Competition Rules & Application

Competition Format

Open to all drag performers, Drag Duels is a Lipsync Competition! Drag Performers will compete, performing individually and in head-to-head lip-sync showdowns. Win your Drag Duels Qualifier Show for a chance to compete in the Finale on June 29th during MoCo Pride in the Plaza and win a $4000.00 Grand Prize, headline at Montgomery County Pride, lead the 2025 LIYT slate of Drag Shows, and more!

Four shows and the Finale! 4 Drag performers compete at each qualifying round at Veterans Plaza. One Drag Dueler lip-sync their way to the top of each show, and earn the chance to compete in the Drag Duels Finale!

The competition occurs at Veterans Plaza: 1 Veterans Place Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Prizes

Qualifying Round Winner:

• $175 cash

• A competing spot in the Drag Duels Finale

• $250 (plus tips) Finale Booking at Montgomery County Pride

Drag Duels Finale Winner:

• $4,000 cash prize

• A customized gold belt

• The title of Drag Duels Champion 2025

• The title of Mx. MoCo Pride 2025

• Headline at Montgomery County Pride

• Bookings in “Live In Your Truth” Drag shows in 2025 and 2026

Drag Duels Rounds:

Round One: Four (4) drag performers will each perform one (1) song of their choosing.

Round Two: Is head-to-head lip-sync battles. You will be given two (2) songs to learn one month before your show dates. Then, you will be randomly chosen to perform one of the songs in a lip-sync battle vs. another performer. One performer from each head-to-head Drag Duel will advance to round three.

Round Three: The winners of the first two rounds, by score, will perform once more individually to a song of their choice. Audience applause is considered, but the final decision is for the Judges to make.

If you are eliminated, you are not out of the competition! For The Audience and Judges Choice show,  eliminated Drag Duelers will have the chance to return and compete in the Finale on June 29th during Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza.

Show Dates

Friday, April 18th - 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM    Friday, May 9th 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Friday, May 30th, 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM  Friday, June 13th, 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Finale! Sunday, June 29th, 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Rules:

• You must be available for your Drag Duels competition date(s).

• Drag performers will be compensated $125 for each Drag Duels competition they perform in, regardless of victory. Show winners will receive $175.00 and advance to The Finale.

• Drag Duels is open to all Drag Performers. 

• You are judged based on your look, your lip-sync accuracy, your energy, and your impact.

• Applications do not guarantee entry. Only 12 applicants will be accepted. 

• The Finale takes place Sunday, June 29th, during MoCo Pride. 

• Eliminated Drag Duelers can come back as the Audience Choice to compete in the Finale.

• Performance music must be submitted at least one week before your show date(s).

• The application deadline is Monday, March 17th, 2025, at 11:59 pm.

• Drag Duels may be a local TV Show. By applying, you agree to all photo and video release rules set-forth by Phillip Alexander Downie, the Programs Executive Producer,  Live In Your Truth, and the competition organizers.

  • Video & Photo Release: By completing this form I hereby give and grant unto Phillip Alexander Downie, and his agents, representatives, successors, or assigns and to any persons or firms on whose behalf Phillip Alexander Downie is acting, the absolute and unconditional right to copyright, use, publish, display and/or reproduce in any manner whatever, in color or otherwise, photographic portraits, pictures or videos of me in which all or parts of my face or body appear, including but not limited to the right to alter, adapt, modify or use a portion of such photograph or photographs, or composites or distortions of same, alone or in conjunction with my own or a fictitious name, through any media of any kind or nature, or at the offices of Phillip Alexander Downie, or elsewhere, for print or digital art, media, advertising, trademark, trade or any lawful purpose, all as Phillip Alexander Downie, in his absolute discretion shall deem fit. I hereby waive any right that I may have to inspect or approve the finished photographs, video or any alterations, modifications, adaptations, distortions, composites or portions of same, or any finished advertisements materials, copy, or other matter which may be used in conjunction therewith, or the manner in which any of the same is used, reproduced, published or displayed. I further release and discharge and agree to save harmless Phillip Alexander Downie, his agents, representatives, successors, and assigns, and all persons and firms whose behalf Phillip Alexander Downie. is acting, from any liability whatsoever by virtue of any blurring, distortion, alteration, optical illusion or use in composite form, whether intentional or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in the taking, processing, reproducing, publishing or displaying of said photograph, photographs or video. I hereby warrant that I am of full age and have every right to contract in my own name in the above regard. I state further that I have read the above authorization and release, prior to his execution, and that I am fully familiar with the contents thereof.