Top 10 Worst Mistakes a RuPaul's Drag Race Contestant Can Make

Sometimes, a few lone queens manage to stand out in lackluster maxi challenges. But in other instances, a lack of initiative brings down an entire team. In Season 7’s twist on Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, for instance, practically everyone was off their game. Forgetting their lines and totally lacking personality, the disorganized actors failed to impress Ru and Michelle. But even worse was Season 11’s “Diva Worship” challenge. The evangelical talk show spoof praising Mariah Carey was marred by terrible singing, incorrect references, and unfunny gags. Rather than banding together to help everyone understand the material, the poorly-rehearsed team fell apart. The resulting six-way lip sync was a reminder that when a group bombs, everyone is responsible.

When it comes to shocking moments, Willam’s disqualification in Season 4 is in a league of its own. The official reason given was a conjugal visit, but the queen has since alleged that this was a cover for her larger pattern of defiant behavior. For her part, Dida Ritz has revealed that she accompanied Willam on an unauthorized shopping trip — and got away with it. Both queens admitted to having mixed experiences on the show, so perhaps these instances of rule-breaking were justified. But the series is known for its strict measures, and it’s obvious that challenging them can result in punishment.

Lip-syncing on “Drag Race” couldn’t be more important. It’s a last-ditch effort to stay in the competition, and it often requires queens to bust out their most impressive tricks. That’s why taking to the runway in a huge gown can be a risky move. From Kahmora Hall’s dragon train to Rock M. Sakura’s makeshift hoop skirt, there are numerous examples of garments impeding a queen’s performance. While some outfits are distractingly huge, others could simply use a tearaway to better allow for movement. Whatever the case, preparing for the worst can prevent contestants from being caught up in a truly cringe-worthy moment when it matters most.

Queens touching on-stage isn’t always a bad thing. Alaska, Raja, and Trinity K. Bonet are among those who have enhanced their lip-syncs by linking up with their competitors. But as a rule of thumb, non-consensual contact is a huge faux-pas. This became especially obvious thanks to some infamous stunts in Season 3. In her face-off against Shangela, Venus D-Lite pushed and shoved her way to an untimely elimination. But Mimi Imfurst apparently didn’t take note. After she lifted a protesting India Ferrah onto her shoulders in episode four, RuPaul uttered one of the show’s most memorable proverbs .... Getting physical runs the risk of bringing down the performance as a whole, and it almost always reflects badly on the instigator.

It’s right there in the name: a lip sync for your life requires performers to have the lyrics down. But viewers know that queens aren’t always up to the challenge. Perhaps the most infamous example of this critical error occurred in Season 9, when Valentina’s mask disguised her forgetfulness… at first. But almost as memorably, Tammie Brown barely opened her mouth while performing Michelle Williams’s “We Break the Dawn.” Memorizing the words is obviously vital. But as Tatianna demonstrated in Season 2, a singer’s enunciations are just as important. Many things can tank a lip-sync, but perhaps none as deeply as a lack of preparation.

A lack of confidence can spell disaster for contestants. In Season 1, Shannel notoriously nominated herself to go home because she felt underappreciated by the judges. Although she gave her all in the lip sync, her willingness to quit may have played a part in her elimination. And in Season 12, Widow Von’Du’s confidence was shaken after the queens were asked who should go home. Before she was sent packing the following week, Ru encouraged her to go easy on herself. “Drag Race” is notoriously hard, and it’s easy to understand why many queens get discouraged. But if the show has taught us anything, it’s that taking criticism too personally can impact your chances of success.

Ru often checks in with each contestant in the Werk Room ahead of the week’s maxi challenge. She’s usually forthright with her opinions — but the contestants don’t always take her advice to heart. Sometimes, she’ll question a queen’s preparation for “Snatch Game,” as she did with Vanessa Vanjie Mateo and Detox. In other cases, Ru might doubt the direction a competitor is taking in a design challenge. In any case, it’s almost always a good idea to heed the head judge’s warnings. For one thing, she has a valuable point-of-view. But more importantly, she’s the ultimate arbiter of who stays and who goes home.

Humor is a serious requirement for success on "Drag Race." You simply can't get through many of the show’s signature challenges - like the stand-up comedy roasts and Snatch game - without it. Sometimes, though, contestants end up being mean instead of funny, like Utica in Season 13 and Farrah Moan in season 9. Other times, they simply fail to read the room, and deliver jokes that don’t land. But a quick wit and a willingness to be silly are critically important if you want to do well on the show. Still, we can’t say we’re mad at every comedy challenge failure, since these moments are often some of the series’s most rewatchable.

If there’s something surprising underneath, a contestant removing their wig can be downright crowd-pleasing. The real issue is when a queen reveals only their real, unstyled hair. Bebe Zahara Benet got away with it in Season 1, but the move soon became a lip-sync cliché that RuPaul obviously doesn’t care for. While shedding one’s locks can be an attempt to display emotion, it can also suggest desperation and work against the transformative nature of drag. To be clear, a queen stripping down for no reason is unlikely to win points either. But if the judges’ reactions are any indication, losing your wig is a particularly risky play.

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

A Badly Done Reveal or Outfit Change
Sometimes, We’re Better Off Not Knowing What’s Underneath

Mind Games & Conspiracies
Being Cutthroat, Manipulative, or Paranoid Is Rarely a Good Look

Failing in Acting Challenges
When Performing a Skit, Knowing Your Lines Is Only Half the Battle

Trying to Save Face
Attempting to Look Good on the Show Can Easily Backfire

It's a question that comes up practically every season: do the contestants know how to sew? And yet, there’s often at least one competitor whose skills in garmentry are seriously lacking. This slip-up was more understandable in earlier seasons, when the show’s format was still evolving. However, the hopefuls now know more or less what to expect. So it’s a questionable choice to show up with zero practice. But perhaps even worse than a dearth of experience is a lack of resourcefulness. After all, BenDeLaCreme won the first main challenge of Season 6 with a hot-glued masterpiece. Unfortunately, non-seamstress queens aren’t typically on her level— and that’s putting it lightly.