Original subtitles

[electricity crackling]

♪ ♪

[alarm blaring]

- Even in the darkest of times,

there's always a spark of hope.

[chiming]

- "Drag Race" generators

activated.

[dramatic music]

[alarm blaring]

- Oh, shit, here we go again.

Always a Black drag queen gotta save the day.

All right, y'all. Come on. Harder.

Harder!

- I'm going as fast as I can!

♪ ♪

- [slurping] - Repeat after me.

I think we can.

both: I think we can.

- I think we can!

both: I think we can.

- I think we can!

both: I think we can.

- [flatulence]

I think I just did.

[flatulence]

- Oh, my God.

Yeah, that's going to be a rough one.

Just keep pedalling.

[chiming]

- Generators reaching

half capacity.

- 'Cause it takes a whole lot more than bad lighting

to keep a good drag queen down.

[electricity crackling]

[laughing]

[triumphant music]

♪ ♪

- Honey, this is how you throw a party

on "Drag Race," bitch.

My name is Athena Dion.

I'm the Greek goddess from Miami.

You may also refer to me as the queen of Miami.

Athena was pretty much the HBIC of Mount Olympus,

and that's how I feel.

My drag style is opulent.

It's glamorous.

I would say I'm close to perfect,

as I don't think perfection is attainable.

But I'm pretty much as close as it can get.

Ooh, we're in the red light district this season.

Why are the lights off?

It's black everywhere.

Did I take the wrong door?

Well, still gorgeous.

I'm basically the hostess with the mostest in Miami,

and I'm a big drag mother with a huge drag family.

My drag daughter is the winner of

the LaLaPaRuza season 16,

Morphine Love Dion.

Plane Jane is also technically my drag daughter.

I am definitely the Kris Jenner of drag.

[laughs] Ooh! Mama's home.

[laughs]

[upbeat music]

Oh!

- I have one thing to say.

Kenya Pleaser?

- [laughs]

- I'm Kenya Pleaser,

all the way from South Carolina,

and I'm here to please you and everybody in America.

- She better shake.

- My drag style is your sexy auntie that's a hoe.

I can give you sex.

I can give you church lady.

I can give you grandma.

I can give you straight-up cunt.

- She kind of looks like Lizzo.

- I impersonate Lizzo.

That's actually how I started doing drag.

[screams] - Sister!

- Sister!

I'm a showstopping plus size diva.

The Pleaser principle is always in effect, baby.

- I'm Athena Dion.

- Bitch, I know who you are.

- I know of Athena Dion.

She is the Grande Dame of Florida.

It is very intimidating.

But you know, I'm ready to sit this fat ass

on these other girls and dominate the competition.

- What is it-- why is that blinking?

- I don't know.

Oh, now you're freaking me out.

- Girl, what the fuck?

We're in the dark.

Why?

- The next queen to walk in

is definitely the boogeyman or the boogerman.

- [laughs]

[electronic music]

- Oh. Oh, oh.

♪ ♪

- Gay!

♪ ♪

- After a rain, there's a rainbow.

- I'm Nini Coco.

I am the high-energy, high-fashion diva

from the Mile High City of Denver, Colorado.

both: Ow! Ow! Ow!

- My drag is conceptual.

It's theatrical.

It's a little bit unhinged.

- Come over here.

- Oh, my God, girl!

- Coco?

- Oh, my God.

- Oh, my God, I know you. - Let me guess.

You made the whole outfit yourself, didn't you?

- Of course.

Every stitch, baby.

- Now I know Nini from the internet.

I know she's a good costume designer.

So design challenges, watch out.

- So are you, like, a costume designer by trade?

Is that, like, your day job? - No.

I actually quit my day job to come here.

I was a mechanical engineer.

- What the fuck? - Until yesterday.

- Girl!

- It's very Clark Kent engineer by day,

drag queen superstar by night.

I think my coworkers are going to freak out

when they see me on TV, because I was doing

load calculations last week,

and now I am strutting my stuff on "RuPaul's Drag Race."

This competition is so important to me

because I get to turn my life in a completely

new direction today.

[exciting music]

- Oh.

♪ ♪

- Wazzup!

- Is that Jinkx?

- My name is Jane Don't, and I'm a little lady

who's a big problem.

A lot of my drag revolves around comedy.

- Yes, shoulders. Yes, shoulders.

- Other way.

- Give it--aw! - Oh.

- Would that be something you would make for yourself?

- No.

I would make it better.

- I'm extremely inspired by old school funny ladies,

Bette Midler and Joan Rivers.

- Hi!

[screaming]

- I can hear your gay voices from so far away.

- Gay?

I'm a Christian.

- Hi, mwah.

- Athena Dion from Miami, Florida.

- Hi, Athena. OK, I know Athena.

Hey. - Popular.

- I want America to know I'm one of the best in the biz.

And I mean business.

Big business.

- So, Ms. Jane, where you from?

- I'm from Seattle, Washington.

- Are you related to Jinkx? Is that, like--

- I am not related to Jinkx, but Irene the Alien and Bosco

are my older sisters.

I have two hot, mean older sisters,

Bosco from season 14 and All Stars 10,

and Irene The Alien from season 15 and All Stars 10.

You know, both of my sisters have done very well

for themselves, besides the water.

So it's probably kind of intimidating.

[rock music]

- Oh.

- Uh-oh.

- Who's ready for a little chaos?

- I'm Discord Addams, and I am the high fashion

punk rock maximalist from St. Petersburg, Florida.

My drag style is filled with safety pins,

studs, and a lot of gumption.

- It's sort of Patsy from "AbFab,"

but, like, after the apocalypse.

- I'm definitely known for, like, my high-energy

rock and roll performances.

I love to play guitar live.

- Hello.

- Hello, everybody.

- Becoming a drag rock star is the ultimate goal.

- Tell us about your look.

- Did you make this?

- Yes, I made the boots.

My partner made some of it.

- Whoa.

- Did anybody, like, make their outfits?

- I made mine.

- Oh.

- My first impression of Nini Coco

is I absolutely hate what she's wearing.

I hate rainbows so much.

- Can we get into the ball? Can we get into this?

- Yeah. What is this saying?

- Um, it's saying, like, don't fuck with me.

- ♪ Got a big ego and a bigger attitude ♪

- Oh. - Ah!

- I'm repping for the big backs.

And I came to eat.

- Did she say "big backs"?

Bitch!

- I'm Mia Starr, and I am from West Palm Beach, Florida.

I am your '90s, early 2000s hip-hop

dancing diva big back hooker hoe.

[screaming]

- Had to do it to 'em.

- My drag style is very "Mob Wives,"

very urban, high energy.

I am a choreography bitch.

- That's my sister. - Oh, my God.

- What the fuck? - Girl!

- No more Florida, please.

- More Florida. - Girl.

- Come on. - More Florida.

- Bitches!

[screaming]

- Miss Mia Starr, honey.

She's sister of the House of Dion.

She's Auntie.

She is such a talented dancer.

Her talent speaks for itself,

and she will be tough competition.

- Tell us about your drag.

- I started 17 years ago.

- Whoa.

- I have a interesting drag journey.

I started drag 17 years ago.

I stopped for 14 years to pursue dance.

I've been on tour with Rihanna on her Loud Tour.

- What?

- I have been on world tours with Paulina Rubio,

Rihanna, Britney Spears.

I have performed at the Super Bowl with Jennifer Lopez.

- I'm so proud of you.

You're a rock star, bitch.

- But now it's my time to shine in the front.

♪ ♪

[upbeat music]

- OK.

- Can I say the F word?

Fuego!

- I'm DD Fuego, and I am from New York City, baby.

- It's a porcupine, bitch.

- Yeah. - A porcupine.

