Hollywood Jade Promises an ‘Epic’ and ‘Queer’ Season on The Traitors Canada

The third season of The Traitors Canada launched on October 21, 2025, introducing viewers to a cast of twenty-two contestants vying for a grand prize of up to $100,000 at the historic Manoir Rouville-Campbell in Quebec. Among the new faces is Hollywood Jade, a dancer, choreographer, and beloved judge from Canada’s Drag Race, who promises that this season will be “epic” and “queer” in a way that reflects the true diversity of Canadian society .

For Jade, stepping onto The Traitors Canada is both a personal and a communal journey. “As a cast we entered the show and everybody wanted to play the game,” he explained in an interview with The PinkNews. “Everybody showed up to work and as a result of that, the energy that it creates is going to make really excellent TV” . The cast, which includes several queer celebrities like Kitten Kaboodle and Jamal Alexander, as well as a (secret) couple, Cagla and Meredith Baktiroglu, is being called one of the most dynamic and diverse in the franchise’s history.

Hollywood Jade’s participation is significant not only because of his star power but also for what it signals about the changing face of reality TV in Canada. Jade, born Jade Anderson, has long been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ and especially Black queer visibility in entertainment. His career spans choreography for international stars such as Meghan Trainor and Snoop Dogg and extensive community engagement, including hosting Pride events and championing diverse representation in the arts .

On The Traitors Canada, Jade is joined by other LGBTQ+ contestants, which he says brings “some comfort” and helps create a space where queer identities are normalized rather than tokenized. “It’s not gonna be a bunch of bros in here that I’m going to have to defend and explain myself to, trying to get them to understand why I deserve to stay,” Jade reflected. “There’s a lot of different diverse representation within the queer community. I think there being so many of us helped it not feel like ‘get the gays out,’ which sometimes it does” .

Jade’s approach to the game is marked by both preparation and an understanding of its unpredictability. Although he attempted to manifest the role of a traitor—“to the point where in all of my audition videotapes, I intentionally was like, ‘I’m the villain. I’m the drama’”—he ultimately began the season as a “faithful” .

He acknowledges that in previous international seasons, queer contestants have sometimes been eliminated early, either due to bias or group dynamics. Notably, Bob was banished early in Season 3 of the US version, and Peppermint exited quickly the season prior. However, Jade describes this season as a “true reflection of Canadian society,” with little evidence of exclusion or bias against queer players. “My greatest fear entering was going home first. Nobody wants to be the Pork Chop,” he said, referencing the infamous first-elimination title from Drag Race lore .

The inclusion of so many queer contestants this season is not only a testament to the evolving landscape of Canadian reality television but also a source of inspiration for LGBTQ+ viewers. Hollywood Jade’s journey—from acclaimed choreographer to reality TV competitor—highlights the importance of authentic representation and the value of bringing one’s “entire entity and energy” to every opportunity. “I bring my entire entity and energy to everything that I do. So, there are definitely moments. I think I have some pretty good TV moments,” he predicted .

For fans, the anticipation is not merely about seeing Jade compete, but about watching him navigate alliances, betrayals, and the social intricacies of the game. As IN Magazine describes, “Watching him shift from directing performances to playing his own survival game is a rare chance to see a familiar figure in a totally different spotlight” .

The new season’s premiere has already sparked conversations about the impact of queer cast members in shifting the tone and direction of mainstream programming. With producers hailing this as “one of the best casts they’ve ever assembled,” and the show’s structure ensuring a level playing field, The Traitors Canada Season 3 may set a standard for inclusive reality television moving forward .

As audiences tune into The Traitors Canada this fall, the spotlight on Hollywood Jade and his fellow contestants is about more than suspenseful television. It is about affirmation, community, and the ongoing struggle for visibility and respect within—and beyond—the LGBTQ+ community. Jade’s presence, both on-screen and off, continues to inspire viewers and participants alike to bring their whole selves to the table, whatever the stakes.