Top 10 Moments from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13

Much to our delight, RuPaul kicked off season 13 by throwing everybody a curveball. The contestants arrived gradually, and were called to lip sync for their lives against one another in pairs - with one group placed in a trio. What?! One queen won, while the other got the “pork chop”. Obviously, we spent the whole episode wondering what that meant as the losing queens gathered at the porkchop loading dock! And that’s not all. In the second episode, the losing lip syncers had to vote off a fellow queen. Elliott with 2 Ts was chosen. They thought they had eliminated her, but she actually joined the winner’s circle instead! Needless to say, the eventual meeting between the two groups was interesting!

Following the season premiere, we got to know both groups of queens - without having to say goodbye to anybody! During the second episode, the members of the “winners’ circle” from week one each wrote a verse - and performed a choreographed dance - to RuPaul’s song “Condragulations”. Elliott with 2 Ts, Olivia Lux, and Symone were among the queens who caught fans’ attention in this maxi challenge. Then, in episode three, the first week’s losing queens, or “B-Squad” repeated the exercise. This time, the song was Ru’s “Phenomenon”. We got to see Denali and Rosé’s talent on display, and realized that this group was full of insanely fierce competitors! We were living for the star power on that stage. In short, this performance was a PHENOMENON!

Tensions between queens inevitably flare on Drag Race. This year, things got heated in “Untucked!” after Tamisha mentioned disliking some of the queens, which Kandy took to heart. It didn’t get much better as the queens discussed the fight in the werk room either! But the arguing had to take a back seat because it was time for the “Disco-Mentary”. As they learned the choreography, Tamisha revealed that she had an ostomy bag in her confessional, and explained that this made the moves more challenging. When both her and Kandy Muse fell flat during the performance, they found themselves lip syncing against one another. While Kandy was victorious, there was no ill will between the two as Tamisha sashayed away. They even hugged!

Denali and Kahmora Hall’s lip sync to Crystal Waters’ “100% Pure Love” was, in a word, epic. Kahmora had a hard time, as her dress was insanely fitted with a train that went on for days. But it didn’t really matter, because Denali came to PLAY. She exceeded everyone’s expectations, and slayed from beginning to end. As we watched Drag Race’s newest lip sync assassin really blossom, we forgot about literally everything else that was happening around us! Denali delivered pure fun and entertainment with everything from her vogueing, to her splits, to her clever and thoughtful moves that matched the song’s lyrics. This is sure to be a lip sync we all watch over and over again in the years to come.

The Ball challenge always gives us some amazing runway looks. Season 13’s theme - “the bag ball” - did just that with its three categories. First there was “Mixed Bag”, where the contestants incorporated the word “bag” into their outfit’s concept. Up next was the “Money Bags” look, which was about opulence. Finally, we had the “Bag Ball Eleganza”, which called for a high-fashion number made of - you guessed it - bags. Notably, Gottmik and Utica really stood out with their creative looks and owned the runway. Conversely, LaLa Ri struggled, with a final look that was messy and unfinished. Honestly, Nicole Byer’s face said it all. However, we’d say LaLa more than made up for her disastrous ball showing with her amazing lip sync against Joey Jay!

Grab some popcorn, get comfortable, and turn on the RuPaulmark channel. If you love a good corny holiday flick like us, this was the challenge for you. The queens were divided into three teams, and each group starred in a different movie: “Misery Loves Company”, “God Loves Flags”, or “April Fool’s Rush In”. We were on the floor laughing, and a big part of why was Symone. Between her hilarious acting in “God Loves Flags” and perfect do-rag train on the runway, it’s no wonder she was named the winner of the week! Plus, with her pronunciation of “flag factory” in this challenge and her soda pop commercial tagline later in the season, Symone cemented herself as the queen of catchphrases.

This season, the Rusical was all about social media. Despite getting a part she really didn’t want, Denali brought the Russian Bot to life hilariously alongside Gottmik. Plus, Rosé really showed everyone what a well rounded performer she is and easily secured the win. Her singing and dancing were flawless, and she completely embodied Foxy with her skilled acting. By contrast, Symone seemed discouraged by the challenge, and sadly it translated on stage. As for Kandy Muse’s performance, it simply lacked refinement. Thus, they were named the bottom two, and delivered a lively lip sync to Fifth Harmony’s “BO$$”. After initially eliminating Kandy, RuPaul declared both queens safe in a last minute pivot, and the double shantay of season 13 was born.

It’s no secret that the Snatch Game is consistently one of the most highly anticipated challenges Drag Race has to offer. And this season was further proof of why. While Utica’s Bob Ross, Elliott with 2 Ts’ Rue McClanahan, and Olivia Lux’s Tabitha Brown really flopped, there were queens who brought the house down with their celebrity impersonations. Namely, Symone’s risky Harriet Tubman paid off, Denali embodied Jonathan van Ness amazingly, and Rosé utilized her Scottish roots to hilariously revive Mary Queen of Scots. Most importantly, Gottmik’s winning impression of Paris Hilton was so gorge that only Paris herself could have competed with it! Needless to say, this episode was definitely worth the wait!

The queens didn’t back away from candidly discussing important subject matter this season, namely the Black Lives Matter movement. Symone in particular was vocal about the importance of using her platform to display Black excellence and speak out about injustice. That’s precisely what she did throughout the season. Notably, for the fascinator runway theme, Symone donned a gorgeous white number that carried a real statement. When she turned around, we saw bullet holes in her dress, and the words “say their names” written on her fascinator in reference to the Black Lives Matter movement. She also put her hands up to represent being unarmed as she exited the runway. This was a striking ensemble with an incredibly powerful message that Symone delivered perfectly.

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

Tamisha Iman's Drag Dynasty, “Phenomenon”
Tandi Iman Dupree Was One of Her Drag Daughters

Celebrity Video Visits, Various
Anne Hathaway & Scarlett Johansson Virtually Visited the Werk Room

A Documentary Special, “RuPaul's Drag Race: Corona Can't Keep a Good Queen Down”
We Learned About the Queens’ Experience Filming During the Age of Coronavirus

Kandy Muse & Rosé’s Performances, “Nice Girls Roast”
They Brought the Laughs to the Nice Girls Roast

Emotional Moments on Stage, “Gettin’ Lucky”
RuPaul & Gottmik Had a Moving Talk