RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Season 14 Celebrity Guest Judges, Ranked

Season 14 of the mega-popular reality TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race consists of 12 celebrity guest judges, all of which have years of experience as public entertainers. Yet, when it comes to judging the 14 drag queens featured on the show, each judge brings a unique perspective based on their own successful careers. For instance, since much of the show revolves around singing and lip-syncing, the singer/songwriting judges tend to impart more wisdom to the contestants than say the comedians.

While all of the celebrity guest judges are pleasant, positive, and uplifting, some radiate more star power than the others, while others give shrewder advice based on their respective vocations.

12 Alec Mapa

Eleven years after serving as a celebrity guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag U, actor Alec Mapa came full circle to judge season 14 of RuPaul’s DragRace as well. The comedic character actor has long been a proactive LGBTQ+ rights champion and genuinely voices his support and encouragement to the queens as a judge on the long-running reality TV Show.

While Alec has some words of wisdom to share in terms of performance in front of the camera and live audiences, he hasn’t the singing experience or mega-wattage of some of the other superstar celebrity guest judges.

11 Dulce Sloan

With tons of stage experience as a stand-up comedienne, Dulce Sloan knows exactly what it’s like to perform in the spotlight. It’s this type of wily experience she imparts to the queens in season 14, causing rousing laughter among the audience and contestants alike. Pleasant, warm, and hilarious, Dulce ought to be invited back in the future.

Thanks to the relationship with her aunt, Stevie B., a famous freestyle singer, Dulce has a bit more knowledge of how to belt out a tune and perform and keep the crowd engaged.

10 Nicole Byer

Much like Dulce Sloan, Nicole Byer has parlayed her hilarious sense of humor to become a popular TV host and guest judge. As she does so well on Wipeout, Nicole pokes fun at her own image as much as she does the contestants on the show, proving it’s all in good fun. As such, RuPaul’sDrag Place is the perfect place to let her personality shine.

While Nicole hasn’t had much singing experience, her bold personality is perfect for encouraging fierce, proud queens to be themselves no matter what others think or say. Nicole’s humor and attitude give her a leg up.

9 Dove Cameron

With years of experience as both an actress and pop singer, Dove Cameron knows what it takes to foster a superstar persona for the public to consume. It’s through this dual-threat lens that she guides the contestants on the show, especially giving the younger queens like Jorgeous and Jasmine advice about her time as a Disney child star.

Moreover, Dove sympathizes with the queens one step further by identifying herself as queer in May 2021 (per Teen Vogue). All told, she’s uniquely qualified to judge the show, lending a youthful perspective navigating the social media world.

8 Christine Chiu

Netflix Bling Empire star/producer Christine Chiu brings her radiant aura to the judging table during episode 3, A Pair of Balls, in which the queens are tasked with pulling double design duties. Just as she did on DWTS, Christine charmed her way through one of the best episodes of season 14.

Aside from her bubbly personality and stylish fashion, Christine has runway experience herself after making her first TV appearance in “Adrienne’s Fashion Show” on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2011. A decade later, judging a drag race somehow feels just right.

7 Taraji P. Henson

If the criteria were solely based on luminous star power and genuine talent, Taraji P. Henson would outlast the others due to her supreme acting and singing skills. However, as a guest judge during the “Glamazon Prime” debacle, she eliminated a fan favorite, resulting in the lowest-rated episode of the season (per IMDb).

Henson was put to the test after Jasmine and Maddy battled for supremacy lip-syncing to Beyonce’s “Suga Mama,” leading to a contentious and confounding elimination that left fans reeling.

6 Loni Love

Marking her fifth time as a celebrity guest judge on the show, comedienne and talk-show host Loni Love brings undeniable humor to the proceedings and helps foster the funniest drag queens on the show. The funniest part of her appearance in season 14 is the acting challenge that she is asked to judge, calling on her own amateur experience in such classics as Soul Plane and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 to help the queens.

While acting challenges often leave a lot to be desired, fans felt Loni hosting the one in season 14 was one of the better examples in recent years, likely leading to Loni’s return in the future.

5 Andra Day

Fresh off her awards tour for her stellar turn in The United States Vs. Billie Holliday, breakout star actress and magnificent singer Andra Day simply sashays her way across the runway with more panache than most, including the queens. Truly, very few RuPaul’s Drag Race guest judges are as iconic.

Glamorous, elegant, and sophisticated as it gets, Andra’s recent success gives her such an invaluable perspective on fame, fortune, and celebrity that the queens would be remiss not to take her advice as a judge on the show. One of the great casting coups of season 14, having Andra is a mighty bright Day indeed.

4 Alicia Keys

Partially out to promote her new double album, the multitalented Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys is among the most accomplished, entertaining, and knowledgable celebrity guest judges in season 14. In addition to judging one of the best lip-sync performances via Daya and DeJa’s rendition of her own hit song “Fallin,’ Alicia imparts pearls of wisdom all the queens can take with them after the show.

With 20 years of experience as a performer, Alicia understands the marathon mentality required to endure hardships that come before success. Her unique perspective in the music and entertainment industry is priceless to those willing to listen.

3 Lizzo

By introducing Lizzo as the very first celebrity guest judge of the season, RuPaul’s Drag Race coyly admits that the pop star is a number one contender. Indeed, Lizzo kicks off the whole shebang by stirring the crowd, amping the queens, and getting to the nitty-gritty of her hit song “Water Me.”

The key to having a great celebrity judge is their ability to match the energy and charisma of the queens, which Lizzo does with great flair by joining the rousing opening number. All told, Lizzo’s episode is the third-highest-rated episode of the season, per IMDb.

2 Ava Max

Thanks to celebrity guest judge and budding pop star Ava Max, “Save a Queen” is by far the highest-rated episode of season 14. The “Sweet but Psycho” hitmaker is a champion of female empowerment and admires drag queens, a palpable sentiment when watching her on the show.

The crux of the episode entails the queens creating satirical public service announcements, with extra drama coming when Jorgeous and Orion had to engage in a lip-syncing battle to Ava’s hit song “My Head & My Heart.” Ava’s tough deliberation won fans over in the end.

1 TS Madison

In the campy and kitschy 1980s-themed episode, no better judge was more qualified to assess the merits of the queens than TS Maddison. Hailed as the first Black trans woman to exec-produce and star in her own reality TV series (per them.us), Madison embodies proud the lifestyle all of the queens wish to follow full-time.

In fact, TS has become such a popular celebrity guest judge that season 14 marks her fourth time in the role, proving that few others are as uniquely qualified and knowledgeable about what it takes to win the competition.