The next installment of the Drag Race franchise is here: Drag Race Holland, complete with a new Werk Room- naturally featuring a glittery windmill in the entrance. This first episode is fashion-focused, with the runway as the main challenge. I’m glad, as these queens know how to put together a look, as is evident right from the entrances.
First into the new Werk Room is Miss Abby OMG, who radiates excitement as she makes an entrance in a skimpy, shimmery outfit that looks like it’s made of mermaid scales- a nod to her drag house ‘Mermaids Mansion’.
Next up is ChelseaBoy, who enters ready for the race in a motorcycle leather glamour look, managing to convey both biker chick and elegance with a stunning silhouette. There is also a statement helmet that establishes her sci-fi aesthetic, which she later elevates on the runway.
Janey Jacké enters in a cute 90s-style leopard print outfit with buckle details and a belt choker that adds a ‘don’t mess with me’ attitude. Megan Schoonbrood made an entrance with a playful reveal into a sexy nun outfit and Madame Madness stuns in a striking yellow suit and hot pink wig contrast. Roem pays homage to her former name ‘Roem Service’ in a vinyl maid outfit.
Sederginne fulfils my expectations and brings the camp, entering in a red-trim cheetah print number complete with matching luggage that screams excess.
Ma’MaQueen is a house mother and proud, entering pregnant in a rainbow dress, a theme which she then cleverly carries through to the mainstage. It may not be the most striking look, but she shows her heart and her personality.
Patty Pam-Pam enters in a deconstructed outfit with measuring tape and pins, brilliantly alerting everyone that she is a talented seamstress and will deliver playful, yet well put-together looks.
@pattypampamEnvy Peru is a threat- you can see it in the queen’s eyes as she makes an entrance. She stuns in a gorgeous black and gold outfit and looks POLISHED!
@missenvyperu The queens seem genuinely excited to see each other, and it is evident that most of them know each other from the Dutch drag scene.
The next instalment of the Drag Race franchise is here: Drag Race Holland, complete with a new Werk Room- naturally featuring a glittery windmill in the entrance. This first episode is fashion-focused, with the runway as the main challenge. I’m glad, as these queens know how to put together a look, as is evident right from the entrances.
First into the new Werk Room is Miss Abby OMG, who radiates excitement as she makes an entrance in a skimpy, shimmery outfit that looks like it’s made of mermaid scales- a nod to her drag house ‘Mermaids Mansion’.
Next up is ChelseaBoy, who enters ready for the race in a motorcycle leather glamour look, managing to convey both biker chick and elegance with a stunning silhouette. There is also a statement helmet that establishes her sci-fi aesthetic, which she later elevates on the runway.
@missabbyomgThe first episode runway appropriately celebrates queens and these queens choose everything from more conventional choices such as Marie Antionette to ‘alien queen’ or Queen the band. Fred van Leer is joined by Nikkie Plessen on the judging panel, a Dutch fashion designer, actress and model. Guest judges in this first episode are designer Claes Iversen and actress Sanne Wallis dan Vries.
The queens are also asked to answer the question: ‘What makes you so unique and distinctive, that you’ll take off with the crown in the finals?’ Patty Pam-Pam points out that their answers sound forced, and the queens seem to showcase their individuality through their runways much more effectively.
Sederginne’s Marie Antionette is a showstopper- with a dress that opens to reveal kitchen shelves, stocked full of teapots and cakes in a literal “Let Them Eat Cake” reference.
@sederginne_official
Envy Peru is elegant and poised as Maxima, Queen of the Netherlands, giving the more traditional coronation outfit a drag twist.
Janey Jacké is striking in her Queen Bee latex look complete with a regal fur collar and delicate wings, and it is particularly a contrast to her simpler opening look.
@janeyjacké
Roem takes the Evil Queen from Snow White and gives her a cyborg update. We now know this was a back-up outfit, second-choice to Medusa, who production warned against due to the ambiguity of her queen status. Whilst Roem’s futuristic Evil Queen had a fun concept in keeping with her cyborg persona, the look wasn’t as strong as some of the other more polished runways.
Ma’MaQueen chooses the Virgin Mary, sharing that she was encouraged to create her own interpretations of religion as a child. The shimmery materials remind us once again that she is the proud mother of the ‘House of Holographic Hoes’.
Megan Schoonbrood picks Diana Ross, Queen of Disco, a little too far removed from the queen theme for the judges, and she ends up in the bottom.
ChelseaBoy is jaw-dropping in a fierce latex ‘alien queen’ look, complete with spikes, a tail and alien crown. Patty Pam-Pam takes a risk with a Freddie Mercury look from Queen, but it is a fun twist on the theme that works well.
Madame Madness is the Queen of Hearts, utilising her signature facial hair and moulding a heart-shaped moustache. Miss Abby OMG references her Brazilian heritage in a gold and emerald Carnival Queen look.
This is a strong runway full of variety and creativity that has me excited for this debut season of Drag Race Holland. Two queens must lip-sync though, and in this first episode the bottom three is Roem, Megan Schoonbrood and Ma’MaQueen. Roem and Megan lip-sync for their life to Madonna’s ‘Express Yourself’. Overall, Megan sells it a little more, bringing the passion, and Roem is the first to sashay away on the Drag Race Holland runway.
Drag Race Holland will premiere on September 17th on WOW Presents Plus in the US and select territories worldwide, and on RTL Nederland’s Videoland.
