The first season of Drag Race Italia premiered on November 18, 2021.[1] The cast was announced on October 28, 2021.[2] The winner of the first season of Drag Race Italia was Elecktra Bionic, becoming the first ever winner in the Drag Race franchise without any maxi-challenge wins, and the first contestant to never lip sync or win a maxi-challenge in the same season, with Farida Kant and Le Riche as runners-up.[3]
Casting occurred in early 2021 with production starting in summer 2021.[4] On June 30, 2021, it was announced that the judges panel will include Italian drag performer Priscilla, actress Chiara Francini and television personality Tommaso Zorzi.[5][6]
^Enorma Jean was disqualified from the competition after losing a lip sync against Ava Hangar. Both queens were declared up for elimination due to swearing and insulting production backstage.
Contestant progress
Legend:
Elecktra Bionic won Drag Race Italia season 1.
Farida Kant and Le Riche were the runners-up.
Luquisha Lubamba was voted Miss Congeniality (Miss C).
WIN indicates that the contestant won the challenge.
SAFE indicates that the contestant was declared safe by the judges.
BTM (Bottom) indicates that the contestant was up for elimination.
ELIM (Eliminated) indicates that the contestant was eliminated.
DISQ (Disqualified) Enorma Jean was disqualified for breaking the rules.
Guest indicates that the contestant returned as a guest.
Progress of contestants including placements in each episode
Eight drag queens enter the workroom. For the first mini-challenge, the queens do a photoshoot on a Venetian Gondola. Elecktra Bionic wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create an Italian Style look out of materials inside old suitcases.
Ava Hangar - Nonna Silvana (Grandma Silvana)
Divinity - Nonna Anna (Grandma Anna)
Elecktra Bionic - Nonna Sofia (Grandma Sofia)
Enorma Jean - Nonna Claudia (Grandma Claudia)
Farida Kand - Nonna Gina (Grandma Gina)
Ivana Vamp - Nonna Virna (Grandma Virna)
Le Riche - Nonna Monica (Grandma Monica)
Luquisha Lubamba - Nonna Alida (Grandma Alida)
On the runway, category is Italian Style. Ivana Vamp and Farida Kant receive positive critiques, with Farida Kant winning the challenge. Divinity and Luquisha Lubamba receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Occhi di gatto" by Cristina D'Avena. They are both declared the winners of the lip-sync and no one goes home.
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens compete in a limbo extravaganza. Ava Hangar wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create their own infomercial about a specific item.
Ava Hangar - Handset
Divinity - Magic Wand
Elecktra Bionic - Pills
Enorma Jean - Nothing
Farida Kant - Canvas, brush and paint
Ivana Vamp - Decanter
Le Riche - App
Luquisha Lubamba - Megaphone
On the runway, category is Grandi Dive (Great Divas). Enorma Jean wins the challenge. Ivana Vamp, Le Riche and Luquisha Lubamba receive negative critiques, with Luquisha Lubamba being safe. Ivana Vamp and Le Riche lip-sync to "Comprami" by Viola Valentino. Le Riche wins the lip-sync and Ivana Vamp is the first queen to sashay away.
Farewell Message:"Ricordatevi sempre che siamo le prime in Tutto! Ps. Porca mattina! Vs Ivana Vamp" ("Always remember that we're the first ones in Everything! Ps. Good Fucking Morning! Vs Ivana Vamp")
3
3
"Night of a Thousand Raffaella Carràs" "Raffaella, una di noi"
3 December 2021 (2021-12-03)
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens have to complete a puzzle of an iconic Raffaella Carrà look. Elecktra Bionic wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens perform in Raffaella Carrà: The Rusical.
On the runway, category is Che Carrà Se? (Which Carrà Are You?). Divinity and Luquisha Lubamba receive positive critiques, with Divinity winning the challenge. Ava Hangar and Le Riche receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Fiesta (Spanish Version)" by Raffaella Carrà. They are both declared the winners of the lip-sync and no one goes home.
