MIPCOM: US production company World of Wonder (WOW) has greenlit Drag Race South Africa, marking the first African edition of the popular Drag Race franchise.
The show is set to begin casting in South Africa in 2025, with episodes airing worldwide on WOW’s subscription-based streaming service, WOW Presents Plus (WOWPP), the company announced on the first day of Mipcom here in Cannes.
Drag Race South Africa will introduce a fresh line-up of queens, showcasing their talents, cultural influences and personal styles as they compete for the crown. The expansion of the format into Africa follows BeBe Zahara Benet’s win on the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, where she highlighted her African heritage.
Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, co-founders of WOW, highlighted the significance of this new chapter in the franchise’s global journey: “We have seen a host of gorgeous, talented queens hailing from across Africa grace the runway over the years, so now it’s time for a unique version from South Africa that includes the incredible talent the continent has to offer. It’s no secret that our mission is to see Drag Race in every continent and country across the world, so this is a huge step in making that a reality.”
This development further extends WOWPP’s position as the hub for all international versions of the Drag Race franchise, as well as home to WOW originals and films. WOWPP operates in 190 territories and has seen substantial growth in 2024, with a 31% increase in watch time and a 38% jump in subscribers year on year, according to WOW. The service has also introduced a linear feed, offering continuous streaming of series such as Drag Race.
Drag Race South Africa is the third global original Drag Race series to be commissioned by WOWPP, following Drag Race Mexico, which has been renewed for a third season. The format began with RuPaul’s Drag Race on Logo TV in the US, subsequently moving to VH1 and MTV.
The format has since been adapted locally in 15 territories, with the British, Australian and New Zealand versions hosted by RuPaul. Other spin-offs include RuPaul’s Drag U, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars.