Top 20 Times RuPaul's Drag Race Got Real

The All Stars format brings with it a whole new set of challenges. Your fellow contestants are not just your competitors. They’re your friends. Heidi N Closet learned that the hard way. In the “Snatch Game of Love” episode, gameplay and accusations of sabotage had season 12’s Miss Congeniality feeling anything but congenial. Fellow contestant Kahanna accused Heidi N Closet of trying to make her look bad during the challenge. Before she could even respond fully, Kandy Muse confronted Heidi, accusing her of throwing her under the bus. Seeing the way the wind was blowing, Heidi stepped right out of that situation. She announced that her peace was more important than the grand prize, and bowed out of the season completely.

From the start of season 15, it really was like the Sasha Colby meet and greet. Her reputation as a former winner of the Miss Continental Pageant preceded her. That she was a steady and gracious competitor made her eventual win that much sweeter. However, the compassionate queen has known heartache. During the Tic Tac Chit Chat segment with Ru and Michelle, Sasha opened up about her traumatic past, including her father’s death by his own hand at the age of 80. She credited the event for a great deal of spiritual growth. Although she’s been through so much, her revelation only convinced us of her status as a goddess on this earth.

This season 7 finalist went through a lot throughout the competition. Her face-off with Ru, of course, became a defining moment. But that wasn’t the only time Pearl got real. When Ru held up a photo of her as a child and asked what she would say to her younger self, her cryptic but raw response struck a chord. While there were suggestions that her past was not necessarily rosy, Pearl didn’t go into detail. But the thing is, she didn’t need to – seeing the sheer emotion on her face was nothing short of impactful. Her genuine, honest answer is probably one of the reasons this segment endures today.

Even among creators whose art is all about gender, the question of gender identity can still be a loaded subject. During week 3 of “Drag Race UK”’s second season, contestants Ginny Lemon and Bimini Bon Boulash made headlines when they discussed their experiences as nonbinary people. It was a surprisingly deep conversation for two of the season’s most lighthearted queens. Ginny’s memories of not feeling supported by their family growing up, for instance, is reflective of far too many stories. Their intimate and enlightening conversation may have been an eye-opener for many, but it also made it clear that nonbinary identities are not new, and highlighted the importance of such representation.

The werk room has seen some pretty intense conversations over the years, and season 9 definitely delivered on that front. Eureka O’Hara’s casual joke about Valentina having an eating disorder did not go over well, and Eureka herself was apologetic. Several queens, including Sasha Velour, Shea Couleé, and Valentina herself, then disclosed that they have actually experienced disordered eating. Protected and supported by their fellow queens, they used their time in front of the mirror to highlight a prevalent issue in the queer community. A situation that could have become a catalyst for more reality TV drama turned into a very real and very brave conversation.

Another touching moment from season 9 involved the cast’s most experienced queen, Charlie Hides. Cynthia Lee Fontaine’s work with HIV prevention brought up their memories of living through the initial AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. It was clear they still carry the reality of this era on her shoulders, along with all the hardship that came with it. Fans don’t always remember Charlie with kindness due to the way they left the competition, but one moment doesn’t define a “Drag Race” contestant. Here, they opened a window to a historical era that many of the younger queens, and many viewers, simply didn’t have direct access to.

“Drag Race” is a stressful experience, but few seasons seemed more demanding of its queens than season 3. No one, not even Yara Sofia, was spared from lip syncing for her life. When she and Alexis Mateo landed in the bottom together at the top four, Yara was clearly spent. By the first chorus, she looked so dazed and began tearing her runway look apart. Soon enough, she was unable to continue. Even Alexis stopped performing to console Yara. It’s clear the latter queen wanted things to go differently. If you don’t think “Drag Race” is serious business, watching the beloved fan favorite experience this should be enough to convince you.

It was hard not to love Kim Chi, and everything from her iconic intro to her unique runway walk. There was something so undeniably sweet and genuine about her. When RuPaul pulled out the picture of Kim’s young self, the season 8 finalist started off pretty composed. But things soon became more emotional. Through tears, she alluded to her past depression and social isolation. She offered her young self the advice that the things she was once ashamed of were exactly the things that made people love her. What made it so special is that this was so spot-on. We had just watched an entire season of Kim Chi winning us and the judges over, because she was just that lovable.

Alyssa Edwards and her sister Tabatha had an emotional reunion on “All Stars,” and family proved to be a loaded topic. After initial tears over their own troubles, the Edwards siblings get a visit from Ru. When RuPaul tries to get into Alyssa's outrageous personality, she and her sister gush about their late mother. Edwards starts coming to terms with that heavy loss, and lets out her pain. Just like when her father apologized for years of cruelty to her, Alyssa is in tears almost immediately. She’s such a strong personality, but moments like this remind us that she’s also a human being.

In preparation for the week’s acting challenge, RuPaul tasked the queens with donning gloomy attire and crying on cue. What starts out as a comedy challenge, with the queens making up dramatic and ridiculous stories, soon brings out Detox’s very real trauma regarding the death of a boyfriend. If there was one thing Detox was during season 5, it was professional. Confidence and polish was their M.O., and Ru help you if you came for her in “Untucked.” But this late-season mini-challenge saw their cool and collected demeanor slip away. It was one of those rare and revealing moments that made the competition seem secondary, even for someone as poised to succeed as Detox.

