TL;DR
- Drag Race season 18 episode 3 introduced a mystery heartthrob “Ronnie” during the “RDR Live” challenge.
- Ronnie appears as Juicy Love Dion’s love interest in the “Young Michelle” sketch.
- Fans learned the actor is Shyllon Melatti, a Brazilian American performer and model.
- Melatti previously danced with Chippendales and did “Chipps at Home” Zoom performances during lockdown.
- He’s also worked as a model with major brands and has been performing since childhood.
Drag Race’s newest thirst trap has a name — and it’s Shyllon Melatti
RuPaul’s Drag Race has a long, proud tradition of giving the gays what they want: wigs, reads, redemption arcs… and the occasional random man who materializes out of thin air with zero warning and maximum abdominal definition. Episode 3 of season 18 (“RDR Live Returns!”) understood the assignment with the subtlety of a glitter cannon, dropping a brand-new mystery hunk into the challenge like a surprise garnish on your cocktail.
The queens were tasked with a comedy-heavy “RDR Live” episode alongside Saturday Night Live icon Sarah Sherman — and the chaos started immediately. In the sketch “Young Michelle,” Myki Meeks played a baby-faced Michelle Visage while Juicy Love Dion served mentor energy as “Jean,” giving hilariously unhinged advice about avoiding green, upgrading boobs, and remembering that “it takes two to make a thing go right.” Cute, camp, chaotic. Then—BAM—out of nowhere, a man the viewers had never seen before popped into the scene as “Ronnie,” Juicy’s love interest. No Pit Crew intro. No rehearsal footage. Just a hot guy appearing like Drag Race’s version of a jump scare.
And yes, the gays noticed.
Who is “Ronnie”? Meet Shyllon Melatti
The fantasy man behind Ronnie is Shyllon Melatti, an actor, model, and performer whose online presence practically comes with a warning label: respectfully look away if you’re trying to have a productive day. Melatti’s socials are filled with the kind of content that makes your phone feel hot in your hand — and his bio is peak “hot-but-silly”: “Silly goose on the loose,” plus a Brazilian flag and a U.S. flag, and the kicker: “Retired @chippendales.”
Yep. This man didn’t just wander into Drag Race from a modeling call sheet — he comes from a background where shirts are optional and stage confidence is mandatory.
Melatti has described himself as a first-generation Brazilian American and a former Chippendales cast member. And the timeline? Deliciously dramatic. He joined the Chippendales cast right before the pandemic hit, got only a couple weeks of rehearsal, and then—like the rest of the world—was forced to pivot. Instead of quitting, he helped shift the show into “Chipps at Home,” dancing for Mother’s Day parties, birthdays, bachelorettes, and divorce celebrations… over Zoom. Imagine being dumped and then greeted by a Chippendales performance in your living room. Honestly? Healing.
He’s been in entertainment since childhood, with early TV appearances connected to Vegas-style performers, and he’s also worked as a model for big-name brands. Basically: he’s built for camera time, whether it’s a runway, a stage, or Drag Race’s chaotic little universe.
Why queer viewers are living
Drag Race’s random hunks aren’t just eye candy — they’re a wink to the audience. They’re part of the show’s ongoing love letter to queer desire, camp fantasy, and joy. In a world that still tries to shame LGBTQ+ people for wanting what we want, Drag Race says: babe, want it louder.
And there’s something quietly affirming about the show treating queer thirst like it’s normal—because it is. For LGBTQ+ viewers, especially those who grew up without playful, positive sexuality on TV, a silly sketch with a surprise heartthrob can feel like permission to laugh, swoon, and exist without apology.
So yes, Ronnie was a bit part. But Shyllon Melatti’s arrival was a full-course moment.
RuPaul’s Drag Race season 18 airs Fridays on MTV — and if the producers keep summoning mysterious hotties mid-sketch, we’re going to need a fan and a fainting couch.