Marilag Odtohan

Minty Fresh opens ‘UK vs the World’ with solid, safe performance, Fontana takes first RuBadge

As the season kicked off, Minty reintroduced herself to the world with confidence and polish, ultimately landing among the queens declared safe after the maxi challenge and runway presentation.

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

The premiere of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs the World” season 3 wastes no time reminding viewers what makes the franchise’s international spin-off so compelling — and ruthless. With a fresh lineup of queens, the opening episode functions as both a gentle welcome and a clear statement: only the boldest will thrive on this global stage.Minty Fresh is representing the Philippines, marking her return to the spotlight as the second “Drag Race Philippines” alum to enter the “UK vs the World” arena. As the season kicked off, Minty reintroduced herself to the world with confidence and polish, ultimately landing among the queens declared safe after the maxi challenge and runway presentation.For the premiere, the competing queens were tasked with performing original songs at the “RuRuVision Song Contest,” while on the runway, they served looks under the theme &quot;For Queen and Country” — blending national pride with drag spectacle. Joining RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Graham Norton on the judging panel was Eurovision icon Loreen.Ahead of the performances, the queens gathered in the werk room to prepare for the challenge, navigating new dynamics, sized one another up, and began forming early alliances.A standout moment came when three queens of Filipino descent — Minty, Melinda Verga, and Zahirah Zapanta — connected in the werk room. Joking about their shared roots, they quipped that the competition should really be “UK vs the Philippines vs the World.”On the main stage, Minty performed her original track “Planet Fresh,” incorporating a lightsaber into her routine — a nod to her winning laser performance from DRPH season 1 talent show. On the runway, she showcased a look inspired by the traditional Filipiniana silhouette, reimagined through the lens of Filipino thrift culture or “ukay-ukay.” The design featured almost a patchwork of varied fabrics stitched together.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769577149153624382170_18085167215269331_4680348184912131656_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Minty Fresh&#x27;s &quot;For Queen and Country&quot; runway look during the premiere of &quot;RuPaul&#x27;s Drag Race: UK vs the World&quot; season 3. Photo courtesy of WOW Presents Plus/Facebook</div>While many queens delivered strong performances, it was Fontana and Gawdland who emerged as the clear leaders of the pack, earning a coveted top two placement in the premiere.Fontana energized the stage with her song &quot;What You Waiting For?” pairing high-octane choreography with relentless hair-whipping. Gawdland followed with “Firecracker,” a performance the judges described as pure energy — heightened by her use of a sparkler gun and a jaw-dropping moment in which she literally ate the fire out of it.Also receiving positive critiques from the judges were Sminty Drop, The Only Naomy, and Kate Butch.During Untucked, the safe queens — Zahira, Melinda, Minty, Mariah Balenciaga, and Serena Morena — reflected on their performances. Both Zahira and Minty expressed feelings that they could have placed in the top, while some questioned Naomy’s high placement — to which Naomy fired back, &quot;but so sad for you that wasn&#x27;t the case.&quot;Back on the man stage, Fontana and Gawdland faced off in a lip-sync for the first RuBadge of the season, performing Loreen’s iconic hit “Tattoo.” Both queens matched the emotional intensity and soaring drama of the song. In the end, Fontana claimed the win.The moment proved especially surreal for Fontana. During her original season, Loreen also appeared as a guest judge on an episode where Fontana landed in the bottom. That episode, she lip-synced to a Loreen track, won the battle, and saved herself from elimination.The premiere concluded as a non-elimination episode, giving all queens a chance to settle into the competition. However, the safety net will not last long as the eliminations will be back on the table starting next week.With its global talent, and early hints of strategy and rivalry, “RPDR: UK vs the World” season 3 premiere sets a deliberate and confident tone. The message is clear: this season is not just about representing where you are from — it is about proving you have what it takes to headline on the world stage.

As the season kicked off, Minty reintroduced herself to the world with confidence and polish, ultimately landing among the queens declared safe after the maxi challenge and runway presentation.