In case the periodic table pun didn’t immediately lure you in, we’re here to talk all about a fabulous drag competition that you can enjoy without leaving your bedroom.
That’s right, The Gold Rush is back for Season 3 and it’s time to spill the Tea!
The unscripted online series follows a cast of diverse drag performers as they create, rehearse and perfect their acts in the hopes of winning a grand prize of $3000, a Mac make-up bundle, goodies from JML Direct, LuvJus and Dragr.
Filmed live at London’s The Glory, series 3 is an eight-part online series (yep, it’s comfortable for all you size queens) and combines the best elements of reality TV along with a good old dash of docuseries. This time around they’re bringing you an exciting new format starring Taylor Trash (former Creative Director of Loverboy Magazine) and weekly special guest judges from the world of entertainment including; Victoria Scone (Drag Race UK and Canada Vs The World), JMAC (The Glow Up and Gurl Podcast) and drag legends of the international scene as they help Taylor hunt for the “next nugget of talent”.
Oh and did we mentioned the whole thing is directed and executively produced by Sammy Harkin (as featured in Hunger Magazine)? How camp!
The Main Judges
In the search to find the next a true winner in this gold mine (get it?) of talent, the incredible Taylor Trash is joined by fellow regular main host and fabulous legend Crayola. Can their combined experience and advice forge the ultimate drag icon?
Oh Honey, we have guests!
Judging is a tough job and honestly, getting a second or third opinion really does help make the best choices. This year there’s a whole bunch of wonderful guests joining in with the fun, many of which you might have seen on the tele from Drag Race to The Glow Up (or maybe even seen on Gurl Global before).
So how does this work?
Like most drag competitions, The Gold Rush uses progressive elimination to reduce the number of drag performers in the competition from the initial field of 12 contestants down to a final 4.
Each episode follows a format consisting of:
• Main challenge
• Judgement
• Showdown
• Final judgement
Competitors only have one week to create their look and their act for the following show.
Featuring interviews with the key players whose stories are dramatised on the show, The Gold Rush gives viewers an inside look into the world of drag, from the creation of the performers’ looks to the rehearsals and behind-the-scenes drama that goes into putting on a successful drag performance.
Every week we have a new and exciting panel of guest judges who, alongside Crayola, our head judge, score the competitors against the following criteria, each with a maximum of 25 points:
• Look
• Creativity
• Stage Presence
• Technicality
Once we have established who our bottom two are, they are invited on stage on last time to perform for the judges. This act is a performance that they have prepared outside of the challenge constraints – an opportunity to show us who they truly are and why they should stay.
The judges name the performer they would like to save one by one and usually this decides the fate of one of the bottom two. In the event that there is a tie breaker, Crayola, the shows head judge, will make the final decision.
The final 4 contestants will compete in a challenge that consists of a group number and two performances – with the competitor with the lowest amount of votes at the midway point being eliminated before performing their second act.
Soooooo, who’s competing?
Oh you want to meet the contestants do you? Okay go on then!
Aphrodite (He/She/They)
19 year old Aphrodite hails from Tottenham in North East London “the home of riots and crappy football clubs”, she says. She hopes to be the first Cypriot drag queen on television and takes inspiration for her drag from all of the glamorous women in history and describes her style as “very Grecian/Cypriot goddess meets the 90’s… very I just dived head first into my aunties trashy jewellery box”. “I will go on stage looking 10 out of 10 but then swallow a donner kebab in 15 seconds and then flash my tits”.
Interesting fact: Aphrodite can sing in 6 languages: English, French, Italian, Greek, Arabic and Hebrew.
Bonk (She/her/they/them)
Unpredictable and chaotic energy abound with 23 year old Bonk (aka Gail Bait) from West London. No stranger to standing up for themself, Bonk prides themselves on making a big impact on audiences and not blending in to the crowd. “I’m wearing blonde hair and I’m pretty. I’m not sorry about it! I am who I am!” Bonk believes they are going to win The Gold Rush because “I am what the drag scene needs!” recognising that not all drag has to be ‘the same old same old’.
Bonk’s mantra: “Some of these contestants are artificial. But I am Art. Official.”
Brent Would (He/him/they/them)
Brent Would (W-O-U-L-D, because he ‘would literally, anything… especially you’) comes all the way from glittering Basvegas in Essex (Basildon) and at 34 years old, is no stranger to the telly box with spots on E4 and BBC Three. As Essex’s premier metrosexual man about town Brent was once described in The Sunday Times as “Genuinely Hilarious”.
Something that is genuine is the misconception that Brent can only do comedy. Having once lived in character for two and a half weeks Brent certainly has a serious side.
On his performance style: “My performance style is improv meets stand-up meets singing meets high class, high concept art. I AM ART!!”
Heather Duster (She/they)
She will always sweep the stage but will she clean up this season? All the way from the sunny seaside town of Hastings is 25 year old Heather Duster. Heather’s drag character is self described as ‘the most gorgeous cleaning lady who ever lived.’ The pun-loving drag performer has a strong brand identity thanks to her obsession with the driving force behind her creativity – cleaning.
