15 of the best queens ever on RuPaul’s Drag Race

ASPEN, CO – JANUARY 23: Katya Zamolodchikova attends the Logo New Now Next Honors From Aspen Gay Ski Week on January 23, 2016 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for Logo)

Katya Zamolodchikova

Katya might be one of the most beloved contestants to ever appear on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and her talent, weirdness, and perseverance are the reason she finds herself on this list.

Katya had auditioned to be on the show four times before finally landing on season 7. Even though that season was criticized by some for featuring so many young, white queens with “similar” styles, Katya still managed to steal the hearts of Drag Race fans around the world. When she was eliminated in fifth place, fans were outraged, but she gave her final lip sync against Kennedy Davenport everything that she had, which is why it’s definitely regarded as one of the show’s best.

She went on to win that season’s Miss Congeniality, but then came back with a vengeance on All Stars 2. She was a fan favorite from the beginning, and after Alaska showed her true colors, many fans started rooting for Katya to take the crown. She ultimately wound up the runner-up along with Detox. Her friendship with season 7’s Trixie Mattel landed them their own YouTube show, UNHhhh, which was a huge hit with fans and even got them The Trixie & Katya Show on Viceland in 2017.

She has since appeared in Bianca Del Rio’s Hurricane Bianca 2: From Russia with Hate (more on that later) and even showed up on an episode of America’s Next Top Model. Due to its immense popularity (and the fact that The Trixie & Katya Show could never quite compare to the original), she’s still appearing in UNHhhh on YouTube along with Trixie.