Queens of Instagram! The most followed drag artists around the world
| 03/10/25
simbernardo
The queens rule social media!
(L-R) Trixie Mattel; Pabllo Vittar; Plastique Tiara.Jon Sams; Mauricio Santana/Getty Images; Jerod Harris/Getty Images for NetflixRuPaul is still aiming for world-domination through the expansion of the RuPaul's Drag Race universe in other countries, as well as spin-offs like Global All Stars putting together talented queens from around the world. But even though Drag Race continues to be such an undeniable cultural phenomenon, it's noteworthy that many drag performers have amassed a large following on social media without necessarily competing on the show.
Between actors, musicians, comedians, models, and/or digital influencers, these queer artists are taking this art form into mainstream media and pushing the boundaries for LGBTQ+ visibility across the globe. Some of these drag entertainers are competing with other high-profile celebrities in their respective countries — garnering huge followings, selling out massive venues, being targeted by conservative audiences, and winning awards just as much as their no-drag peers… which, for most of pop culture history, felt like an impossible path.
Scroll through to check out the 10 most-followed drag performers on Instagram around the world — not limited to one franchise and/or location!
10. Adore Delano – 2M
She's a Libra! The incomparable Adore Delano has been a Drag Race fan-favorite since she first stepped foot into Mama Ru's werk room. Since then, Adore has released multiple albums, starred in several TV shows, and is gearing up for an actress era. Outside of work, she's also come out as a trans woman and has been living her best life since then.
With her sights set for the silver screen, Adore is well on her way to conquer another corner of show business. 2 million Instagram followers keep up with this doll — many of which first got to know her as a contestant on American Idol.
Instagram: @adoredelano
9. Paolo Ballesteros – 2.4M
Paolo Ballesteros was already a successful actor and drag entertainer prior to hosting Drag Race Philippines. And, since assuming the position that has earned her the nickname of Mama Pao, her overall popularity and global reach have only grown. Right now, Paolo has 2.4 million followers on Instagram — which makes her the only other Drag Race host in this ranking besides RuPaul herself.
It feels wild to think that Drag Race Philippines will already be returning for a fourth season in 2025, but the series is still very strong, and Mama Pao plays a significant role in that success.
Instagram: @pochoy_29
8. Bianca Del Rio – 2.5M
Bianca Del Rio became one of the most popular and successful Drag Race stars in herstory since winning the show back in season 6. Over the years, Bianca has been a tour de force with several international solo tours and a comedy career that is as strong as it was 10 years ago. Her signature "insult comic" persona is still making the world laugh, culminating in 2.5 million followers on Instagram.
There's a reason why Bianca is one of fiercest Drag Race winners of all time, and she continues to prove that — time and time again — over the course of her career.
Instagram: @thebiancadelrio
7. Katya – 2.8M
Miss Congeniality winner of Drag Race season 7 and runner-up of All Stars 2, Katya has been one of the most popular RuGirls for the past 10 years. And she's still making 2.8 million Instagram followers laugh with her chaotic sense of humor and niche tastes.
Beyond her cohosting gigs with Trixie Mattel on The Bald and the Beautiful podcast, UNHhhh, and Netflix's I Like to Watch web series — as well as their joint world tour — Katya has started hosting her own interview series, Who's the A**hole?, in partnership with Grindr. She's also universally beloved by both old and new fans within the Drag Race queendom, which feels like an impossible mission. Nonetheless, Katya regularly breaks viewership records when appearing as a guest on different shows and podcasts… not to mention her always iconic stints on The Pit Stop.
Instagram: @katya_zamo
6. Plastique Tiara – 3.9M
Plastique Tiara's social media reach has skyrocketed since the Vietnamese queen competed on Drag Race season 11. In the years that followed, Plastique became the supreme queen of TikTok (currently at 11.8 million followers) and also propelled her Instagram presence to a current 3.9 million followers on Instagram.
Even though Plastique only reached 3 million IG followers in the last few months, she is already on the verge of crossing 4 million and becoming a serious competitor in the ranks of most-followed RuGirls of all time.
