Ts Madison Returns to ‘Drag Race’ As Recurring Judge, All Celebrity Guest Judges Revealed
MTV Reading Time: 4 minutes
LGBTQ+ icon Ts Madison has just been announced as a rotating judge in RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15. Furthermore, a new lineup of celebrity guest judges will help the permanent panel critique the current cast of queens.
Ts Madison Joins RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 as a Regular Judge
MTV announced on Monday that transgender actress Ts Madison will be gracing RuPaul’s Drag Race once again. But this time, as a member of the permanent judging panel alongside RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Ross Mathews, and Carson Kressley. This simply means that Madison will not only be appearing in one or two episodes like the last time, but throughout season 15.
For those who may not know, Madison has quite a history with RuPaul and the world-famous reality series. Back in season 13, the trans icon shared that the record-breaking Emmy winner personally picked her to be a celebrity guest judge in her show.
Moreover, Madison’s visibility in the drag community was already bright even before her judging role. She was actually portrayed by current Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. the World contestant Silky Nutmeg Ganache during season 11 Snatch Game.
Ariana Grande, Janelle Monáe Among Celebrity Guest Judges
RuPaul’s Drag Race released its season 15 trailer last Monday, revealing some of its celebrity guest judges. Soon after this, MTV dropped the complete list of the artists who will join the mainstay judges this season. Let’s take a look at them.
1. Ariana Grande
Global pop star Ariana Grande has been tapped by the reality show to serve as guest judge for the two-episode season premiere. Indeed, it’s about time that this LGBTQ+ ally grace the series once more. Grande took the role of a guest judge back in season 7 where her reaction to Violet Chachki’s waist quickly became meme worthy.
2. Ali Wong
Stand-up comedian and actress Ali Wong will take her first ever appearance in RuPaul’s Drag Race this season. Wong broke out during her participation in Netflix comedy special Baby Cobra in 2016. With her intellectual prowess and hilarious takes, her guesting will hopefully be remarkable.
3. Amandla Stenberg
The Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg will also be featured in Drag Race season 15. This year, she received the Visibility Award from Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin at HRC’s New York City gala. Sternberg is an outspoken queer and LGBTQ+ advocate, so her participation in the reality competition truly means a lot.
4. Harvey Guillén
Harvey Guillén is a Mexican queer actor who starred in the comedy horror series What We Do In the Shadows. Once told that his size and sexuality would “hurt his career,” Guillen’s story is an inspiring narrative for queer community. Hence, it’s no surprise that he’ll be in the Drag Race judging panel this year.
5. Hayley Kiyoko
Musician Hayley Kiyoko aka Lesbian Jesus is also among the show’s anticipated guest judges. Kiyoko’s pop music has been screaming gay ever since, intentionally done so to make room for visibility. Certainly, her unapologetic attitude towards her gender would make a great addition to Drag Race.
6. Julia Garner
Actress Julia Garner has gain international recognition for her role in Ozark and for starring in Inventing Anna. She is amazing for various reasons, but that fact was pretty much cemented when she got offered the role of Madonna in her universal biopic.
7. Janelle Monáe
Singer and rapper Janelle Monae is a proud pansexual. Since the early 2010s, Monae has utilized her songwriting talent to create a safe and liberated space for the queer community. If we are to make a list of LGBTQ+ icons, her name is definitely included.
8. Maren Morris
Singer Maren Morris is no stranger to the LGBTQ+ community, most especially to queer youth. Morris has spoken up both online and offline about the importance of protecting the marginalized sector. She grew up surrounded by gays, so having her in this season is totally nothing to complain about.
9. Megan Stalter
Comedian Megan Stalter captured American viewers through her scene-stealing role in HBO Max’s Hacks. As an unashamed bisexual, Stalter is indeed one of the growing queer representations in the comedy world. Let’s see is there will be another “Hi, Gay” moment for her in Drag Race.
10. Orville Peck
Country star Orville Peck will also serve as celebrity guest judge this season. He takes intense measures in concealing his face, thus wearing a mask when he’s onstage. Peck is confidently gay, and that’s one thing he never felt he needed to hide.
