Gay Entertainment Report: RuPaul's wild Drag Race returns

Almost a year to the day, RuPaul returns in search for the next superstar drag queen.

RuPaul begins the second season of the reality hit RuPaul's Drag Race with: "Gentlemen, start your engines. And may the best woman win!"

Last year, RuPaul, America's first drag queen superstar, starred as judge and jury to 9 men competing to fill her high heels. This year, she's joined by a bevy of celebrity judges and guests, including Kathy Griffin, Cloris Leachman, Debbie Reynolds, and punk rocker Henry Rollins.

Also, three more men are in the catfight, bringing the number of contestants up to 12.

The drag queens will face a barrage of fashion-related and talent challenges in their quest to win the coveted title of "America's Next Drag Superstar," and a prize package that includes a photo spread in Paper Magazine and a one year public relations contract with Project Publicity, a leading LGBT PR firm.

While the contest gives viewers an insider's look at RuPaul's outrageous world of drag, producers say the show will also tackle some of the real life prejudices female impersonators face.

And what talents will RuPaul be checker flagging? "To be a winner on this show the contestants need to be a fashion designer, an American idol, and a top model all rolled up into one," RuPaul said. "And they definitely have to be smarter than a fifth grader."

RuPaul's Drag Race returns to all-gay cabler Logo on February 1 at 9PM ET/PT.

Gay Entertainment Report is a feature of On Top Magazine and can be reached at ontopmag@ontopmag.com.