RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6: Episode 5

Hello, and welcome to the SNATCH GAME! We've got special guest Oliver Sava from the AV Club for an exciting discussion about drag queens, jokes, and superheroes! I've been reading his work about RuPaul's Drag Race for years, and when I saw that he's also one of their top writers about comic books, I knew this was a guy I had to meet. Chad: First of all, EVERYONE is excited about the Snatch Game each season. But pretty much anyone would agree that the actual event is usually a shit show. Any ideas why it grabs our imagination so much?

Oliver: It's usually the moment that we really see which queens are going to cut it each season. Because it's an all-around test. They need to be able to capture the celebrity's look, their behavior, and show some semblance of wit in their responses and interactions.

Chad: I agree with that, but here's what I think the real hook is: It's all about the build-up, the guessing and anticipation: which character will each queen pick? Will it be a total trainwreck? Oh god, WHY would she choose HER? And the pay-off is the TRANSFORMATION, the one queen who totally blindsides you with her brilliance.

Bianca-Del-Rio---animated

Oliver: Yeah I think that's why each Snatch Game is such a thrill.

I loved Bianca on the Snatch Game. The look was flawless. The puppet was genius. And Judge Judy gave her free reign to interrupt and read a bitch because that's just who Judge Judy is.

Chad: See, I love Bianca, she's totally Top 3 material. Girl should get her own damn show. But frankly, I'm surprised she DIDN'T dominate the Snatch Game. She had the character down, the aggressive, in-your-face attitude. But it mostly felt like an insertion of catchphrases rather than the sheer improv genius that other queens like BenDelacreme came up with.

Oliver: Dela was just so clever and so graceful. There was something so smooth about her and Adore's performance. While Bianca is harsh and abrasive, but so entertaining.

Adore-Delano-animated

Chad: I think the other element missing from Bianca's performance was the sense of transformation--Judge Judy was almost TOO perfect a fit for her, so it didn't bring with it the sense of wonder.

Oliver: Same with Adore--A little TOO perfect of a fit.

Chad: See, I actually was really surprised by that performance. Did you think she had it in her?

Oliver: No. It was the night's biggest surprise. Her body language alone had me cackling. And the inflection. Gillian was right when she said it was performance art.

Chad: Agreed! Because Adore hadn't demonstrated that level of character acting before, it was stunning and the most successful transformation of the night.

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Chad: It seemed like we barely saw Courtney and Darienne this week--were their performances lacking, or didn't they fit the narrative?

Oliver: Everyone that was safe was barely featured, except for Joslyn, who is surprising me more and more each week. I would love it if Joslyn beat Courtney, considering how much of a Courtney superfan she is.

Joslyn-Fox-animated

Chad: HA! Joslyn is so wonderful. I hope she's a breakout star of the season. I LOVED her deadpan "Cummin" delivery.

Oliver: I loved all of Joslyn's answers.

Chad: "Can I have a Pinot Grigio?"

Oliver: Joslyn's "Mr. Sheffield" killed me. Chills down my spine.

Chad: She's so unabashedly goofy and good-natured.

Oliver: Miss Congeniality, personified.

Chad: Like, the world is not pure and good enough for Joslyn.

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Darienne-Lake-animated

Chad: So, Darienne: I LOVED her deranged facial expressions and outrageous wig.

Oliver: I don't know if this was filmed before the whole race scandal, but if it wasn't, Darienne dropped a ball there.

Chad: On one hand, I TOTALLY agree, but on the other, I don't blame her for staying far, far away from any racially tinged humor.

Oliver: Exactly.

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Oliver: Dela was so so smart: The cursive writing, the "woman out of time" conceit, those facial expressions...

Chad: Here's what I especially loved about Ben's performance: The wild, magical interactions that spring up from her wit and devotion to the character.

BenDeLaCreme-animated

Oliver: She had the best interactions with RuPaul and the celebrity guests, made everything seem effortless.

Chad: I love that she took an outrageous character, and all her interactions just spun out the premise further. When a clueless queen tries to clock you, you MOP THE FLOOR with them.

Oliver: And Trinity was so clueless--Can't believe she didn't write an answer for a shitty wig change.

Chad: Well, that's the thing--for the past 2 or 3 years, this show has focused on queens with a quick wit and fierce performance skills. It leaves queens like Gia Gunn and Trinity in the dust. And frankly, I think the show's focus makes for FABULOUS television, but I feel a little bad for the more traditional queens who are great at what they do, but not viable contestants.

Oliver: If you're not a viable contender, then you just don't win. If you get on this show, that is a victory in itself. Being gorgeous and cunty might get you in the door, but you're going to need to do way more than that to succeed.

Chad: Were you sad to see Gia go?

Oliver: Hell fucking no. Her horrible attitude during her exit made me ashamed that I ever rooted for her at any point.

Chad: "You guys are all still dudes!"

Oliver: Way to demean the art form you've dedicated your life to! Gia actually showed some talent when it came to female impersonation, so it's really disgusting to see her completely shed all her dignity when things don't work out the way she wants.

Chad: I look at it this way: Gia made for good TV. I NEVER root for the "bad girl," but I did enjoy the cattiness of her commentary. I think she's fairly close-minded about drag, and she stayed true to character during her departure.

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Chad: So, we covered almost everything I wanted to. Except: Milk.

