Top 10 Chi Chi DeVayne Moments on RuPaul's Drag Race

This may have been a mini challenge, but Chi Chi went all out with her cha-cha performance. From her splits to her death drop, she proved that she wasn’t there to play, and that she was there to make it to the top. It seemed as though everyone in the room, competitors and RuPaul alike, was rooting for her as she danced. Her energy was infectious, and it showed everyone early on in Season Eight, that Chi Chi was one to watch out for.

Roxxxy Andrews may have been one to popularize the wigs on wigs look, but the All Star girls each brought their own unique spin to it during this runway challenge. Chi Chi’s look was absolutely gorgeous. The contrast between her beautiful bouncy ombre afro and her sleek, long black straight hair was breathtaking. Her makeup and accessories were also a departure from her usual style, but it totally paid off. Everything from her spiky graphic lower lashes to her gold septum ring made her look like every bit like a bayou princess.

Sometimes we can't help but question the judges' decisions. Even though Chi Chi was ranked quite low for her impersonation of Patti Labelle during the "Divas Lip Sync Live" challenge, her performance was absolutely a standout. Watching her lip sync to "Jealous of My Boogie" showed us that Chi Chi was a natural-born performer. She moved across the stage purposefully, energetically, and emotionally, in a way that truly captivated the audience's attention and made. Todrick Hall's gleeful expression perfectly captured the effect of Chi Chi's performance.

Some queens fear sewing centric challenges, but Chi Chi was always known for her ability to turn unconventional fabrics into beautiful gowns. While her “Baby Drag Realness” look was adorable and her “That’s My Mama Realness” ensemble was a heartwarming homage, her “Book Couture” runway gown stood out for its creative use of paper, incredible texture, and stunning silhouette. Her accessories and makeup also added to the overall boldness and cohesion of the look. She showed the judges that she knew exactly how to make the most out of what she had while staying on theme.

Let the good times roll! When Chi Chi strutted through the werk room doors, she was telling the world to take notice. From her all-black dress made out of garbage bags to her memorable Louisiana drawl, she showed the other competitors that she could pull off a look even with limited resources. This look was so iconic that Chi Chi later did an updated version of it during her All Stars 3 entrance when she wore a ruffled yellow bodysuit made out of—you guessed it—garbage bags!

Chi Chi had already read Bob the Drag Queen to filth during the “Reading is Fundamental” mini challenge, so we knew that we were about to witness something great as soon as Chi Chi pulled out a puppet with scraggly, frizzy hair to imitate Bob for the second time. Chi Chi commented on everything from Bob’s constant jokes to her New York background to—of course—her wigs. Everyone got a good laugh out of it, and Chi Chi even threw in a self-deprecating joke to show that it was all in good fun. Ultimately, her comedic talents secured her a well-deserved mini-challenge win.

Chi Chi may have been in the bottom two during the week’s challenge, but this performance proved that she was truly a force to be reckoned with. The sheer confidence and energy with which she attacked this lip-sync perfectly matched the vibe of Blondie’ New Wave 80’s rock hit. Even the legendary Debbie Harry seemed to be impressed by Chi Chi’s masterful rendition of the song. At the end of the day, Chi Chi’s dancing and facial expressions were more than enough to secure her another week in the race to drag race superstardom.

Even though there were ten other drag queens in this challenge, Chi Chi managed to stand out. Everyone brought their A game, but Chi Chi’s dance moves really had a chance to shine during this “Pitch Perfect” themed sing-off. Who could ever forget Chi Chi lip syncing upside down while doing a handstand? Or her split? Her facial expressions also perfectly matched the group’s tough and confident persona. She put her everything into the performance, and it paid off when RuPaul named her that week’s winner.

Season Eight might not have had the best snatch game episode overall, but Chi Chi’s performance as Eartha Kitt stood out as a beacon of humor amongst some of the other, more lackluster, impressions. Each of her answers to RuPaul’s questions generated some big laughs, and for good reason: she completely embodied the spirit of snatch game. Her portrayal perfectly blended elements from Eartha’s Catwoman days while also elevating and exaggerating her character. Chi Chi as Eartha was the true definition of parody and comedy.

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

Movie Premiere Realness Runway, “Bitch Perfect”
Because Chi Chi Served Us a Hollywood Fantasy

Her Hilarious Confessions, "Supermodel Snatch Game"
Because She was Never Afraid to Give Us Her True Opinions

Her Candidness & Honesty, “New Wave Queens”
Because Her Vulnerability Took Immense Courage

The Realness Photo Shoot, "The Realness"
Because This Queen Deserved a Spot in the Video

Best Drag Runway: Pink Gown, “The Realness"
Because This Look Was Pure Pink Pageant Perfection

As you can tell from this list, Chi-Chi was well-known for being a lip sync assassin, but arguably, there's no performance more iconic than her emotional rendition of Jennifer Holliday's "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." Her heartfelt movements and facial expressions managed to perfectly convey the heartbreak and longing of the song's lyrics. Her stunning black and white realness runway look only added to the overall effect. Even her wardrobe malfunction, which resulted in beads pouring all over the stage, amped up the performance's drama and intensity. This lip sync solidified Chi Chi's status as a true star.