Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race Queens That Left Too Soon
#10: Monique Heart
America… Monique proclaimed herself to be “the heart” of Season 10, and we believed her when she left the competition in 8th place on Episode 7. The New York native may not have won any challenges during her time on the show, but she consistently wowed us - and the judges - with her hand-crafted runway looks. Monique was eliminated on her first time in the Bottom 2, mainly because she didn’t know the words to the lip sync song. We’re sure that if she had learnt the lyrics and sent The Vixen home, she’d have been able to give us even more makeshift creativity on the runway, and even more hilarious quotes.
#9: April Carrión
Top 10 Times April was a Savage on Parks and Recreation
One of the fishiest queens to ever walk the “Drag Race” runway, April Carrión proved she was more than just a pretty face during her time on Season 6. The Puerto Rican performer turned out high caliber conceptual looks week after week; From her high-flying entrance look, to her clever spin on the phrase “April showers,” to her “Duck Dynasty” couture in the season premiere. Despite winning the approval of guest judge, Adam Lambert, April finished 11th in the competition. Since then, she’s snatched major pageant titles, walked runways for top designers, and become a headline act in her home country. Clearly, April should have carried on in “Drag Race” much further.
#8: Alyssa Edwards
Drag Race Recap: Girl Group Challenge with Lip-Sync Guest Alyssa Edwards | MsMojo's Drag Race RuCap
Alyssa Edwards was one of the biggest presences in Season 5; from her heated rivalry with Coco Montrese, to her sickening performance skills. Speaking of Coco, Alyssa’s pageant nemesis sent her packing in 6th place on Season 5. Alyssa managed to outlast Coco when the pair returned for “All Stars 2,” only to end up being eliminated twice. As the drag mother of Shangela, Laganja Estranja, and Gia Gunn, and owner of a successful dance studio, Alyssa’s legacy continues to grow. Frankly, we’d love to see her on every Season - and not just in cameo appearances.
#7: Morgan McMichaels
Top 10 Times Piers Morgan Went Too Far
With the first “All Stars” champion, Chad Michaels, as her drag mother, Morgan McMichaels comes from a royal lineage. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to keep the crown in the family on “All Stars 3.” Morgan first competed in Season 2 where she placed 8th. Her fight with Mystique in an episode of “Untucked” made her infamous, but her lip sync against Sonique was praised by RuPaul as one of the “tightest” ever. Known as a “workhorse,” Morgan was hotly tipped to go far in “All Stars 3.” A shock decision from BenDeLaCreme in the first episode cut that dream short, and despite getting a second chance, Morgan just missed out on a Top 4 spot.
#6: Willam
Willam made “Drag Race” herstory in Season 4 as the first contestant to ever be disqualified from the show. At the reunion special, Willam explained that this was because of a contractual violation, but since then, she’s revealed on Twitter that the producers wanted her gone for criticizing working conditions on-set. Despite ruffling plenty of feathers, Willam was a frontrunner on her season, with two challenge wins under her designer belt. Her success as an actor, musician, writer, YouTube personality, and, of course, drag queen, since being off the show has had fans desperate to see her return for a season of “All Stars.” We’ve certainly missed her sharp tongue on “Untucked.”
#5: Tammie Brown
When she’s not “walking with children in nature,” Tammie Brown was one of the first queens to compete on “Drag Race” back in Season 1, and one of the first to return for “All Stars.” After a poor performance of a Destiny’s Child song, she landed in the Bottom 2 in the second episode of Season 1. Her decision to not perform the lip sync against Akashia meant she effectively eliminated herself. Tammie didn’t fare much better during her team-up with Nina Flowers in the first season of “All Stars,” either. Her wacky outbursts that irritated her fellow competitors have made her beloved with fans who are always eager to see more of her.
#4: Valentina
Top 10 Valentina Moments on RuPaul’s Drag Race
She’s perfect, she’s beautiful, she looks like Linda Evangelista… you know the rest! Valentina was the Miss Congeniality of Season 9 - oops, we mean “fan favorite", - but many were expecting her to snatch the crown, too. From the first episode, her relative inexperience with drag didn’t stop her from turning out gag-worthy looks, and Latinx fans were delighted with how well she represented their culture on the show. She also performed strongly in the acting challenges too. Well, until Episode 9. In the Lip Sync, after being ordered to show her mouth, it was clear she didn’t know the lyrics.
#3: Adore Delano
Some queens rock up to “Drag Race” fully polished. Adore Delano came to Season 6 to prove that: And, with 3 challenge wins to her name, she’s definitely deserving of the title of “Most Improved Queen” during her time on that season. After finishing in the Top 3, Adore’s debut album also landed in Billboard’s top three Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Going into “All Stars 2,” the fan favorite was in a strong position to repeat all of that success. Sadly, Adore decided to leave the competition in the second episode after finding it difficult to handle the judges’ critiques. Mama Ru has been known to give third chances... so why not do it again?
#2: BenDeLaCreme
Top 10 BenDeLaCreme Moments on RuPaul’s Drag Race
We first met this “terminally delightful” queen in Season 6, where she wasted no time in winning the first main challenge. She repeated the feat with her side-splitting turn as Dame Maggie Smith in the Snatch Game, and after barely putting a heel wrong, fans were confident she’d be a finalist. But, after surviving one lip sync, DeLa sashayed away in 5th place, creating a huge online backlash. If that weren’t shocking enough, she upped the ante when she returned for “All Stars 3,” eliminating herself in Episode 6 after a record 5 challenge wins. Though she has the Season 6 Miss Congeniality sash, we’d much rather see her with a crown. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Max “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2009-) Acid Betty “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2009-) Thorgy Thor “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2009-) & “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars” (2012-)
#1: Vanessa Vanjie Mateo
Top 10 Hilarious Vanessa Bayer Moments on SNL
As the drag daughter of former “Drag Race” and “All Stars” queen, Alexis Mateo, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo had a lot of pressure on her to succeed. Unfortunately, in the first episode, the Barbie doll dress she crafted was heavily criticized for its bloated shape, and after landing in the Bottom 2, Vanessa was sent home by Kalorie. But, her exit was SO strange, RuPaul and the other contestants couldn’t stop referencing it all season, and neither could the rest of us online. Though her elimination has become iconic, Vanessa’s charm has left us gagging for more. And now - because we know you’re dying to see it again - here’s the moment that “Miss Vanjie” broke the Internet