Oliver: I liked that we saw where Milk's reluctance to go glam comes from. Shocker: it's insecurity. He's probably the most traditionally masculine contestant on the show out of drag and is afraid that if he tries to go for an ultra feminine look, he'll get called out for things that aren't intentional.

Yeah, bitch. It's called learning.

Milk---black-gown

Chad: Milk wore some STUNNING looks to the opening events--that elaborate lacy number, the monstrous black gown...

I'm curious whether he came to embrace that side of his style during the show, or only after he left.

Milk-lace-dress

Oliver: Well yeah, after getting critiqued on the show, I hope he would take those criticisms to heart. If Einstein corrects your equation, you better be listening.

Chad: Ha! I would have LOVED seeing Milk outdo Ru on that stage, in some ridiculously huge wig and heels.

Oliver: Thats the thing: you go out there and risk ridicule, but hopefully learn something in the process.

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BenDeLaCreme-Sketch-animation

Oliver: My favorite moments are when we see how their drag personas are reflected out of drag. I loved Ben's moment about how there are qualities of Dela that he's applied to himself in order to become a stronger person. These people become the heroes they need in their lives.

And, in turn, make themselves the hero of their stories.

Chad: You and I both love superhero comics, and I suspect that's part of the reason we're also such fans of drag culture.

Oliver: Absolutely.

Chad: The idea that you can transform yourself into something greater, beyond your own limitations.

Oliver: And then how that transformation relates to the person you used to be.

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Wasn't that a great discussion? Yeesh! You can read Oliver's AV Club article on the Snatch Game here, and you can find all of his Drag Race posts here!

As I mentioned, he also writes about comics, cartoons, and more! His "author page" is a good place to find all that fabulous stuff.

Follow him on Twitter and Tumblr, too!

(To the right: Oliver Sava, serving up "genderfuck shitshow.")

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 Thanks for reading, everyone! Time for my own plugs:

I'll be posting a bunch of this week's art for sale on here and my Etsy store! So check out my latest prints, look through some of your old favorites, have a good time!

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6: Episode 4

Hi everyone! Joining me for this week's “Drag Race Dialogue” is the fabulous Trannika Rex! Trannika is a towering figure (literally) in the Chicago drag scene and hosts some of my favorite shows in the Windy City.

Chad: So you're known for a quick wit, and you've got some experience in comedy, right? What do you think of Season 6's heavy focus on performance so far?

Trannika: This is the best season so far because of it. There's more actual performance to look at than fake drama and awkward forced challenges.

Chad: I agree, but do you think it gives a chance for queens like Trinity and April to shine?

Trannika: The challenge was built aroundAdore and Courtney, so commit to being a good supporting actor. Don't worry about the singing, worry about the character.

Laganja Estranja

Chad: So, this is my portrait of Laganja this week, after her video message from her parents. I really loved how sensitive she seemed in that moment.

Trannika: I feel sympathy for her, but not because of the reasons that I'm supposed to. She was thrown into this Drag Race machine and it's pulling some weird emotions out of her brain. She's Alyssa's daughter, but she's also a new queen.

Chad: Agreed. And she's a good one! I knew she was a great dancer, but I've also been impressed with her runway looks! They're diverse and quite elegant--I thought her runway look was one of the most distinctive and eye-catching this week.

Trannika: She's an incredibly amazing dancer and a sweet girl, and she's just uncomfortable on camera. As a viewer, I think she's just got some things to figure out, and I honestly just want to see her dance.

Adore-Sketch

Trannika: Adore is kind of a mess, but she's so endearing, and she knows she's the butt of the joke. When the judges critique her, she's kind of like, “WELL DUH U KNEW WHEN U BROUGHT ME HERE.”

Chad: Yeah, I really like her, and I think her performance was gorgeous this week. Sultry, sexy, and a little self-deprecating. I've heard a lot of fans complaining that she's getting a free pass because of her charisma--do you think so?

Trannika: Charisma is a point of view thing. When I went out, I looked a mess for the first 2 years, but I could read a pretty girl down on the mic. And in my shows, I'd much rather cast a likable queen with charisma and questionable taste than a really pretty asshole. Some people have presence, and some people don't--and Adore has it.

Chad: Okay, so: Courtney. I think she's funny, smart, outrageously talented. Oh, right, and pretty.

Trannika: We all love Courtney because she's hot and foreign, so she's already on a pedestal. She's gracious, too. I loved last night's look, and the pink hair was brilliant.

Chad: Yeah, I think she knows exactly what she's getting into, so she'll have brought an incredible wardrobe along with her. I don't want to see the same fishy blonde each week, as flawless as she may be.

Trannika: I like her character. She can be minimal, but because she's working with such a pretty canvas, we're still just gagging at her beauty every week. If she wasn't so sweet, it wouldn't work so well.

Chad: What did you make of the "Battle of the Idols"?

Trannika: They tried so hard to push that storyline as drama when it was really just a great showcase of talent. It brought out the best in both of them.

Courtney Act 2

Chad: What are your thoughts on Ben?

Trannika: I think she didn't yell loud enough in the pack of wolves this week, but she's no doubt one of the strongest competitors.

