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NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- RuPaul and Logo today announced the 14 lucky contestants who will vie for a $100,000 cash prize, the crown and the coveted title of "America's Next Drag Superstar."  One of cable TV's most social series, each episode of "RuPaul's Drag Race" has fans chattering across a wide spectrum of digital platforms and enjoys multiple trending topics on Twitter with each premiere episode.  The smash-hit reality competition show "RuPaul's Drag Race" returns to Logo for a fifth season in January 2013.

Over four outlandish, OMG-filled seasons, "RuPaul's Drag Race" has taken the country by storm, evolving from a cult hit to a certified pop culture phenomenon.  With a devoted and diverse following ranging from soccer moms to Hollywood royalty, "RuPaul's Drag Race" has become appointment television for viewers who can't get enough of the fun, drama, "eleganza" and most of all, heart that comes with the show.

"As we start our fifth season, I'm thrilled to announce that Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Mariah Carey, Nikki Minaj and Keith Urban will not be joining us as full time judges," said Executive Producer, RuPaul.  "Don't get me wrong. I love them all.  But we're gonna keep it all hood up in here.  Because that's what makes 'RuPaul's Drag Race' the best damn show on TV."

This season, a new crop of top-tier drag hopefuls are strapping on their helmets and revving their engines for the most competitive drag race and biggest grand prize yet.

The following are the 14, season five "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestants:

• Alaska
  Pittsburgh, PA
  @Alaska5000
  
• Alyssa Edwards
  Mesquite, TX
  @Alyssaedwards_1
  
• Coco Montrese
  Las Vegas, NV
  @cocomontrese
  
• Detox
  Los Angeles, CA
  @TheOnlyDetox
  
• Honey Mahogany
  San Francisco, CA
  @honeymahogany
  
• Ivy Winters
  New York, NY
  @Ivy_Winters
  
• Jade Jolie
  Gainesville, FL
  @QueenJadeJolie
  
• Jinkx Monsoon
  Seattle, WA
  @JinkxMonsoon
  
• Lineysha Sparx
  San Juan, Puerto Rico
  @LineyshaSparx
  
• Monica Beverly Hillz
  Owensboro, KY
  @MonicaBHillz
  
• Penny Tration
  Cincinnati, OH
  @pennytration
  
• Roxxxy Andrews
  Orlando, FL
  @RoxxxyAndrews
  
• Serena ChaCha
  Tallahassee, FL
  @SerenaChaCha
  
• Vivienne Pinay
  New York, NY
  @viviennepinay
  

RuPaul, the world's most famous drag queen, has pushed the boundaries of popular culture on an international level and continues to make history with "RuPaul's Drag Race," the first reality television show featuring drag queens.  RuPaul is back for a fifth season alongside judges Michelle Visage and Santino Rice, to decide who will "shante! stay!" or "sashay away" with a new batch of the nation's hottest, most glamorous drag queens.  Wigs will fly and drama will run high as the contestants bring their over-the-top attitudes to the drag battle royale that is "RuPaul's Drag Race."

In the end, only one contestant will have what it takes to win the coveted title of "America's Next Drag Superstar," and a prize package that includes a sickening supply of Colorevolution cosmetics, a one-of-a-kind trip courtesy of AlandChuck.travel, a headlining spot on Logo's Drag Race Tour, featuring ABSOLUT® Vodka, cocktails perfected and a cash prize of $100,000.

"RuPaul's Drag Race" is produced by World of Wonder Productions with Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, and RuPaul Charles serving as Executive Producers.  Mandy Salangsang and Steven Corfe serve as Co-Executive Producers.  Brent Zacky and Pamela Post serve as Executive Producers for Logo.

For more information on "RuPaul's Drag Race" and sneak preview clips, go to LogoTV.com.  For up-to-date "RuPaul's Drag Race" news and exclusives, join the "RuPaul's Drag Race" Facebook page or follow the series on Twitter at @RuPaulsDragRace and #DragRace.  Follow along with the live gifs from the show on Tumblr and see photos on the show's Instagram page.

ABOUT LOGO

Logo celebrates one-of-a-kind personalities, unconventional stories and discovering what's next—all through a mix of original and acquired entertainment that's outrageous, smart and inclusive.  Entertaining a social, savvy audience of gay trendsetters, Logo also attracts a straight audience that wants to be ahead of the curve.  Launched in 2005, Logo is in over 51 million homes across the United States, and is complemented by a federation of online properties, including LogoTV.com, NewNowNext.com, AfterEllen.com, AfterElton.com, and DowneLink.com.  Logo is part of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), which features a roster of popular and highly targeted brands that include MTV, Comedy Central, VH1 and Spike TV.

ABOUT WORLD OF WONDER

In celebration of 21 years of storytelling, innovative production company World of Wonder is publishing its first book, "The World According To Wonder" - featuring 300 never-before-seen portraits and exclusive interviews from the world's most controversial, exposed and fascinating personalities. WOW's TV series include "RuPaul's Drag U" (Logo), "Million Dollar Listing LA" & "Million Dollar Listing NY" (Bravo), the upcoming "Life With La Toya" (OWN) and "Island Hunters" (HGTV). World of Wonder has also created award-winning films and documentaries such as "Inside Deep Throat", "The Eyes of Tammy Faye", "Party Monster", "Monica in Black and White", and "The Last Beekeeper", which won a 2010 Emmy® Award for Outstanding Nature Programming, and "The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell" for HBO, which chronicles the repeal of the controversial military policy.  The 2011 Sundance Film Festival hit "Becoming Chaz" and HBO special "Wishful Drinking" both garnered a total of five Emmy(R) nominations. "Becoming Chaz" went on to win the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary.  And debuting on HBO in December, "In Vogue: The Editor's Eye," brings to life the stories behind the most iconic images from the past 120 years of Vogue.

With offices in Hollywood and London, the company has produced cutting-edge fiction and non-fiction programming for HBO, Showtime, VH1,TLC, IFC, Discovery, MTV, E! Entertainment, Oxygen, BBC, PBS, Channel 4 UK, and other digital outlets that can be found online at http://worldofwonder.net/. The World of Wonder blog, The WOW Report receives more than 300,000 visitors a month.

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SOURCE Logo