Top 20 Most Rewatched RuPaul's Drag Race Lip Syncs

#20: Juicy Love Dion vs. Mia Starr

Season 18

The lip syncing divas of Florida served up not one but two jaw-dropping battles throughout Season 18. While their “Cover Girl” lip sync in the LaLaPaRuZa was impressive, nothing tops their “Pretty Ugly” performance. After impressing the judges in the talent show, the top two queens somehow managed to raise the bar even higher. They matched the song's slick, cocky energy with razor-sharp choreography and enough individual flair that your eyes genuinely didn’t know where to look. While Juicy exploded through every beat with her incredible athleticism, Mia countered with that effortless control that can only come from years of experience. Together, they felt like two pop stars sharing a headline slot, so it was no surprise RuPaul gave them a double win.

#19: Detox vs. Jinkx Monsoon

Season 5

Anyone who still thinks comedy queens can’t dominate a lip sync should revisit this Season 5 gem. Performing Yma Sumac’s wonderfully bizarre “Malambo No. 1,” Jinkx Monsoon leaned all the way into the song’s chaotic energy. Knowing her spot in the competition was at stake, Jinkx wobbled, shimmied, mugged, and threw herself into every absurd lyric and scat sound. Across the stage, Detox answered with her signature jaw-quivering trick, which, frankly, is ingenious every single time she deploys it. Neither queen tried to make the number glamorous; they embraced its eccentricity instead. This is the kind of lip sync you rewatch to discover a new hilarious facial expression or perfectly timed bit of physical comedy.

#18: A'keria C. Davenport vs. Kennedy Davenport

All Stars 11

While this pick is relatively new compared to some of the other entries on this list, it has become abundantly clear that it is already a classic. A’Keria and her drag auntie Kennedy Davenport lip synced to Deborah Cox’s gut-wrenching “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here,” and they delivered pure, unfiltered emotion. Every facial expression, every deliberate movement told the story of the song rather than the story of who could out-trick the other. There was an outpouring of emotion throughout the performance, but the queens also injected some humor, particularly with Kennedy’s perfectly timed fake faint. This was old-school drag at its peak. Having to choose a winner must have been one of the hardest decisions RuPaul ever made.

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#17: Jujubee vs. Sahara Davenport

Season 2

Jujubee announced herself as a lip sync legend right from the very first time she had to fight for her place in the competition. The song – “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles – demanded passion more than choreography, and Jujubee had it in abundance. She delivered every lyric with aching sincerity, drawing viewers in sometimes with nothing more than her expressive eyes. Word on the street is that Jujubee may have been a little buzzed before hitting the stage, but maybe that allowed her to lose her inhibitions and completely go for it. Sahara Davenport showcased the dazzling dance ability that made her such a respected performer, but Jujubee understood that sometimes stillness speaks louder than movement.

#16: Aja vs. BenDeLaCreme

All Stars 3

Once the music started, many assumed this lip sync would be a walk in the park for Aja. After all, the bouncy hip-hop track is more suited to her performance style than that of BenDeLaCreme. Aja brought all of her formidable dance skills to the battlefield, kicking, stunting, landing in splits… everything you would expect from Aja. DeLa, meanwhile, took a completely different route, milking every comedic lyric for maximum effect with exaggerated expressions and ridiculous physical comedy. But their completely different interpretations still worked in perfect harmony. This lip sync made it crystal clear that BenDeLaCreme had arrived not just as a competitor, but one who had her sights set on the crown. Oh well, we all know how that turned out.

#15: Ginger Minj vs. Mayhem Miller

All Stars 6

Lizzo’s “Phone” is a song tailor-made for physical comedy, and these two queens understood the assignment on a molecular level. Ginger Minj and Mayhem Miller seemed to have choreographed an entire comedy sketch around the number, and every moment of it was hilarious. Whether it was Ginger’s overcommitted attempts at sexiness or Mayhem’s voguing, which Ginger then proceeded to mimic, like she is wont to do, both queens came to entertain, and entertain they did. The escalating chaos of their shared “search” for the missing phone built beautifully throughout, with Ginger literally chasing Mayhem across the stage during the final chorus, which ended in a brilliant payoff. It’s pure comedic gold and endlessly rewatchable.

#14: Adore Delano vs. Trinity K. Bonet

Season 6

By the time this lip sync happened, Trinity K. Bonet had already established herself as Season 6’s undisputed lip sync assassin. So when Adore Delano found herself across the stage from her, performing Paula Abdul’s “Vibeology,” with the music icon sitting right there at the judges’ table, the stakes could not have been higher. Adore came in with what can only be described as a 15 out of 10 energy, clearly aware of exactly who she was up against. Trinity matched her every step. The two even shared a genuinely sultry moment together on the floor. Adore ultimately survived, sending home one of the season’s fiercest performers, but the real winners were viewers who still replay this showdown years later.