Chad: Yeah, I unabashedly love BenDeLa, and I was initially dismayed at how little screen time she got in the first few episodes... but it seems like they're almost giving her a "Jinkx" edit. Which is weird, since Ben was compared to Jinkx so often before the season started, given that they're close friends and work together. But they haven't made the connection on the show at all, at least not as far as I've noticed.

Trannika: But they aren't similar, really--let's be honest, she's a little more polished than Jinkx was on the show. I think they share a similar quirky charm and relatability.

Chad: Agreed! Yeah, Ben is savvy and talented. They've allowed her to surprise us in a few of these early episodes, giving us no clue about her quirky Rusical character until she appears onstage, stealing the scene!

BenDeLaCreme

Trannika: She's in the wings, and she shows up on the runway like BAM!

Chad: The same happened in the first episode, where they barely even showed her in the workroom, let alone talking with Ru.

Trannika: She's gonna be a breakout this season. She and Bianca can definitely be top three.

Chad: Do you think Bianca will suffer at all by being so dominant from the start?

Trannika: I think the Bianca Del Rio Variety Hour has been very successful so far--She's the queen we can all relate with.

Chad: Ha! I think you have more in common with Bianca than most queens.

Trannika: Bianca is a brilliant talent, so I agree with you. The show hasn't really had a character like her, and it's great. She calls the phony bullshit, the fake drama, and keeps the show earnest instead of overly sentimental.

Bianca-Del-Rio

Chad:  Trannika, do you want to be Bianca Del Rio when you grow up?

Trannika: If I make it to forty-five, I hope I'm exactly like Bianca Del Rio. But really, Bianca is the reason this show exists. It's a parody of a real reality show, and she's the Greek chorus we need.

Chad: So, I brought up the focus on performance earlier, because I think it's tricky to construct challenges that make for good TV and test the skills a drag queen should have. I've always thought it would be hilarious to feature some challenges that cater to the actual club experience--like, well, a lot of the stuff you excel at: cracking up the audience, handling hecklers, getting people drunk.

Trannika: Try walking in heels through a goddamn mosh pit of drunk white people on St. Patrick's Day. Saving a failing room. Holding your drink in a certain way in pictures to hide a missing press-on nail.

Chad: Or getting dressed in a tiny basement dressing room with 5 foot ceilings. Yeah, I think for so many viewers of the show, they don't understand what the actual, day-to-day life of a drag queen is like. What shabby thrift store they get half their crap from, how many times you can wear a wig before cleaning it or throwing it away...

Trannika: If you just keep putting new wigs on top of old wigs, you can wear them for eternity. I call my biggest wig “King Rat”... She's seven wigs, and the underside looks like it was brushed with a garbage disposal. Drag is hard and sometimes is incredibly embarrassing, but it's also incredibly gratifying.

Queens_Trannika_rex

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Thanks so much to Trannika Rex for taking the time to talk shit with me! Trannika's show Drag Matineeis held every Saturday at Berlin Nightclub in Chicago—this week's show features both Detox and Dida Ritz, as well as one of my absolute favorite Chicago queens, Shea Coulee!

Her monthly extravaganza Trannika's Most Wanted is the third Monday of every month at Scarlet, where she also hosts every Friday night. Her favorite shot is Fireball Whiskey.

If you'd like to see more of Trannika, find her onTwitter and Instagram, or read my QUEENS comic, where she's a gigantic superhero saving and/or destroying the city of Chicago.

Bianca Del Rio

This is my portrait of Bianca's killer "Black Widow" look from Episode 3! It won the most votes of my little contest this week--thanks for participating, everyone!

After each episode of the Drag Race, I frantically start sketching all my favorite looks, trying to come up with cool poses and compositions for each new illustration.  And at a certain point of the afternoon, I have to take stock and decide which ones are far enough along to finish that day, and which ones are going to take more time than I've got to figure out.  Unfortunately, I had to set aside my sketches of April and Laganja--despite their AMAZING runway looks, I was kind of stuck on their illustrations.

And so I had my voting contest to determine which queen's portrait to finish! I didn't want anyone to feel left out, and I'm sad that I didn't get the chance to draw Laganja or April. But it's not because I didn't love their looks!

The Drag Race seasons are long, so I've gotta pace myself! If I drew EVERY look I loved each week, I'd burn out before the Snatch Game! So I'll probably use your votes again to help pick among the queens I didn't get to earlier each week. Thanks so much for your help in figuring that out!

If you like these new portraits of Bianca, I already have them available as prints at my store, so check them out!

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6: Episode 3

Whatever you might think about the split premiere of Season 6, it made things a lot easier on me! Twelve queens are a lot to handle, especially when they're a group this good!

So I called in some help this week! Chris Kelly writes wickedly funny Drag Race recaps for GEEKS OUT, and he gives some seriously mesmerizing performances as New York queen Ariel Italic. I first saw his inventive and surprising lip synching during the Reddit "Lip Sync For Your Life" competition (which he won) and had to draw one of his distinctive looks. (Seriously, go watch the original video. The whole thing. You will not regret it.)

Chris and I got chatty and catty about this week's Drag Race episode. So read on for our thoughts and for my drag doodlings!

CHAD: Okay, so I loved this episode, and after all the drama and mixed results we got from the split premiere, we got off to a wild start with the assembled group of 12 queens. Did you like this episode as much as I did, Chris?

CHRIS: I LOVED it. This is shaping up to be the best season yet. I was skeptical of the format change, but it has paid off immensely. I can't wait to see what happens next.

