Brooke Lynn Hytes shares first look at ‘unapologetically Canadian’ Drag Race and what’s Québécois for gagging?
RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11 alum, Brooke Lynn Hytes. (Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images)
Canada’s Drag Race will be an “unapologetically Canadian” take on the franchise, according to judges Brook Lynn Hytes, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Stacey McKenzie.
Remember last year when we were all complaining about Drag Race fatigue?
With the world under lockdown, a weekly dose of wigs, heels and shade has become a much-needed tonic. And soon, there’ll be a whole new edition to binge.
Canada’s Drag Race is gearing up to premiere soon, with Brook Lynn Hytes making history as the first alumni to take a permanent spot on the judging panel anywhere in the world.
“Nothing has been done like this before in Canada,” the season 11 runner-up told Entertainment Weekly.
“There are no big goals like RuPaul’s Drag Race in Canada… unless you move to the States and uproot your whole life, but now there’s something for queens in Canada to strive for, and motivation is so important.”
Brooke is one of three permanent judges on Canada’s Drag Race, along with actor Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and model Stacey McKenzie.
“We’re all RuPaul, put together,” Brooke told EW.
“Not one of us has all the power. It’s a team effort. We all take turns sharing duties, and we all make decisions together.”
Canada’s Drag Race will follow the familiar format, featuring classic challenges such as the Snatch Game, but with a Canadian twist.
Bowyer-Chapman, who has guest judged the American Drag Race twice, said: “There are instantly recognisable Easter eggs for Canadians, but they’re universally comedic enough that other audiences won’t be left out of the joke.
Seeing these queens perform, this isn’t Drag Race-lite, this is Drag Race full-stop!
The actor promised a wide range of contestants, from campy queens to artistic queens.
When EW asked whether the show will give drag kings a platform, he replied: “I can’t say. But I think that’s a fascinating question and a fascinating idea!”
McKenzie added: “Canada’s got it going on. We’re a sleeping beauty, and we’re waking up. Everybody is going to be like ‘Oh s**t, you’re here!’ We’re the quiet storm.
“I can’t wait for the world to see the next Drag Race. It’s unapologetically Canadian!”