- I actually know a lot of F words.

I am fiery, feisty.

I am a full fucking production.

All right. Let's do it!

[cheering]

The vibes that I'm serving are always

high polished, high fashion, big teeth.

[laughs]

- Where are you from?

- I am from New York City.

- Oh, shit.

- I am originally from Monterrey, Mexico.

I am a Latina, but I'm not like a cha, cha, cha,

like, give you the--

- Your name's just DD Fuego.

I mean--

- OK, OK, I know.

- DD, how long have you been doing drag?

- 10, 15 years.

- We have seasoned girls this year.

- Girl, thank God. - Right!

- I'm thrilled I'm not the only person over 30.

- Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

How many of us are over 30?

- Why are we doing this now?

- Put your hand up.

- This is correct.

- No, I agree.

- I love that it's a bunch of old bitches.

I am feeling a different vibe.

[upbeat music]

- The party princess of Miami and Mykonos is finally here.

- [shrieking]

- Yes, baby.

The juice is loose.

My name is Juicy Love Dionne, and I'm Miami's

Afro-Cuban dancing doll.

- Girl, she going to lip sync down, bitch.

- I mean, isn't it obvious?

I'm a dancing queen.

Some of you may know my drag mother,

Morphine Love Dion from season 16.

- Another Florida bitch?

- Four Florida girls.

- Oh, it's a family affair, kids.

[screaming]

- The fruit of my loins has entered the Werk Room.

Oh, Juicy Love Dion.

Get your booty over here.

- So this is all the same family, the Dions?

- Yes. - Let's get this straight.

Athena Dion is Morphine's drag mother,

and I am Morphine's drag daughter.

So technically--

- We don't use the G word in public.

- Wow.

- Mother Morphine, Grandmother Athena,

but also mother Athena.

- I think this is the first time in Drag Race herstory

that a mother and daughter are competing

together in this competition.

- I feel like I'm being chaperoned.

- You are. You got Mom,

and you got your tía over here, honey.

- Athena has already said she's related to Mia somehow.

They're sisters.

Now her daughter is here.

My strategic mind immediately goes, well,

they're going to have each other's back.

♪ ♪

[upbeat music]

- Oh. - [gasps]

- Baby, it's easy to see that I'm the key.

You can question those other girls, but never queen bee.

- Come on, Dr. Seuss.

[laughter]

- My name is Vita VonTesse Starr,

and I am the queen of Montgomery, Alabama.

The Starr family name represents class,

money, looking like a queen all the time.

[cheering]

- Hello.

- What's your name? - Vita.

- Aren't you a pageant girl?

- I am.

What do you know about me?

- Girl, you're sickening, bitch.

- I mean, what else?

[laughter]

- Vita VonTesse Starr is huge competition.

She is an icon.

- What titles have you won?

- Black America Newcomer, Miss Empire.

I've gotten first runner up

at International Entertainer of the Year.

- Should have won. - Wow.

- And I think you're also a costume designer yourself.

Did you make this? - I am.

Now you know I did. - Yes!

- You know I did.

- We have, like, three design girls here on this season.

- Oh, who's the other design girls?

- Hi, I'm Discord. - And you made this?

- Yes.

- I also make most of my own looks.

- Oh, Ms. Vita, girl, you're going to

have to keep your eyes on some of these girls,

because I'm not the only one in the competition

who's an amazing designer.

[upbeat music]

- Bitch, here we go.

- Oh!

- Why are you recording me?

♪ ♪

- What the actual fuck?

[laughter]

- I'm Briar Blush, and I'm Boston's pinup princess.

Briar Blush is an amalgamation of everything

that doesn't make sense to combine.

She's retro. She's a little goth.

She's a little edgy.

- Swing that motherfucking hair, bitch.

Yes, mama.

- I always have jet-black hair and a great beat.

[cheering]

- Meh.

- Oh.

- Girl, this bitch going to be shady already, girl.

- She doesn't want to give us a hug.

She doesn't want to say hello.

- At this point, everyone is walking in

saying hi, kiss, kiss.

Briar, she is immediately hands on the front of the table

like she is about to buy 51% of this company.

- What's your name?

- My name is Briar Blush.

My name is like the thorns of the rose.

That's what a briar is.

- Oh, a briar.

- So is Briar, like, descriptive

of your personality?

- A lot of people tell me I'm very intimidating in drag.

My personality may be a bit divisive,

but my quality of drag is undisputed.

- Brian, where are you from? - Brian?

- [laughs] - Oh, shit!

- I'm From Boston, Massachusetts.

- Boston.

- Where's the Boston attitude?

- I think you've seen it already.

- I think we got it. - Yeah.

♪ ♪

- Miss Nurse!

- Oh, girl!

[lively music]

- Don't you know, a mango a day keeps the doctor away.

Mwah!

- Girl, somebody call the "ambalams."

- [laughs]

- I'm Mandy Mango.

I'm Philadelphia's favourite Asian baby girl.

And I am the Filipina fruity tooty booty,

coming to you in your favourite flavour.

- Wait, what is she holding?

- A mango.

- It's a mango? [teeth chattering]

- Oh! Oh! Oh!

- A signature drag element is a touch of kookiness.

It can be the most abstract and kind of conceptual things

where you're like, what is she doing?

But you can still tell there's a high level

of femininity and cunt to it.

- What's your name?

- Mandy Mango.

- Hi, Mandy. - Yes, I'm coming to you--

- We get the mango reference now.

- OK, so the mango is sweet.

Are you a sweet personality?

- Honestly, yes. I am really sweet.

I work my day job as a nurse, so, like--

- OK.

- It's all coming together.

- I specialise in HIV and sexual health

with the LGBTQ community.

This costume is not just a nurse outfit.

I fully am a nurse.

I love to do the stunts,

give the shows, give the glamour.

But mama, I'm also drawing your blood, giving the injections,

because I'm what?

Registered.

- Have we acknowledged that this is spooky?

- Yeah.

It's dark as fuck in here.

- That red light is blinking

in a little suspicious way. - Ooh.

- I don't know if this is normal, but it feels tense.

- Well, have you seen this show, Tamar?

[laughter]

[thunder rumbling]

- Oh! - Ooh!

- Ah!

- Feeling scared yet?

You should be.

- Happy Halloween.

- My name is Ciara Myst, and I'm the shapeshifting

superstar of Indianapolis, Indiana.

My drag style is inspired by sci-fi,

horror, fantasy, and magic.

- So we got mangoes, we got pumpkins.

- I am a prosthetic makeup artist.

So you will see creature transformation.

♪ ♪

- I'm loving all of this.

And you did all of this?

- I did do all of this.

About 96% of all the things in my closet

are things that I've made.

Ciara Myst prides herself on being able

to take something and turn it into her complete vision.

- So what would you consider your drag aesthetic?

- A little ooky spooky, a little ethereal,

a little Ciara Mystical, if you might say.

- You're a spooky, creepy, kooky queen

and you're named after a discontinued soda pop?

I don't--I don't get it.

- I think a demon monster from hell

is probably the best description.

- Yeah, it suits you.

- [laughs]

♪ ♪

[upbeat country music]

- Oh, my God. - Shit!

- She's corny.

- I don't remember having corn.

- I'm Darlene Mitchell, and I'm the country, cunty

camp queen of Los Angeles.

Darlene is the perfect mix between soap opera glamour

and Midwest trailer trash.

- I can see your cornhole from here.

- My signature drag look is big hair.

Very Peg Bundy.

Divas!

There's a quote from Dolly Parton,

that she says, like, "I literally modelled my look

off of the women in town that they called trash."

And that's--that's very much the aesthetic.

- I'm from Los Angeles.

- Los--oh!

- Originally from Greentown, Indiana.

