Top 10 Most Rewatched RuPaul's Drag Race Lip Syncs

The only thing better than a mesmerizing lip sync is one done right in front of the song’s artist. That’s the case in the season 12 premiere, when the top two queens Widow Von’Du and Gigi Goode face off to Nicki Minaj’s “Starships.” Both queens know they have to bring it, and boy, do they deliver an unforgettable performance! Gigi proves to be much more than just a look queen, drawing upon a host of quirky antics that leave the judges in stitches. But it’s Widow who truly embodies the number. Her relentless splits and uncomfortable acrobatics elevate this from an ordinary “Drag Race” lip sync to “Cirque du So-gay”!

All Stars 1 gets a lot of flak for its structure and challenges. But we have the unfortunate season to thank for one of the most heart-wrenching lip syncs in “Drag Race” herstory. In the penultimate episode, Jujubee and Raven lip sync for their lives to “Dancing On My Own” by Robyn. The stakes are high, as the winner will move on to the grand finale. After forming a close emotional bond, the two queens put their friendship on display, delivering a restrained yet incredibly emotional rendition of Robyn’s sad banger. By the end of the performance, the judges are left speechless, proving that sometimes, the best lip syncs don’t require splits and death drops.

To retain their spot in the competition, Roxxxy Andrews and Alyssa Edwards have to battle to the tune of Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair.” There are many things that make this lip sync instantly memorable. For one, Roxxxy pulls off a feat that was groundbreaking at the time - a wig reveal - which gave the judges LIFE. Despite this, Alyssa holds her ground, flipping her entire body around the stage and destroying her shoe in the process. When the iconic lip sync is over, Roxxxy breaks down and shares her story, which leads RuPaul to deliver a moving speech about chosen families. The entire performance is a journey that never loses its impact, no matter how many times you rewatch it.

In Season 4, DiDa Ritz unofficially cemented herself as a “lip sync assassin” with this phenomenal performance against The Princess. Both queens were given the herculean task of breathing life into Natalie Cole’s “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” in front of the late singer. From the jump, DiDa defines what an electrifying performance should be. While The Princess gives her best, DiDa fully becomes the song, shuffling around the stage and taking everyone to church in the process. The largely one-sided battle is now regarded as one of the best lip syncs in “Drag Race” herstory, and we couldn’t agree more. In the wise words of Latrice Royale, “that is high drag, at its finest.”

When Trinity nabbed her first ever maxi challenge win, it was clear that we’d be getting an enter-taint-ing lip sync for your legacy. As if that wasn’t already exciting enough, it was against the extraordinary Laganja Estranja. From the moment Laganja drops onto the stage, she seemingly has Trinity shaking in her boots, which says a lot considering the latter’s phenomenal skills. Set to Dua Lipa’s “Physical,” Laganja pulls out all the tricks in her arsenal - splits, kicks, flips, backbends and some moves that defy categorization. Trinity also fights hard, giving an incredibly choreographed routine and putting on a show. In the end, Laganja wins this lip sync, but the only loser is anyone who hasn’t watched it fifty times already.

The feud between these two queens comes to a head when they land in the bottom and duke it out to Paula Abdul’s “Cold Hearted.” Alyssa proves her worth as the dancing queen, mesmerizing the judges with her hand choreography and a jump split that probably hurt everyone watching. She’s only slightly edged out by Coco. The latter contestant uses every fiber of her being, drawing attention to her pristine lip syncing and twirling her sleeves like a wind turbine. It could easily be a double shantay. But this is the third stint in the bottom for each of these queens, so it feels like someone has to go.

When Tatianna and Alyssa Edwards went head-to-head on this All Star season, the stakes were sky-high. For a chance to return to the competition, the two queens had to lip sync to Rihanna’s classic, “Shut Up and Drive.” Donning bodysuits, knee-high boots, and similar blonde wigs, they serve up a performance that feels more like a choreographed number than a competitive lip sync. With stunning hair-ography, sultry moves and perfectly timed jump splits executed on the same beat, they lay the blueprint for what a double shantay-worthy performance is. Neither Alyssa nor Tatianna was inducted into the Drag Race Hall of Fame that year, but this iconic lip sync has a permanent spot in our hearts.

After giving subpar performances in the RuPaulmark challenge, Denali and Kahmora Hall have to impress the judges by lip syncing to Crystal Waters’ “100% Pure Love.” From the moment the song starts, Denali proves she’s the season’s lip sync assassin with her impressive voguing, duckwalk, and pantomime of the song’s lyrics. Although she’s restricted by her gorgeous gown, Kahmora remains poised throughout the performance and is graceful, even in her loss. The astounding display took the fandom by storm, and quickly became one of the most-watched season 13 lip syncs on YouTube. We’re willing to bet that you clicked replay faster than RuPaul said “shantay, you stay!”

“Drag Race” fans hit the lip sync jackpot when two of the frontrunners on Season 11 bombed the Snatch Game, landing in the bottom two. The battle, which begins as a sensual performance from Brooke Lynn versus a more comedic showing from Yvie, quickly escalates into a full-on gymnastics routine. As Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry” fills the air, the queens break out into splits, headstands, backbends, and dips, among other things. It’s just enough to make you dizzy, yet keep you thoroughly entertained. Brooke Lynn’s ballerina background and Yvie’s hyper-flexibility burst to the forefront, giving us a show-stopping lip sync. It’s so good it convinces RuPaul that it isn’t time for either of them to leave the competition.

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

Chi Chi DeVayne vs. Thorgy Thor, Season 8
The Late Great Chi Chi DeVayne Had Us Hooked With Her Undeniable Passion & Sparkle

Raja vs. Carmen Carrera, Season 3
The Two Heathers Turned up the Heat in This Steamy Rendition of Paula Abdul’s ”Straight Up”

Jujubee vs. Sahara Davenport, Season 2
Jujubee Captivates Everyone With Her Raw Power

Latrice Royale vs. Kenya Michaels, Season 4
Latrice Lets Her Emotions Do All the Work in This Soulful Performance

Adore Delano vs. Trinity K. Bonet, Season 6
Both Queens Deliver the ”Vibeology” Right in Front of Paula Abdul

Going into the season 9 finale, many felt Shea Couleé was the clear frontrunner. In the second lip sync for the crown, she went up against Sasha Velour, and what happened next changed everything. Both queens start off evenly matched, with Shea giving a neatly choreographed routine and Sasha digging deep into her emotions. But as Whitney Houston belts out the final chorus, the latter queen lets a cascade of rose petals fall from under her wig. Needless to say, it sends everyone’s jaws to the floor, essentially sealing her win that round. It’s arguably the most referenced “Drag Race” moment, and the performance is sure to send chills down your spine every time you rewatch it.