CHAD: And it feels like we're finally getting a picture of how things will go, what the workroom dynamic will be like. Essentially: Bianca Del Rio slaying the goddamn house down.

Bianca sketch

CHRIS: Absolutely. She'd better stay around until the absolute end. Whenever anything happens, I immediately want her take on it. I wish she would walk around with me and narrate/throw shade on my life.

CHAD: I love that she's not only the funniest queen, but also one of the wisest, too.

CHRIS: Yeah, she's been around. But I'm worried that her image is going to get her in trouble. People don't recognize that she's just playing, and down the road I'm sure she's going to make more than a couple enemies.

CHAD: I think she does speak up and call out queens whenever she gets a whiff of bullshit, which can definitely spark some drama. I thought she was a little rough on Trinity, especially since the younger queen has already shown off some serious talent.

CHRIS: Trinity is stepping it up a little bit. She's fabulous on the runway, but she doesn't strike me as having much in the way of personality or presence. Being stylish isn't enough in my book, and I'm not sure she brings more than that. Also, Beyonce? Really? Are we not done trying to be Beyonce yet? (Apparently not.)

BenDeLaCreme

CHAD: So, I really warmed up to Trinity last week, and she got even more respect from me in this episode. Typically, when a queen is feeling out of her element, like Trinity in the acting challenge, a girl gets defensive or indignant. But Trinity acknowledged that she was an "acting virgin" from the start and actively solicited the others' advice. In fact, I think Trinity is one of the few younger queens who will prove receptive to the more seasoned queens' perspectives--I see a major generational gap in the cast, and we got a taste of some of that drama during Untucked between Adore and Bianca.

CHRIS: They're clearly putting forward young queens like Adore and Laganja to see if they can hang with the old guard.

April sketch

CHAD: Here's how I see it: Bianca, BenDelaCreme, Courtney, and Darienne are all extremely experienced and well-rounded queens. They'll be able to handle any performance/comedy challenges with aplomb. But they're all so polished and consistent that they may not deliver drama on the runway. And that's where Adore, Laganja, Milk, April, and Trinity come in.

CHRIS: April blew me away last night.

CHAD: Yeah! The sad thing is, I've been struggling with how to draw that damn umbrella!! Milk has served up some stunning looks already, and I was seriously impressed by Laganja's runway ensemble this week!

CHAD: I LOVED this week's main challenge. I thought the 60's/80's sequel idea was particularly smart. And these acting challenges always have their fill of WTF moments.

CHRIS: Yes. And I like that we went with an acting challenge early on. Make these ladies prove that they have personality.

CHAD: And it gave me an excuse to draw this:

Darienne-Lake-animated

CHAD: The problem is that I LOVED her runway look. But I couldn't NOT draw this!

CHRIS: Totally. I love that everyone else was so skittish about being the head in the box, and she proved that skill means working with what you're given, not letting the material carry you.

Milk_Pinocchio

CHRIS: Milk is interesting to me. I like her, but I don't love her. And I can't believe she's already repeated those leggings and heels. It's only her second episode! Like, did you not pack enough clown gear, hon?

CHAD: Well, in her case specifically, the Dairy Queens have stated that they throw out their looks after wearing them once.

CHRIS: WASTEFUL, Dairy Queens. There are drag queens in Africa who would KILL for those looks. What would their drag mothers say?

CHAD: Moo.

Vivacious

CHAD: There's been a lot of outcry about Vi's depiction on the show, that she got a "bad edit." What do you think about that?

CHRIS: I think she probably got a little extra emphasis on her bad qualities. The show wants to make it look like they booted the "right" person, you know?

CHAD: Yeah, I think the producers saw the same thing we did--that Vivacious has some fabulous ideas but often fails to execute them well.

Adore_Delano

CHAD: I know you're not "Team Adore," but I still think she's going to go far. Her style tends to be fairly simple, but I love that it's often based around such powerful, glorious colors

CHRIS: Yes. Adore buys $10 cosplay wigs. She's on a budget. (I know, because we own some of the same wigs.) She works with what she has, but she works it well. I couldn't make that little money look that good.

CHAD: So what are you excited about next episode?

CHRIS: I can't wait to see how the team dynamic continues to play out. It was a smart move to divide people early on, because the psychology of it has really settled in. It seems like no one is going to bridge that divide.

CHAD: And conversely, I think one of the really positive aspects of starting with the smaller groups is that each team really bonded--they all "got" each other, so there was no odd woman left out. All the girls with Vivacious seemed to respect her and regret seeing her go. Whereas in previous seasons, the first few queens who got booted wouldn't have had time to make any connections at all. Especially the quirky girls.

CHRIS: Yeah. I would love it if they all formed friendships, but realistically I don't see that happening. I think the gap will remain, but you're right, they'll defend each other to the death within their own groups now. They're like wolf packs.

CHAD: The most fabulous wolves of all!

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That was a much longer write-up than I usually post for the Drag Race, but I hope it was worth it! Let me know if you'd like me to keep chatting with Drag Race experts!

Even in such a lengthy conversation, we still missed a lot of queens. (Courtney! Laganja! April!) So I need your help! I didn't have time to finish all the illustrations I would have liked, so vote below for which sketch I should finish. I'll keep voting open until 5pm Central Friday, then I'll draw the queen with the most votes over the weekend!