- Yes.

- You're representing LA, but you're dressed as corn,

and you're Miss something.

Eh.

- So did drag bring you to LA,

or you started drag once you landed here?

- I started drag once I landed here.

I started as a bedroom queen, and then made my way

into the bar circuit, and then sort of evolved

back into a bedroom queen.

- Oh.

- You don't perform in the local scene?

- I used to, and I actually performed with the name Trash.

[laughter]

- About 10 years ago, I performed with

the drag name "Trash,"

and I definitely lived up to that.

I rode fast and hard.

And then I became sober,

and I decided to become Darlene Mitchell.

- So how long have you been doing drag?

- 10 years.

- Oh, my God. - I actually haven't been

in, like, the performing circuit

for four or five years.

I have friends that joke with me like, come on, girl.

We got to get the drag out of the house.

[laughter]

[upbeat jazz music]

- Uh-oh.

- Hi.

I'm Myki.

But you?

You can call me...

Myki.

[laughter]

- I am the gorgeously stupid,

stupidly gorgeous Myki Meeks,

and I am the drag ingenue of Orlando, Florida.

I am a dynamic, theatrical powerhouse creative.

- Is that Florida? - Yes.

- Five Florida girls!

- I am mailing someone anthrax.

- This Florida bloc that has developed

is a little alarming as a competitor

who is not from Florida.

I am losing my mind!

- Myki, what type of drag do you do?

- I host a lot back home.

I do a little bit of glamour, a little bit of camp.

Back home, I am known as a funny diva

and a hosting queen.

I love to host, not travel.

♪ ♪

That's a Grindr joke. That's a Grindr joke.

- Bitch, we're here. - We are here.

- We're here. - In these four pink walls.

- Very dark walls.

- Yeah. [alarm blaring]

- Oh!

- Ooh, girl.

She done... [audio glitches]

Already done had herses.

[cheering]

- Oh, my God. - Girl!

- It's so dark, I can't see anything.

- Follow the light, Carol Anne.

- My queens.

[cheering]

- Now is not the time to hide in the shadows.

When we work together, we've got the power

to make magic and change the mothertucking world.

- Yes, we do. - Yes!

- Ow!

- So join hands.

- [gasps] - Hold my hand.

Hold my hand.

- Everybody say "love."

all: Love!

[[electricity crackling]

- Oh.

- Pedal faster!

Harder!

- Everybody say "love."

all: Love!

- Oh!

- I can't hear you.

all: Love!

- [laughing]

[cheering]

Hello, hello, hello.

[screaming, cheering]

Hi.

- Oh, my God.

- My gorgeous queens.

You're blinding me with your beauty.

[cheering, laughter]

Now promise me one thing.

You won't let anybody take away the shine that God gave you.

- Hallelujah!

- Can I get an "amen" up in here?

all: Amen!

- This season, all eyes are on your charisma,

uniqueness, nerve, and talent.

So make them eat it.

Because in the end, the queen that leaves no crumbs

will be crowned America's next drag superstar.

[cheering]

[upbeat music]

- Now are you ready for your first Mini Challenge?

all: Yes!

- Good, 'cause it's going to be a scream.

- Oh.

- [laughs] - I'm scared.

- Girl, what the fuck are you going to do to us?

I'm already fucking scared looking at Mandy's makeup.

[person screaming]

♪ ♪

- Let's go.

- ♪ "RuPaul's Drag Race" ♪

The winner of "RuPaul's Drag Race"

will snatch an official makeup collaboration

with Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics

and a cash prize of $200,000,

courtesy of "RuPaul's Drag Race

Match Queen,"

with extra-special guest judge Cardi B.

- ♪ "RuPaul's Drag Race" ♪

♪ May the best drag queen win, best drag queen win ♪

[dramatic music]

- Hello, hello, hello.

- Athena Dion.

Welcome to your season 18 initiation.

Say hello to Jamal Sims.

- Hello, Jamal. - Hey, Athena.

- I'm curious.

Would dates consider you a screamer?

- She's a screamer, and she's a biter, RuPaul.

- Oh.

- Well, for this week's Mini Challenge,

you need to scream your padded ass off.

- [laughs] OK.

- But you won't be doing it alone.

- Oh!

[laughs]

Oh.

There are some hot masked or masc dancers.

This could be a good scream after all.

- Athena, you're about to do a little primal screamography

with these hot, pulsing menzeses.

- Good luck,

and may the best scream queen win.

- Whoo!

[laughter]

Oh, my God, so many men!

[laughter]

I'm screaming like a 55-year-old woman

at a gay beach.

Like, whoo!

Whoo!

Oh, hello.

Hello, boys.

[screaming]

Like, when did I become Nathan Lane in "The Birdcage"?

[panting]

Whoo!

[laughter]

- Hey, Nini Coco.

- Hello.

- You kind of resemble Alicia Edwards.

- Alyssa? I get that.

- That's what I meant. [laughter]

- Alicia's sister.

Alyssa's sister.

[laughter]

- Well, her secret is her name is Alicia.

That's the damn secret.

- [screaming]

We're in the first Mini Challenge.

I gotta give it everything I have.

I am trying to pull the scream up into my throat

and hit that high-pitch horror scream.

[screaming]

♪ ♪

- All right, Mariah. - [laughs]

- Kenya Pleaser.

I want you to think you're in

one of them Wes Craven movies.

- [screaming]

- Ooh, these white folks in this graveyard

is just scaring me.

- [screaming]

- [laughing]

- [screaming]

- Cast out those demons.

- [screaming continues]

[laughter]

- All these fucking hot guys are around me,

and I can't even help myself.

I want to lick a nipple.

I want to suck a--

Their nose.

[screaming]

[laughter]

- Jane Don't, give me a little baby "Home Alone."

- [screaming]

- You're screaming like a white woman in Compton.

- Well, I do have my purse.

[laughter]

- OK, hold on to the purse.

- Discord Addams.

- [screaming]

- That scream was primal.

- Ooh.

- [screaming, moaning]

- Mamma Mia! That's quite a scream.

- Yeah.

- DD Fuego.

Ooh, it's getting hot up in here.

- [trilling]

[moans]

Ah!

- Scream, girl.

- That was crazy. - Right?

That was crazy as hell.

- Finally, it is time for some of us

to get up out of drag

and see how these hooker hoes look.

- Is anybody catching your eye so far?

- Yeah, Athena.

I really-- - Oh!

- She's hot.

- I'm taking off my drag.

I feel like there's some eyes

wandering in my direction.

I'm a feast for the eyes.

So dive in, ladies.

Take a bite.

- You would be mean to me at a bar.

- Oh!

- Would you hit on me and I'd turn you down,

is that what you're saying?

- OK, let's not go that far. - [laughs]

- Juicy Love Dion.

Are you ready to make $14 the hard way?

- I'll do it for 10.

[laughter]

- [screaming]

- There. Nice.

Yeah.

- [screams]

- [screams]

- Vita VonTesse Starr.

Think of Africa, Vita.

- Oh!

- Come on, Kunta Kinte!

- Oh!

- Oh, James Brown. - Oh!

- Hey! - Yeah.

- Oh! - Come on.

- Briar Blush. - Oh, my God! Whoa!

Grab my hair. Grab my hair.

- Oh, no. Girl.

Ooh.

We're going to briar patch this motherfucker.

- [screaming]

- Mandy Mango.

- [screaming]

- Ciara Myst.

- Boys, you can touch.

It's OK.

Ooh!

Ooh, that's kind of hard.

Oh. Oh, my goodness.

Oh!

- Miss Darlene Mitchell.

- [screaming]

- Darlene, scream like you're the last piece

of white meat at Roscoe's.

- Ow!

[laughter]

- Ah!