Mini-Challenge: Complete a puzzle of an iconic Raffaella Carrà look
Mini-Challenge Winner: Elecktra Bionic
Mini-Challenge Prize: A jewelry piece by Aster Lab
Main Challenge: Raffaella Carrà: The Rusical
Runway Theme: Che Carrà Se? (Which Carrà Are You?)
Challenge Winner: Divinity
Bottom Two: Ava Hangar and Le Riche
Lip-Sync Song: "Fiesta (Spanish Version)" by Raffaella Carrà
Eliminated: None
4
4
"Snatch Game & Fab 80's" "Snatch Game! Tutto può succedere"
7 December 2021 (2021-12-07)
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens have to apply drag makeup in the dark. Elecktra Bionic wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens play the Snatch Game. The cast consisted of:
Before the runway starts, Ava Hangar and Enorma Jean are called to the main stage. On the main stage, Priscilla tells them that she is extremely disappointed in their actions last week in untucked. She tells them that they will be lip-syncing as a punishment. The queen who doesn't win the lip-sync, will be immediately removed from the competition. They lip-sync to "Champion" by RuPaul. Ava Hangar wins the lip-sync and remains in the competition. Enorma Jean is then disqualified from the competition. The remaining queens then walk the runway with category being I Favolosi Anni 80 (The Fabulous 80’s). Le Riche and Luquisha Lubamba receive positive critiques, with Le Riche winning the challenge. Ava Hangar and Divinity receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Kobra [it]" by Donatella Rettore. Ava Hangar wins the lip-sync and Divinity sashays away.
Farewell Message:"La drag è un'artista con le palle. Le mie non sono grandi, sono ENORMI" ("A drag queen is an artist who has balls. Mine are not big, they are ENORMOUS")
Runway Theme: I Favolosi Anni 80 (The Fabulous 80’s)
Challenge Winner: Le Riche
Challenge Prize: A selection of products from Mac Cosmetics worth €750
Farewell Message:"Colorate il mondo con la vostra arte xoxo Divinity" ("Color the world with your art xoxo Divinity")
5
5
"Long Live the Drag Bride" "Il giorno più bello"
17 December 2021 (2021-12-17)
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens have to find words with the letters given, written on the pants of the pit crew. Ava Hangar wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens makeover one of their loved ones as their best woman, with the queens being the bride.
On the runway, category is Viva La Sposa! (Long Live the Bride!) Elecktra Bionic, Farida Kant and Le Riche receive positive critiques, with Farida Kant winning the challenge. Ava Hangar and Luquisha Lubamba receive negative critiques and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Cicale [it]" by Heather Parisi. Luquisha Lubamba wins the lip-sync and Ava Hangar sashays away.
Guest Judges: Coco Rebecca Edogamhe and Enzo Miccio
Mini-Challenge: Find words with the letters given, written on the pants of the pit crew
Mini-Challenge Winner: Ava Hangar
Mini-Challenge Prize: A jewelry piece by Aster Lab
Main Challenge: Makeover one of your loved ones as your best woman and yourself as the bride
Runway Theme: Viva La Sposa! (Long Live the Bride!)
Farewell Message:"Continuate a fare la storia, fuori ci aspetta un mondo bellissimo. Love Ava" "(Keep making history, a beautiful world awaits us outside. Love Ava)"
6
6
"Grand Finale" "Gran Finale"
23 December 2021 (2021-12-23)
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens read each other to filth. Elecktra Bionic wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens write, record and perform their own verses to RuPaul's song "A Little Bit of Love".
On the runway, the eliminated queens and the finalists present their Eleganza Extravaganza. It is revealed that Luquisha Lubamba is this season's Miss Congeniality. Luquisha Lubamba is then subsequently eliminated, leaving Elecktra Bionic, Farida Kant and Le Riche as the final three. They lip-sync to "Non sono una signora" by Loredana Bertè. It is announced that Elecktra Bionic is the winner, leaving Farida Kant and Le Riche as the runners-up.
