Canada’s Drag Race season 1 was a fever dream. Honestly, looking back from 2026, it feels like a lifetime ago that we first saw those twelve queens walk into a studio in Hamilton, Ontario—not Toronto, despite what the "6ix" branding might’ve suggested. It was 2020. The world was upside down, everyone was stuck inside, and suddenly we had Brooke Lynn Hytes, Stacey McKenzie, and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman on our screens trying to find "Canada's Next Drag Superstar." It was clunky. It was sometimes mean. But man, was it good TV.
If you weren't there for the weekly Twitter meltdowns, you missed a era of Drag Race history that changed the franchise forever. People forget that this was the first English-language version of the show not hosted by RuPaul himself. No "Hello, hello, hello!" in the workroom. Just Brooke Lynn Hytes walking in like the professional ballet dancer she is. The stakes were huge: $100,000 CAD and a crown that felt like a legitimization of the entire Canadian drag scene.
The Cast That Carried the Franchise
The talent was undeniable. You had Priyanka, who basically became the face of the entire Canadian brand. Then there was Rita Baga, the Montreal legend who dominated the first half of the season with three challenge wins. And Scarlett BoBo? She made it all the way to the finale without ever being in the bottom. That's a flex.
But let’s talk about the "robbed" queens. Jimbo and Lemon.
Jimbo was a chaotic clown force from Victoria who gave us one of the best Snatch Games in history as Joan Rivers. When she got eliminated in the Snow Ball (Episode 9), the internet basically imploded. Lemon, the New York-based Canadian with the "zesty" personality, won two challenges but got sent home by Rita Baga in a lip sync to Alanis Morissette’s "You Oughta Know." It was brutal.
The full list of competitors was a wild mix:
- Priyanka (Winner) - The Toronto TV host turned superstar.
- Rita Baga & Scarlett BoBo (Runners-up)
- Jimbo (4th) - The fan favorite who later conquered All Stars 8.
- Lemon (5th) - The rap queen of the North.
- Ilona Verley (6th) - The first Two-Spirit contestant on the show.
- BOA (7th)
- Kiara (8th)
- Tynomi Banks (9th) - A Toronto legend who left far too early.
- Anastarzia Anaquway (10th)
- Kyne (11th) - The math queen who became a TikTok sensation.
- Juice Boxx (12th) - The first-out who deserved better.
What Really Happened with the Judges?
We have to address the elephant in the room: the judging. It was harsh. Like, really harsh. Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman took the brunt of the fan hate, which eventually led him to delete his Twitter and leave the show after just one season.
He later opened up about how producers pushed him into a "mean judge" persona. He was told to be the "sassy one," and the edit didn't do him any favors. Fans were livid over a comment he made to Ilona Verley about "full coverage foundation" on her backside during a runway. People called it body shaming; the judges claimed it was just technical advice about the "drag illusion." Either way, the backlash was toxic and, frankly, racist in many corners of the fandom.
Stacey McKenzie was the highlight for many. Her runway coaching was genuine, and her "model walk" was everything. Losing her for season 2 (due to COVID travel issues) was a huge blow to the show's soul.
Why Canada’s Drag Race Season 1 Still Matters
This season proved that the Drag Race formula could work without RuPaul. It paved the way for the "hosting by committee" style we saw in early seasons before they eventually pivoted to Brooke Lynn as the clear lead.
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It also gave us some of the most iconic lip syncs in the entire 20-year history of the brand. Priyanka vs. Kiara to Céline Dion’s "I Drove All Night"? Pure art. It has over 900 votes on fan polls as the best lip sync of the season for a reason. Priyanka’s "What's my name?" moment wasn't just a catchphrase; it was a branding masterclass that helped her win the whole thing.
The season averaged a 7.4 rating on IMDb, which is solid, though later seasons like Season 4 actually surpassed it in "perfect" episode scores. But you can't replicate the raw, chaotic energy of that first outing. They were filming in a warehouse in Hamilton during the winter—you could literally see the queens shivering in some shots.
Fact-Checking the Legacy
Post-show, these queens didn't just fade away. Jimbo went on to win All Stars 8 in the US, becoming the first international queen to take a US crown. Lemon won the first season of Canada vs. The World. Priyanka has released albums and hosted major TV specials.
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If you’re looking to dive back in or watch for the first time, here is how you should approach it:
- Watch the Snatch Game first. It’s Episode 5. It is the gold standard for how to do a celebrity impersonation challenge.
- Pay attention to the Heritage Minutes parody. It’s uniquely Canadian and hilarious if you grew up watching those "I smell burnt toast" commercials.
- Ignore the social media noise. Look past the "mean" judging and focus on the artistry. The design challenges (especially the one involving literal garbage) showed how resourceful Canadian queens are.
Canada’s Drag Race season 1 wasn't perfect. It was messy, the lighting was a bit weird, and the judges were finding their footing. But it had a heart that felt bigger than the US version at the time. It felt like a community finally getting its flowers.
Go back and watch Episode 3, "Not Sorry Aboot It." The song is a bop, the rap verses are surprisingly good (mostly), and it perfectly encapsulates the "sorry-not-sorry" attitude that defined the debut of drag in the Great White North. You’ve got to appreciate where it all started to understand where the Canadian franchise is today.
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Actionable Next Steps:
Check out Priyanka’s music video for "Come Through" (featuring Lemon) to see the peak of their post-show chemistry. If you're a completionist, find the Anniversary Extravaganza special on Crave; it bridges the gap between the chaos of the first season and the more polished vibe of the second.