- [screaming]

- Myki Meeks.

- Oh, hey.

[laughter, wheezing] - [screams]

This is not what I thought would be

the first Mini Challenge, but I don't mind

the sweaty men around me-- that's fine.

Ooh. Reminds me of home.

- Now something tells me you've been initiated several times.

- [laughs]

- [screaming]

That was crazy.

- We have all survived this crazy initiation ritual.

Now it's time to haul all of these boxes and bins

across the room so we can get out of this drag.

Concierge?

Ding, ding! Ding, ding!

- Ugh! - Where's my away suitcase?

There it is.

- Someone help me. - Ah!

- Ooh.

- Time to de-drag, honey.

- Ah, ah!

- Taking a look around, some of them

might be scarier than whatever just happened.

I'm looking around the room, and I'm like, is this the crew?

Like, some of these girls look completely different

without makeup.

- Wait.

Who are you?

[laughter]

- I'm Nini.

- I'm kind of gagged at everyone out of drag.

They give, like, very puss-puss woman.

So seeing them giving cock-cock man is--

[laughs] Is great.

- Oh, my goodness. Hello, hello, hello.

- Briar out of drag, she looks like a lesbian.

[laughs]

You look like Tegan and Sarah.

[laughter]

- Look at this. Is this a wig?

- No, this is my hair.

- The girls are all, like, shocked at what

I look like out of a drag.

I guess when you're Puss-Puss McGuss,

they don't expect like a little turn-up goblin to come out.

- How do you feel that we have a lot

of older queens this season?

- Why do we have to keep saying "older queens"?

- No, girl. Like, seasoned girl.

- How many queens are over 30?

- Raise your hand. - 30 and up, bitch. Gag.

- Yeah.

- Bitch!

- There's a hand over there.

And Darlene too.

- It's the granny season.

- So we're, like, more over 30.

- We are 30, flirty, and thriving.

- America. - Get it together, baby.

- There's so much to learn from all your years of wisdom.

- Gag.

- Shady comment coming from the shady queen.

- I'm starting to think some of these girls

are even more annoying out of drag than in drag.

[laughter]

- Hey, ladykins!

[cheering]

Scream if you want to go faster.

- Oh, yes, yes.

- My queens, now y'all let loose, to say the least.

- Yes! - Sorry.

- But one of you truly unleashed the beast.

- Beast.

- The queen that served

the most primal scream is...

- [screaming]

- Kenya Pleaser.

[cheers and applause]

Condragulations.

You've won a cash prize of $2,500.

- [screaming] Oh, my God!

[screams, laughs]

I won the very first Mini Challenge of the season.

It was crazy.

Me, me.

My big, Black, fat ass.

Bitch!

- Ladykins, since the dawn of time,

drag Queens have turned the tragical into the magical.

And now more than ever, it's time to reclaim,

renew, and rejoice.

For your first Maxi Challenge, you'll pay tribute

to all the scrappy queens that came before you by using

their leftover treasures to create

your own signature drag look.

- Oh, shit.

- The first Maxi Challenge is a design challenge.

- [screaming] - OK.

- A design challenge.

- Right off the bat.

- Where's the talent show, bitch?

[laughter]

Where is the talent show?

- In a moment, you'll get full access

to the "Drag Race" vault, where you'll rummage

through materials from past seasons.

- Oh.

- Now you can use your own hair, accessories,

and undergarments, but the rest of your look needs

to be pulled deep from within the "anals"

of "Drag Race" herstory.

- Ooh.

- Oh, and just one more thing.

Tomorrow on the main stage, bring a bucket and a mop.

- What?

- Because our extra special guest judge...

is Cardi B.

[cheers and applause]

- Oh, my God!

- Cardi B is in the motherfucking building.

I know that's right.

- Racers, start your engines,

and may the best drag queen win.

[cheering]

- So excited it's a design challenge.

This is OG "Drag Race," and I think it is an incredible

first challenge to see what everybody is made of.

[clicking]

[upbeat music]

[chatter, laughter]

- Our first challenge is reclaim, renew, rejoice.

We have to create couture looks

using unconventional materials from the "Drag Race" vault.

- [screams] - What the fuck?

- We all run in like there's only one piece of chicken

left on the table at Thanksgiving.

- Bitch, I cannot. [groans]

- Just grab, sisters.

Just grab.

- Not a Hormona bob.

Jesus. - [screams]

- Oh, my God, there's sponges.

Oh, Monet, I love you, but we're going

to leave the sponges at home.

- I found Lexi's tarp, y'all.

- [screams] The hell?

- Bitch, I don't even know what I grabbed.

- Sorry about the mess.

- Oh, girl.

- Oh, my God.

- Holy fucking shit. Bitch.

- We're going to be sewing on day one.

- It's crazy. - You know what?

I need to slip into something a little bit more comfortable.

Now let's analyse what we have today.

- I do design a lot of my garments,

but I pay some very, very talented

people to make them for me

because I know they'll do it better.

- Oh, yes.

Now that's going to be pretty.

- But honey, I wasn't going to be

the one to show up on "RuPaul's Drag Race"

not knowing how to sew.

Before I came here, I bought myself

25 sewing classes.

So I prepared for this.

I'm going to make something fierce

out of these materials.

All right. Let's get to sketching.

[upbeat music]

- Girls, look what I found. - Stop.

- I wonder if that's the one Ariana Grande wore,

'cause it looks a little too small to me.

- It smells a little like Ariana Grande.

[laughter]

- OK, bitch.

I'm trying to think.

OK, let me see.

Girl, I'm looking down at all the shit I have,

and I'm like, oh, shit.

I grabbed no fabric.

I have a fucking rubber chicken and fish.

[chicken squawks]

Jesus!

Pillows, and a fucking beach hat

with no fucking fabric.

Girl.

I know how to sew,

and I didn't grab nothing to sew with.

[groans]

♪ ♪

- How did you find, like, your entire aesthetic in one go?

- I said, cheetah, box of black.

- Yeah. This is, like, so you.

- My bag is filled with all of my favourites.

Leather, chain, and pampas grass.

- I love designing shit.

I've just been, like, making costumes my entire life.

- Really? - And then, like,

I met my partner, and he's, like, a sew-er!

My partner and I, we consider ourselves the House of Addams.

And we are known back home for upcycling

and for creating outfits out of scratch.

We want to show the world that you don't have to have

$100,000 to compete on "Drag Race."

So I think we all know this challenge is mine.

[playful music]

[energetic music]

- What are you going to do?

'Cause I know you can sew, girl.

- I can sew with normal fabric.

But this is a lot of, like--

- Girl!

- Knock, knock, knock on wood, baby.

- Don't be like LaLa Ri, girl.

- No, yeah.

- I am making a paper bag look

using the same materials as LaLa Ri.

Her fatal flaw was clearly that

she didn't do anything to them.

She just glued them to her body.

So my challenge is, how can I completely

transform this material?

As an engineer, you have to have a plan

before you can construct anything.

So I have to get that on paper to understand

what direction I'm going.

[whirring]

- I'm known for giving high drag.

So my biggest expectation is just to come with a wow factor.

- OK, talk to me, baby.

What do you want to do?

What do you want to be?

- I have these umbrellas.

I have to speak to the fabric, let it speak to me.

We talk to each other.

Speak to me.

Speak to me, baby.

Talk to me.

[playful music]

Is it weird that I have to talk to the fabric?

- [laughs]

[upbeat music]

- I know you're, like, a dancing diva.

- Uh-huh.

- Are you going to make an outfit

for the dancing,

or are you going to be-- - Yeah.

I mean, I'm definitely going to stay with my vibe.

- I was going to say, aren't you mostly naked?

Right.

- Listen.

One, one, and then--

- Let me get the next one.

