By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Valentina Is 'Changing History' By Hosting Drag Race México
Stunning queens Valentina and Lolita Banana are hosting the newest addition to the Drag Race franchise.
RuPaul’s world domination continues with the newest spinoff in the Drag Race universe, Drag Race México, hosted by season nine star Valentina.
This fan-favorite will be co-hosting the very first season of the new show alongside Drag Race France queen Lolita Banana. These two fabulous queens are perfect for the role. They’ll bring tons of personality and both are of Mexican descent.
The pair announced their new hosting gig at RuPaul’s DragCon in Los Angeles this past weekend. At the event, Valentina told PRIDE, "It's an honor for me to be Mexican and American and for the world to fall in love with the art and the beauty that Mexico has to offer."
Valentina’s career has exploded since returning for Drag Race All Stars 4 in 2018. She starred in a Netflix telenovela and Rent: Live, had a cameo in In the Heights, and charmed us all with her role in AJ and the Queen.
Returning to the franchise that rocketed her to fame is an impressive feat for this 32-year-old queen.
“To be coming into a position of now being a host, it’s such an artistic challenge and a graduation,” she explained in an interview withRemezcla. “The next level in my career is in changing the history of the way people view queer people and queer stories in Mexico. It’s truly an honor.”
Although Valentina grew up in California, she credits being raised in a bilingual home and spending a good portion of her career working in Mexico for her understanding of the language and Mexican references.
“I’m 100% Californian. I’m 100% Mexican. And it is an honor to be waving both of those flags at this moment,” she told Remezcla.
As for what to expect from the newest addition to the Drag Race family, Valentina says that the queens competing for the title of "Mexico’s Next Drag Superstar" will represent Mexican culture in their drag.
“These girls have to work under the circumstances of what they’re able to buy in their country, their city, and their pueblo,” she revealed. “They have to be creative. Some of these girls come from a big city. Some of these girls are from pueblos, so my queens are under a lot of pressure to deliver top-notch drag with their resources.”
The nonbinary queen is eager for everyone to see the new show and get a big dose of Mexican culture. “Mexico is so creative and so artistic,” she said. “There’s so many references pulled from Mexico. I can’t wait for people to tune in and enjoy what Mexico has to offer.”
We’ll definitely be tuning in – we can never have too much Drag Race!
There isn't a release date yet, but Drag Race Mexico will premier on Paramount+ soon.
Ariel Messman-Rucker is an Oakland-born journalist who now calls the Pacific Northwest her home. When she’s not writing about politics and queer pop culture, she can be found reading, hiking, or talking about horror movies with the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network.
Ariel Messman-Rucker is an Oakland-born journalist who now calls the Pacific Northwest her home. When she’s not writing about politics and queer pop culture, she can be found reading, hiking, or talking about horror movies with the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network.
