Every RuPaul's Drag Race Season: RANKED!
#17: Season 1 (2009)
All the Lip Syncs From RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13: Ranked!
We wouldn’t have Drag Race as we know it today were it not for this season. But as the very first iteration of the show, it faced some challenges. The series was understandably still finding its groove at this point, so it’s missing a lot of classics like Snatch Game. And the weird filter that covered the whole season is something queens on the show joke about to this day! Not to mention the cash prize was pretty modest compared to what it is now. But despite its shortcomings, season 1 had a raw vulnerability, introduced us to some seriously fierce queens like BeBe Zahara Benet and Ongina, and set the tone for the iconic franchise that is “RuPaul's Drag Race”.
#16: All Stars 4 (2018-19)
Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars 7 Moments
The cast this season was a good one, with fan favorites like Latrice Royale and Manila Luzon participating. There was no shortage of iconic queens that came to slay, and no shortage of twists either. First, in a shocking decision, Naomi Smalls eliminated Manila Luzon, one of the season’s front runners. We can’t deny it was a smart move, but it was also kind of a bummer to see Manila robbed like that. And there’s more. The finale saw RuPaul announce a tie between Trinity the Tuck and Monét X Change. Needless to say, the decision to crown two queens was a pretty controversial one amongst fans. At the end of the day, All Stars 4 just didn’t quite live up to its potential.
#15: All Stars 1 (2012)
Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 6 Moments
As the first season of All Stars, it was understandably the least refined in terms of format. As such, this season was certainly uniquely interesting. The queens had to compete in teams of two, so their fates were tied to each other. Plus, the eliminations were still done the old fashioned way. There were no lipsticks or lip syncs for your legacy yet, which is a shame. Of course, this season had a lot of great moments and amazing queens. But the decision to pair them up was met with anger and skepticism by some who felt that it was far from fair. Simply put, this season is a good time, though it lacks a lot of what sets All Stars apart.
#14: Season 10 (2018)
Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race Season 14 Moments
There are two words that perfectly describe this season: Miss Vanjiiiiiie. Granted, that was a moment from the end of the first episode, but it gave us one of the most memed moments in Drag Race herstory. But there was more to this season than just Vanessa Vanjie Mateo’s unforgettable exit. The Vixen provided viewers with a hefty dose of drama, Eureka got to redeem herself after her unfortunate season 9 exit, and Aquaria snatched the crown by proving she had substance as well as style. All in all, while season 10 isn’t exactly the show’s most memorable, it’s certainly enjoyable to watch.
#13: Season 7 (2015)
Top 10 Moments from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13
Known as one of the show's more lackluster seasons, season 7 had a mix of highs and lows. The cast was full of powerhouses like Trixie Mattel, Ginger Minj, Pearl, Katya Zamolodchikova, and Kennedy Davenport, just to name a few. And Snatch Game was a highlight. Yet for some reason, the group just didn't produce as much synergy or as many re-watchable moments as casts from other seasons did. And to this day, Violet Chachki being crowned “America’s Next Drag Superstar” remains one of the show’s more questionable outcomes. Overall, it was just a bit boring, which is both shocking and disappointing considering the amount of star power that was present.
#12: Season 11 (2019)
Ranking the Runway Categories From RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13
This season saw the return of Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, and the birth of a relationship between her and Brooke Lynn Hytes. Needless to say, anytime Miss Vanjie is on our screens, we’re happy. We also have to give a shout out to the diva talk show challenge. The Britney team delivered, but it was honestly a bit cringe-worthy watching the Mariah Carey team mess up so royally. As for lip syncs, Yvie Oddly and Brooke Lynn Hytes delivered a showdown to remember when they performed Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry”. The best part of this season was witnessing Yvie’s rise. Her win solidified the fact that being different is a good thing, and we’re here for it.
#11: All Stars 5 (2020)
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 5: Meet the Queens!
This season, the lip sync for your legacy was done a little differently. RuPaul named one all star each week instead of two, and that queen went up against a past “lip sync assassin”. When the All Star triumphed, they chose who to send home. But when the assassin emerged victorious, the group’s votes decided who was sent packing. This twist certainly made things more interesting. Look no further than the drama between India Ferrah and Alexis Mateo. Plus, queens like Jujubee and Miz Cracker kept things interesting. But at the end of the day, All Stars 5 was Shea Couleé’s redemption season. She was vulnerable and honest as she processed her season 9 loss, which gave the season a lot of heart.
#10: Season 8 (2016)
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This season belonged to Bob the Drag Queen. Now one of the franchise's most instantly recognizable faces, Bob was poised to win from the very beginning with her consistently strong performances. There wasn't a whole lot of suspense when the time came for the grand finale. In other words, there was no underdog rising to the top storyline this season. But we can move past that because of what a joy it was watching Bob and other amazing queens like Naomi Smalls, Kim Chi, and the late Chi Chi Devayne do their thing this season. However, with only 10 episodes, season 8 was here for a good time, not a long time.
#9: Season 12 (2020)
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A lot of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent emerged from this season of Drag Race. From Jackie Cox's "Persian-ality" to Gigi Goode's impeccable style, to winner Jaida Essence Hall's flair, the queens were fun and endearing to watch. Not to mention the Rusical was probably one of the best ever in the herstory of the show! But because of the coronavirus pandemic, the finale had to go virtual. Luckily though, they found a way to make it work. Overall, season 12 provided viewers with heart, laughs, and great performances.