- Put it--exactly.

[laughter]

I'm kind of winging it at this point

because I don't have a plan.

But I will figure it out.

♪ ♪

- There we go, baby.

Now we're talking.

- [sighs]

- I don't have a needle on my machine.

- Now, I'm new to the whole sewing thing.

So do I look out for my girl or do I push her aside

and be this "Mommie Dearest" of it all?

- Sorry.

May need a needle.

- Well, as they say on an airplane,

you have to put your mask on first

before you put your child's mask on.

- Anybody know how to put in a needle?

- Yeah.

- Can you help me out, sister?

- Damn.

You really don't sew, huh?

- There's something about Juicy that just

makes you want to help her.

- This will go with the flat side facing forward.

I mean, she looks like fucking Bambi.

- I just want to see if it'll ruche.

- Well, I think you have to put a thread in the machine

before it does anything.

[laughter]

- I mean, it's my first time putting together a garment.

My family is no help in this situation.

But I sat next to the right people.

Jane and DD Fuego are helping me tremendously right now.

- What would you say your, like, typical drag style,

aesthetic, performance is like?

- Very vintage inspired, but, like, try and give it

enough of a twist that it doesn't just feel like

I'm dressed like an old lady. - Yeah.

- I am a comedy queen, but I am also a huge fan of fashion.

For this challenge, I have this vision.

It's ambitious, like Mugler, Lady Miss Kier,

Isaac Mizrahi unzipped technicolor moment.

[upbeat music]

- I finally locked down my design ideas.

It is completely made out of big, large hats

that go around my shoulder and be like, very, you know,

sculpture and very high fashion.

Do you like this dramatic shoulder I'm making?

- I do.

- I decide to spray paint my lovely collar piece,

so I take it outside to spray paint it gold.

The fucking hats fall a-fucking-part.

Shit.

I don't even know what to fucking do.

- Why are you feeling stressed? What's wrong?

- So I went outside to--you know,

my little shoulder piece I was making,

to spray paint this shit.

When I was spray painting it, girl,

it was literally falling apart.

- Why was it falling apart?

- Because--I don't know.

Because God hates me right now.

I'm going to have to rework this whole idea.

There's a chance that I can be the Pork Chop of the season.

There's no way I fucking win the Mini Challenge,

and I'm about to be in the bottom.

[groans]

By the time the end of the day comes,

I just have one side of a rhinestone bra completed.

[sighs]

♪ ♪

[upbeat music]

[cheering, laughter]

- First challenge!

- It's the first elimination day.

Today, we are going to walk the runway in the looks

that we made and find out what the judges think.

I'm not feeling confident at all about this challenge.

I love to fuck up some pork chops,

but I ain't trying to be one, baby, look.

- What are you trying to serve on the runway today?

- I'm giving conceptual.

I'm giving florals and spring.

I'm giving--

- So you're giving florals for spring?

- Florals for spring. Groundbreaking.

- Groundbreaking.

- Groundbreaking. Groundbreaking.

- Watching Athena craft all day yesterday--

- Well, that's the thing. Like--

- She was going through it.

- I helped her.

- We all got to work on our outfits a little bit more

last night, and me and Athena, I thought, were having

a great sisterly moment, helping each other.

I would help her, and she would give me spare materials.

- And then when I didn't have any more capacity

to sew her some gloves,

she started calling me a scammer.

- Athena, these girls are talking about you.

- I certainly am, you fucking cow.

- Excuse me?

- I'm talking about yesterday when

you wanted me to make your glove.

- Oh, no, no. Don't get--

I did not want you to make anything for me.

You wanted all my supplies, first and foremost.

- That is not true.

And you are full of shit, actually.

[laughter] - You kept coming over.

Are you going to use that, are you going to use this?

And I tried to make a trade with you.

- Then, all of a sudden,

decided she didn't get the fabric,

so she didn't make my gloves.

Was it to throw me off so I didn't walk the runway

with the gloves I wanted?

Are you playing a dirty game, Briar?

Are you a bad kitty?

[cat yowling]

Bad kitty, kitty, kitty.

- You kept coming to me for some help,

and you asked me to make you some gloves.

So don't you--

- Help and advice are two separate things.

You could use both.

But you want credit for my whole garment.

- I absolutely do not want credit for your garment.

- So did you help or did you not?

- I did help you, but I didn't help

with your taste.

- What--my taste is fabulous.

I had a shower curtain to work with and it came out beautiful.

- That's more fabric than I had.

- Well, you wear less than me with more to cover.

I don't know how that works.

[shady music]

- Where does she get off?

[electronic music]

- I worked on my outfit all night,

and I got it to a place where it's something.

But let me tell you, I can sell anything.

Bitch, I can sell a plastic bag to a convenience store.

♪ ♪

- I will say, it felt really good

to, like, come into, like, the first challenge,

like, swinging.

- I'm really happy with my look.

- Yeah.

- I think it's, like, super cute.

And it's very on brand.

So for this design challenge, I was like, wait.

I'm a bedroom queen.

Like, sleepover, PJs, slumber party teas.

I like being crafty.

I'm really confident in that.

Like, I can turn a look with a hot glue gun.

But taking a look around the room,

I'm starting to get a little insecure about mine.

- It's like two things happening

at the same time, you know?

Like, I'm like, ooh, bitch, I just ate that up.

And then looking around the room and being like,

oh, did I miss the memo?

- But then looking around the room again and being like,

oh, no, I did eat it up, you know what I mean?

It's like you look, and you're like, oh, did I?

Did I? Oh, I did.

- [laughs] Yeah.

- I am, like--

I do teeter on obnoxiously confident.

- I see that.

[laughter]

- So, Miss Athena, how does it feel to have your daughter--

girl, how does it feel to be competing with her?

- It's a weird thing.

It's an adjustment.

We are like best friends back at home.

- Really? - We do everything together.

We travel together. We work together.

- Weren't y'all in Mykonos together?

- I took her to Mykonos with me for, like, two years.

I am the premiere hostess of the biggest gay club

in the summer in Mykonos in Greece.

Yes, I was the iconic voice behind Lindsay Lohan's

viral dance video in Mykonos.

Honey, this is how you throw a party in Mykonos, bitch.

Honey, this is how you throw a party in Mykonos, bitch!

- It was me. I was just off camera.

- I can't wait to come party in Mykonos, bitch.

- Let's go, honey. We'll go right after here.

We're going to take a little vacation.

We're going to go.

- Juicy's claiming Mykonos right now.

I heard her walk in the Werk Room and say...

- The party Princess of Miami and Mykonos.

[upbeat music]

- Keep it princess, sweetie.

I don't think I'm going to let anybody forget

who is the queen of Miami and Mykonos.

Boop.

- It's the part where they go...

[vocalising]

[RuPaul's "Cover Girl"]

♪ ♪

- [laughing]

♪ ♪

♪ Cover girl ♪

♪ Put the bass in your walk ♪

♪ Head to toe ♪

♪ Let your whole body talk ♪

- Yes. - Yes.

Put a belt on that.

- ♪ And what ♪

Welcome to the premiere of "RuPaul's Drag Race."

She's been serving WAP since the 1980s.

It's Michelle Visage.

- If you mean "wig and panties,"

then you are correct.

[laughter]

- He don't dance no more.

He makes money moves.

Style superstar Carson Kressley.

- Ru, I have one thing to say.

Okurr!

[laughter]

- She's the definition of a winner, baby.

It's Cardi B.

- RuPaul, from one gangsta bitch to another, ow!

[laughter]

- We are happy to have you.

For this week's premiere, we challenged our queens

to transform Drag Race relics into crown-worthy couture.

Racers, start your engines,

and may the best drag queen win.

