Marilag Odtohan

Thailand’s Gawdland wins ‘UK vs the World’ Season 3, ends UK’s winning streak

In a glittering finale, Thai drag artist Gawdland was crowned the winner of "RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs the World" Season 3, halting the UK’s bid for a historic three-peat in the global spin-off competition.

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

In a glittering finale, Thai drag artist Gawdland was crowned the winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs the World” season 3, halting the UK’s bid for a historic three-peat in the global spin-off competition.Gawdland becomes the first Asian queen to claim the crown in the UK-based “vs the World” arena. Their triumph came at the expense of UK finalist Kate Butch, whose strong showing in the season had positioned her as their nation’s best hope to extend its dominance.Besting a field of nine queens, Gawdland aced every single challenge, accompanying their journey with two gold RuPeter badges — eventually making themselves a clear contender for the crown.Before the final showdown, the eliminated queens joined the finalists and Michelle Visage for a reunion where they revisited some of the season’s most talked-about moments — from the supposed alliance among the UK queens to unfinished businesses and competitive tensions.Mexico’s Serena Morena was hailed as Miss Congeniality during the segment.In keeping with the format of recent seasons, the Top 4 queens battled it out in a lip-sync smackdown for the crown.Mariah and Fontana ended their campaign after succumbing to Gawdland and Kate, respectively.Kate’s presence in the final duel marked the UK’s third consecutive appearance in the Top 2 lip-sync for the crown. But this time, the crown slipped beyond British grasp, as Gawdland sealed the win — ushering in a new era of international ascent.Before taking their victory lap across the stage, Gawdland delivered a message for the entire world: “The world is your oyster — be crazy.”Their ascent as the new “Queen of the Mothertucking World” carries significance far beyond the competition. Gawdland’s victory is widely seen as a breakthrough moment for international queens, particularly from the non-English franchises, who navigate cultural differences and language barriers while competing on a global stage.Gawdland first introduced themselves on “Drag Race Thailand” season 3, where they finished as a finalist. Entering “UK vs the World,” Gawdland brought with them a distinct brand of Thai artistry paired with a playful, quirky energy that translated seamlessly into their performances.In an Instagram post, Gawdland reflected on the significance of their win, writing that the victory “does not belong to me alone,” but represents “a new page in the story of Asian drag excellence.”<iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWAO8huEwao/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1081384.8000000715%2C%22ls%22%3A1081220.6000000238%2C%22le%22%3A1081220.6000000238%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Gawdland joins the ever-growing roster of Asian queens who are boldly reshaping what global drag looks like. And one thing is certain — Asian queens will always leave a mark, not just in drag, but in the world.

In a glittering finale, Thai drag artist Gawdland was crowned the winner of "RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs the World" Season 3, halting the UK’s bid for a historic three-peat in the global spin-off competition.