It's been a busy six months for Rochester drag queen Pandora Boxx (also known as Michael Steck). In late January, Pandora debuted as a contestant on "RuPaul's Drag Race 2," a national TV show on the Logo network with the aim of finding America's next drag superstar. While Pandora didn't win the competition - she placed fifth out of 12 - she made a big impression, taking home the viewer-voted Miss Congeniality award and becoming the breakout star of the season.

Now, after a whirlwind touring schedule, she returns to TV this week as part of the new Logo show, "RuPaul's Drag U," debuting at 9 p.m. on Monday, July 19.

Although a spin-off of "Drag Race," "Drag U" is substantially different. The show takes women who are depressed, broken, down on their luck and pairs them with "Drag Race" alums to help the women discover their lost inner divas. (In addition to Pandora, other "professors" include "Drag Race" standouts Jujubee, Ongina, Nina Flowers, Shannel, and Raven).

"We're using the art of drag to really help these women," Steck says. "It's an interesting feeling to see how we can transform these women's lives; you really do see a change in them. It makes sense, because drag changed my life."

In addition to her TV work and busy touring schedule, Pandora has been a fixture on the home front. Earlier this spring, the Steck-written "Lipstick Massacre" had a successful run on Geva Theatre's NextStage, and Pandora now hosts two weekly local drag shows, Wednesdays at One and Thursdays at Tilt. For more information on Pandora and her appearances, check pandoraboxx.com.