♪ Booty, booty ♪

Category is Reclaim, Renew, Rejoice.

Up first, Ciara Myst.

Oh, look. It's Edward's Scissor Sisters.

[laughter]

- I'm giving seductive, scary, villainous.

[sinister laughter]

I have used pool noodles to create accents on my hips

and shoulders, umbrellas to make talons on my hands,

and I am here to take over everything.

- She started out as a Smurf, but now she's just a slut.

[laughter]

- Athena Dion.

- OK, very cutesy, very girly.

- It's summertime fun with Athena Dion.

I used two shower curtains and I made this really cute

garden party dress.

This look definitely speaks to a part

of my personality in drag.

It's giving all the hype of Miami in the '80s.

- Putting the "poo" back in Lilly Pulitzer.

[laughter]

- Kenya Pleaser.

Pleaser?

- I don't even know her.

- America, I know what I look like.

This is a mess.

But let me tell you something.

I am walking my fat Black ass down this runway.

I'm giving a sexy, around-the-way, like, hey,

this your cousin.

I'm selling it like this garment is worth

$200,000, bitch.

- Pleaser?

I'm a homosexual.

[laughter]

- Nini Coco.

- It's the origami mami.

- My look today is this asymmetrical two-piece.

You can't tell that these were gift bags.

It is an engineering feat, to say the least.

It's got an interesting silhouette.

It's structured.

It's sharp.

This is couture.

- OK, tea.

Very much tea.

- Jane Don't.

- Freddy got finger wave.

- This outfit is made of shower curtains.

I tailored a skirt.

I made a jacket, but then just completely

sort of tie dyed it with, like, spray paint.

I wanted it to feel like you did a bunch of mushrooms

and then, like, went to your office job.

- Oh, no she better Jane Don't.

[laughter]

- Discord Addams.

- I have used exclusively pampas grass,

pussy willows, and chain.

My outfit is so intense, and I serve

intense fashion model on the runway.

♪ ♪

- Look at that walk.

- Well, it--it--

it is a walk.

[laughter]

♪ Booty, booty ♪

Mia Starr.

Oh, Mamma Mia.

- I wanted to channel Cardi B's album cover.

And now I get to serve this up to her.

- Very "Invasion of Privacy." I like.

I like. I like.

- Big ass, big titties.

I'm giving a party.

- You know, she's a singer. - Mm-hmm.

- She specialises in Reynolds Wrap.

[laughter]

- DD Fuego.

- Hey, Mom, what's for dinner?

- Baked potato!

[laughter]

- This look is very DD Fuego.

It's Moschino pop meets Galliano drama.

She is serving a corset made of blankets, pillows,

sleeping bags, yoga mats.

But diva, I'm living my life.

- Do not put this dress in the microwave.

[laughter]

- Juicy Love Dion.

- Ooh, she's cute.

- We call this wig the sexy Marge Simpson.

[laughter]

- I am feeling real puss-puss

about my outfit today.

The material I used to make this

is two billowing bands with an ombre effect on them.

I'm giving the judges Miami girl.

I feel fierce.

- This outfit is brought to you

by Turban Outfitters.

[laughter]

Vita VonTesse Starr...

Zeta-Jones.

[laughter]

- I know that I am giving

high whore drag, darling.

I am giving shine, pageantry for which I am known for.

I know that I am one of the baddest bitches

on this runway.

- Yes.

She's serving My Fair Shady.

[laughter]

- Briar Blush.

- When I got my materials for the look,

I knew exactly what I wanted to do,

a kitty cat burlesque showgirl.

- Hey, kitty, kitty. Ow!

- My ears are made out of foam.

And all the beading that you see

dripping from my ears and my corset

are all from a chandelier.

I do believe that fashion can be fun,

whimsical, and still feel sophisticated.

- What a nice pink tail.

[laughter]

- Mandy Mango.

She can buy her own damn flowers.

Well, actually, several of them.

- From head to toe, I am a basket of flowers

outgrowing my container.

I created a look that is giving wearable art,

just giving you a whole look and concept.

- Why, that's the biggest rosebud I've ever seen.

- Yeah, and it's on her head.

[laughter]

- Darlene Mitchell.

- Well, she woke up like this.

- This look is very Darlene.

Darlene has legs that are long, honey.

I've got my little babydoll nightgown, my sleep mask,

and I made my little trash bear.

What better way to say that I'm a bedroom queen?

- Because if you stay ready for bed,

you ain't got to get ready for bed.

[laughter]

- Myki Meeks.

Arya Stark for Ethan Allen home furnishings.

- Curtains up!

It's the Academy Award-winning Myki Meeks.

I am bringing some drama to the main stage.

I'm wearing curtains and drapes.

I'm swinging it like I'm the only girl on the stage,

'cause I was.

- I just like the way it drapes.

- Yeah.

Well, do the drapes match the drapes?

- I guess we'll find out.

♪ ♪

Welcome, queens.

Say hello to Cardi B.

- Hi! - Hi.

- Now I've made some decisions.

[dramatic music]

When I call your name, please step forward.

♪ ♪

Athena Dion.

Discord Addams.

Mia Starr.

DD Fuego.

Briar Blush.

Ciara Myst.

Darlene Mitchell.

Myki Meeks.

Ladies, you are all safe.

- Thank you.

[dramatic music]

- I am literally shocked.

You're never going to convince me that I was just safe.

- You may leave the stage.

- Thanks, Cardi.

- Yay!

♪ ♪

- Ladykins, you represent

the tops and bottoms of the week.

Now it's time for the judges' critiques,

starting with Kenya Pleaser.

- You are filled with stage presence and personality.

However, the outfit's rough on a few levels.

- I actually love the bustier.

I think it's super fun.

But from the waist down, it just looks sloppy.

It looks lopsided.

- The skirt is terrible.

So if you know that your outfit is not great,

you just got to go nice up here.

Glam is very important for the--

it's true.

It's true!

[laughter]

No, because if the outfit ain't great,

the glam got to give.

- Right. - Yes.

- Trust me, I know what I look like.

I know. I know, girl.

- You knew we were going to do a sewing challenge.

- Yes.

- Why did you not come prepared?

- Well, I actually can sew.

I made my entrance look and stuff.

It was the unconventional-ness of it all

that really threw me for a fucking loop.

- But you know, that's what this challenge is about.

It's about giving you a situation

where you have to work it out.

- Absolutely.

- All right, Kenya. Thank you so much.

- Up next, Nini Coco.

- Tell me what your outfit is made out of.

- So I was inspired by LaLa Ri, and I took some gift bags

and zhuzhed them up.

- Yeah, you really did zhuzh them up.

- Very polished.

Very pretty.

Very well accessorised.

Like, I would wear this outside.

Like, literally, I would wear this outfit outside.

- [laughs]

- I love it.

- Also, I think you really understood

the assignment--reusing and renewing and rejoicing.

And if I were a really smart queen,

I would think, how am I going to stand out?

Let's not make a dress out of fabric.

Let's make it out of paper.

You know, it's just so powerful.

- It's crisp.

It looks great.

You did it just right.

- Thank you.

- Up next, some girls do, but Jane Don't.

[upbeat music]

[laughter]

- This just feels whimsical

and celebratory and fun.

- I can tell that you can sew.

This jacket is not easy.

- And I really love the hair.

Like, I just--I love when people put effort.

It's tea, girl. I love it.

I love it. You did that.

- Thank you so much.

- When did you learn how to sew?

- My dad taught me when I was in high school.

- Is your dad an alumni of our television program?

- I wish.

He probably would talk to me.

- [laughs]

So you don't speak to your father,

or he doesn't speak to you?

- He's not great with, like, the gay thing.

- Why did your father know how to sew?

