Two of the queens on series six of the BBC reality show are Welsh and celebrated their roots with their outfits and Welsh viewers loved the representation
The sixth series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK kicked off last night, and for the first time ever, two Welsh queens are featuring on the same series. Actavia, who is originally from Gwynedd in North Wales, and Cardiff queen Marmalade, will be competing against drag queens from all over the UK to try and impress RuPaul and take home the crown.
In the first episode, the queens were asked to bring outfits for the runway that showed they were the “queen of your home town”, and Actavia and Marmalade both proudly showed off their Welsh roots to the delight of many fans. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter
Bala’s Actavia was up first representing Wales and she took to the stage in a deconstructed Welsh flag outfit, complete with a red scale bodysuit with a tail and green and white cape. Her face was also painted red and she breathed out smoke as she stepped onto the runway
After seeing Actavia’s Y Ddraig Goch-inspired look, one viewer posted to X “CYMRU AM BYTH OH MY GOD.” Speaking on the show about her look, Actavia explained why her representing North Wales was so important. She said: “I don’t think there’s been queer representation from my home town, I’m sure there’s a little gay in the village sat in the pub watching me now going ‘yes mama!'”
As Actavia was walking the runway, head judge RuPaul joked: “this ain’t RuPaul’s dragon race”. Her look clearly impressed however. Alan Carr commented: “You’ve taken the best bits of the Welsh and the dragon. You haven’t just worn the flag – you’ve meshed the two and they work.” Michelle Visage added: “I just think you’re a little ball of Welsh dragon energy.”
Marmalade followed, representing Pontyclun. Her outfit was inspired by the Mari Lwyd, a Welsh folk custom that involved carrying a horse’s skull from house to house. She took to the runway with a horse’s skull with a long train on her head and an outfit draped with red and green ribbon.
Talking about her outfit, Marmalade said:”It’s a bit creepy, but a bit beautiful. I’m sure RuPaul is sat there now going ‘what the **** is going on?'”
Actavia is also the first Welsh-speaking queen to appear on the show and used her entrance line as an opportunity to tease the other queens in Welsh. Yn Gymraeg, said: “these slags don’t know what’s coming for them… but they will.” One of the other contestants responded: “What did she just call me?”
One viewer was thrilled to see this, saying: “Seeing the Welsh language being used on #RPDRUK is amazing. Diolch Actavia.” Another shared on X: “North Welsh representation? WE LOOOOVE TO SEE IT”
Previously Welsh queens have found success on the show. Of course there was series one winner, The Vivienne, originally from Colwyn Bay, and Tayce, from Newport, was a finalist in the second series of the UK version of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and has since gone on to model for huge fashion brands such as Jean Paul Gaultier. Cardiff queen Victoria Scone also became the first cisgender female contestant on any Drag Race franchise in 2021, before reaching the finale of the Canada vs the World season in 2022.
Welsh fans are clearly thrilled that there are finally more Welsh queens appearing on the show, and are hoping they will go well into the competition. One viewer posted on X: “Team Actavia and Marmalade”, followed by a Welsh flag.