How a COVID-19 outbreak forced a major reality TV production to relocate
In short: Originally intended for Sydney, the production of Drag Race Down Under faced a sudden shift in plans. Because of Australian travel bans and a recent COVID-19 surge, filming relocated to Auckland, New Zealand, causing controversy regarding missed financial gains for the local Australian market.
The trajectory of Drag Race Down Under has been marked by significant shifts in both location and leadership. While the series was initially intended to film in Sydney, Australia, a COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent travel restrictions forced production to move to Auckland, New Zealand. This relocation became a point of political contention in February 2021, when New South Wales politician Rose Jackson described the missed economic opportunities for the local economy as "sickening – and not in a good way."
The series' identity also underwent a major transformation. When it premiered on 1 May 2021, it was known as RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, with RuPaul serving as host, mentor, and head judge alongside Michelle Visage and Rhys Nicholson. The first season's winner was the Auckland performer Kita Mean, who competed for a prize including A$30,000 and a one-year supply of Revolution Beauty Cosmetics.
A pivotal shift occurred on 11 March 2024, when World of Wonder announced that RuPaul would step down as host and judge to remain only as an executive producer. This led to a rebranding of the franchise. Starting with season four, which debuted on 1 November 2024, the show became Drag Race Down Under, featuring Michelle Visage as the primary judge and host. This change follows a pattern seen in other international iterations of the franchise where the original host is no longer the primary figurehead.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Drag Race Down Under
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