Miami’s Juicy Love Dion is one of three South Florida drag performers competing on Season 18 of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
R House photo
It’s time to sashay again: RuPaul’s Drag Race has announced its Season 18 cast, and South Florida queens continue to dominate on the long-running reality TV drag competition. Three local competitors — Athena Dion and Juicy Love Dion from Miami, and Mia Starr from West Palm Beach — will compete to become America’s next drag superstar when the show premieres on MTV on Friday, January 2.
Tuesday’s cast reveal continues a now four-season streak in which Florida drag performers — particularly those from South Florida — have played an outsized role on the show. Two South Florida queens, Lucky Starzzz of Miami and Suzie Toot of Fort Lauderdale, competed on the show last year, while Miami’s Morphine Love Dion and Mhi’ya Iman Le’Paige faced off the year prior. That followed Season 15, in which Malaysia Babydoll Foxx repped for Miami.
Eighteen Florida queens have competed on past seasons of the show, with eight of them coming from South Florida. Season 18 will add five new Florida contestants, with St. Pete’s Discord Addams and Orlando’s Myki Meeks competing alongside the three local queens. As one can glean from their performer names, Athena and Juicy Love’s participation marks a milestone for Drag Race: the first time a drag mother/daughter duo has competed on the show. Both are part of the House of Dion, also home to Season 16’s Morphine Love.
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Many of these queens cut their teeth at local venues like R House, which has emerged as a drag incubator of sorts for the show. Both Dions are fixtures at the venue, while Starr has also performed at the Wynwood hotspot.
“This is a defining moment not only for Athena, Juicy, and R House but for South Florida drag as a whole,” R House co-owner Owen Bale said in a statement following the cast reveal. “We couldn’t be prouder of Athena and Juicy, who have poured years of passion and artistry into our stage. Their casting reinforces what insiders already know: R House is the birthplace of some of the best drag talent in the country, a testament to the community and creative legacy we’ve built in Miami.”
The restaurant and drag venue’s involvement goes beyond giving the performers gigs before they had a national platform. R House says it also “provided financial sponsorship for Athena and Juicy’s wardrobe packages during filming.”
That involvement continues, with R House hosting watch parties every Friday throughout the season, including a premiere viewing party with appearances by Season 18’s three South Florida queens and a surprise guest to be announced later. Athena and Juice Love will also perform at the venue this month ahead of the season premiere. While you wait, get to know the season’s three local competitors.
Athena Dion is affectionately known as the “Mother of R House.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race/MTV photo
Athena Dion
Drag mother to Season 16 alums Morphine Love Dion and Plane Jane, Athena Dion is stepping into the Drag Race spotlight in her own right, albeit alongside another drag daughter: Juicy Love Dion. Her influence looms large in Miami’s world-famous drag scene, where she’s known as the “Mother of R House.”
Juicy Love is no stranger to reality TV competitions.
RuPaul’s Drag Race/MTV photo
Juicy Love Dion
The drag daughter (technically, granddaughter) of Athena Dion may be a formidable opponent solely because of her experience on reality TV show competitions. She competed on the 18th season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2024.
Mia Starr has performed alongside Britney Spears, J.Lo, and Rihanna.
RuPaul’s Drag Race/MTV photo
Mia Starr
West Palm’s Mia Starr has reality competition experience under her belt, too, having been a contestant on The Voice and America’s Best Dance Crew. She’s also a seasoned dancer who toured with Rihanna, danced for Britney Spears in Vegas, and backed Jennifer Lopez at the Super Bowl. She also appeared in fellow South Florida girl Camila Cabello‘s music video for Havana.