#13: Chi Chi DeVayne vs. Thorgy Thor

Season 8

Some lip syncs are fierce battles, but this one was a heartbreaking plea, piercing through the heart of everyone watching. Chi Chi DeVayne took Jennifer Holliday’s “And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going” and delivered what remains one of the most emotionally devastating performances in the show’s history. Chi Chi poured every ounce of herself into the song, building to the climactic moment where the beads from her gown cascaded to the stage floor during the emotional climax. Thorgy Thor, to her credit, kept the mood light with a hilariously misplaced cartwheel, before grabbing Chi Chi’s hand and raising it above her head, as if conceding the match herself. It was the right call. This battle belonged to Chi Chi from the first note.

#12: Dusty Ray Bottoms vs. Monét X Change

Season 10

Today, Monét X Change is celebrated as one of the most mesmerizing performers “Drag Race” has ever seen. That reputation was born from this lip sync. Monét gave a masterclass in how to merge a high-energy performance featuring tricks and stunts with hilarious comedic moments that would have your sides hurting. Dusty Ray Bottoms did her big one, but Monét was simply operating on another level. The fake-out split is all anyone can talk about, but the fact that she went on to actually deliver the split is proof that she understands how to tell a good story with her performances.

#11: Widow Von’Du vs. Gigi Goode

Season 12

The only thing better than a mesmerizing lip sync is one done right in front of the song’s artist. That’s the case in the season 12 premiere, when the top two queens Widow Von’Du and Gigi Goode face off to Nicki Minaj’s “Starships.” Both queens know they have to bring it, and boy, do they deliver an unforgettable performance! Gigi proves to be much more than just a look queen, drawing upon a host of quirky antics that leave the judges in stitches. But it’s Widow who truly embodies the number. Her relentless splits and uncomfortable acrobatics elevate this from an ordinary “Drag Race” lip sync to “Cirque du So-gay”!

#10: Jujubee vs. Raven

All Stars 1

All Stars 1 gets a lot of flak for its structure and challenges. But we have the unfortunate season to thank for one of the most heart-wrenching lip syncs in “Drag Race” herstory. In the penultimate episode, Jujubee and Raven lip sync for their lives to “Dancing On My Own” by Robyn. The stakes are high, as the winner will move on to the grand finale. After forming a close emotional bond, the two queens put their friendship on display, delivering a restrained yet incredibly emotional rendition of Robyn’s sad banger. By the end of the performance, the judges are left speechless, proving that sometimes, the best lip syncs don’t require splits and death drops.

#9: Roxxxy Andrews vs. Alyssa Edwards

Season 5

To retain their spot in the competition, Roxxxy Andrews and Alyssa Edwards have to battle to the tune of Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair.” There are many things that make this lip sync instantly memorable. For one, Roxxxy pulls off a feat that was groundbreaking at the time - a wig reveal - which gave the judges LIFE. Despite this, Alyssa holds her ground, flipping her entire body around the stage and destroying her shoe in the process. When the iconic lip sync is over, Roxxxy breaks down and shares her story, which leads RuPaul to deliver a moving speech about chosen families. The entire performance is a journey that never loses its impact, no matter how many times you rewatch it.

#8: DiDa Ritz vs. The Princess

Season 4

In Season 4, DiDa Ritz unofficially cemented herself as a “lip sync assassin” with this phenomenal performance against The Princess. Both queens were given the herculean task of breathing life into Natalie Cole’s “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” in front of the late singer. From the jump, DiDa defines what an electrifying performance should be. While The Princess gives her best, DiDa fully becomes the song, shuffling around the stage and taking everyone to church in the process. The largely one-sided battle is now regarded as one of the best lip syncs in “Drag Race” herstory, and we couldn’t agree more. In the wise words of Latrice Royale, “that is high drag, at its finest.”

#7: Laganja Estranja vs. Trinity K. Bonet

All Stars 6

When Trinity nabbed her first ever maxi challenge win, it was clear that we’d be getting an enter-taint-ing lip sync for your legacy. As if that wasn’t already exciting enough, it was against the extraordinary Laganja Estranja. From the moment Laganja drops onto the stage, she seemingly has Trinity shaking in her boots, which says a lot considering the latter’s phenomenal skills. Set to Dua Lipa’s “Physical,” Laganja pulls out all the tricks in her arsenal - splits, kicks, flips, backbends and some moves that defy categorization. Trinity also fights hard, giving an incredibly choreographed routine and putting on a show. In the end, Laganja wins this lip sync, but the only loser is anyone who hasn’t watched it fifty times already.

