Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race Runway Outfits

If there’s one winner that really left her mark on the drag scene, it’s Sharon Needles. Her signature mix of irreverent spook and quirky camp was something nobody had ever seen before on Drag Race. She made a splash, or I guess splatter right out of the gate with her zombie glam look in episode one. Needles revealed a dirt stained, skin-tight gown looking like she’d jut clawed her way out of a grave to slay the runway, drenching the stage in blood and carving her way into our hearts. Truly sickening; but really, are you sick, girl?

For the Death Becomes Her challenge, Violet really took the theme literally. She was serving death by corset, with a waist synched so tight it practically left her and the judges gasping for air. She purportedly couldn’t feel anything from the waist down, taking the idea that ‘beauty hurts’ to the extreme, and showing us just how far she was willing to take it to win that crown. Of all the legendary drag Violet brought to the runway, and there were quite a lot, this one was absolutely to die for.

Even though it was clear from the start that Jinkx knew how to crack a joke, she had some real trouble with her looks. Week after week she slayed the challenges, only to be criticized on the runway for her messy makeup and dusty dresses. There is no denying however that this look was a clear knockout. Her day of the dead sugar skull was a big risk for this camp queen, but you don’t win Drag Race by staying safe. There’s no closet big enough to hold this skeleton queen, okuur?

No need to adjust your monitors and this isn’t a clip from the silent era, it’s Detox’s impressive makeup. Detox lost the final Lipsync For Your Life to the inevitable winner of her season, but when she donned this perfect monochrome illusion for the reunion, she made sure that no one would forget about her any time soon. Though the look featured a relatively simple black dress with flowing black hair, the mind-melting makeup magic she featured just about snatched the wigs off everyone in the audience. It was even used as inspiration for a later runway challenge in Season 8.

It doesn’t take much to make this Aussie queen look flawless, and when the look was right, it was so right. For her animal kingdom couture runway, Courtney channeled a little white dove, the religious symbol for the holy spirit. This look was the perfect meeting point of a victoria’s secret runway and drag goddess eleganza. With a ten foot wingspan that covered the runway, and an avant-garde face beat to perfectly compliment the look, Courtney won the challenge and ascended into the drag race history books.

Manila Luzon knows the line between camp and glamour, and she sure knows how to walk it. From her bumblebee beauty look, big bird body look, and her bugs bunny … outfit … Her pineapple dress was a standout, featuring a perfectly crafted, sequin-covered pineapple gown and matching clutch. It showed us all that looking stunning didn’t have to mean taking yourself too seriously, and being campy didn’t mean you have to look... like Mimi Imfurst.

It’s too bad that April stumbled so hard in the challenges, because when it came to the runway, that queen knew exactly what she was doing. When tasked with the runway ‘best drag’ April pulled off a look that featured her beauty and her brand with a jaw-dropping rainy day illusion. Alas, Drag Race is so much more than just runway looks, and April stuck around for a scant three episodes before succumbing to Trinity’s lip-syncing skills, but thanks to this look, she’ll always be remembered.

Even from episode one, it was clear that Raja would be the standout winner of her season, but did she really have to beat them all that badly? Nearly all of her runway outfits were absolutely stunning, but this look in particular was the clear pinnacle of her on-point perfection. Her modern take on Marie Antoinette highlighted the exact kind editorial beauty that she came to be known for. She let us eat the cake, and it was everything we needed to survive.

When it comes to drag race, a good rule of thumb is go big or ‘sashay away’, and this was by far the biggest look to ever hit the stage. Circus-trained Ivy winters donned stilts and butterfly wings, floating down the runway like a monarch butterfly. The vibrant colours, big hair, and outrageous style perfectly encapsulates classic drag showgirl style, and the look alone could be enough to ensure pride parade bookings for the rest of her drag career.

But before we get to our top pick, here are some Honorable Mentions:

Exotic Bird Look by Trinity K Bonet

Queen of Skunks by Bianca Del Rio

S.S. William’s by Willam Belli

Even when she was giving up the crown for the season 8 winner, Violet made sure she’d forever be known as queen of the runway. The look combined the perfect elements of high fashion glamour and horror, with a deep emerald ballgown that featured her signature hourglass synch and a flesh crown growing right out of her head. This demonic look was so good, it cast a shade on season 8 winner Bob’s own look, immortalizing her in Drag Race hall of fame.

Don’t agree with our list? What other sickening ensemble do you think deserve a second glance? For more gag-worthy top 10s, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.