---
title: Return of the Queen
date: 2024-02-29T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/return-of-the-queen"
section: Articles
---
# Return of the Queen

*February 29, 2024* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih)


> Drag Trivia Host Alum Heads Back to ‘Jeopardy!’ for Tournament of Champions

*JEOP S40 9049 air022924 020624 01219 RE SE 1920x1080 — Kevin Belle '07, right, with Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings during the Tournament of Champions. After Belle introduced his alter ego, drag queen Whiskey Ginger, on the show, he inspired Jennings to come up with a few pun-worthy drag names of his own.*

The first time Kevin Belle ’07 sashayed on stage in drag, he threw on a dress he’d never even tried on from a thrift store, stepped into the biggest pair of heels he could find at Payless and hardly wore a stitch of makeup—all to entertain the rowdy “Rocky Horror Picture Show” crowd at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union with a Sonny and Cher-inspired number.

He was terrible, he admits.

Now, he’s taken his more-practiced drag queen persona, “Whiskey Ginger” (a fiery redhead named after his favorite cocktail), to the national stage, including the recent “[Jeopardy!” Honors](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pflXjqFRlEw)ceremony.

That’s because Belle is a three-time champ of the country’s most popular game show—and he’s been invited back to the Tournament of Champions, which airs his episode Thursday night on ABC.


*Kevin Belle as "Alexa Trebek" — Belle as "Alexa Trebek." He performs only about once a month, but he’s thankful for the robust D.C. drag scene that has welcomed and inspired him, including queens Shi-Queeta Lee, the first to perform at the White House, and the late Ba’Naka Devereaux. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Belle)*


*Kevin Belle aka Whiskey Ginger with Sarah and Buzzy at Jeopardy! Honors — Belle at the Jeopardy! Honors blue carpet and ceremony, where he appeared as Whiskey Ginger at the show for the first time. (Screenshot from Jeopardy! YouTube channel)*




**Topics:** [People](https://today.umd.edu/tags/people)


**Tags:** [Alumni](https://today.umd.edu/topic/alumni)


**Units:** [College of Behavioral and Social Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-behavioral-and-social-sciences)