Canada’s Drag Race Returns to the Runway on Crave

The award darling returns with all-new episodes full of high fashion and a revamped judging panel

The Canadian spinoff of RuPaul’s iconic drag competition sashays its way onto Crave for season two. Following in the heelprints of inaugural winner Priyanka (a.k.a. former YTV host Mark Suknanan) last summer, 12 new contestants are in the running for that $100,000 prize when we kick things off (in sky-high, sparkly heels, of course).

There are 10 new episodes of the five-time Canadian Screen Award-winning show in store this fall. As before, challenges will encompass singing, dancing, acting, impersonation, design and improvisation, but there’s been a sizable shakeup to the judging panel. Returnee Brooke Lynn Hytes welcomes actress Amanda Brugel (The Handmaid’s Tale, Kim’s Convenience) and style superstar Brad Goreski. They’re getting the chance because former judge Jeffrey Bowyer Chapman wasn’t able to make it work while filming his new Disney+ series, Doogie Kame?loha, M.D., and model Stacey McKenzie couldn’t return as a result of travel restrictions during the pandemic.

One familiar face that we’ll be seeing more of though is Traci Melchor, who has been upgraded to permanent judge after serving as a “Squirrel Friend” adviser to the queens in the first season.

Another thing that certainly won’t change is the spotlight the show puts on the drag community as, in addition to the catwalk clashes, we get stories of personal struggles and successes, as the series highlights the importance of celebrating everyone’s uniqueness, nerve and talent.

Canada’s Drag Race streams Thursdays on Crave