Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race Outfit Reveal Wins & FAILS

Reveals were not in short supply at the “Drag Race” Season 10 finale. In her lip sync against eventual winner Aquaria, Eureka executed a three-part outfit change that was as solid as they come. After she threw off her giant red wig, her feathered purple dress unfurled into a scarlet poncho. Finally, at the song’s breakdown, she unzipped into a bodysuit with mirrored detailing that matched her silver boots. The crowd went wild for each reveal, and her flawless execution helped secure her a place in the final three-way showdown. While Aquaria opted to unveil almost her entire outfit at the beginning of the number, Eureka exercised patience - and it paid off.

This lip sync is infamous for Mimi’s choice to non-consensually hoist India Ferrah onto her back mid-performance. But even putting aside the messy physical antics that led to her elimination, Mimi did not have an easy time onstage. As she attempted to step out of her floor-length animal-print gown at the back of the runway, she tripped over the garment gathered at her feet. To make matters worse, it became attached to her heel and she had to try to shake the dress off. Any “Drag Race” fan knows that a reveal is only as good as its execution, and her sequined minidress was completely overshadowed by her clumsy footwork.

In the penultimate episode of “All Stars” Season 2, Detox and Katya bested their competitors with their transformations of family members into drag siblings. Always one to impress on the runway, Detox showed that her outfit had more than met the eye when she took the stage to lip sync for her legacy. She took off her long-sleeved jacket to reveal a simple corseted top… until she turned around. With the bodice leading into a thong and her rear exposed, the “Look Queen” had sex appeal in spades. The visual was even more striking with her racy black garment perfectly contrasting Katya’s hilariously frumpy gown. When it comes to fashion, Detox never disappoints - and the same is true of reveals.

This classic disco song of strength and overcoming is considered an LGBTQ anthem - but it didn’t get a fitting tribute on “Drag Race” Season 8. Neither Laila nor Dax ExclamationPoint’s performances were up to par, and the former’s choice to ditch her costume was particularly questionable. Midway through the song, the queen took off her green gown to reveal plain black undergarments. This move is a tough one to pull off - and in the context of an already underwhelming lip sync, it came off as desperate. With anticlimactic timing and her heels having already been tossed, Laila’s outfit change clearly didn’t please the judges - and it sadly sent her packing.

At the Season 9 finale, Trinity The Tuck and Peppermint competed in the first Lip Sync Smackdown to get a step closer to the crown. At the number’s midway point, their takes on Britney Spears’ early aughts hit were fairly evenly matched. As the song inched to its climax and Peppermint reached behind her belt, an incoming reveal was obvious. But as she twirled onstage, not only did her skirt unfurl into a long dress; her long blue hair also gave way to a cropped ice-blonde wig. The crowd went wild, and for good reason - even if it took a moment to prepare, the switch was perfectly timed and smoothly executed. The dramatic transformation undoubtedly helped secure Peppermint’s place in the final lip sync.

Any “Drag Race” devotee knows that undressing onstage during a lip sync can be a hard sell. Although a sexy striptease can pay off, revealing one’s undergarments can just as easily make for a sloppy performance. When Cynthia Lee Fontaine failed to shine in Season 9’s “Kardashians: The Rusical,” she faced off against Farrah Moan and made this all-too-common error. Practically as soon as the song began, she removed her grey gown with grid panelling to show a mismatched set of bra and panties. With absolutely no lead-up to the reveal, it was not only unoriginal, but downright underwhelming.

Sometimes, the best reveals are the ones you don’t see coming. While the rapid-fire outfit changes have become standard practice during “Drag Race” lip syncs, they’re less common during runway presentations. Brooke Lynn took full advantage of this when she emerged onto the runway after the Snatch Game in a sequined shawl and matching thigh-high boots. Within a couple of steps onto the catwalk, the “Queen of the North” spun around and removed her wig and tunic in one fell swoop, revealing a hot pink leotard with cutouts. While Brooke Lynn worked the stage, Ru and Michelle sung her praises. With the element of surprise on her side, this dancing queen showed that a well-timed reveal can be a star-making moment.

Outfit reveals intended solely for shock value don’t always land. That was unfortunately the case with this performance from “All Stars” 4, which saw Trinity inexplicably change from her fierce runway look molded out of pink plastic into senior drag. When she removed her leopard-print bathrobe in the middle of the number, she unveiled a sagging bodysuit and diaper. The visual gag might have been funny in another context, but was totally unrelated to the song and felt forced as a consequence. While some of the funniest lip syncs bring out the humor in the music, in this case the song played second fiddle to Trinity’s bewildering comedy routine. There’s no doubt that Trinity is a sickening performer, but this reveal got old quickly.

There are some instantly iconic moments on “Drag Race” that go on to shape future seasons, and one of the best came during the first mini-challenge of Season 7. With each queen tasked to walk the runway showcasing a Spring and Fall outfit, eventual winner Violet seriously impressed when it came to the latter category. She strutted onto the catwalk in a gorgeous black sequined gown with red tartan accessories, but that wasn’t all. When she undid her belt, the garment reversed into a winged jumpsuit and the look became head-to-toe tartan. While the judges adored her seamless switch at the time, Violet’s stunning reveal would also go on to inspire the “Two Looks in One” runway category in “All Stars” Season 2.

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

Yvie Oddly's "Edge of Glory" Lip Sync (Win), Season 11
While Lip-Syncing For the Crown, This Queen Revealed A Second Face On the Back of Her Headdress

Trinity The Tuck's LaLaPaRuza Outfit (Fail), All Stars 4
She Walked the Runway In a Giant Black Cape, But The Eventual Reveal Didn’t Pay Off

Phi Phi O'Hara's Two Looks in One (Win), All Stars 2
Sporting Stand-Alone Outfits That Nonetheless Shared a Theme, Phi Phi Shone On the Runway

Gia Gunn's "Head to Toe" Lip Sync (Fail), Season 6
A Sluggish Costume Change Revealed a Boring Beige Bodysuit

Brooke Lynn Hytes's "Edge of Glory" Lip Sync (Win), Season 11
The Queen of the North Took An Original Approach to the Show’s Well-Worn Outfit Reveal Trope

When it comes to reveals, sometimes simple is best. Unfortunately, Asia’s attempt at a complex and risky one at the Season 10 finale totally backfired. At a pivotal moment as she entered her first Lip Sync Smackdown against Kameron Michaels, Asia ripped off structures from her wrists and chest, seemingly expecting the butterflies enclosed inside to fly away. However, the stunned insects infamously failed to take off and instead fell to the stage. Even though the trick wasn’t working, the finalist continued to rip off the butterfly cages - but it sadly didn’t get any better. With the audience looking on in horror as the disappointing scene unfolded, it was a downright cringe-worthy moment.