VOTE Graphic

[yop_poll id="2"]

SEASON SIX Prints now for sale!

Thanks to the generosity of BenDeLaCreme, Adore Delano, Milk, and Kelly Mantle, I'm now able to sell my first SEASON SIX prints! As more queens give me their blessing, I'll be posting their illustrations, too!

11" x 14" digital prints are now available, but I hope to add some glossy postcards soon! Orders within the US can be made here, and orders that require credit card payments or international shipping can be placed on my Etsy store!

Thanks so much!

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6: Episode 2

Okay, folks, SHUT YOUR PIE HOLES and listen to what I've got to say! Or, at least look at the art. Quietly. Momma Ru needs her rest.

So, I guess I'm okay with the whole "split premiere" for this season, though I wish they had aired both episodes in one glorious evening--the second installment was a vast improvement over the first one, and it's super-charged my excitement for Season 6!

Of the seven queens in this second episode, there are several superstars--Courtney Act, Bianca Del Rio, Darienne Lake. And although they were all fabulous, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the less seasoned queens made for good TV, too. "Black horse" Joslyn Fox is a cheery goofball, bringing a charming levity to the competition.

Trinity K. Bonet, who had seemed so quiet and restrained in the promo videos, turns out to be a serious contender--although she's softspoken, she's fiercely ambitious and serves it up throughout the episode. Both her looks were on point, her photo shoot was a stunner, and her low-key commentary during the cutaway interviews provided a welcome respite to the fast-paced drama. A lot of commenters have been comparing her to Tyra Sanchez, but I think she's far more engaged and likable.

Trinity

I can't resist drawing a dramatic look like this one. And even though the judges dismissed the flimsy collar, I love its geometric intensity. However, I'm a little disappointed that Gia wasn't present to see Trinity's kabuki-style makeup--given that Gia has actually performed in traditional kabuki theatre, I'd love to hear her take on it! Even if it was mostly bleeped out.

Courtney and Darienne are both incredibly congenial queens, and I'm dying to see them prevail over countless challenges this season. I wasn't gagging over their runway looks this week, but I did love Darienne's lip sync. I saw her perform live last week, and she brings such a passion and sense of fun to the stage! Love her.

Bianca

Bianca is one to beat. She officially wins the MVP award for this episode--she provided brilliant, blistering jokes, served up the winning runway look, and even provided the most insightful commentary in Untucked during Magnolia's hypnotic unraveling. That was especially encouraging--hearing her set up a clear distinction between her "cold bitch" character and normal self, giving some hope that we'll see real growth and character from her over the season. And seriously, I expect her to make it 'til the end!

I like both Milk and Magnolia, but they obviously approached the show very, very differently. They're both queens with an interest in playing an offbeat character, eager to thwart expectations and defy easy categorization.

I get Magnolia's quirky humor, and I enjoy her absurd Youtube videos, but she obviously didn't bring the right attitude to this show. She met every challenge and criticism with a combative sense of indignation, leading to one of the most memorable Untucked meltdowns in Drag Race herstory.

Milk-runway

But Milk, she brings an unswerving confidence and charisma to the competition, as well as some truly divine style. There are some rough edges, sure, but Milk is the queen who's got me most excited to draw the shit out of Season 6. The over-sized, over-the-top outrageousness is what I live to illustrate. It's what got me started drawing the Drag Race in the first place, back in Season 3--Raja was my first muse, and I see a lot of her in Milk.

So you'll have to forgive me, but I had to draw both Milk's looks this week. In fact, I was so taken with Milk's matador outfit that I started drawing it as soon as I saw it in the previews! Thirsty for another tall glass of Milk?

milk-matador

I'm thrilled to see what sparks will fly when all twelve queens are brought together, but I'm also dreading it--how will I pick which ones to draw??

Oh, also! I'll be making my first Season 6 prints available for sale soon! I seek out each queen's blessing before selling the work, but I hope to have most of the queens on board soon!

Thanks for reading! See ya next week!

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6: Episode 1

Wow, so that was interesting, huh? Opinions seem split on the decision to, well, split the premiere in two parts. In theory, it sounded great--more screen time for all these fierce queens! And what a twist! Can you imagine what will happen when the two groups finally meet?

But ultimately, I think it shrunk the scale of the episode's drama. Or maybe it's because I watched most of the episode on my tiny iPhone screen when the preview showed up on the Logo TV app!

Even with just seven queens, it was really Adore and Gia's show, wasn't it? Their constant commentary ran throughout the episode, much more than any other queen. The only cutaway to Ben I can remember is "Barf."

Gia

I'm not complaining, though--both Gia and Adore are welcome surprises to an already stellar cast! Gia is a Chicago queen, and I've seen her steal the spotlight at several shows in town. But we haven't met, and I wasn't sure how she'd fare on the show. But I do love her style, and I think she's bringing just the right amount of cattiness for some good drag drama, without resorting to the shrill, screaming attacks we've seen in previous seasons. We'll have to wait and see whether she'll retain the role of "top bitch" when Bianca enters the picture.

