Top 10 Katya Moments on RuPaul's Drag Race
Privet! Welcome to MsMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top ten Katya moments on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” For this list, we’ll be choosing the fan favorite “Drag Race” contestants’ best and most memorable moments from her time on the show. So, watch out for spoilers for Season 7 and “All Stars 2” from this point onwards.
#10: Her “Step It Up” Lip Sync
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After failing to make the Top Four in Season 7, Katya was back with a vengeance in “All Stars 2.” In the 7th episode, Katya and Detox shone in the makeover challenge, transforming their mother and sister respectively into members of their drag family. Their impressive work earned them each a Lip Sync For Your Legacy spot, performing to one of RuPaul’s own tracks: “Step It Up.” As a dance-heavy song with few lyrics, it’s not the easiest to lip sync to, but Katya had us grinning the whole way through. By flexing her comedic muscles, she put up a very good fight. Unfortunately, Lip Sync Assassin Detox just pipped her to the win.
#9: Her “All Stars 2” Reads
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Reading is not only fundamental to “Drag Race,” but also to any comedy queen worth her salt. Going into “All Stars 2,” Katya was up against some pretty stiff competition from the likes of Alaska, Detox, Ginger Minj and Tatiana - all past contestants with infamously sharp tongues. None of them, however, had the nerve to go where Katya went when RuPaul opened the library for the returning queens to read each for filth. Katya got off to a strong start with this burn directed at Ginger. It turned out she was just getting warmed up, though, as she followed the read up with this devastating one for Roxxxy Andrews. This was, of course, a reference to Roxxxy’s heartbreaking story in season five.
#8: Her John Waters Tribute Sketch
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As the ninth episode of Season 7 proved, Katya’s dark sense of humor pairs perfectly with the weird world of director John Waters. In this main challenge, the queens were paired off to recreate scenes from some of the director’s classic films. The LGBTQ pop culture legend also served as a guest judge, so, y’know - no pressure at all! Having come in joint first for her inspired Little Richard impersonation in the “Snatch Game” Kennedy Davenport made for a great scene partner for Katya. Not to be outdone, though, Katya completely let loose in their “Cha Cha Heels” tribute, from her smeared makeup to throwing her body on the floor. All in the name of comedy!
#7: Her “Cherry Bomb” Lip Sync
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Can you believe Katya didn’t win a single Lip Sync For Your Legacy during “All Stars?” Neither can we. Perhaps the closest she came to bagging herself a $10,000 tip was in the sixth episode when she faced off against Alaska. The song was Joan Jett’s “Cherry Bomb,” and even before the music started playing, Katya embodied rocker chick grit with her grunge-inspired outfit. When the track kicked in, she locked the judges with an intense stare, before leaping into a split jump in time for the chorus. She also didn’t bat an eyelash when rival, Alaska sidled up to her and licked the side of her face, for which Ru awarded her the win. Soooo, drag IS a “contact sport” after all..?
#6: Her Best DESPY Awards One-Liner
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Most seasons of “Drag Race” feature some kind of live, non-musical performance - whether it’s doing a stand-up routine, presenting a convention panel, or, in the case of Season 7, hosting an awards show. The DESPY Awards - a play on the ESPY awards - saw Katya team up with Mrs. Kasha Davis as co-hosts, with the queens all voting in categories that included “Most Busted Queen” and “Shadiest Queen.” The host role is a tough one, as there’s lots of pressure to keep things moving along and keep the audience entertained at the same time. While Katya didn’t win the challenge, she did take home the “Meatiest Tuck Award,” which she graciously accepted with one of her best one-liners ever. It’s classic Katya.
#5: Her Best Looks
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A lot of fashion queens have strut through those werk room doors, but no-one can do Katya like Katya. In Season 7, she delivered several breakthrough runway moments that gave us a strong taste of her edgy, camp aesthetic. Her “Sharknado” inspired-look and “Baberaham Lincoln” outfit for the bearded runway theme were perfect early examples. But, Katya really came into her own when she returned for “All Stars 2,” bringing with her even more off-the wall costumes. We loved her Esther Williams-themed latex mermaid, and her satanic 2-in-1 dress - ala “Rosemary’s Baby.” But, it was perhaps her “‘80s Russian literary agent” outfit that had us gagging the most.Who else but Katya could make a burgundy tracksuit look like high drag?
#4: Her “All Stars 2” Finale Speech
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When Katya made it all the way to the finale of “All Stars 2,” a lot of fans were expecting to see her snatch the crown from Alaska - who was the one to beat. Then, when she delivered her impassioned speech to the judges explaining why she deserved to win, it felt like that fate was sealed. She began by channelling her trademark Russian persona, proving that, even under immense pressure, Katya is always down to clown. What we weren’t expecting was for her to pivot so expertly into vulnerability; dropping the accent to show she was letting us see the real her. After tearfully thanking RuPaul for believing in her back in Season 7, she then ended as she began. What an emotional rollercoaster!
#3: Her “Krisis Kontrol” Spray Commercial Spray Commercial
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Katya has always been open about her struggle with depression and anxiety on the show, a dark side that makes her super relatable to lots of her fans. That’s why, in “All Stars 2,” it made total sense for her to make this honesty part of her branding as a drag queen for the “Drag Fish Tank” challenge. Her idea for an anti-anxiety product that didn’t really exist was greeted with scepticism by RuPaul and “The Profit”’s Marcus Lemonis. Katya stuck to her guns though, putting comedy over practicality for hilarious results. In turning her greatest weakness into her a strength, Katya not only had us laughing, but she also had us connecting with her even more.
#2: Her Bjork “Snatch Game” Performance
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Katya impersonating Bjork in the “All Stars 2” Snatch Game was a match made in heaven. The Icelandic singer is infamous for her avant garde style and quirky demeanor, so, to be honest, all Katya had to do was tweak her Russian accent and crank up the weird. It’s a great lesson in knowing your strengths and leaning into them. But, though Bjork was very much in Katya’s lane, she still had to be quick on her feet coming up with responses for Ru plus, she had to contend with a tour de force performance from Alaska as Mae West. The pair ended up with a rare double-win, which is impressive considering a lot of Katya’s jokes were just random noises.
#1: Her “Read U, Wrote U” Verse
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The “All Stars 2” supergroup performance remains one of the best “Drag Race” has ever seen, and Katya was a key part of that. At the time, the complex choreography, having to write and record a rap, and performing live on-stage was one of the hardest challenges the show had had, and the final four were feeling the pressure. Katya also had two very tough acts to follow after Alaska and Detox slayed their verses in the final performance, but from her first few lines she absolutely killed it: It wasn’t just her sharp lyrics that wowed us and the judges, though. Katya also proved she could nail a dance routine, too. And, she looked more stunning than ever. A true triple threat!
