7.4 233

In this first episode, we are introduced to the nine queens that will be competing for "the fierce title of America's Next Breakthrough Drag Superstar." These nine contestants (chosen from thousands of entries) come from all over the United States plus one contestant from Puerto Rico and another from Cameroon. The winner will receive a feature photo spread in Paper magazine, a portrait taken by renown photographer Greg Gorman to be used in an LA Eyeworks legendary designer eye wear campaign, headline the Absolut Vodka Pride Tour across the U.S., and $20,000 cash courtesy of MAC Cosmetics and Absolut Vodka. Their first challenge is a photo shoot by Mike Ruiz. It involves two hot men washing a car and, needless to say, the queens get all wet. The next challenge is to recreate their glamorous drag look using hand-me-downs from the studio wardrobe and items from a dollar store. Their photo and their original "drag on a dime" look is judged by RuPaul, Merle Ginsberg, Santino Rice, Bob Mackie, and Mike Ruiz. The first contestant to be eliminated is announced after a lip sync between the bottom two queens.