Yvie has always walked the very difficult tightrope of being both an oddball outcast and a fashion queen. And this week gave her the chance to show both in equal measure. Her only stumble, as the judges confirmed, was her Vanna White look which, while pretty, really gave nothing of the Wheel glamazon.
7. The Vivienne (last week: 7)
Stars: 0
Challenge Wins: 0
Lip Sync Wins: 0
Blocks: 0
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
Here’s where we have to say again: All of these queens are so damn good. There honestly was not a single stumble on Vivienne’s runway. On a regular season, or even just a regular season of All Stars, this could’ve been a trio of outfits that won her a top two placement. But one of the problems that’s coming up with Vivienne is that, while she does have technical perfection, her outfits often lack the POV that a queen needs to succeed on a Drag Race ball challenge. She has the skills, and if she just upped the vision part, there’s no doubt we could see Viv in the top soon.
6. Raja (last week: 5)
Stars: 0
Challenge Wins: 0
Lip Sync Wins: 0
Blocks: 0
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
OK, once again, partially biased writer stepping forward: Raja has come so close so many times that it’s hard to watch her not win again! Her Vanna White look was not only the most Vanna, it also was a fun spin, as it was a more 1980s Vanna with the fringe-y dress and the vintage coif. And her final look is one of the best ball looks of all time on Drag Race. The judges were practically salivating. But as we’ve seen several times, the judges prefer that you present three consistent looks instead of one or two jaw-dropping ones and one miss — I’m thinking here of Utica’s loss to Gottmik in the Season 13 ball, despite making that iconic sleeping bag dress, which is widely considered one of the series’ best fashion moments.
What obviously stopped Raja from being in the top was her “Olivia John Waters” Before and After look, which the judges criticized because the only Waters reference was a barely-visible mustache. I think if Raja had gone for full boy drag as John Waters in the Bad Sandy couture, it would’ve been a home run. Regardless of whether Raja being blocked from a top two placement is justified or not, we’re officially starting the hashtag #Robbedja to reference poor Raja being denied a win several times now! Please join us on Twitter with hashtag #Robbedja.
5. Monét X Change (last week: 2)
Stars: 1
Challenge Wins: 1
Lip Sync Wins: 0
Blocks: 0
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
Monét always brings the fun, and she was able to infuse her attitude into each of her looks this week. I did think her Vanna White Realness was a bit too risqué for the demure 7:30-time-slot couture Ms. White gives, though Monét looked great in it. And Bob the Drag Queen Elizabeth was a great pun, though I didn’t think Monét went far enough with the dripped paint. I think what would’ve made it even draggier (I mean, it was a drag outfit of a drag queen and a literal queen) is if she had the paint dripping all down her face and even onto the garment itself. But her green disco look was excellent, as was the red afro she paired it with. After a strong first showing, Monét is certainly not taking a backseat, but it will be interesting to see when her moment in the sun will come again.
4: Shea Couleé (last week: 3)
Stars: 1
Challenge Wins: 1
Lip Sync Wins: 1
Blocks: 1
Jeff Kravitz
There isn’t a ball challenge that Shea Couleé can’t stomp, and stomp she did, despite not being named a challenge winner. All three of her looks were excellent, though it was weird to see her embrace a bridal couture look after saying she would avoid it. But if the materials are speaking to you, girl, you gotta listen.