Adore

I knew Adore would be gorgeous and funny on the show, but I didn't expect her to be so, well, adorable. In her "Meet the Queens" video, she leaned heavily on her eccentric mermaid character, which I like a lot, but seems to grate on some fans. But she came across as one of the most genuine, playful, and enthusiastic queens of the cast, a really wide-eyed ingenue. I see a lot of Shangela and Dida Ritz in her--tons of talent, not a lot of experience (or gowns), but a really strong contender. Oh, and she has fabulous shirts for sale, so go get some!

Laganja_close-crop

Laganja is the only queen who's even more divisive this season. No one doubts her jaw-dropping moves, over-sized personality, or her eccentric style, but there are a lot of questions about her authenticity. I think she'll be a central character of Season 6, and we'll see her struggle with a number of things: her over-the-top mannerisms, her relationship to her drag mother, and her strained relationship with her real mother. She's got an insane amount of talent, and the crucial question will be how she utilizes it, what kind of queen does she really want to be? And will she figure that out on the show?

I couldn't decide between the closer cropped image above or the fuller one before--I can't resist a poofy skirt!

Laganja_full

Bendelacreme is a queen I wholeheartedly love, but she's going to be dealing with character issues, too. I've watched enough of her ingenious YouTube videos to appreciate the many facets of her work: the saccharine sweetness, the burlesque teasing, and the incredible inventiveness!

Bendelacreme

Michelle voiced her concern that Ben's character could get old fast--but the more we see of Dela, the more we'll love her. We barely saw his boy persona onscreen this episode, so I think most fans will be pleasantly surprised by the juxtaposition between the man and the queen. And there's so much more yet to come!

Vivacious

For better or worse, Vivacious had one of the most memorable entrances in Drag Race herstory. Ornacia! That zipper!

I love Vi's personality, her energy, and her imagination! She comes up with exquisite concepts for her costumes, but I sometimes worry about their execution. I'm thrilled she's on the show, but I don't think her interests totally align with its emphasis on polish and glamour.

Kelly

Oh, Kelly. I love this queen. Such a fierce actress, comedian, and singer. I really, really hoped she'd get a chance to show off more of her talents. This is probably the most brutal first cut of any season, but I hope Kelly bounces back and makes the most of her elevated visibility.

I drew this illustration of her, based on her first look, for her official tank tops! Though I'm kind of dying to add a strip of bacon in her hand. Still, it looks pretty good, right?

ScreenShot1110

This is going to be a crazy season. I can't even wait for the second batch of queens, and I'm especially interested to see new dynamics develop when the two groups combine!

Given the enormous wealth of talent in this cast, I'm going to try really hard not to draw the same queens week to week. Because of the preview released last week, I was able to get a head start on this first episode's art, but I'll usually be posting my thoughts and illustrations each Wednesday, following the episodes.

Thanks, everyone!

The WEEK OF RU: Day 7

 

This is it, folks! The final installment of my WEEK OF RU! I hope you had fun along the way--it was incredible seeing such enthusiastic responses to my first work for Season 6. I feel like I've grown a lot as an artist with these new portraits, and I'm so excited to draw these queens once Season 6 starts.

...and I kind of want to have more silly voting contests every day. Speaking of, congratulations Nick V. on Facebook for winning today's guessing game!

As pretty much everyone knows, the "mystery queen" from a past season was Yara Sofia with her epic "helicopter hair" from All Stars. Ah, Yara. All Stars was definitely a mixed bag, but one of the highlights was seeing both Yara and Alexis get another chance to shine.

Alright, let's get on with the show! First...

TRINITY K. BONET

This Southern, softspoken beauty may not seem like competition, but we might have another Tyra up in here. Trinity is quiet, but she's fierce.Check out some of the incredible looks she has in the new trailer! In fact, she even reminds me of Mariah with the edgy elegance of those outfits.

Trinity comes onto the show without as clearly defined a character as the other queens. But my question is  if she gets a chance to define herself, what kind of queen will she be?

GIA GUNN

When I moved to Chicago last summer, all the queens I met were talking about Gia, because the rumor was that she was off filming Season 6 of the Drag Race. So when I finally saw her perform live, I had high expectations.

It's a good thing she's so fierce! Gia is at her best with high-energy numbers and elaborate costumes. She's gorgeous, can dance like hell, and she's a diva. She's going to bring eleganza and drama this season.

And I'm already thinking about which Chicago queen I want on the show next year...

Okay, so was that 14 queens? I think I got them all during the WEEK OF RU. Thanks so much for coming along for the ride! To finish off the week, I'm having a Reddit AMA over at the phenomenal RuPaul's Drag Race subreddit from 7:30-9:30 pm ET tonight! So come and share the T!

By the way, here's the full cast portrait that I've been teasing on social media all week! I actually made last-minute changes to some of these queens after creating this image, but before posting their individual "Week of Ru" illustrations, so the eagle-eyed among you can try to spot those discrepancies!

The WEEK OF RU: Day 6

 

Hey everyone! Thanks for participating in today's little guessing game! As almost all of you guessed, the "mystery queen" was, of course, Manila in her fabulous first look from All Stars. I thought it would be one of the most easily recognizable silhouettes in Drag Race history, but I might make things a liiiittle harder tomorrow.

Oh! And the winner of today's contest is Sergio N. on Facebook! Congratulations!

Okay! On to the Season 6 queens!

APRIL CARRION

With so many comedy queens on the cast this season, I expect April to stand apart by delivering some of the most jaw-dropping runway looks of the season.

