While I loved the concept of this week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the elimination is one I refuse to accept. It’s getting down to the wire and the competition is stiff. Let’s talk about it!
The queens returned to the workroom after the elimination of Elliott With 2 T’s. Utica celebrated her lipsync win. Her exact words that she was filled with a spirit and ready to win a challenge! The queens also addressed Symone‘s inspiring runway look, which was great to see! However, the most exciting part of the opening sequence was the reveal of Tina Burner‘s half-shaven hair.
The mini-challenge for this week was a lot of fun. The queens did a psychic reading with Char Margolis. We got to hear some tea, but we also got to see some closure for Tina and her dad, but also Utica and the cow she raised. Both equally important.
Char even paired the queens for the max-challenge. She put Tina and Rosé, Olivia Lux and Denali, Utica and Symone, and finally, Gottmik and Kandy Muse. Char said these pairs could learn the most from each other. So, that is interesting.
It was really cute to watch the queens take on the personas of their castmates. Rosé admitted, however, that Tina’s drag was not her favorite. However, they seemed like they were having fun together! Symone was not as lucky. She felt anxious in some of these kooky outfits we’ve come to know, and love, from Utica! Utica also struggled, concerned that Symone’s concept would appropriate Black culture.
Kandy and Gottmik faced the most roadblocks. While they are both makeup artists by trade, they had the biggest size difference and had to make their own garments. While talking with RuPaul, Gottmik shared that she is adopted, which was a fun fact to learn.
The queens hit the main stage to practice their performance as each other before presenting it to the judges. Olivia and Denali seemed to understand each other well while Tina thought Rosé was being herself on the runway, not Tina. Meanwhile, Utica really shocked us all by instantly picking up the Symone walk.
While the queens were prepping for the runway, Gottmik opened up about how her femininity prevented her from transitioning for so long because she thought she had to be a macho man. She realized that femininity did not equal gender, and after transitioning she has lived her true life. It was a great conversation to see play out on tv.
On the main stage, Ru was joined by Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, and Loni Love. I loved watching all the queens impersonate each other on the runway. I thought everyone did a great job taking on their partner’s runway personas. Gottmik seemed to have a great time as Kandy and I thought Olivia had Denali’s mannerisms down.
As for the critiques, the queens would be judged as pairs. It was clearly hard to judge this challenge. Everyone got some positive critiques, which made it a bit difficult to tell who were going to find themselves in the bottom two.
Then, as I was struggling to pick my own bottom two, Ru made the queens pick who they thought should be eliminated this evening. The majority of votes went to Olivia, but Kandy took the most offense over one comment from Denali, which felt unnecessary.
In the end, it was Symone and Utica won the challenge, through all the anxieties they faced. Olivia and Denali were not as lucky, falling into the bottom two. The pair faced off to Shackles (Praise You) by Mary Mary, which is a gospel song? Incredible. It was a great battle between both queens and maybe even deserved a double stay? Rather than that other one we got? Anyway, Olivia got to stay while Denali had to skate away.
I’ll see you next week as the queens create their own soft drink for some reason.
