context of my Drag Race journey really makes it feel like the universe has been just really kind to me. My best friend, Elias Gurrola, designed this and made it himself, so it’s giving Rumi on the red carpet for the Glamour Awards if Scaparelli did her up.”
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Myki Meeks
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Myki Meeks: “My outfit tonight is designed by Orlando legend Jeffrey Kelly Abess. Myki Meeks is half glamour girl, half party girl. It’s time to go into Club Myki.”
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Mia Starr
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Mia Starr: “I actually ordered from Amelia. I was like, ‘Listen, I wanted something oversized, something big.’ It kept popping up on my story feed, and I was like, ‘I need that jacket.’ And what better way to wear all red for the red carpet?”
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Vita VonTesse Starr
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Vita VonTesse Starr: “I made my own outfit today, and the inspiration was my last name, Starr. So, of course, I want to shine because that’s what stars do. I wanted to bring all the shine, all the pizzazz and show you what I’m about.”
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Darlene Mitchell
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Darlene Mitchell: “My outfit was made by Rachelle Appelle in Los Angeles. It was inspired by a Pamela Anderson red carpet appearance recently. And I thought, ‘How can I make this gayer?’ And it turns out it’s bringing the slit all the way up.”
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Jane Don’t
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Jane Don’t: “This outfit was made by a designer in Houston, Texas, named Ruben Isaza, whom I love very much. I like flowers. So I wanted to dress like one.”
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Kenya Pleaser
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Kenya Pleaser: “This outfit was inspired by an iconic Mugler concept, you know, with the armor, gold goddess, with a classic black velvet silhouette, honey.”
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Nini Coco
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Nini Coco: “I make most of everything I wear, so I made this entire dress. I wanted a classic silhouette, bodycon, bold red, and some power, but then rhinestoning my hand over the entire thing.”
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV The queens pose for a photo together at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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Onya Nurve
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Onya Nurve at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Sasha Colby at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV BeBe Zahara Benet at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV NLuxx Noir London at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Lana Ja’Rae at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Kori King at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Symone at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Jimbo at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Willow Pill at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Nymphia Wind at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Erik Bottcher at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Aquaria at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Dr. Wellington Garcia-Mathews and Ross Mathews at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Jaida Essence Hall at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Kylie Sonique Love at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Yvie Oddly at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Ts Madison at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Sasha Velour at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Monét X Change at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Kandy Muse at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Law Roach at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Lana Ja’Rae at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Morphine Love Dion at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Kevin Aviance at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Rosé at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Bronwyn Newport at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Angela Paris VanMichaels at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Kenya Pleaser at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Ginger Minj at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Alyssa Edwards at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
Image Credit: Getty Images for MTV Nicky Doll and Rosé at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 premiere at Aqua New York on Dec. 09, 2025, in New York City.