On her performance style: “My performance style is high energy, running around stage with a mop and a bucket and a cleaning pun. I want to share the fabulousness with everyone, because everybody wants to be a star!”
Indy Nile (He/him)
Even with a binder on, this 20 year old comedian’s still camp as tits! Will the self aware comedic stylings of this suave ladies man put his diminutive pocket rocket stature head and shoulders above his competition? Growing up in Manchester, Indy took inspiration from 80’s gameshow hosts and the traditional working mens club comedians he grew up around. Indy is determined to be the first ever trans man and Drag King to win The Gold Rush.
On his performance style: “My performance style is based on the traditional working mens club comedian but takes away all the queerphobia and racism and turns it into queer joy.”
Kyran Thrax (He/she/they)
Professionally trained clown, Kyran Thrax from Preston describes themselves as ‘weird’ and says that they present as one and the same in and out of drag “except in drag I’m sexier.” Kyran has appeared as an extra in the movie ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’, however has never watched it to see if they can see themselves at any point in the film. Kyran describes their performance style as “weird, alien, funny and stupid.” With a famous drag mother in RuPaul’s Drag Race star Charity Kase, will Kyran live up to their families reputation of being a star?
Why I’ll win the gold rush?: “I am going to win The Gold Rush because… who else is going to?”
Lori Mae (She/her)
26 year old Lori Mae (fka The Crossy) wants you to know that she is not a drag queen – her femininity is not performative. You will not catch this trans queen in fakes nails or lashes, honey! Her style inspirations are the legendary women of country who have come before her – Dolly Parton and Kacey Musgraves to name but two. Lori describes herself as a small town girl with big, big dreams. “I’m a big fish in a small pond… at least that’s what my ex husband used to call me”, she jokes.
SHAG MARRY KILL SEASON 3:
Shag -Bonk
Marry – Indy Nile
Kill – Quiches Lorraine
Mocha (They/she/he)
When people first meet Essex born Mocha she says they usually are a little intimidated – putting it down to her eye makeup – but we think might be because of her campy, quirky, comedy style. “My edge in the competition is a right angled edge. I think that’s a really good edge as it’s not too obtuse…” At just 19 Mocha is one of the youngest competitors in the season and performed in drag for the first time in the heats for Gold Rush Season 2!
Worst thing to happen in drag?:
“One time during a performance my shoe flew off, hit a fence and bounces back right into my eye, leaves a huge bump for days. I got a reel of it and it went viral!”
Nina Gaston (They/them)
All the way from Piedras Negras, Mexico swings into town this 29 year old non binary powerhouse. Nina moved to London to pursue their dreams of being a superstar and entered The Gold Rush to make a name for themself as a serious performer but has found themselves as more of a comedian with an absurdist style. She loves to crack jokes, to sing and says common misconceptions of her are that she “is just pretty and has no talents”.
How you got your drag name?: “I got my drag name by giving it to myself”, she says dryly. “I chose ‘Nina’ because it sounds like Niña in Spanish which means ‘girl’ – and Gaston because it’s such a great name, isn’t it?”
Pasty [she/her]
She’s as camp as a row of tents and comes all the way from Cornwall – but is she still hot or cold on arrival? Named after the traditional delicacy from her hometown, Pasty cites her drag style as cartoony and over the top with big hair and accessories helping to bring her fantasy to life. Relatively new to drag, Pasty isn’t scared to take risks and wants to prove to everyone that she is anything but half baked. Although her acts are ‘stupid’ she plans all her comedic mishaps to a T.
Why will you win the gold rush?: “My edge in the competition is I am a new performer. I have no boundaries and nothing is holding me back, losing is not an option!”
Plattapussy (She/they)
Plattapussy is the 21 year old ingenue all the way from London. She describes herself like “a Platypus because no one ever knows what they are and they look f*cking random and that is 100% me!” The former school playground graffiti artist is relatively new to drag but doesn’t believe that that will hold her back in the competition. “I started drag to do The Gold Rush. I am a clean slate and I will mold myself to fit every single challenge and be successful!”
Favourite quote?; “Work hard, expect nothing and celebrate and Plattapussy is definitely a celebration.”
Quiches Lorraine (She/they)
This 27 year old Lorraine Kelly obsessive all the way from Surrey is competing in The Gold Rush season three to prove that she’s still got it! With a quirky wit and off beat performance style, Quiches Lorraine leaves audiences confused yet hungry for more. As it stands, Quiches isn’t the only flavourable fancy in The Gold Rush this season. Will she have what it takes to not only win in the Battle of the Savoury Snacks but will she prove that she has the upper crust in the competition?
In a circus she would be: “If Quiches was in a circus she would be a mind-reader because it doesn’t involve too much physical activity, a lot of holding your mind and brain…”
If you want more from the main judges and cast of amazing artists, why not head over to the YouTube channel now and watch the full “Meet the Cast” playlist here?
I’m sold, how do I watch?
Head straight over to the Trash TV YouTube channel to subscribe now and enjoy this marvellous mash-up of talented drag performers weekly, starting March 12th!
P.S. It’s worth following them on Instagram and Twitter too
