Culture

Drag Race: RuPaul and the queens celebrate the series’ 200th episode

By Jordan Robledo

25th February 2023

MTV
MTV

Mama Ru and the queens celebrate Drag Race’s 15th anniversary and 200th episode with an extravagant ball. 

Spoilers ahead 

For this week’s maxi challenge, the queens were tasked with tapping into their inner fashionistas for another epic design challenge. 

“For this week’s maxi challenge, we are throwing a ball. And since the traditional 15th-anniversary gift is crystal, we’re having ourselves a Crystal Ball, darling,” Ru informed the girls. 

Ru then described the three signature looks the queens would tackling for the ball.

“Look number one, “Start Your Engines.” An update of my classic racing suit. Like we’ve never seen it before,” she explained. 

“Look number two, “My Favourite Ball.” You take on an Eleganza look from one of our past balls and make it your own. 

“Look, number three: ‘Crystallized Eleganza.’ Using accessories and materials from Zelouf Fabrics, you need to create a look from scratch that is dripping in crystals.” 

After Ru left the workroom, the queens wasted no time getting their supplies for their crystal looks, resulting in fabric being pulled and items breaking in the chaos.

It wasn’t long before Ru returned to the workroom. However, this time, longstanding guest judge Carson Kressley joined the queens to advise them on their designs. 

While he loved Mistress Isabelle Brooks and Salina EsTitties’ design ideas, the former Queer Eye star asked for Spice to step out of her usual box for the challenge. 

“We all know that you have it. This is your storytelling moment. Who is Spice? Give us a little bit extra,” Kressley explained to the drag talent. 

The next day, the queens returned to the workroom to finish their Crystal Ball looks and paint their faces for the main stage. 

While they were getting ready, Anetra opened up about her fractured relationship with her mother. 

“My mom and I don’t speak. And it’s been, like, five years,” she revealed to Salina and Sasha Colby. 

“I used to live in a house with my stepfather, my mom’s kids and my brothers. She kind of found my drag and my wigs and my make-up in my closet one day. 

“And she, like, confronted me about it, and she was like, it’s okay you can come out, and you can, like be who you are.” 

But despite her mother’s initial reaction, the drag performer revealed that she was kicked out of the house a week later. 

“After a week of having that conversation with her, she told me that I was making everybody in the house uncomfortable and that I had to leave,” she continued in a confessional. 

Fortunately, Anetra was taken in by her father, who she described as one of her “biggest supporters now.” 

Elsewhere in the workroom, the queens reminisced on some of Drag Race’s iconic moments – including Shangela and Mimi Imfurst’s Untucked fight and Ongina’s emotional HIV revelation.

With their faces beat, the ladies headed to the main stage to wow the judges with their three signature ensembles.

After delivering their jaw-dropping Crystal Ball looks, Salina, Sasha, Anetra, Loosey La Duca, Mistress and Spice were named as the top and bottoms of the week. 

During critiques, Ru, Michelle, Carson Kressley and guest judge Julia Garner praised Mistress and Sasha for delivering A+ designs in each category. 

After crowing Sasha as the winner of the maxi-challenge, Salina and Spice were named the two bottom queens of the week. 

To the sounds of Lil Nas X’s That’s What I Want as their soundtrack, the ladies laid out the drama and sass throughout the lip sync.

However, despite the theatrics and breaking her disco ball purse, Spice was asked to sashay away from the competition.  

“I’m feeling all the things right now, but I’m mostly proud. I know there’s a lot more for Spice, and for me. Well I am Spice, but… Love you Sugar,” she said in her exit confessional. 

On next week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15, the queens will be tasked with conducting one-on-one interviews for TV’s sketchiest news magazine. 

MTV

MTV

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New episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15, along with Untucked, air weekly and exclusively on the streamer of all things drag, WOW Presents Plus, in the UK and internationally on Saturdays at 2:00am.