Top 10 Jujubee Moments on RuPaul's Drag Race
#10: “Something He Can Feel” Lip Sync
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While competing for a spot in Season 2’s top three, Jujubee fumbled her “Diva Awards” choreography and landed in the bottom against Tatianna. As the romantic soul ballad began, Jujubee lost her heels and began slowly stripping off her heavy jewelry. Aretha Franklin’s extensive ad-libs require precise lip-syncing, and while Tatianna struggled with the words, Jujubee nailed them. Tossing her sheer cape around and throwing herself to the floor, Juju captured Franklin’s passionate performance - and her mimed screaming got some serious laughs out of Ru. She had already survived two lip syncs, but her perfect balance of glamor and comedy secured her status as a finalist.
#9: “The Grand Finale” Stand-Up Routine
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The final three-part challenge of Season 2 saw the remaining queens compete in a junket that culminated with a live comedy performance. Although she struggled in her mentoring session with Cheri Oteri, Jujubee overcame her nerves and delivered a solid show. With humor and heart, she explored her origins, her unique name, and her grandmother’s thoughts on her drag career. Although she was sadly eliminated later in the episode due to an underwhelming interview and runway look, her stand-up foreshadowed the beloved comedic timing that she would perfect in her next two “Drag Race” appearances.
#8: The Glamazone Suite
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Similarly to the club design challenge from the previous season, the queens of “All Stars” Season 5 teamed up to transform an empty room into a luxury hotel suite experience. Although RuPaul openly preferred another room, Jujubee’s presentation of the “Glamazone” stole the show. From joking that almost every single item in the suite was made by her grandmother to seemingly constantly snacking on a banana, Juju’s killer timing and ironic sweetness served her well here. For her outsized influence on “Drag Race,” Juju was often edged out of challenge wins. In this case, though, she got the acclaim she deserved.
#7: “The Charles Family Backyard Ball”
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For this maxi challenge that combined writing, acting, and fashion, the queens had to create two runway personas, including a fictional friend of Ru’s to attend a family cookout. Jujubee debuted Ping (A.K.A. Amber), a sweet and sassy character wearing a comically huge sunhat. Her subtle physical comedy on the runway was a hit, but the accompanying voiceover was even funnier. Her brutally honest intro line, name reveal, and self-explanatory potato salad recipe had the judges and live audience cracking up. Jujubee has always had killer comedy instincts, and it was satisfying to see her nail this aspect of the challenge - even if her watermelon-inspired look wasn’t quite as strong as her competitors’ homemade outfits.
#6: Opened Up About Her Past
Dating back to her discussion of family in Season 2, Jujubee has always been open on “Drag Race” about her challenging life experiences. Taking a cue from the week’s family-themed challenge, RuPaul asked Jujubee in “All Stars” Season 5 about her relatives in her Werk Room walkthrough. As Jujubee discussed lifelong issues like foster care, chosen family, and sobriety, both she and RuPaul were brought to tears. Fans saw Jujubee at her most vulnerable, discussing heavy topics that aren’t always thoughtfully explored on reality TV. It was touching to see her connect with her friend and mentor RuPaul on a deeper level than ever before.
#5: “Black Velvet” Lip Sync
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Lip sync assassin Sahara Davenport took out several queens in Season 2 - but when it came to performing a sultry rock ballad, she was no match for Jujubee. While her competitor’s pirouettes and kicks felt out of place, Juju channeled the gritty song with exaggerated lip movements and hair hanging messily in her face. She’s rumored to have been overserved backstage, and this was confirmed by Pandora Boxx in a live show according to a post by Reddit user goforbacon. In any case, Jujubee’s perfectly unpolished performance, complete with a sensual floor crawl, captured the Elvis-inspired track’s wistful tone and captivated her peers. The beloved queen demonstrated a wide array of approaches in her many lip-syncs, but this one truly showed off her star quality.
#4: “All Star Eleganza” Look
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In the final episode of “All Stars” Season 5, the queens took to the runway in their most glamorous drag after performing an original verse in Ru’s “Clapback.” Jujubee’s dazzling gold bodysuit, headdress, and orange sash combo was inspired by depictions of the Buddha from her childhood, and it had the judges in awe. Jujubee had always shone on the runway, but this thoughtful interpretation of enduring memories took her into fashion icon territory. From the garment’s intricate design to Jujubee’s immaculate makeup, it was one of the most regal looks to ever grace the main stage.
#3: “Dancing on My Own” Lip Sync
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It came as a shock when the “All Stars” 1 queens had to compete in pairs, but it led to some of the tightest friendships in any season of “Drag Race.” It was all the more devastating, then, when Jujubee and Raven’s team Rujubee landed in the bottom and had to face off in a lip-sync. Robyn’s emotional club anthem was a fitting soundtrack to this touching moment, as both queens held back tears and embraced on the stage. Always one to wear her heart on her sleeve, Jujubee was overcome with emotion at the thought of eliminating her dear friend. But this gut-wrenching moment for Jujubee fans turned beautifully triumphant as Ru announced that both queens had won a spot in the finale.
#2: Season 2 Reading Challenge
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Jujubee’s reading skills clearly hadn’t waned by the time she won “All Stars” Season 5’s shadiest mini-challenge with hilarious digs at her competitors’ track records. But her snarky takedowns in her original season take the cake as some of the most memorable in “Drag Race” her-story. Jujubee had Ru howling as she took aim at Tatianna’s facial hair and compared Jessica Wild to a dog in Lao. But undeniably, her most iconic read of the series was directed at Raven. The imaginative insult would become a touchpoint for future contestants even in later seasons of “Drag Race.” No matter when the library opened, Jujubee’s intellect and whip-smart humor were always on full display, and it was incredible to watch. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “SheMZ” Challenge Jujubee's Riff on the College Admissions Scandal Was Comedy Gold “Werq the World Variety Extravaganza Show” Performance Wowed Her Fellow Queens with Gorgeous Vocals Fran Drescher Impersonation Carried Her Team & Nailed the Actress’s Signature Laugh “Freak Out!” Runway Tackled Club Kid Aesthetics with Aplomb “All-Stars”’ Season One Intro Featured One of Jujubee’s Most Legendary Lines
#1: Eartha Kitt in “Snatch Game of Love”
The beloved actress, singer, and activist had been parodied in two previous iterations of Snatch Game, but Jujubee's take felt brand new. While previous interpretations had leaned heavily on Catwoman references or missed opportunities for jokes, Jujubee perfectly balanced the zaniness and sensuality that made Kitt a legend. Practically every line had Ru gasping for air, with Jujubee’s bizarre remark about keeping guest judge Jeffrey Bowyer Chapman warm landing particularly well. This “Snatch Game” masterclass more than made up for her previous outing as Kimora Lee Simmons, and was made even funnier by her chemistry with Shea Coulée’s Flavor Flav. Although she didn’t take home the win, Jujubee’s performance in this make-or-break challenge will live on as one of the best.
