Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race Runway Themes
#10: Bearded and Beautiful "Shakesqueer"
After Milk's surprising beard reveal in season six, RuPaul asked her queens to lend their own glamor to facial hair. Trixie Mattel took the opportunity to blend the romance of a mythical goddess with a beard ripped straight from Jesus. Mrs. Kasha Davis rocked an intriguingly androgynous outfit, while Violet Chachki's retro look questioned traditional gender imagery. Though Kennedy's scruff was a bit rugged, Jasmine Masters decided to just draw stubble on her face. Spacey creations like Kandy Ho's avant-garde Fu Manchu and Pearl's crimson shards also lent some surreal qualities to the week's selections. This update on a once criticized outfit decision showed ingenuity from contestants and open-minds from the judges.
#9: Latex Extravaganza "All Stars Snatch Game"
Rubber hit the runway on the second week of All Stars 2, for looks that were skin-tight and visually distinct. While Roxxxy Andrews created a Janet Jackson-style frock, Alaska transformed her black latex into something out of a futuristic dance club. Alyssa Edwards started in black too, but her yellow dress reveal was loud and preppy. Phi Phi O'Hara even added some rubber duck jewelry to her ensemble to highlight its nautical aesthetic. Detox brought a rare thigh-gap to the show in her stunning red suit, and sported a matching headpiece as well. With its glossy fabric and plenty of sex appeal, the Latex Extravaganza put form to the forefront.
#8: Sugar Ball "Sugar Ball"
Rather than a simple challenge, RuPaul asked for three candy-inspired getups from the remaining contestants. Most queens' 'Super Duper Sweet 16' looks were simple prom dresses, while Roxxxy Andrews delivered marshmallow jewelry realness. Detox and Alaska had equally fierce 'Sugar Mama' looks that brought seduction and power to business fashion. The cherry on top was the couture made from real treats, which saw Alaska slay again in a cotton candy dress. Jinkx Monsoon rocked a queenly candy cane bodice, though she was critiqued with Detox for lacking proper taste. Thanks to the range of color and detail on Roxxxy's flowing gown however, the 'Sugar Ball' was sweet on several levels.
#7: Two Looks in One "Drag Movie Shequels"
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Violet Chachki's outfit-within-an-outfit on season seven shocked Carson Kressley, and spawned a runway theme driven by reveals. Where most queens merged two costumes, Detox evolved a short dress into a coat and then a club-ready unitard. Roxxxy Andrews followed a Spanish theme with her flamenco look, which she transformed into a Latina pop star ensemble. The combat-ready look from Phi Phi only got fancier when it burst into a gold ball gown. Alaska's nightmarish mass of black cloth left the panel lost for words until she emerged as Lil' Pound Cake. Whether it was motif consistency or unexpectedly perfect combinations, everyone had their own take on this theme.
#6: Red for Filth "My Best Squirrelfriend's Dragsmaids Wedding Trip"
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When the category forced queens into a lot of crimson, the design concepts went in wildly different directions. Even simple formal attire like Kennedy Davenport's felt intense with the overwhelming levels of red. While Bebe Zahara Benet gave alien undertones to the club kid aesthetic, Morgan McMichaels embraced her Scottish roots through a chic use of tartan. The sexy librarian look got an update with Trixie's bright cherry latex. Mattel stacked red books on her head and topped it all with an apple. Shangela blew everyone away however with some Lady Gaga-influenced garb that had spikes for days. Without any real crossover on the runway, this theme left us with scarlet fever.
#5: Fantasy Hair Extravaganza "RuPaul's Hair Extravaganza"
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The first two rounds of Ru's hair-themed fashion show were pretty standard, and their locks simply accented certain styles. The last category however asked for an outfit made out of wigs! The sheer range of colors and candy-inspired details from Raja was totally unbelievable. There was plenty of buzz around Manila's bee costume and Shangela's ragged warrior had its own furry weapon. Yara Sofia went above and beyond with her hairy bra and she gave a new meaning to poodle skirts. Sofia's additional leaning beehive and curly purse also left us gagging. All these outside-the-box interpretations on the 'Fantasy Hair Extravaganza' wowed judges as much as viewers.
#4: Half Man, Half Woman "Prancing Queens"
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With the feminine focus that usually goes into 'Drag Race,' the ‘Half Man, Half Woman’ theme pushed everyone to up the testosterone levels. For Ginger Minj's western aesthetic, this meant tassels, rhinestones and facial hair that stopped right down the middle of her face. While Trixie Mattel's cowboy didn't tie-in well with her cowgirl, each character was beautifully defined when she was filmed in profile. Kennedy did a great job contrasting each gender, and Pearl used her makeup to create a visual split between her roles. Violet was one of the few contestants to wear opposing footwear and her moustache was a simple but effective touch. The dance challenge highlighted the strengths of each appearance as well and brought some extra fun to this gender-bending episode.
#3: Hello Kitty "Hello, Kitty Girls!"
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For Katya's unique version of a Hello Kitty doll, she created a comically tacky babushka who loved socialism. Pearl's Madonna-influenced gangster kitty was equally goofy while Kennedy even tried to fit her personal look to the kitty theme. With her lovely meat-tag earring, Ginger's southern cow took advantage of other animals from the Japanese brand. Violet built a beautiful headpiece out of merchandise for the second part of the theme, and turned pins into jewel-like details. Though Katya designed a luscious catsuit, Kennedy's Catwoman outfit tied in the Hello Kitty products much better. Interestingly enough, Pearl stood out for her minimalistic use of the pink memorabilia. The creative results of the 'Hello Kitty' challenge showed viewers that brand-heavy runways could still be exciting.
#2: Post-Apocalyptic "RuPocalypse Now!"
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Season four had an impressive start, thanks to a challenge that mixed garbage with a lot of glam. Lashauwn Beyond's towering hat was only outdone by her elegantly stitched dress. There was a regal power to Phi Phi's garb that was reminiscent of a Tina Turner's look. Willam shredded a predictable beauty queen getup to make it look like she'd escaped an explosion. Though Chad and Milan delivered style, no one could hold a candle to Sharon Needles' stellar disco zombie. While it could have been as silly as the 'Derelicte' fashion line from 'Zoolander,' 'Post-Apocalyptic' inspired fierce looks from day one. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Conjoined Twins "Conjoined Queens" Ugliest Dress Ever "Divine Inspiration" Hometown "Oh. My. Gaga!" Black & White Realness "Shady Politics" Neon Realness "New Wave Queens"
#1: Death Becomes Her "Ru-Hollywood Stories"
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To bring humor and elegance to the afterlife, Ginger Minj placed herself in a bear skin and used entrails as a necklace. Though Katya was already a sickening captain with flashy sequins, her half-eaten shark foot was a hilarious touch. Pearl also had us in tears when she roasted Kennedy's confusing animalistic outfit. Jaidynn told a surprisingly detailed story for her prison zombie, and gave her barbed wire details intriguing depth. Violet risked her life for fashion with a cinch so unbelievably tight that Ariana Grande screamed at the reveal. Between blood, weapons and body parts, 'Death Becomes Her' has cemented itself as one of the most memorable themes in 'Drag Race' herstory.