I see as a mix of Ivy Winters and Yara Sofia. Like Ivy, she's gorgeous and sweet, though a little quiet. And they both favor theatrical outfits with flair.

I don't think April is as eccentric as Yara, but I expect that she'll deliver some avant garde, over-the-top extravaganza like her predecessor.

VIVACIOUS

Wow, so, Vivacious. I think it's clear that she'll set herself apart as an unforgettable Drag Race queen, regardless of how long she stays in the competition. One of the biggest surprises when the  cast was announced, Vivacious has already been embraced for her outrageous looks and for representing an important component of drag history.

Plus, I am dying to draw some of the outfits of hers I've seen. Seriously, they're just screaming to me.

Vivacious definitely loves some shock value, as you can see in her "double-headed" look from the new Season 6 trailer. I have no idea how long she'll last, but I'm sure she'll leave quite a mark.

Tomorrow will be the final day of THE WEEK OF RU--I'm so grateful to everyone for participating! After the final Season 6 art is revealed on Wednesday, I plan to have a Reddit AMA on the Rupaul's Drag Race subreddit, so find me there if you have any questions!

The WEEK OF RU: Day 5

Thanks for participating in my little guessing game for the WEEK OF RU: Day 5! I wanted to mix things up, and I didn't want any queen to get picked last, so I came up with this way to wrap things up. And congrats to David B. (aka Kim M.) on Facebook for winning $20 towards my prints and books!

So, who were the 2 queens I hinted at? (As if any of you had a hard time guessing...)

JOSLYN FOX

Joslyn is a fox, no doubt about it. In a cast of seasoned comedy queens, Joslyn stands out to me as the fishiest queen of them all. She seems really sweet and charming, though she may be too unassuming to stand out as a character among the other queens this season. But best of luck, my dear!

MAGNOLIA CRAWFORD

Magnolia is a true dark horse of the season, and so far, she's flying under most people's radar. But I'm intrigued by her quirky Youtube videos, which showcase an offbeat sense of humor and a consistently funny character. There have been a lot of comments on her contouring and lips, but I've grown to really like her mug--it suits her sensibilities perfectly.

I don't know how Magnolia will fare in the main challenges or on the runway, but I hope the Drag Race gives her a chance to show off her strengths. And if not, she'd better keep turning it out on Youtube!

Follow me on Facebook or Twitter to join in another round of the guessing game tomorrow!

The WEEK OF RU: Day 4

Thanks, everyone, for participating in the final day of voting for the WEEK OF RU! I'll be changing the format for the final 3 days, so be sure to check in on Facebook and Twitter tomorrow morning! So! Who took the top 2 spots today?

Well, first up is ADORE DELANO!

I think Adore is going to keep things really interesting. She’s got a Willam kind of thing going on, throwing out one-liners and projecting an off-kilter cockiness. Her character will be polarizing among fans, as will her edgy sense of style. But behind the bravado, this queen is funny, and she's gorgeous. She'll probably have some rough edges, some stumbles, but she's one to watch.

In a cast with so many more experienced queens, I see Adore and Laganja as two fierce upstarts in the season. Adore will bring comedy, style, and her vocal talents, whereas Laganja contributes her fierce personality, over-the-top fashion, and dance moves.

(Oh, and I should say that I designed a T shirt for Adore, and we should hopefully be seeing that soon! It's pretty badass, so watch for it!)

 And finally, Ms. Kelly Mantle!

I've been a huge fan of Kelly ever since I first started hearing about her last summer--yes, I might have stumbled across some rumors that she was in Season 6. As soon as I saw this fabulous video of hers, I was hooked.

Kelly has a really unusual temperament for a drag queen--she comes across as laid back, unshakable. Like, the Drag Race is just another gig--no big deal. I don't expect a lot of drama from Kelly, but I do expect her to bring a ton of talent to the stage. She's a comedian, an actress, a singer. She might not often steal the spotlight, but she's going to be a serious contender.

And any queen who can trade Ani Difranco lyrics with me on Twitter has the official Chad Sell seal of approval!

The WEEK OF RU: Day 2

Wowza! What a day! As I started to tally up today's votes, I really had no idea who'd be in the top 2. And it was a close one! The top 4 queens were all within 20 points of each other, after hundreds of fans participated! So, yeah! Thanks for another fabulous day!

I'm especially excited to announce that Miss Darienne Lake came out on top! I think Darienne is an absolute delight--gorgeous, hilarious, and sweet as hell. The drag mama of Pandora Boxx, Darienne has been in the drag world for, well, a long time, and she's sure to be a fan favorite during Season 6. How could you watch her "Meet the Queens" video and not fall in love?

I'm hoping for great, great things from Miss Darienne Lake.

Tonight's second spot could have gone either way (I'm sorry, Ben and Adore! You were soooo close!), but Courtney Act won out!

Of all the Season 6 queens, I actually had the hardest time capturing the likeness of "the most beautiful man in the world," because, well, he's so pretty! It was hard to pick out any one distinguishing feature amid the glorious radiance of Courtney.

I'm curious, in fact, whether the high, polished shine she brings to the competition will help or hinder her. She's already garnered a huge fanbase around the world, and for good reasons--besides her beauty, she's talented and funny as hell! But despite the recent seasons' embrace of the underdog drag queens, I wouldn't be surprised if Courtney takes the crown.

