Top 10 Best Design Challenge Looks on Drag Race

“The Last Ball on Earth”
The queens were tasked with making three looks for this futuristic ball, but one rose above the rest. The third and final garment Aquaria presented was the very definition of avant-garde. The lightning bolt-inspired piece was modern, edgy, and offered up a completely different silhouette. It acted in perfect juxtaposition to the other attire they premiered on the runway, allowing it to stand out. It also summed up everything that made her so unique, proving that she was the definition of a modern queen. It’s no wonder this helped her clinch one of her first wins on the season – and why countless fans pegged them as the eventual winner.

“The Realness of Fortune Ball”
For the Realness of Fortune ball on the All-Winners edition, the queens were tasked with crafting looks based on different colorful vacation spots. Although there was plenty of competition, Jaida Essence Hall made her mark with a dress modeled after Hawaii’s Black Sand Beach. The garment was flawlessly made, featuring several embellishments, including a gorgeous shoulder piece. It was both dramatic and sensual, and looked as though it had just come off the runway, rather than her sewing machine. It cemented why she both won her original season, and why she was invited back to compete again.

“House of Fashion”
Crafting a look — and then proceeding to rock it like it’s what you were born to do — is no easy feat. Yet here, Luxx Noir London managed to make it seem effortless. For the fashion week ensemble, they opted for bold colors and patterns. Her gorgeous purple top and headpiece went perfectly with those zebra-print pants, ensuring that all eyes would be on them. The construction was also flawless, with the aforementioned bottoms not having a single seam out of place. It was an advanced piece, but the queen pulled it off as if it were nothing at all. Thankfully, Luxx’s willingness to take risks paid off. Indeed, they won the challenge and confirmed she was a force to be reckoned with.

“Keeping It 100!”
If there’s one thing RuPaul will do, it’s start things off with a bang – especially when it comes to show milestones. For the 100th episode of the series and the first in season eight, Ru had the contestants craft looks based on previous design challenges. Kim Chi was assigned season 3’s Hair Ball, and her interpretation was nothing short of genius. She created a garment inspired by big cats, utilizing several different textures, from the fringe along the bottom to the powerful shoulder pads. It was genius. We probably don’t need to tell you she emerged victorious!

“Gayest Ball Ever”
Talk about showing love to your community and prove your salt as a seamstress in one fell swoop. For one of the final challenges of season 9, the contestants created and presented looks inspired by the iconic Village People. With so many options to choose from, audiences were eager to see how each queen would interpret the challenge. Shea Couleé easily stood out amongst the rest. With her gorgeous deconstructed cape made of flannel, rhinestone helmet, and boots, she served a perfect combination of trade and gay pride. It was the ideal homage to such a formative group, and led to her winning her fourth main challenge.

“Sugar Ball”
She may have something of a season 5 villain, but this look was as sweet as could be. The top four queens had a particularly tough hurdle to clear, working to create outfits out of candy. Roxxxy Andrews delivered, stunning everyone as soon as she turned the corner. She crafted a gorgeous fringe dress and it was so seamless that it looked like regular fabric instead of rainbow licorice. It molded to the contours of her body perfectly, adding to the gorgeous visual effect. Even though she just narrowly avoided the win that week, it was still a sheer feat in design. Nobody could deny this look.

“The Money Ball”
She’s the resident style icon, and for good reason. Whether she has the garment provided to her or makes it herself, Raja has proven without a doubt that she has an eye for fashion. This was seen several times over, notably during the Money Ball episode. It was far from the season’s first design challenge, but she didn’t let that stop her. She took paper money, turning the scraps into a brightly-colored and extravagant gown. Amazingly, it looked expensive and opulent beneath the stage lights. This wasn’t the end of Raja’s impressive fashion displays, either. Who could forget her golden “All Stars” look celebrating Myanmar?

“Hello, Kitty Girls!”
This was by far one of the franchise’s most unique design challenges, and one queen in particular didn’t disappoint. Known for their penchant for style, Violet Chachki had already cemented herself as the runway queen of the season. She further proved her chops towards the end of the competition, with this Hello Kitty-inspired ensemble. It immediately stood out for its interesting silhouette and campy elements– especially the steering wheel framing the face. The various embellishments may have seemed ridiculous in the hands of a different queen. But Violet instead appeared as though she had just left the runway at Fashion week.

“The Mother of All Balls”
This look may be more recent, but it’s already risen to the top of the ranks in the minds of countless fans. For season 16’s ball, the queens had to blend both masculine and feminine aspects in their garments. Nymphia Wind may have acted a little chaotically during the creative process in the werk room, but that quickly proved to be a red herring. Not only did she make an impressive ensemble from top to bottom, she also embellished it with several neck-ties that had been reshaped. It all came together to create a textured and complex piece that was so impressive, nobody could deny her the victory.

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

The Perfect Blend of Whimsy, Camp, & Glamour

Her Sapphire Gown Was the Very Definition of Opulence

“The Bag Ball”
When the queens of season 13 were assigned the arduous task of creating garments out of bags, no one could’ve expected the results from one queen in particular. Granted, Gottmik’s edgy pieces ultimately won the challenge. But it was Utica Queen’s gorgeous sleeping bag eleganza that won over the audience. Using only the time in the Werk Room, she crafted a seamless look, complete with cape and hood. It was hard to believe that something so perfect had started out as a mere sleeping bag. In one episode, Utica went from being seen as one of the Pork Chop Queens to a potential winner.

Which design look were you most blown away by? Let us know in the comments below.