THIS IS IT! The crowning of a queen. Are you #TeamAlaska? #TeamKatya? #TeamDetox? Or #TeamRoxxy? The decision to have the Drag Race contestants eliminate each other (rather than judge/host RuPaul making the final decision) each week created an interesting competitive dynamic this season, one that resulted in, as Alaska says, a re-creation of season 5's match-up of Rolaskatox vs. a "loveable weirdo."
At first, the queens eliminated each other according to the judges' critiques, but as the competition progressed, viewers wondered if relationships or strategy would come into play. It looks like Rolaskatox runs thicker than water: both Alaska and Detox rescued Roxxy Andrews despite the fact that it sent home perhaps more deserving queens such as Tatianna and Alyssa Edwards. Katya admits that she would have sent Roxxy home because, despite missteps in the drag family makeover, Alaska's been slaying the competition. The new, nicer Roxxy isn't offended-even she knows she's not the winner of the season. Alaska is annoyed at the mention of Rolaskatox bonds, wanting to head the competition without the aid of friends in high places.
For the finale challenge, the queens are tasked with writing a rap for RuPaul's new track, Read You, Wrote You, and lip sync performing the song with choreo as a drag super-group. Here's the breakdown of how the ladies set up their legacy:
ALASKA: Alaska is known for being a state with a unique identity-the northern wild plays by its own rules, and Alaska, somewhere between male, female, and genderless alien, pushes the agenda of drag as a performance art rather than mere female impersonation.
ROxxY: Not the most intellectually sophisticated queen to prance through Ru's doors, Roxxy has whip-smart contestents to compete with. Her legacy is her look: thick and juicy and polished for pageants. When Roxxy is in her element, she's a stunning showstopper.
DETOX: Detox is the fashion queen, the one most likely to rock art couture on the runway. As Ru says, she could be the head of a fashion house with her discerning taste.
KATYA: The high-class Russian hooker with a heart of gold, Katya is a judge and fan favorite who takes herself seriously...without ever taking herself too seriously.
The girls pull off the performance complete with chair-ography, hair-ography, splits, kicks, fans, and scantily clad backup dancers. Alaska shows both sides of her character: the blue-skinned alien pole-dancer in the lip sync, and the high glamour fashion model on the runway. Detox also shows range with a more typical Los Angeles glam-punk look for the supergroup, and a ballerina tule fantasy on the runway. Katya gives femme fatale in the lip sync, and gold hoop-skirt realness on the runway, and Roxxy offers two bejeweled nude illusions.
RuPaul offers an emotional send-off to the four contestants before deliberating with fellow judges to determine a top three in Alaska, Detox, and Katya. The remaining queens lip sync for the crown to If I Were Your Woman by Gladys Knight and the Pips. All three queens put on a noteworthy performance, but in the end, RuPaul chooses a winner in the eccentric, ecstatic Alaska. Anus-thing is possible...
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