Nicki Minaj is pledging allegiance to the drag.
The 37-year-old rapper will make someone’s “Barbie Dreams” come true when she joins RuPaul’s Drag Race as a guest judge to kick off the season 12 premiere. Minaj, who won the inaugural Game Changer award at 2019’s Billboard Women in Music ceremony last month, will sit next to judges Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews and, of course, Mama Ru, when the 12th season debuts on Friday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m. ET on VH1.
In the new season, which will feature all 90-minute episodes followed by the Emmy-nominated aftershow RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, Minaj will welcome the 13 new drag stars to the main stage with her own runway walk as they compete for a chance to win $100,000 and the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar.
In a teaser for the premiere, Minaj is seen taking Ru’s usual slot by welcoming the audience to the main stage, as Ru cheers out, “Young Money in the house.” Wearing a stunning red semi-see-through gown, the star is also seen throughout the clip giving praise to a lucky contestant when she says “you look like a Barbie out of the box.”
Watch Nicki Minaj in a new clip from the premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 12 below:
You can be the king but watch the QUEEN conquer! —- @NICKIMINAJ joins the premiere of #DragRace Season 12 – coming 2/28 to @VH1! –? pic.twitter.com/wpmDE9yFPB
— RuPaul’s Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) January 30, 2020