Top 10 Most Improved Queens on RuPaul's Drag Race
#10: Tatianna
Despite a strong performance on season two of “Drag Race,” Tatianna had been repeatedly critiqued over her looks. When she returned many seasons later for “All Stars,” Tatianna had cleaned up her wardrobe and makeup for a distinct look. Her more sophisticated and artful approach won the first week with a powerful spoken-word performance. Tatianna showed growth with more wins this time, and a sassier personality to top it all off. Though she saw less airtime, this season featured more glam dresses and ambitious stage-work overall. So by using her break between appearances to really step up her game, Tatianna has shown viewers a queen with real style.
#9: Trinity K. Bonet
Aside from a mini-challenge win, Trinity K. Bonet struggled through most of season six. Trinity had argued that the show was too far beyond her comfort zone, and she would often fight with other queens. After she revealed that she was HIV-positive on “Untucked,” her attitude brightened and her performances improved as well. It was particularly heartwarming when she delivered a side-splitting commercial with Bianca Del Rio, especially given the tension they’d had on the show. Trinity’s came so far out of her shell that her hilarious stand-up performance was a genuine surprise. This change was so inspiring that RuPaul was crying out of pride at how far Trinity had come in just a few episodes.
#8: Chi Chi DeVayne
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Chi Chi DeVayne started her first run on “Drag Race” so cheaply that she was wearing actual garbage bags when we first saw her. And while DeVayne slayed when it came to dancing, this lack of fashion hurt many of her episodes. Her hilarious Eartha Kitt later on in the Snatch Game let fans know she had been working on her comedy. This devotion to her craft scored her a win for her puppet routine as well. Plus her Dreamgirls lip sync performance was show-stopping enough to earn acclaim from the musical’s cast. Though DeVayne only felt like a true competitor by the end of season eight, her top-notch dresses on “All Stars” gave us even more reason to love her updated aesthetic.
#7: Trinity The Tuck
Season nine was full of strong competitors, and Trinity the Tuck was strong enough to make it to the finale. She came out of her pageant shell and realized she was a very adept comedy queen, which led to her hilarious “Beverly Hills, 90210” parody and a goofy starfish. Trinity improved enough to get a shot at the crown, though she tragically lost to Peppermint’s prop-heavy lip synching. Her “All Stars” run was a knockout on the runway, and her Caitlyn Jenner in Snatch Game showed she was one of the season’s top queens. By the end of “All Stars,” Trinity had noticeably smoothed out every fault in her act. With this superior performance, Trinity easily moved from runner-up to winner in just a few years.
#6: Monique Heart
The work room was a joy to watch on the tenth season thanks to Monique Heart. Alternatively, a season of safe performances and uneven looks was made worse because Monique forgot the words to her last chance lip sync. When she returned for All Stars, Heart had bold makeup and dropped memorable quotes left and right. Monique’s rapid ability to reinvent her drag proved she was a serious contender, so she wound up in the top four. Her wigs also stopped falling off in lip syncs, which didn’t hurt either. From eighth place to a finale contender, Monique Heart showed the power of taking critiques seriously.
#5: Adore Delano
Outfits were constant stumbling blocks for Adore Delano, which made sense given she was already more famous for “American Idol.” Her personality was hailed as her saving grace early on, as Michelle Visage constantly read her sewing and lack of cinching. With determination to prove the judges wrong, Adore rapidly developed her drag until she won two episodes in a row. She wowed everyone during the “Glitter Ball” episode, since she dominated a runway without getting negative comments. This headstrong attitude landed Delano in the finale, and she had scored as many wins as season champ Bianca Del Rio. Adore Delano focused on her weaknesses, and crafted herself into a competitor that was good enough for a return on “All Stars.”
#4: Miss Vanjie
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Vanessa Vanjie Mateo’s fashion got her eliminated right away on season ten, while her goodbye had everyone laughing all season. All this hype earned Miss Vanjie a second chance the following season, where her over-the-top personality shone brightly. Her comedic chops would leave us in stitches during a“Get Out” parody. And she redeemed her poor lip sync by eliminating both Shuga Caine and Plastique Tiara. Plus it was satisfying to see all her unique looks considering that’s what sent Vanjie home originally. Instead of just riding on her fame, Miss Vanjie let audiences know what they missed out on in the first place.
#3: Aja
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While Aja certainly had an All Star personality, much of their regular season was carried by style. They fell short in enough acting challenges and runways to only get to ninth place. And sadly the praise their avant-garde looks got from judges, didn’t make up for these shortcomings. Aja came back on “All Stars” with fierce dance moves, and the artistic vision to secure two more wins than they’d ever gotten before. Their colorful, anime-inspired runways were some of the most standout looks on the season as well. Aja diversified their drag and became a style queen that offered more.
#2: Monét X Change
Mini-challenges allowed Monét X Change to show her talent at first, though it never translated to any larger wins. So by the time she left the tenth season, there was room for her to grow. Fast-forward to “All Stars” four and X Change had sharpened her delivery enough to top a roast and a musical challenge. Monét’s boxy looks from her first season were replaced with sleek designs that avoided looking too manly. With such a turnaround in how she carried herself, Monét redeemed her shortcomings to win the crown with a comeback for the ages. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Jinkx Monsoon Derrick Barry Kameron Michaels Eureka O’Hara
#1: Shangela
Shangela Laquifa Wadley had minimal drag experience when she on “Drag Race”’s second season, and she went home immediately. With more time behindebutedd her, Shangela’s return the next year let her silly personality come through. This meant comedy challenge wins and lots of amazing lip syncs when she was sloppy elsewhere. Shangela still couldn’t sew to save her life, which eventually sunk her ten episodes later than her first try. Her next return on “All Stars” showed a changed queen, as Shangela consistently had chic or funny looks. Given how often Shangela won both the Maxi challenge and the lip sync, it was strange that she didn’t win the season.