#8: All Stars 3 (2018)
Top 10 Memorable RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars 4 Moments
This season of All Stars was filled with powerhouses, from Shangela to Trixie Mattel to BenDeLaCreme. And season 1 winner Bebe Zahara Benet got to return because let's face it, she didn't get the same recognition - or money - as other winners. It was definitely an entertaining season to watch, with multiple moments that made us audibly gasp. Chief among these is BenDeLaCreme voting herself off the show. And while that was certainly a shocking moment, it wasn’t the season’s most disappointing. That honor goes to when the eliminated queens returned. They threw Shangela under the bus, thus robbing her of the chance to win despite her consistently amazing performances. Despite that, this season delivered on all fronts.
#7: Season 3 (2011)
The Best Lip Sync of Every RuPaul's Drag Race Season
This is where fans got their first look at Manila Luzon, fell in love with Raja's impeccable taste, and saw Shangela come back for a second chance at the crown. Of course, it’s also the season that gave us the now infamous line "drag is not a contact sport", after Mimi Imfurst got a little too up close and personal during a lip sync for your life. But the one thing that really set this season apart from the others was the two competing cliques: the "Heathers'' vs. the "Boogers". It was definitely something to watch them go head to head! From the drama to the abundance of crafty challenges, there was no shortage of captivating moments this season.
#6: Season 2 (2010)
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 14: Meet the Queens!
While the production value was still a little low (it was only the second season after all), you could tell after this season that the show wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. With icons like Jujubee, Raven, and Morgan McMichaels gracing our screens, there was never a dull moment. Season 2 had its fair share of riveting cat fights, with the drama between Tyra and the other girls taking center stage. Plus, this is when we got our first taste of Snatch Game. After watching Tatianna's unforgettable Britney impression, we were hooked forever. To put it simply, season 2 cemented Drag Race’s as a television staple, so it’s definitely one for the books!
#5: Season 9 (2017)
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12: Preview & Predictions | MsMojo's Drag Race RuCap
The spotlight was on the lip syncs this year. They gave us some of the most rewatchable moments not only of the season, but of the show in its entirety. First, there was Valentina's masked Ariana Grande lip-sync debacle that we’re still not over. Then, this season introduced the lip sync for the crown format that is now standard for the show! And it certainly didn’t disappoint. Sasha Velour's amazing floral reveal has gone down in the Drag Race herstory books as one of the most memorable performances ever. This season also produced one of the show's strongest casts, with many of the queens featured now finding themselves amongst the best-known faces from the show.
#4: Season 5 (2013)
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We saw a true comedy queen be crowned “America’s Next Drag Superstar” when Jinkx Monsoon won this season. There was also plenty of drama, with a number of rivalries between queens taking shape. Notably, season 5 introduced us to Alyssa Edwards and Coco Montrese, and we got to feast on all the drama between them. We also saw the formation of the oft-maligned Rolaskatox alliance! Jinkx winning was definitely a nice victory, since many felt like she was belittled by the other girls throughout the season despite constantly showcasing her talents. All the competitors this season were heavy hitters, and many, like Alaska, got a second chance during All Stars. There’s no doubt that season 5 had a great mix of drama and laughs.
#3: Season 4 (2012)
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This season stands out for a few reasons. We got to meet the incomparable Latrice Royale, who is now one of the franchise's most beloved faces. Plus, it marked Chad Michaels’ entrance onto the Drag Race scene. As for drama, fans were treated to an unforgettable showdown between Sharon Needles, self-proclaimed weirdo, and Phi Phi O'Hara, pageant queen. And who could ever forget the intense moment where Willam got disqualified? Season 4 didn't disappoint in terms of lip syncs either, with Dida Ritz delivering an unforgettable performance to "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)". Above all, Sharon Needles' victory proved that you can be a drag queen that goes against the grain and still take home the crown, which was a win for outcasts everywhere.
#2: Season 6 (2014)
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This was the year we were graced with the presence of Drag Race greats like the hilarious winner Bianca del Rio, the beautiful Courtney Act, the iconic BendelaCreme, and the one and only Adore Delano, just to name a few. It’s no wonder it’s one of the show’s most beloved seasons! The contestants were all engaging and genuine, which made you want to root for them. Plus, the challenges were exciting to watch. From “Shade: The Rusical”, to “Oh No She Betta Don't”, to the wedding makeovers, they were entertaining and well-balanced in terms of style and themes. There’s no doubt that season 6 of Drag Race really set the bar for all those that came after it.
#1: All Stars 2 (2016)
Top 10 Moments From RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars 2
This is when All Stars really found itself, with the teams being replaced with a format where the contestants eliminated one another each week. Because it was the first season to do this, there was no real roadmap for the queens to follow when it came to strategy. That’s what made it so captivating to watch. We also saw the return of Rolaskatox, but this time Alaska really set herself apart and shone so bright she won the crown! Plus, from the amazing "Shut Up and Drive" lip sync to the glorious “Read U Wrote U” performance, All Stars 2 gave us an abundance of entertainment. From the challenges to the runways to the relationships between the queens, there were simply no misses this season.