- He was in--he was, like, a Boy Scout,

and he was sew tents

and sleeping bags to go camping.

And now I'm using those skills to cross-dress.

- Yes. - Yeah.

- Well, this is really well done.

It is absolutely gorgeous.

- Um, to get-- to be able to do this

and have it turn out and look good

is really making me look like a fool.

[laughs] - No, don't--

don't judge yourself like that.

- And you did a great job.

So you should be very proud of yourself.

- Thank you very much. Appreciate you.

Thank y'all.

- Up next, Juicy Love Dion.

- You remind me, and in the best way possible,

of a cartoon.

Your face is so beautiful and your eyes are so wide set.

Absolutely gorgeous.

- OK, so this is why it's so important

to learn how to, like, sell,

because, like, when you're standing, it's ugly.

[shady music]

[mumbles] It's just ugly.

But when you went like this, oh!

It's kind of cute. I like it. I like it.

- I also like the bandeau top.

I think the pleating

and the ruching is really pretty.

But the choker shortens your neck.

And then the skirt as well, it doesn't have any volume.

- It's a little simple, the skirt.

Like, the skirt--oh, girl.

What was you thinking with that skirt?

[laughter]

You know what I'm saying?

I really hate this skirt.

So...ugh.

- Up next, Vita VonTesse Starr.

- This is glorious.

- Thank you.

- This is so classy.

- Was this whole thing made with umbrellas?

- Yes, ma'am, it was.

- I love it.

- And the way you have that one umbrella piece

from your hip down to your toes

is so pleasing to the eye.

Also, sewing a geometric fabric like this

and making it not look confusing and jumbled

is very difficult to do.

- And then, like, the hair is perfect,

because it's like the outfit is busy, but the hair is like--

you know what I'm saying?

Like, I love it.

Tens. - Thank you, Vita.

- Thank you.

- Up next, Mandy Mango.

- You are adorable.

However, it's just too rough around the edges

and a little too messy.

It's kind of uneven and coming apart.

- I think it's all about editing here.

And I think removing that collar piece.

You kind of didn't need those trailing garlands

at the hemline.

- The flowers in the bottom is insane.

Oh, my God, I hate it.

[laughter]

- Heard. - It's bad.

But you're pretty.

- Thank you.

- Do you have any background in sewing at all?

- I do.

Now that I'm working full time as a nurse

and in school getting my master's,

I have a little less time to do that.

- Did you say you're working full time as a nurse?

- I am.

I specialise in HIV and LGBTQ sexual health.

So you'll find me in the clinic treating

all of their gonorrhea.

[laughter]

- Girl!

- My day is typically a 9:00 to 5:00.

And then 5:00 to 9:00, I'm wearing something

a lot better than this.

- All right.

Well, thank you very much, Mandy.

- Thank you.

- Gosh, y'all making me the villain judge.

[laughter]

- Thank you, queens.

While you untuck backstage,

the judges and I will deliberate.

[dramatic music]

All right, now, just between

us squirrel friends, what do you think?

Starting with Kenya Pleaser.

- That look was very bland for me.

It just didn't work.

- She could sell almost anything except that outfit.

[laughter]

- Nini Coco.

- She was serving cunt.

She was serving classy.

She was serving clean.

- And that's not easy, to wear a paper garment.

Like, it could really look messy.

This really worked.

- Jane Don't.

- Now that outfit was constructed.

- The bustier, the dimensionality

of the cup, everything.

Well done from a technical standpoint.

- And she sure learned from her dad.

- Yeah.

- The Oscar de la Renta of the Boy Scouts.

[laughter]

- Juicy Love Dion.

- I think Juicy is so beautiful.

And I even loved the top.

- Like, the skirt was such a turn off that it's like--

it's almost like you could've just do a regular blue panty,

and it would have just go.

- Vita VonTesse Starr.

- For a moment, I forgot it was a design challenge

where they only had very limited materials.

It looked like one of her, like, best-in-drag outfits.

- It looked expensive.

- I can't say anything bad about it.

It's just everything.

I love it.

- Mandy Mango.

- So Cardi just said she doesn't have anything

negative to say about Vita.

Well, I don't have anything positive to say about Mandy.

I don't necessarily mind how she put it together,

you know, with the hot glue or whatever.

What I minded was how messy it was.

- I know what that fabric is.

It's like a woven, like, placemat material.

- Yeah. - So it made that skirt

look really bulky and rumply,

like an old paper bag.

- But it's not even the material,

it's the flower placement.

It looked like she had a time at Michaels.

It shouldn't even be looking like that.

Like, girl.

- It's funny that she works in sexual health,

because she obviously has an FTD.

[laughter]

- Carson! - And this look proves it.

- Silence!

I have made my decision.

Cardi B, bring back my girls.

- Where they at? - [laughs]

[upbeat music]

- Honey, we are trying to gather ourselves

after our very first critiques.

And I'm sitting here in this Untucked lounge.

I'm very, very scared of what my fate will be today.

Am I going home?

- Again, there are people that are in the safe room

that I was like, they could be out there too,

on both top and both bottom, so I'm like, it doesn't--

- So who you think should've been in the bottom?

[dramatic music]

- Ladies!

- Oh, my God!

[cheering, screaming]

♪ ♪

Let me introduce y'all to the dolls!

- Oh, my God!

- Oh, my God!

- Not Tokyo!

- Oh, my God.

- It's not just Cardi.

A whole glam squad is here today.

- Oh, my God!

- Holy cow.

Erika is Cardi's longtime makeup artist,

and Tokyo Stylez is one of the, like, most iconic

celebrity wig stylists in the fucking world.

- These are the dolls. - The dolls.

- The dolls.

- I can't live without them, literally.

- This is queer art at its finest.

- Yeah.

- And to have an artist at your caliber

incorporating our community into what you do, thank you.

- And I learned a lot from y'all community.

Like, I swear to God. - Same.

Me watching "RuPaul's Drag Race," it's like,

I remember when I first started my transition,

this is how I learned how to do makeup.

- Hey. - Wow.

- Watching "RuPaul's Drag Race."

- OK.

- And then just seeing all the looks and stuff,

it just always inspires me, even her.

Like, I'll be like, we should do this,

and recreate this, and do it a different way.

- Yeah. Work.

- You know, sometimes we bring the culture

to the mainstream hip-hop feel.

- I don't care if people feel uncomfortable or whatever.

Like, I do not care.

These are my dolls.

And don't ever get it twisted.

The men be looking.

[laughter] - They do.

They do.

- I'm not going to spill tea, you know what I'm saying?

[laughter]

- Can I ask you a question, Cardi?

- Mm-hmm.

- So all of my sisters thought

I was going to be in the top.

So can I know what you thought about me?

[tense music]

- You're kind of wearing something that I would wear.

- Thank you.

- I like it.

- Bitch!

That was my goal.

If Cardi would wear that outfit, then why am I safe?

I mean, if Cardi B said Nini,

give me that orange zip-tied outfit off of your body,

I would pass away.

- I would wear this outfit outside.

I love it.

- I would pass away.

- Some girls just did it better than the others,

that's all.

You know what I'm saying?

I'm not even going to lie to you girls.

Like, I might be, like, the sweetest girl in the world,

but I am a very tough judge.

I don't want y'all to think that I'm bitchy or anything.

But it's like, look at my teachers.

- Hey! - These are my teachers.

I just want to say, whatever is your fate,

just remember that it is not the end,

and it's just a lesson.

And, like, I hope that you guys take that critique, and, like,

don't get discouraged from it.

Learn from it.

You know what I'm saying?

All right, y'all.

We cannot keep RuPaul waiting.

Y'all are not going to get me in trouble with no damn RuPaul,

you know what I'm saying?

Like, sashay away.

