Ranking the Runway Categories From RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13
#12: “Yellow, Gorgeous!”
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After the queens debuted “Social Media: The Unverified Rusical,” they took to the stage in sunny looks that didn’t wow us as much as others this season. Since this week’s category simply specified a color, it doesn’t win any points for creativity. That said, it gave the queens plenty of freedom in designing their monochromatic looks. The judges enjoyed many of them, including Gottmik’s crash test dummy, Kandy Muse’s Beyoncé homage, and Symone’s neon fur coat. But overall, this repetitive runway didn’t allow for the kind of brilliant interpretations of a theme that fans love to see on “Drag Race,” which is why it lands in this spot.
#11: “Drag Doppelgängers”
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The “Makeover Challenge” is a “Drag Race” classic and has recurred since Season 1, with each queen typically assigned a layperson to transform. But in this episode, they were given a fellow competitor to make over in their image. Was the twist due to filming constraints? It seems plausible - but in any case, we missed the regular people who are usually the stars of this inspiring runway. It was entertaining to watch the queens impersonate their counterparts, and most were instantly recognizable. But with two of the four pairs producing relatively lacklustre looks, this spin on an iconic category didn’t quite hit the mark as others have.
#10: “Lamé, You Stay”
With a focus on the metallic fabric, Season 13’s first mainstage category wasn’t the most original. The queens did put the material to creative use, pulling off varied concepts like Old Hollywood glamor, a boxer, and even a tin man. But since the mini-challenge had the contestants serve eye-catching looks channeling “Daytime Drama, Mama!” and “Nighttime Is The Right Time,” the episode’s main runway didn’t stand out quite as much. The judges did feel like some contestants like Gottmik and Lala Ri shone in gold and silver outfits. Ultimately, though, the lamé theme didn’t produce as many jaw-dropping fashion moments as others.
#9: “We're Here, We're Sheer, Get Used to It”
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While the winners of the first episode’s lip syncs tackled lamé looks, the losers were assigned translucent materials for their first mainstage category. The judges had high praise for some queens, with Ru calling Tamisha Iman's homemade gown among the most beautiful the show had ever seen. Although most ensembles were pretty, few used sheer fabrics to present concepts that could really be called innovative - and while Rosé took a unique approach with cellophane, her dress was called “crafty.” It didn’t help that the highly memorable “Lady and the Vamp” runway mini-challenge was a part of this episode’s judging. This category does win points for producing two stunning outfits, but most contestants didn’t take advantage of the sheer possibilities of see-through fabrics.
#8: “Little Black Dress”
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It’s surprising that “Drag Race” hadn’t yet based a runway on this classic garment. It proved to be a simple but versatile theme that allowed fashion-forward queens to shine. Given the understated category, many contestants’ outfits were more subdued than usual - and some in the fandom felt that they erred on the side of basic. That said, the always-chic dress did inspire some original outfits, like Gottmik’s tiny loincloth and Kandy Muse’s LBD illusion. And while Symone’s homage to RuPaul’s ‘90s hairstyles - with a dress made from Senegalese twists - didn’t receive a mainstage critique, it was a hit with many viewers. This runway received mixed reviews from the judges, but its concept was long overdue and it featured some acclaimed fashions.
#7: “BEAST Couture”
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This category referenced a hilarious stand-up routine in “All-Stars” Season 2 in which Alyssa Edwards called Michelle Visage a “beast.” With an unconventional concept that asked the contestants to make a monstrous look high fashion, this theme scores major points for originality. We got to see usually glamorous queens channel camp in kooky costumes, with Olivia Lux dressed as a horned blue creature and Symone donning a fursuit-inspired outfit that was called “breathtaking.” Not every contestant’s fashion choices made sense, though, with Kandy’s alien look confusing the judges and fans alike. With a self-referential premise that produced a slew of unique interpretations, this category was perfectly solid, if not the most elevated.
#6: “Drag Excellence”
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This kind of category is a staple of “Drag Race,” and it’s often reserved for late in the season when the queens are asked to bring their best to the runway. Since it’s an age-old prompt that’s intentionally vague, it doesn’t win any points for originality. But, with no specific theme to be interpreted, each contestant was allowed to shine in their own way. Even though some queens had arguably looked better in previous episodes, the judges loved the presentations across the board. Symone’s huge purple gown and jewelled cornrows took the cake for glamor, while Gottmik’s spotted look was praised for its inventiveness. The concept wasn’t anything new, but the fashion was EVERYTHING.
#5: “Haute Pockets”
When you think about high fashion, your mind probably doesn’t jump to this aspect of garmentry. But in one of the season’s last episodes, the queens were tasked with elevating this underappreciated fashion feature. Some succeeded: Gottmik’s trench coat paired with a bodysuit made of watches received acclaim for its sense of humor. Symone, meanwhile, produced an instant classic by going out of the box - and into one giant pocket. Although the judges - and many fans - agreed that Kandy’s outfit seriously missed the mark, its sheer bizarreness helped make this runway undeniably memorable. While some fashions were oddly weak for this late in the game, the unusual focus and the contestants’ creativity combined to make this category stand out.
#4: “Bead It”
Unlike some other more conceptual categories, this one was based around a craft material. But despite its humble connotations, this theme lent itself to some truly jaw-dropping presentations. Many queens looked as good as they ever have, with Kandy Muse’s wide-brimmed hat and Utica’s bloody wedding gown garnering high praise. Although she didn’t win the challenge, Symone’s outfit crafted from hair beads was a highlight, and got the highest possible compliment from Ru. While some queens like Tina Burner may not have made much of this unremarkable prompt, many of her peers managed to make beads the height of glamor.
#3: “Trains for Days”
Instead of simply specifying a part of a garment, this category demanded that the train in question be huge. The prompt’s outsized nature resulted in the queens producing some of the season’s most eye-catching looks. It also saw contestants execute concepts that had never been seen on the runway, like a giant pierced tongue courtesy of Joey Jay, or Symone’s extra-long durag. The judges and many fans also thought Kahmora Hall, a queen known for her fashion sense, outdid herself with a gold dragon-inspired gown. It was thrilling to see each queen make what could have been just a long piece of fabric into a true work of art.
#2: “Fascinating Fascinators”
This category focused on an accessory that doesn’t always get to shine on “Drag Race.” But many queens drew praise from the judges by taking the already extravagant headpiece to even greater, gravity-defying heights. The panel raved over Gottmik’s punk-inspired look that featured an oversized safety pin and helped her cement a challenge win. Symone graced the runway with a tribute to victims of police violence, sharing one of the most powerful messages seen on “Drag Race.” Even Elliott With 2 Ts’ one-legged flamingo managed to be entertaining, if not exactly well-received. This unique theme brought out the queens’ individual points of view for a memorable collision of fashion, art, and politics on the runway.
#1: “Mixed Bag, Money Bags, and Bag Ball Eleganza”
This iteration of the show’s perennial “Ball Challenge” featured, in Ru’s words, one of the show’s best looks ever - and one of the worst. A whopping 36 outfits made for a fashion-filled episode, with something for every viewer. The first two prompts were open to interpretation, calling for a bag-themed ensemble and a glamorous female character in the style of “Executive Realness,” respectively. If that weren’t enough, the final from-scratch look required boundless creativity on the fly. Some queens, like Gottmik, excelled across all three categories, while others like Utica particularly shone on the design front. With an expansive concept offering a deep look into each queen’s creative process, this category was the ultimate for any fashion-minded “Drag Race” fan.
