Top 10 Unpopular Eliminations on RuPaul's Drag Race
#10: BenDeLaCreme Season 6
Top 10 BenDeLaCreme Moments on RuPaul’s Drag Race
Both of BenDeLaCreme’s exits have been gag-worthy; we’ll never see wite-out the same way after her self-elimination in All Stars 3. But unlike robbing herself from going forward in the competition, in Season 6 whit she was arguably robbed by Ru. The season provided plenty of shady moments, most notably between Darienne Lake and BenDeLaCreme, that all came to a head in this dramatic Lip Sync for Your Life. Many fans agreed that Darienne’s droopy and unflattering topaz gown should’ve automatically secured DeLa her place in the competition. After an insanely close lip sync battle, audiences were shocked when Ru chose to send DeLa home, who had placed high five times over the competition.
#9: Nina West Season 11
Viewers fell in love with Nina West in Season 11 - she was kind, creative and hilarious, and seemed to really want to improve from week to week. That’s why some fans couldn’t forgive Ru when he chose to send her home over Silky Ganache, after an infamously ‘meh’ lip sync to TLC’s ‘No Scrubs’. Audiences thought this was the end of Silky’s stint when they saw her almost trip over a piece of falling costume, show off her undergarments, gave us a lazy wig reveal.. Granted, Nina didn’t give the best performance either, but she managed to keep her composure and understand the energy of the song, which should’ve landed her the win in many fans eyes.
#8: Shea Couleé Season 9
Top 10 Shea Couleé Moments on RuPaul's Drag Race
Season 9 saw the birth of a brand new twist on Drag Race; the Lip Sync for the Crown. Where track record used to be taken into account, winners were now chosen solely based on who could pull out the best lip syncs in the Top Four finale. BFFs Shea Couleé and Sasha Velour both had impeccable track records, so viewers assumed they would take first and second place, with superstar Shea more likely to nab the top spot. However, this contentious twist saw the front runners battle it out in the finale’s first lip sync, meaning Shea couldn’t even place second despite her incredible run. Sasha’s rose petal extravaganza was the clear winner, but audiences have been left thinking ‘what if?’ to this day.
#7: Raven Season 2 and All Stars 1
Top 10 Stars You Forgot Were on That's So Raven
Raven has been one of the most recognizable faces of Drag Race since her first appearance back on Season 2, when her talent, wit and honesty made her an instant fan favorite. So, when she just lost out on the crown to Tyra Sanchez, some fans couldn’t help but shout ‘robbed’ at their TV screens. In the years after the show, Raven’s success continued to grow, leaving fans desperate to see her get the crown when she returned to the first All Stars season. However, viewers were left with a case of déjà vu when Raven once again placed runner-up to winner Chad Michaels, earning her the title “Queen of Runner-Ups” and leaving another bunch of fans angry at Ru’s decision.
#6: Latrice Royale Season 4
Top 10 Best Latrice Moments RuPaul's Drag Race
Large and in charge, chunky yet funky, the bold and the beautiful… it’s Latrice Royale! Latrice made a huge impression on fans when she first appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race. She was a hilarious and talented queen who took us to church with every lip sync performance, and gave us some of the most iconic Drag Race quotes of all time. So it was only natural that viewers wept when she just missed out on a Top Three spot on Season 4. She gave a tear-jerking speech before sashaying away in one of the most emotional exits of all time, securing her position as the most ‘dearly beloved’ Drag Race alumni, a reputation that stayed with her years later on All Stars 4.
#5: Katya Season 7 and All Stars 2
Top 10 Katya Moments on RuPaul’s Drag Race
Absurdly funny ‘loveable weirdo’ Katya became an instant fan favorite on Season 7, and it was clear to see why. She’d had a pretty great track record during the season, gave us tons of iconic moments, and her struggles with addiction and anxiety pulled on the heartstrings of many viewers who could relate. So of course, fans were devastated when Katya came in fifth place. The judges failed to find the fashion in her Hello Kitty-inspired eleganza, and she narrowly lost out to lip-sync assassin Kennedy Davenport. While Alaska earned her crown in All Stars 2, we would’ve equally loved to see Katya in the Drag Race Hall of Fame.
#4: Alyssa Edwards All Stars 2
Drag Race Recap: Girl Group Challenge with Lip-Sync Guest Alyssa Edwards | MsMojo's Drag Race RuCap
Alyssa Edwards was indeed a ‘lovely fourth runner up’ on All Stars 2, but that wasn’t good enough for fans. Our favorite tongue-popping queen made a huge impression on audiences ever since Season 5, but was truly robbed in All Stars 2, where friendships and alliances trumped fair competition. Season 5 clique Rolaskatox appeared once again on All Stars 2, where the controversial ‘Lip Sync for Your Legacy’ twist was first introduced. This twist saw challenge winners send home one of the lowest placing queens each week. So, when Detox chose to send Alyssa home over Rolaskatox bestie, Roxxxy - who had placed bottom five times - it was understandable that viewers, and even Ru himself, gasped with indignation.
#3: Tatianna All Stars 2
Tatianna first graced our screens back on Season 2, so viewers were happy to see her make a comeback on All Stars 2. She proved to the world that she was more than just a pretty queen, and floored audiences from episode one with her iconic Same Parts performance. She and fellow robbed queen Alyssa Edwards also provided us with one of the most legendary lip sync battles of all time with ‘Shut Up and Drive’. However, her run was brought to an end when Rolaskatox struck once again. Alaska chose to save a struggling Roxxxy, admitting it was because she had lent her a shirt, and sent Tatianna home. In the words of Tatianna herself: "We all make choices. That was a choice.”
#2: Manila Luzon All Stars 4
Top 10 Manila Luzon Moments on RuPaul’s Drag Race
The Lip Sync for Your Legacy curse struck once again with Manila Luzon in All Stars 4. She was a runner-up on Season 3, and competed again as a team in All Stars 1, so fans were thrilled to see her return for another shot at the crown. And girl, she came to work! Manila slayed in the competition, proving that she’d perfected her drag aesthetic since Season 3 and had built on her other talents, too. However, her time was up when challenge winner Naomi Smalls had the power to eliminate a fellow queen - and chose to send home her strongest competition. In one of the most dramatic eliminations to date, Manila was sent packing, and the internet was sent into overdrive. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Valentina Season 9 Manila & Latrice All Stars 1 Trixie Mattel Season 7 Ongina Season 1 Vanessa Vanjie Mateo Season 10 #1: Ornacia Season 6 Much like the unfair team twist on All Stars 1, everyone’s favorite queen Ornacia was unfairly attached to Vivacious on Season 6, and was robbed from getting the crown she deserved… Kidding! Our real #1 is...
#1: Shangela All Stars 3
After audiences fell in love with her on Seasons 2 and 3, Shangela came out of the box one last time for All Stars 3. She was a strong competitor, giving us side-splitting lip syncs and brilliant challenge wins. Fans thought the win was hers until another twist was thrown in, that saw eliminated queens brought back to decide who would make it to the Top Two. Although Trixie’s win was deserved, audiences were angry that this twist seemed to make no sense. Shangela was a fan favorite with an incredible redemption arc, and watching her face crumple when she realized she hadn’t made the final two broke our hearts. But hey, she’s definitely ‘got the whole world screaming Halleloo’, and that’s a win in itself.
