Some ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Queens Got Canceled or Tired—All of Them Quit Drag
RuPaul’s Drag Race helped build dozens of careers, but not every queen wanted to keep performing. Some left due to personal struggles, different creative paths, or the fact that they no longer wanted public attention.
These queens distanced themselves from drag entirely. Their decisions may not have made headlines, but they each had reasons, and they’ve stayed away ever since.
Rebecca Glasscock
Credit: Reddit
Rebecca Glasscock came in the top three in Drag Race’s first season—but not for long. She skipped the typical post-show club circuit and didn’t pursue drag as a full-time path. Years later, she reappeared briefly for a Season 10 finale tribute, then disappeared again without explanation.
Carmen Carrera
Credit: flickr
Following the finale of Season 3, Carmen Carrera came out as a trans woman. She shifted her focus away from drag and into modeling and acting. Over time, she became vocal about the show’s treatment of trans performers and chose not to return to drag performance. In 2023, she hosted Drag Latina and participated without reviving her drag persona.
Stacy Layne Matthews
Credit: Instagram
By the time she announced her retirement in 2023, Stacy Layne Matthews had been holding on for years. Her farewell message was personal and raw—she spoke of burnout, fear, and feeling consumed by anxiety. She said she had lost herself while trying to care for others and perform through the pain.
Tyra Sanchez
Credit: Reddit
No Drag Race winner has had a more complicated post-show journey. Long before rebranding as King Tyra, James Ross—formerly Tyra Sanchez—had clashed with fans and been banned from events. After deleting his social media in 2020 and announcing a full retirement from drag, he later resurfaced, now performing on OnlyFans. He’s been clear: the King Tyra persona exists independently of the show that made him famous.
Robbie Turner
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In 2018, Robbie Turner claimed she had survived a fatal Uber crash—an event that didn’t happen. Once fans and media questioned the details, she eventually deleted her post and acknowledged the confusion. She suggested she may have been drugged, but didn’t offer further explanation. Since then, there has been awkward silence.
Vivienne Pinay
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Since her time on Season 5, running Fairytale Wigs has become Vivienne Pinay’s main pursuit. The company specializes in custom pieces for cosplay, not drag, and reflects a shift in her creative energy. She offers detailed styling, color work, and character-specific builds that cater to a growing fan base outside traditional performance circles.
Magnolia Crawford
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During her short time on Season 6, Magnolia Crawford didn’t hide her disinterest. She later admitted she joined the show mostly for visibility. Her drag style wasn’t well-received, and she didn’t stick around in the public eye. She later returned to her job as a flight attendant.
Kenya Michaels
Credit: Instagram
Viewers first saw Kenya Michaels burst onto Season 4 with fast-paced lip-syncs and confident styling that kept her in the competition. Judges praised her presence, though critiques of her polish eventually led to elimination. Kenya’s run may have been brief, but she left a lasting impression, thanks to her movement, timing, and intensity.
Alisa Summers
Credit: IMDb
Drag Race didn’t mark the start of a long performance career for Alisa Summers. Following her early elimination in Season 4, she walked out without much explanation. Her social media went quiet, and she never appeared at fan events or reunions.
Phi Phi O’Hara
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After All Stars 2, Jaremi Carey decided the Phi Phi O’Hara persona had run its course. He said making his hobby into a job didn’t work for him, especially under constant public judgment. The backlash he received online made performing feel more like damage control than artistry. Now, he creates content through cosplay and live streaming under his real name.
Soju
Credit: Instagram
Allegations shared by several individuals in 2020 brought sudden attention to Soju offstage. She denied the claims and described them as an effort to damage her reputation. Eventually, she made her accounts private and took some time off from performing. A year later, she posted that she had no plans to return to drag and would prioritize mental health instead.
Ivy Winters
Credit: Reddit
After bringing handmade designs and circus flair to Season 5, Ivy Winters became known for inventive runway looks and was voted Miss Congeniality by fans. She walked the runway on stilts and turned unconventional materials into polished costumes, and consistently impressed the judges with her craftsmanship. Though she didn’t make it to the finale, her creativity did leave a clear mark.
Honey Mahogany
Credit: Wikipedia
After leaving performance behind, Honey Mahogany moved into public service and quickly became a visible force in San Francisco politics. She co-chaired the local Democratic Party, worked on housing policy, and championed LGBTQ+ advocacy across the city. Her name, once tied to the Drag Race stage, now appears on ballots and community initiatives.
Princess Poppy
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Public recognition made Princess Poppy deeply uncomfortable, and she made it clear she never wanted fame. She separated herself from drag soon into her Season 15 run, explaining that she hoped to “fade into obscurity.” A viral moment at the 2024 Emmys—in full goblin drag—sparked headlines, but she later confirmed it was a one-off.
Copper Topp
Credit: Digital Spy
The final stretch of Copper Topp’s drag career was marked by emotional exhaustion and growing disconnection from performing. She described the two years leading up to her break in 2023 as some of the hardest she’d experienced. At that point, drag no longer felt sustainable, though she still appeared in The Wizard of Oz and attended DragCon.