- Yeah!

- Wow.

- The party is over,

and it's time to go to the main stage

and find out who won and who's going home.

♪ ♪

Welcome back, queens.

I've made some decisions.

- I need you, Jesus.

- Nini Coco.

Your paper look was money, honey.

Jane Don't.

Your suit was a toot.

Vita VonTesse Starr, your umbrella look made us wet.

[laughter]

[dramatic music]

Jane Don't, you are safe.

♪ ♪

You may join the other girls.

♪ ♪

- Congratulations.

♪ ♪

- Kenya, we love your personality,

but your look was not a pleaser.

Juicy love Dion.

Your face was sitting, but your look was ill-fitting.

Mandy Mango.

You're a beautiful queen,

but your floral fixation left us limp.

♪ ♪

- [sighs]

- This is a lot.

Like, it's a lot.

I'm getting emotional.

Like, I'm so scared.

[laughter]

- Tell me about it.

♪ ♪

- Juicy Love Dion...

you are safe.

♪ ♪

You may step to the back of the stage.

- Thank you, Mother.

- I cannot believe I caught myself in this position.

And boy, do I never want to be here again.

♪ ♪

- Kenya Pleaser, Mandy Mango,

you are the bottom queens of the week.

But...

[dramatic music]

And it's a big "but," Cardi.

- Bigger than mine.

[laughter]

- No one is going home tonight.

[cheering]

[upbeat music]

- [sobbing]

Oh, thank you, Jesus.

- I feel so relieved.

I'm just so, so grateful to be here for another week.

- I'm gagging. I'm gagging.

I'm gagging.

This too much.

- Bitch, Cardi, I'm gagged too, girl.

This is--girl, I'm about to shit, girl!

[laughter] - Me too.

- Kenya, Mango.

You are safe, and you may join the other girls.

- Thank you so much.

- Thank you, judges.

♪ ♪

- Nini Coco.

Vita VonTesse Starr.

Condragulations.

You are the top two queens of the week.

- Yes! - Yes, sisters!

[cheering]

- Yes, bitches.

♪ ♪

- But...

[dramatic music]

- And it's a big "but," Ru.

[laughter]

- There can only be one winner.

Two queens stand before me.

Prior to tonight, you were asked to prepare

a lip sync performance of "Enough" by Cardi B.

Ladies, this is your chance to impress me

and win a cash prize of $5,000.

♪ ♪

- Ooh.

- Those are a lot of shoes.

[laughter]

- Cardi B is about to watch me perform her song.

I'm trying to keep it cool, but on the inside,

I am exploding.

- The time has come for you

to lip sync for the win.

♪ ♪

- The first lip sync of "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 18!

Ooh, we are in for a show.

- Good luck,

and don't fuck it up.

- ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ OK, look ♪

♪ Me versus you, and you know who they picking ♪

♪ Cheap and expensive, you knowing the difference ♪

♪ You know that it's hitting, you know what it's giving ♪

♪ Hair, nails, polar bear ♪ - Yes, bitch!

- ♪ I can survive in the coldest conditions ♪

♪ Hoes better lower they tone when they spitting ♪

♪ Bitches is washed, soap on the dishes ♪

♪ I apply pressure like boa constrictors ♪

♪ One bitch, two bitch, old bitch, new bitch ♪

♪ None of y'all bitches not gon' do shit ♪

♪ I'm in Miami, I pull up on cruise ship ♪

♪ You in Miami four hoes to a room, shit ♪

♪ Ah, when I step, it's stampede ♪

♪ Foot on neck, can't breathe ♪

♪ Lucky charm, Van Cleef ♪

♪ Diamonds on the dance team ♪

♪ I see my ops linking up ♪

♪ I'm like, "What in the fuck" ♪

♪ If you scared then, just say that, hoe ♪

♪ Enough is enough ♪

♪ They was just in my DMs ♪

♪ Ain't no trusting these sluts ♪

♪ I'm about to call up Diamond, bitch ♪

♪ Knuck if you buck ♪

♪ I'm like, "Ooh, child, cool down" ♪

♪ Too hot, too wild ♪

♪ Mugler, new style, how you fuckin' with me ♪

♪ Girl, give me one shot and I'm raising the glass ♪

♪ Give me two shots and I'm shaking this ass ♪

♪ Give me three shots and I'm ready to fuck ♪

♪ Five, four shots, I be ready to splash ♪

♪ God gave it to me so I gotta pop it ♪

♪ I'm standing on business, I'm ready about it ♪

♪ Bitches be talking ♪

♪ Mouth be bigger than they pockets ♪

♪ Girl, tell me about it ♪

♪ Did a lot of winning, a lot of scorin', yeah ♪

♪ Cardi Bryant, Cardi Jordan, yeah ♪

♪ These bitches sore losers, why ♪

♪ And they can't do it, is not important ♪

♪ Look, hey, I'm getting better and betterer ♪

♪ I do not see no competitor ♪

♪ You know the gang hit that pussy ♪

♪ Said it was regular-degular ♪

♪ Can't see me in fighting, can't see me in fashion ♪

♪ Can't see me with money, these bitches is buggin' ♪

♪ Either these bitches is blind or I'm invisible ♪

♪ Bitches can't see me or nothing ♪

♪ When I hop out, it's stampede ♪

♪ Foot on neck, can't breathe ♪

♪ Lucky charm, Van Cleef ♪

♪ Diamonds on the dance team ♪

♪ I see my ops linking up ♪

♪ I'm like what in the fuck ♪

♪ If you scared, then just say that, hoe ♪

♪ Enough is enough ♪

♪ They was just in my DMs ♪

♪ Ain't no trusting these sluts ♪

♪ I'm about to call up Diamond, bitch ♪

♪ Knuck if you buck ♪

♪ Ah ♪

[cheers and applause]

[suspenseful music]

- That was so fun.

Can I be, like, a judge forever, permanently?

[laughter]

- Queens.

I've made my decision.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

Nini Coco, condragulations.

You're a winner, baby. - Yes!

- Yes, sister!

[cheers and applause]

- Wow.

- I am feeling over the fucking moon.

Wow.

- You've won a cash prize of $5,000.

- I have the first win.

I showed up, and I delivered.

This is what I came here to do.

- Vita, you are free to slay another day.

- I'll take that.

[laughter]

- Condragulations, queens.

And remember, if you can't love yourself,

how in the hell you going to love somebody else?

Can I get an amen up in here?

all: Amen!

- All right.

Now let the music play.

♪ Good luck, and don't ♪

♪ Good luck, and don't ♪

♪ ♪

- Raja!

Less drinking, more pedalling.

♪ ♪

- Next time on "RuPaul's Drag Race"...

You'll be performing

in three Qpop girl groups.

- ♪ I feel the fuego ♪

♪ It burns ♪

- ♪ Technicolor queen, you better shine on ♪

[sighs]

- I'm not that worried about me.

- You were a rock star.

- Girl, you were stiff as a dick.

♪ ♪

- It's survival of the fittest, honey,

and if you ain't fit, pack your shit.

- Ah! - Oh, shit!

- ♪ Work, they want to see you let it out ♪

♪ I know you want to work, they want to see you go off ♪

♪ I know you want to work, you know I am in business ♪

♪ Come, let's give them just what they want ♪

♪ They want to see you, work ♪

♪ They want to see you let it out ♪

♪ I know you want to work, they want to see you go off ♪

♪ I know you want to work, you know I am in business ♪

♪ Come, let's give them just what they want ♪

♪ They want to see you ♪

♪ I know you want to work, work, work, work ♪

♪ Work, work, work, work, work, work ♪

♪ Work, work, work ♪

♪ Work, work, work, I know you want to work ♪

♪ Work, work, work, work, work, work ♪