RuPaul’s Drag Race followed all sorts of new security protocols with its debut in season 13: not only did the judges remain two meters apart, but Mama Ru socially distanced herself from more than half the cast. Or did she?
As previously reported, Friday’s debut started with six lip sync battles, forcing all 13 contestants to fight for a spot in the competition just moments after entering the werkroom. But before moving on to the second twist of the night, let’s see how everyone did on the main stage:
KANDY MUSE x JOEY JAY | This first confrontation did not take anyone by surprise – at least no one who watched the VH1 video released earlier this week. New York native Kandy Muse was the first to enter the werkroom, dressed in jeans from head to toe (with a jeans boom box to match, of course). She was followed by Arizona’s queen, Joey Jay, the self-described “dumbest bitch you’ve ever met”. After exchanging strange pleasantries, the first two contestants of season 13 went on to the main stage for the first of six game-changing lip sync battles. Both queens are gone, but only Kandy was sent to safety, while Joey was sent … well, I’ll get to that soon.
DENALI x LALA RI | “Cold, spicy and a little risky”, Denali literally skated to the werewolf (those poor floors!) And instantly proclaimed “the dragon’s gold medal”. And the queen of Windy City was not at all impressed by her competitor, LaLa Ri from Atlanta, who described herself to the judges as “an Olive Garden pasta with Chicken Popeyes proposals aside to add a dazzling shine”. Just for the record, anyone who looks at chicken barrels and thinks “razzle dazzle” is instantly fine in my book, so I was thrilled – if not a little surprised – to see her beat Denali in the voice of the Pussycat Dolls “ When I grow up. “(Side note: I rolled my eyes a little when Ross Mathews saw Denali and said,” Just when I thought we couldn’t be any more gay, now we have figure skating. “Milk’s blatant blackout!)
SYMONE x TAMISHA IMAN | The third round faced “ebony sorceress” Symone against “sassy and lovable” Tamisha Iman, the last of which was cast for season 12 just before she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. There was a time during her recovery where she couldn’t even walk, but she is a fighter, something she reminded the world of when she stood up against Symone to the sound of Janet Jackson’s “The Pleasure Principle”. Of course, Symone came out on top (“This is not her Janet Jackson moment – yeah my!“), But Tamisha fought well. The extreme vibe of Jasmine Masters that she emitted with that suit was just a bonus.
GOTTMIK vs UTICA QUEEN | All eyes are on Gottmik this season, and not just because the celebrity makeup artist won illustrious mugs like Cindy Crawford, Heidi Klum and Paris Hilton. “I am a transgender man,” explained Gottmik as he entered the werkroom. “So … a girl was born, changed to a man, dress like a girl for money – a lot This one. ”After Lindsay Lohan’s” Rumors “started to explode on the main stage (YES, by the way!), Gottmik did a quick job with Utica Queen, who accurately described herself as a booger-eating supermodel and one of those * breathes bottom * waving crazy inflatable tube men you see at car dealerships.
ROSE vs. OLIVIA LUX | We can all agree that Rosé – who sings alongside the highlight of season 12, Jan, in the female group Stephanie’s Child – gave herself the kiss of death by smugly saying, “I usually win.” (It was also an ironic statement, considering that she boasted of being The voice and America have talent… None of which she won.) Despite being born at the intersection of “Wit Avenue and Fashion Boulevard”, Rosé was defeated by the relatively newcomer Olivia Lux, who was really feeling her love during Elle King’s “Ex’s and Oh’s”. The energy! Veal Ru! It was all very good. Well, not for Rosé.
TINA BURNER vs. KAHMORA HALL vs. ELLIOTT WITH 2 TS | Because this ridiculous debut was basically pornographic for Drag Race fans, it only made sense to end up with a triple. New York’s “old” queen Tina Burner, the delightfully dark Kahmora Hall – yes, 12th season winner Jaida Essence Hall is her older sister! – and Elliott With 2 Ts (better known as “a housewife with a secret”) fought with “Lady Marmalade”, easily the best choice of music in one night full of wonderful music choices. (Can you imagine how crazy people would get in bars because of this? In fact, I don’t even want to think about it. It’s very depressing.) Elliott transformed Out, and Kahmora looked great on that original Bob Mackie, but Tina swallowed them with her stage presence, sending her on to continue her journey in season 13.
While the members of Team Talent were busy patting their backs, the queens that lost lip sync – all sitting under a wall of pork chops, by Dahlia Sin and Miss. Vanjie to OG itself – were presented with the second big joke of the night. “All is not lost,” Ru announced. “You all have a chance to return to the competition. But first, you must give one of your fellow queens the policeman. Let the voting begin! “
That’s right, Ru is leaving the seven potential pork chops to decide on a single lamb for sacrifice. And now that the question has been asked, it’s time for you to ponder your thoughts. Vote for the queen you would choose to send packaging in our poll below leave a comment with your opinion about the 13th season premiere.
–