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The drag performers aren’t the only ones stealing the spotlight on this Emmy-award winning reality competition series. Each week, RuPaul is joined on the judge’s panel by a drag-loving celebrity. From Miley Cyrus to Nicki Minaj, here are a few fan-favorite celebrity guest judges on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Host Miley Cyrus performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards
Host Miley Cyrus performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards | John Shearer/Getty Images

Miley Cyrus

The premiere of season 11 brought a few surprises. One of the biggest surprises was Miley Cyrus as the celebrity guest judge. Before she sat with Mama Ru, Miley Cyrus went backstage with the crew of season 11, helping the queens with their microphones in between outfit changes. 

It wasn’t until Silky Nutmeg Ganache got a closer look that she released it was the “Malibu” singer. Miley Cyrus later went backstage during RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked to spend more time with the queens. 

As an honorary member of the Haus of Edwards, Miley Cyrus invited a few of her sisters for her 2015 VMA performance. She’s even posted videos of herself dancing to one of Shangela’s songs on Instagram. 

Lady Gaga

This celebrity guest judge played the biggest prank on the contestants from season 9. She was the last one to walk into the “Werk Room’ as a contestant named Ronnie. Although she initially appeared as “New Jersey’s best Lady Gaga impersonator,” it didn’t take the queens long to figure out it was Mother Monster herself.

With a full clipboard full of notes and killer black glasses, Lady Gaga entered RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, ready to discuss her notes with the contestants. She also talked about her time as a performer and offered wisdom for the drag queens. 

“She attributes a lot of her [joie de vivre] to her life with [drag] queens in clubs,” RuPaul said during an interview with ABC News. “So, she tweeted me maybe three years ago and said, ‘Ru, why can’t I be on the show?’ And I said, ‘Are you kidding??’

Nicki Minaj

The most recently released season of Drag Race included Nicki Minaj as the premiere episode’s judge. After lip-syncing along to “Starships,” and even writing her own verse for the maxi challenge’s song, Nicki Minaj joined the queens backstage, sharing tips and pearls of wisdom. She is the queen of rap, after all. 

A few iconic judges already made their appearance on season 12 already. Throughout this most recent season, celebrity appearances include Whoopi Goldberg, Chaka Khan, Robyn, Leslie Jones, Normani, Jeff Goldblum, Daisy Ridley, Thandie Newton, Olivia Munn, Rachel Bloom, Daniel Franzese, Jonathan Bennett, and Winnie Harlow. 

“Our producers have come up with twisted, outrageous challenges that raise the bar for all competition of reality,” RuPaul said during an interview for Entertainment Weekly. “Our celebrity guest judges are truly legendary. And this cast of queens is, dare I say, the most talented we’ve ever had.”

New episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race premiere on VH1 on a weekly basis. In the meantime, fans can stream episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked on the WOW Presents YouTube channel.

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