Instagram: @plastiquetiara
5. Trixie Mattel – 4.1M
Multihyphenate Trixie Mattel is known for competing on Drag Race season 7, winning All Stars 3, running the makeup empire Trixie Cosmetics, releasing original music, performing as a DJ, appearing on the renovation series Trixie Motel documenting the opening of her own motel in Palm Springs, starring in chat shows like WOW Presents Plus' UNHhhh and Netflix's I Like to Watch, and cohosting The Bald and the Beautiful Podcast with Katya… and that's just to name a few!
Trixie was honored once again on the 2024 Out100 after being voted the Readers' Choice in the Business category, which was seen as true a testament of how far the drag superstar has come since her time in season 7 of Drag Race. Last year, during a brief hiatus, Trixie crossed 4 million followers on Instagram and became the first-ever RuGirl to do so.
At this point, Trix, the dolls are the dolls!
Instagram: @trixiemattel
4. Blogueirinha – 4.4M
Comedian, TV host, actress, recording artist, and social media influencer Blogueirinha has been a recent phenomenon in the world of drag. (Though, just like other queens around the world, it is part of Blogueirinha's hilarious fantasy to always present in drag and never refer to herself as a drag artist herself.)
Since hosting the late-night talk show De Frente Com Blogueirinha — a parody of an iconic talk show titled De Frente Com Gabi hosted by journalist Marília Gabriela — Blogueirinha has released new original music, starred in her own soap opera, returned as a regular judge on the Corrida das Blogueiras reality show, and appeared on magazine covers like Quem and Contigo. She currently had 4.4 million followers on Instagram.
Instagram: @blogueirinha
3. Gloria Groove – 5.5M
Gloria Groove has solidified herself as a bona fide pop star who can sing wide range of genres, rap, and switch modes depending on which era she finds herself in. Though the Brazilian drag queen been in showbiz for many years, Gloria's career reached new heights with the 2022 studio album Lady Leste, which blended theatrical visuals and fantastical concepts with rap bars, pop hooks, and her signature lyricism.
Some of Gloria's biggest songs are from the Lady Leste era, such as "A Queda," "Vermelho," "Bonekinha," and "Leilão." And yet, her body of work also includes older bangers like "Coisa Boa" and "Bumbum de Ouro." Less than a year ago, Gloria released a new project that included the smash hit "Nosso Primeiro Beijo."
This incredibly successful career has helped Gloria achieve 5.5 million followers on Instagram as of this writing.
Instagram: @gloriagroove
2. RuPaul – 5.6M
The RuPaul's Drag Race mogul and Emmy Award record-holder otherwise known as Mama Ru has returned to second place on the list of most-followed drag artists in the world. Ru spent a few years during lockdown without any active accounts on social media, making way for drag artists like Gloria Groove to gain numbers and take over the no. 2 slot.
However, those dynamics completely changed since RuPaul returned to Instagram with a new approach that relied on silly, candid, and more personal videos while promoting her memoir The House of Hidden Meanings. In March 2025, Ru has a following of 5.6 million people — and the 64-year-old drag legend is once again setting a blueprint for younger queens who can learn and be inspired by the ever-evolving career of a global icon.
Instagram: @rupaulofficial
1. Pabllo Vittar – 12.9M
Brazilian superstar Pabllo Vittar — honored as a "Disruptor" on the 2024 Out100 list — remains the drag artist with the biggest social media following in the world. On Instagram, the singer, model, and drag queen currently has 12.9 million followers and is expected to cross the 13-million mark in the near future.
Prior to entering the Billboard charts with the 2024 hit single "Alibi" with Sevdaliza and Yseult, Pabllo had already been releasing hit songs for a full decade such as "Corpo Sensual," "Corpo Sensual," "Problema Seu," "Sua Cara," Disk Me," "Open Bar," and "K.O."
In 2018, Pabllo earned a nomination for "Sua Cara" at the 19th Latin Grammy Awards, becoming the first-ever drag performer to be nominated for a Grammy. She was also the first drag artist in the world to perform at Coachella (doing so in 2022) and has been on the cover of various high-profile publications like Vogue Brasil, Elle Brasil, Glamour Brasil, among others.
Instagram: @pabllovittar