#6: Anetra vs. Marcia Marcia Marcia

Season 15

Nobody really saw this one coming, and that’s exactly what made it so thrilling. Marcia Marcia Marcia wasn’t expected to hold her own against Anetra, one of Season 15’s most physically gifted performers. But once the song started playing, Marcia showed up and showed out. The two were genuinely neck and neck – kicking, twirling, feeding off each other’s energy throughout. Then came the moment that broke the internet: Marcia dropped into a backbend on a lyrical cue, and Anetra literally flew over her body. They followed it with a synchronized split that had the entire studio screaming. Anetra edged the win, but Marcia earned her flowers. No wonder it remains the most-watched lip sync on the official Drag Race YouTube channel.

#5: Coco Montrese vs. Alyssa Edwards

Season 5

The feud between these two queens comes to a head when they land in the bottom and duke it out to Paula Abdul’s “Cold Hearted.” Alyssa proves her worth as the dancing queen, mesmerizing the judges with her hand choreography and a jump split that probably hurt everyone watching. She’s only slightly edged out by Coco. The latter contestant uses every fiber of her being, drawing attention to her pristine lip syncing and twirling her sleeves like a wind turbine. It could easily be a double shantay. But this is the third stint in the bottom for each of these queens, so it feels like someone has to go.

#4: Alyssa Edwards vs. Tatianna

All Stars 2

When Tatianna and Alyssa Edwards went head-to-head on this All Star season, the stakes were sky-high. For a chance to return to the competition, the two queens had to lip sync to Rihanna’s classic, “Shut Up and Drive.” Donning bodysuits, knee-high boots, and similar blonde wigs, they serve up a performance that feels more like a choreographed number than a competitive lip sync. With stunning hair-ography, sultry moves and perfectly timed jump splits executed on the same beat, they lay the blueprint for what a double shantay-worthy performance is. Neither Alyssa nor Tatianna was inducted into the Drag Race Hall of Fame that year, but this iconic lip sync has a permanent spot in our hearts.

#3: Denali vs. Kahmora Hall

Season 13

After giving subpar performances in the RuPaulmark challenge, Denali and Kahmora Hall have to impress the judges by lip syncing to Crystal Waters’ “100% Pure Love.” From the moment the song starts, Denali proves she’s the season’s lip sync assassin with her impressive voguing, duckwalk, and pantomime of the song’s lyrics. Although she’s restricted by her gorgeous gown, Kahmora remains poised throughout the performance and is graceful, even in her loss. The astounding display took the fandom by storm, and quickly became one of the most-watched season 13 lip syncs on YouTube. We’re willing to bet that you clicked replay faster than RuPaul said “shantay, you stay!”

#2: Brooke Lynn Hytes vs. Yvie Oddly

Season 11

“Drag Race” fans hit the lip sync jackpot when two of the frontrunners on Season 11 bombed the Snatch Game, landing in the bottom two. The battle, which begins as a sensual performance from Brooke Lynn versus a more comedic showing from Yvie, quickly escalates into a full-on gymnastics routine. As Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry” fills the air, the queens break out into splits, headstands, backbends, and dips, among other things. It’s just enough to make you dizzy, yet keep you thoroughly entertained. Brooke Lynn’s ballerina background and Yvie’s hyper-flexibility burst to the forefront, giving us a show-stopping lip sync. It’s so good it convinces RuPaul that it isn’t time for either of them to leave the competition.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Aja vs. Irene the Alien, All Stars 10

Aja Did Her Little Dance & Took the Internet by Storm

Dawn vs. Morphine Love Dion, Season 16

Fans Return to This to Relive the Murder on the Dancefloor

Katya vs. Kennedy Davenport, Season 7

These Dancing Queens Put On an Incredible Show Worthy of a Finale Smackdown

Plastique Tiara vs. Roxxxy Andrews, All Stars 9

Roxxxy’s Old-School Performance Style Will Simply Never Get… Well… Old

Silky Nutmeg Ganache, All Stars 6

Silky Playing Both Parts of “Barbie Girl” by Herself Was Camp Genius at Its Finest

#1: Sasha Velour vs. Shea Couleé

Season 9

Going into the season 9 finale, many felt Shea Couleé was the clear frontrunner. In the second lip sync for the crown, she went up against Sasha Velour, and what happened next changed everything. Both queens start off evenly matched, with Shea giving a neatly choreographed routine and Sasha digging deep into her emotions. But as Whitney Houston belts out the final chorus, the latter queen lets a cascade of rose petals fall from under her wig. Needless to say, it sends everyone’s jaws to the floor, essentially sealing her win that round. It’s arguably the most referenced “Drag Race” moment, and the performance is sure to send chills down your spine every time you rewatch it.

Which of these lip syncs do you already have queued up for a rewatch? Let us know in the comments below.