RuPaul's Drag Race would be nothing without the iconic trans contestant who've competed on the reality show over the last 15 years.

Since the original American version of Drag Race debuted in 2009, the RuPaul led reality series has been a platform for some incredible trans performers. Some have come out since their appearance on the show, others showed their trans pride whilst competing on the show and some even reveal their status whilst on the show.

Season 14 has made "herstory" with a record-breaking five openly trans contestants: Bosco, Jasmine Kennedie, Kerrie Colby, Kornbread and Willow Pill.

Here are some of the most iconic trans performers who have appeared on Drag Race.

8 Kylie Sonique Love

Kylie Sonique Love was the first openly trans contestant to ever compete on RuPaul's Drag Race. Originally known as Sonique, she came 9th in the second seasons and came out as a trans woman during the show's reunion episode. "I've always been a girl. I started doing drag and there was just something about it that wasn't enough," she revealed on the reunion episode, "I went to a doctor and he put me on testosterone blockers and then moved me to hormones and my levels are even. I've never been happier in my whole life."

Kylie went on to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 6, which she won.

7 Peppermint

Peppermint was the first contestant to come out as trans before competing on the show. She was the runner-up on season 9 of the show. Explaining The Advocate, Peppermint said: "I had already started my medical transition, and so it was really like, 'Yeah, I'm trans, and what?""

She added, "I mean, I have been in tears. I have been there, but I happened to have done it at a different time and place. I was in my apartment. I was alone. So by the time I got to Drag Race, anyone who really knew me and actually knew me personally already knew. There was nothing to cry about at that point."

Peppermint later went on to act as a mentor on the first season of Call Me Mother

6 Carmen Carrera

Carmen Carerra is one of the most well-known faces to come out of the Drag Race franchise. Although she has taken a step back from drag, she is a prominent advocate for trans rights and model.

Carmen has also called out RuPaul directly for anti-trans slurs used on Drag Race in the past, in particular, the series' "She-Mail" segment. Posting on Facebook in 2014, Carrera wrote, "Shemale is an incredibly offensive term, and this whole business about if you can tell whether a woman is biological or not is getting kind of old."

There’s a trans girl on drag race because we all fought for a trans girl on Drag Race," Carrera recently wrote on Twitter, “Some of us were fighting when it wasn’t even “cool” yet … but that’s not the point.”

5 Jiggly Caliente

Jiggy Caliente was a beloved contestant who came 8th in season 4 and 12th in All Stars season 6.

Jiggly publicly came out as trans in 2016 and now goes by the name Bianca Castro out of drag. Jiggly is also an actress who plays Veronica Ferocity in Pose and is a regular judge on Drag Race Philippines.

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Speaking on Hey Kween, Jiggly said, "It was just a turning point this year where I told myself, let me just say it, so the rumours and the questions can end. I felt like a weight was off my shoulders."

She is outspoken about trans rights, “I feel like if you are not cis, hetero [or] white in this world, there’s really no protection for you as far as in human rights. We’re fighting for the bare minimum,” Jiggly recently told PinkNews.

4 Monica Beverly Hillz

Monica came in 12th place on Drag Race season 5. She made a big impact in her limited time by coming out as trans during the second season.

Monica broke down on stage and said, "I feel I'm not here. I've just been holding a secret in and trying so hard. I'm not just a drag queen – I'm a transgender woman."

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Speaking about the experience with The Huffington Post, Monica explained: "I was really shocked by the support I had on set. At first, I felt so alone, but after I came out I felt so much support."

Although she made a name for herself as a drag performer, she now works more as a model.

3 Gia Gunn

Gia Gunn came in 10th on season 6 and then 8th on All Stars season 4. She publicly came out as a trans woman Instagram in 2017.

She wrote, "I thought I would dedicate today in the spirit of being visible to share my transition with all of you. I have been on hormone replacement therapy now for almost about a year. I identify as female, and I indeed am transgender." She has recently taken to Twitter to document her journey through FFS (facial feminization surgery).

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She added, "Thank you all so much to each and every single one of you who have continuously supported me on my journey,” she added. “I can only hope the best for each and every single one of my trans brothers and sisters."

2 Gottmik

Gottmik is the first trans man to ever compete on Drag Race and came in third place on season 13. Since her appearance on the show, the makeup artist has had one of the most illustrious careers of any contestant.

Gotttmik revealed that, "I’ve known my whole life that something felt different. Society told me I was just a tom-boy, but it wasn’t until I was 18 when I finally got the right group of friends around me that allowed me to be myself."

Gottmik also opened up at his transition, "Transitioning is hard. Thankfully I have the most amazing friends I could have ever asked for that make every step seem a bit easier. I’ve never been happier in my entire life and I’m so proud of where I am today."

In September 2022, Gottmik appeared in the music video for Sam Smith and Kim Petras' song Unholy.

1 Gigi Goode

Fan-favorite Gigi Goode was a runner-up on season 12 and she came out as trans and non-binary in 2021.

Goode, who is currently living in Los Angeles, explained that the lockdown that was caused by the pandemic "was so crucial for me to have that time to myself. It gave me a lot of time to think and reflect." After reflecting, the successful performer realized that while she still identifies as genderfluid, she is "leaning more towards the nonbinary part of that."

Gigi then added, "I had a lot of realizations... one of those realizations came from watching the show Veneno. Not only the story but the characters and the actresses in that show completely opened my mind up to who I am and I guess who I'm supposed to be. To me, that is a trans-nonbinary person."

Goode was open on her social media about her facial feminization surgery. Since competing on Drag Race, Goode has appeared on the runway at a Rihanna Savage x Fenty show and has also modelled for fashion brands like Moschino, as well as appearing in several music videos.