Drag Race Philippines

You may call her Jiggly, Drag Race judge. WORDS BY SAM DAMSHENAS SPECIAL THANKS TO JASON WOODLEY AND MATT LAHBIBI AT PREMIER. 17th August 2022.

I want it to open doors for them the way it opened doors for me. The work ethic of the Filipino drag queens is different because a lot of the bars here, the girls go in at four o’clock in the afternoon for rehearsals, do a run-through of the show at nine o’clock and then put the show on at midnight. Luckily, I don’t have to do that anymore! That’s what I want to happen, and I feel like it will because these queens are so amazing. I would like it to go mainstream the way me, Manila Luzon and Ongina and all the other girls have had to go mainstream, like me being on Pose. Michelle said it was going to be hard, but she didn’t say it was going to be that difficult. I just felt that I didn’t get to show much of my Filipino side on the season because I was only on for two episodes! I couldn’t be a shitty judge and be like, ‘Your dress looks weird.’ I couldn’t do that to any of them because I know how hard it is in the pandemic. When I give out my critiques, it’s never malicious and it’s more, ‘Okay, here’s how we can make this better.’ It’s never, ‘Your drag is shit!’ That was never the way I judge. I didn’t get to rock what I really wanted to wear so when it came to promo, I wanted to have a little bit of the Philippines with me. Filipino comedian and impersonator KaladKaren joins Jiggly on the panel, marking the first series of Drag Race to feature two openly trans women as regular judges. “I think that’s what started it, and then I got a phone call, ‘Hey, would you be interested?’ If ever!

Drag Race Philippines judge Jiggly Caliente discusses her new role, a cheating contestant, and breaking every Asian stereotype on TV.

For her to figure out her way into the world of drag, and just who she was in the movie, it just felt like: "I saw myself." The talents of Janet Mock and [Steven Canals](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a36228918/pose-season-3-ending-cancellation-steven-canals/) in the director and writing booth – to see them work is amazing. I’ve always felt like my representation – and me stepping into anything that I’ve done – was vivid in myself. It was too obvious that that dress was off the rack. [Pose](https://www.digitalspy.com/pose/) was like watching people do a masterclass right in front of you. I think that separated me from all the other judges that have been on Drag Race, because I know what it’s like to be in that position... So for me, to be able to speak my native language on a Drag Race franchise, just felt empowering. But I feel like training for drag in the Philippines is different... I was born in the Philippines, and I didn’t move to the US until I was about 10 years old. I had to be really careful, because I know what it’s like. And now, 10 years after she first made her Werk Room debut, Jiggly is back on our screens as a judge on [Drag Race Philippines](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a37319320/rupauls-drag-race-philippines-spinoff/). Each instalment showcases talent working on both sides of the camera, including queer creatives and allies to the community.

Drag Race Philippines' judge Jiggly Caliente can "finally f**king retire" because of the talented queens on the Filipino spin-off.

“I feel like after this me, Manila and Ongina can finally f**king retire – that’s what we feel like, that’s what I feel like we should do!” she joked. We’re still going to Jollibee together, and we both collect our checks. I can focus on finding a husband and calling it a day!” “When we’re finally getting recognition on Drag Race, I feel like it’s rightfully so.” At the end of the day, me and Manila will still be friends. “We’ve always been a part of this community. So we win.” Jiggly firmly believes there’s room for both show, saying that the “vast richness” and “variety of drag in the Philippines is so big” that it’s amazing to see the community be “represented fully”. She also ruled out cis women, claiming drag “They can take all of it. In fact, Jiggly thinks the talent on offer is so top-tier that the queen surpass herself, as well as fellow Drag Race Filipino queens Manila Luzon and Ongina, by “leaps and bounds”. As well as its historic trans representation, Jiggly said Drag Race Philippines stands apart as the “prettiest franchise”

Drag Race Philippines does what the franchise has needed to do for a long time: provide a spotlight for and give respect to the iconic Jiggly Caliente.

This is why her return as a judge on Drag Race Philippines finally puts respect on the name Jiggly Caliente. Her Apocalyptic Couture looked more like a baked potato exploded in a Party City and it went down as one of the most infamously iffy looks in Drag Race herstory. Jiggly almost went home in the first episode, but she fought her way back from the brink with a killer lip sync. The years are being more than kind to the queens, and [Drag Race Philippines](https://decider.com/show/drag-race-philippines/) is the latest example of this. Jiggly became a legend in her first episode — for the wrong reason. She is back on TV where she belongs, and she’s serving it as a regular judge on Drag Race Philippines.

Mabuhay! Today, the inaugural season of Drag Race Philippines premieres with two episodes exclusively on WOW Presents Plus in the US.

An official after-show, Drag Race Philippines: Untucked, will premiere with two episodes on August 19, 2022 with a new episode dropping every Friday. Two episodes will premiere on August 19 with a new episode dropping every Friday. [TODAY](/bwwtv/tvshows/today-) is an all new, full-length sneak peek for the 10-part series.