Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race Lip Syncs That Deserved a Double Shantay

It’s always exciting to see queens’ unique interpretations of the same musical material - and sometimes, they’re quite similar. But for this performance of The Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps,” two contestants with starkly different aesthetics took totally opposite approaches. While Tina played up her gaudy teddy bear outfit and pulled out old-school dance moves, Utica used her quirky yet high-fashion monster look as inspiration for an oddly spooky take on the song. Although Utica’s combination of snarling and strutting won her the lip sync, it was one of the hardest to call in Season 13.

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#9: “Team Latrila vs. Team Brown Flowers”
All Stars Season 1

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Queens often have to adapt their performance styles to fit particular songs, but that wasn’t the case for this number. The choice of show tune perfectly suited Latrice Royale’s old-school glamor as well as Tammie Brown’s retro kookiness. It was particularly thrilling to see Tammie give her all onstage, since her only lip sync on her original season was one of the show’s most ill-prepared. Although both queens were thoroughly entertaining, Latrice was declared the winner, and fan favorites Tammie and Nina Flowers were sent home arguably before their time. But with their sterling reputations and equally lively tributes to Ethel Merman, it wouldn’t have been surprising if both competing “Drag Race” legends had shantayed.

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#8: “Naomi Smalls vs. Gia Gunn”
All Stars Season 4

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One of "All Stars" Season 4's biggest twists put each remaining queen’s spot in the competition at stake as they were forced to lip sync for their life against an already eliminated peer. To the tune of RuPaul’s “Adrenaline,” two of the series’s most modelesque beauties went head to head in a fierce battle. While Gia revealed a sparkly tasseled bodysuit and showed off perfectly timed voguing-inspired moves, Naomi demonstrated gravity-defying flexibility that had the judges cheering. With both queens sporting extra-long wigs and Gia whipping hers all over the stage, the remaining queens were simply in awe. Although Naomi was declared the victor, Gia more than proved herself as a captivating performer.

Some lip syncs are campy and others are emotional, but this Season 3 performance set the bar for sexy. In contrast to more typically dance-heavy numbers, here two friends created an electrifying spectacle through the sultriest game of one-upmanship the show had ever seen. Raja gradually disrobed, strutting around in just a see-through top and lingerie, but Carmen wasn’t about to be upstaged. She got totally naked and joined Raja on the floor, leading to one of the show’s most iconic mainstage moments courtesy of some red lipstick. Carmen had already benefited from a double shantay this season, and had just returned after her first elimination. But this face-off had RuPaul visibly on the edge of her seat and could have warranted a second double-save.

This showdown had two of Season 4’s most energetic performers ripping up the stage to Madonna’s classic “Vogue.” Milan immediately launched into an impressive headstand, while Kenya started off slowly and seductively, posing and tousling her hair. Before long, though, both queens were giving it their all and paying homage to the legendary geometric dance style. On the song’s climactic beat, Milan and Kenya simultaneously dropped to their knees and then into matching splits, and the judges ate it up. The contestants’ similarly upbeat lip sync styles didn’t serve them in every situation, but here they combined to produce one of the show’s most impressive all-out dance-offs.

Before she sent fellow lip sync assassin Morgan McMichaels packing en pointe, Sahara knocked a “Drag Race” legend out of the running in the Season 2 premiere. If you ask us, though, this lip sync was a total toss-up. Shangela held her own against her college friend, immediately removing her skirt and breaking into choreography. In an iconic moment, Sahara responded by tossing her shoes and leaping across the stage into a split. The queens' existing connection only heightened the tension brewing in the performance, as they kicked, tumbled, and cartwheeled to RuPaul’s “Cover Girl.” With both queens pulling out every trick in the book and wigs flying, it was one of the wildest, if not most polished, battles the show had ever seen.

This Season 1 face-off is considered by some fans to be the original double shantay that should have been. The edit favored eventual winner Bebe’s more expressive performance, but Ongina gave a regal and emotional rendition of Britney Spears’ empowerment anthem “Stronger.” In a move that would later become a lip sync cliché, Bebe snatched her own wig to reveal her hair underneath, while Ongina dramatically tossed her headpiece near the song’s climax. In the end, frontrunner Ongina was controversially eliminated, and it’s understandable why this lip sync had one of the most hotly debated outcomes in “Drag Race” her-story.

This lip sync came at a pivotal moment in Season 7 as spots in the final four remained up for grabs. When their Hello Kitty-inspired looks weren’t loved by the judges, two highly talented dancers with opposing drag styles went head-to-head to the tune of Katy Perry’s “Roar.” Both queens went all out and pulled off some seriously impressive stunts, with pageant veteran Kennedy narrowly eclipsing quirky fan-favorite Katya. While Kennedy’s head-banging, stomping, and acrobatic jumps captured the song’s fighting spirit, Katya’s more understated take tapped into its hopeful message. This easily stands out as one of the series’s most inspirational and uplifting lip syncs, and it had the other queens screaming the performers’ praises.

It’s no secret that Trinity was a tough opponent in Season 6, with performances besting April Carrión and Milk already under her belt by the time she faced Adore Delano. In front of legendary choreographer and singer Paula Abdul, the queens gave a hot and heavy interpretation of her house-inspired song “Vibeology.” This number had everything we want from a lip sync: on-point dance moves, serious sensuality, and even a good dose of humour, thanks in part to the queens’ wacky animal costumes. It was Trinity’s third time in the bottom - a notoriously hard position to emerge from unscathed. But if ever there was a reason to keep her around, this chemistry-filled duet was it.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Brooke Lynn Hytes vs. Vanessa Vanjie Mateo”, Season 11
Season 11’s Star-Crossed Lovers Forced Into Battle

“Kameron Michaels vs. Miz Cracker”, Season 10
A Lip Sync Assassin And Cerebral Comedienne Go Head-To-Head

“Morgan McMichaels vs. Sonique”, Season 2
Some Of The Tightest Choreography To Grace The Mainstage

“Joslyn Fox vs. Laganja Estranja”, Season 6
A Raunchy Showdown With A Perfectly Timed Double Split

“Manila Luzon vs. Delta Work”, Season 3
One Of The Zaniest Performances “Drag Race” Has Ever Seen

Season 5’s biggest rivalry between two pageant legends came to a head in this performance of Paula Abdul’s aptly titled “Cold Hearted.” It’s widely understood as one of the show's most impressive and evenly matched face-offs, with both queens leaving no stone unturned in their quest to outperform the other. Although Coco had already shown us her dancing prowess against Jade Jolie, she demonstrated mastery over this song’s rapidfire rap verse. And while Alyssa threw herself to the ground with abandon and nailed a spinning jump into a split, Coco put her gigantic sleeves to creative use. With the dramatics turned up to 11, this “Lip Sync for Your Life” felt more like a battle to the death, and could have easily gone either way.