Many of the queens on “Drag Race” have been upfront about their struggles with being ostracized by their families, while others can point to their parents as their biggest fans. The queens of season 10 were discussing this when contestant Dusty Ray Bottoms opened up about their experience with their religious parents. Their coming out was deeply traumatic, and saw them being forced to undergo the pseudoscientific practice known as conversion “therapy,” among other disturbing things. It’s heavy stuff, but Dusty never lost their faith and went to build a beautiful life as their true self. Every queen seemed to take heart in their resolve. There’s no denying this was a powerful moment.

Monica, season 2’s Kylie Sonique Love, and season 14’s Jasmine Kennedie showed us that being who you are can make you vulnerable, but it can also make you powerful. Only two episodes into Season 5, Monica Beverly Hillz was receiving harsh reads from the judges for her disconnected performances. Rather than fight with the judges, Monica began crying when they confronted her about it. Hillz admitted that her head is elsewhere, as she had been struggling to open up about being transgender. It’s always so beautiful to see someone embrace their authentic self. With the truth out there, Monica went on to slay in the lip-sync as well.

Adore Delano looks so distraught by her second episode of 'All Stars,' that Alyssa Edwards stops ranting to check on her. When Ru comes into the werk room, Delano explains she's feeling attacked by Michelle Visage over her personal style. As Adore suggests leaving the competition, RuPaul sends her out to talk to Visage. After a hug, Michelle apologizes for hurting Delano with her tough love approach to judging. Despite Michelle's pleas to stay, Adore leaves because she doesn't feel right about the competition anymore. Delano's departure is all the more heartbreaking since Michelle and even other contestants want her to keep going.

Many people had a connection to the Pulse Nightclub tragedy, but Cynthia Lee Fontaine and Trinity Taylor were still processing their losses. Trinity explains she was performing at Pulse only a week before the attack. The other queens are left speechless when Cynthia explains she had to reschedule an appearance at Pulse the night of the incident. The discussion gets dark, and is loaded and raw in a way you don’t always see on reality TV. Considering how devastating the attack was to the LGBTQIA+ community, this talk served as an important reminder that queer rights and spaces need to be protected from hate.

Laganja Estranja's strong personality sometimes came off as fake to her fellow queens, so Bianca tells her she appeared too forced. Though Laganja tries to suggest she isn't playing a character, Courtney insists she's noticed two distinct personalities from her. Adore tries to argue with Estranja as a friend, before explaining that she talks differently when they hang out together. Laganja, however, is hurt by the comments she feels are an attack, and exits the set crying. It was one of those moments that escalated and devolved rather quickly, and left nobody feeling indifferent.

As Katya is second-guessing herself and her place in the competition, she turns to Miss Fame for help. Fame talks to her about sobriety, and admits how much the show can shake you. With Katya finally hearing someone experiencing the same thing, she admits she's never been able to love herself. Miss Fame lifts her spirits by reminding Katya that everyone is fighting their own doubts together. Their heart-to-heart spotlights the reality that comes with substance use disorder, and the power of opening up. By just talking things out, Katya was able to put her heart back in the competition and grow as a person.

HIV/AIDS looms large over many of “Drag Race”’s acknowledgments of queer history, but many queens are reminders that in the present day, you can thrive while living with HIV. When season 1’s Ongina won the MAC Viva Glam challenge, she disclosed her very personal connection to the brand’s fund to provide care to those living with the virus. Similarly, Trinity K. Bonet also disclosed her HIV-positive status during the course of the sixth season. Both moments were significant not just because of what they told us about the queens, but because they helped destigmatize the condition by speaking about it.

Roxxxy Andrews wowed everyone during her lip-sync by ripping off her wig, only to unveil a second wig underneath it. When she talked to the judges however, Andrews was overcome with emotion. As everyone stands with worry and confusion, Roxxxy explains how she was abandoned by her family at a bus stop. Andrews is understandably hurting as she discusses what transpired, as other queens try to process her story. Even Ru is blubbering before she talks about choosing one’s family. The bravery it took for Roxxxy to share such a personal experience so publicly can’t be overstated.

In response to comments about her runway look, Blair St. Clair talks about brightening things up because she feels dirty. St. Clair starts to cry and reveals she was actually assaulted during a college party. She talks about doing the best she can, while Ru praises her for being so open and thanks her for her honesty. Any queen who's not already bawling offers Blair love, and Ru even pauses to give her a moment. While St. Clair's story is by no means an easy one to hear, her fellow queens showed compassion to match.

“Drag Race” queens seem so much larger than life. It’s hard to imagine they’re bound by the same earthly rules as the rest of us. Unfortunately, we’ve had to say goodbye to many beloved queens, like Sahara Davenport, over the years. The show’s season 13 finale faced that reality head on with a heartfelt tribute to Chi Chi DeVayne, the season 8 fan-favorite who passed away in 2020. The messages from Chi Chi’s many loved ones felt like a truly beautiful way to honor her, acting as a testament to the lives she touched and the positive impact she made on the world. As RuPaul once reminded us, there’s more than one way to live forever.

Which of these “Drag Race” moments got to you the most? Let us know in the comments.