Voting for the WEEK OF RU will continue Saturday morning! There are still so many queen portraits I'm dying to share! So, I mean, I hope you're not entirely sick of this already! Thanks, everyone! Mwah!

The WEEK OF RU: Day 1

Wow! The WEEK OF RU got off to such a great start today! Thanks so, so much to all the queens and to all of you fabulous fans for participating! It’s so nice to see that you’re all as thrilled about these queen as I am, and it’s really amazing to share in the excitement with my Drag Race illustrations!

I’ll be the first to admit that the voting process on Twitter and Facebook was far from scientific, but I did my best to tally things up. And it was close!

Milk came out with the most votes, and here’s my take on that: There are a lot of incredible queens in the Season 6 cast, and many of them are well known in the drag community. For months, there had been rumors about the more established queens who had made it onto the show, but despite all the gossip, no one was ready for MILK!

Milk’s irreverent humor and delightful genderfuckery were an immediate hit with the fans, and the fact that no one knows anything about her just adds to the appeal--she’s a total wildcard, a queen of unlimited possibilities!

And she’s really, really fun to draw!

Laganja has a lot of buzz surrounding her, and it’s clear she’s learned a lot from her superstar drag mama Alyssa Edwards. In a cast filled to the brim with comedy queens, Laganja is pure performance--I suspect her killer dance moves will send a whole lotta queens home this season.

I’ll admit that this portrait is probably too reserved and unassuming for Laganja--it’ll take a lot more art to capture her over-sized character throughout the season! I think she’ll be a livewire, dramatic and divine. She has a huge fanbase already, and like Milk, she appeals to fans of a looser, more irreverent take on drag. But despite her stoner sense of humor, I think she’s focused, fierce, and ferocious.

The WEEK OF RU continues tomorrow morning! Thanks again, everyone!

Nostalgia, excitement.

 

I'm pretty far along with my first art of the Season 6 Drag Race queens, but I haven't set a date to reveal them all!

Also, I've been preparing a lot of my favorite RPDR art for a giant print run of postcards which has been fun. I love looking back on my first art of Raja, Manila, and Delta from Season 3, though this mega-portrait I did of Ru will probably be the best thing I ever do.

Check out the non-animated version below!

2013: Stringing together some words about it.

2013 was a big year for me! Not to make too big a deal of it, but I turned 30 in May. More importantly, it was my first full year supporting myself with freelance work. And it kind of makes sense that those two milestones coincided with one another. It can take a long time to build confidence and skills as an artist. And it's an even greater struggle to make any money as one. So I'm glad to have gotten through the tumultuous years of my twenties with only a few scars, bruises, and moderate psychological trauma.

I'm also overwhelmed with gratitude to all of you for your support over the years--even when I've doubted myself, there's always been such a persistent positivity from you to bolster my spirits. Plus, it's through all your online purchases on my website, Etsy, and FAB.com that I first started making any money through my work! And seriously, I was staggered by how many holiday orders I got this year during my print sale. It's a lot of work to print and package each order myself, but it's so, so satisfying to have such a direct connection with my fans.

Drawing the Drag Race started out as such a simple little project, so it's particularly mind-blowing that it's led me in so many different directions. Besides drawing Season 5 of Rupaul's Drag Race early in the year, I returned to the "lost" first season and drew those incredible queens, too. I also did most of the art and animation for DRAGOPOLIS, a game for iOS and Android devices, illustrated some outrageous queens for the party game DRAG BALL, and even contributed a tiny bit of animation to Alaska's debut music video Ru Girl.

So, yeah, I've drawn a lot of drag queens this year. Which is amazing and totally ridiculous. But besides all the reality TV drama that's popularized queens in pop culture, it's been fabulous to meet and befriend some of the best drag queens in Chicago since moving here in June--seeing how they work, perform, and grow gives me a much more grounded and humane look at these artists beyond the scope of reality television.

Despite all the fun of drawing the drag world, I'll always love/hate/struggle the most with drawing my personal comics projects. My comics are what send me to my most inspired, excited places, and then they lead to the deepest, darkest existential despair when they don't live up to my expectations.

This year, I experimented with shorter stories to work on my writing skills, hone my process, and narrow down my technique. My two favorite comics of the year are MANTA-DAD and this crazy, animated story starring Sachiko, the PART-TIME NINJA!

I'm planning a lot more of these experimental short comics for 2014, though I'd also like to develop some longer work, too. But it's hard to say. I've got a very complicated relationship with my comics--sometimes we get along so well, and sometimes we fight. But I always come crawling back for more.

Regardless, you'll be able to see all my new comics this spring at a bunch of comics shows! So far, I'm already lined up for TCAF in Toronto and C2E2 right here in Chicago! So exciting.

Also, there's SEASON 6 of Rupaul's Drag Race, which is a big thing. Despite all my crazy comics ambitions, you can expect to see a lot of drag queens from me in 2014, because seriously. 

Thanks again for all your support in 2013! Happy New Year, and Don't F*ck It Up.

RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 1, Episode 9

What a reunion! Remember the good ol' days, when we got some real drama and closure at the end of each Drag Race season? Well, actually, I hadn't remembered how good they were, so watching this week's was a very pleasant surprise.

Tammie is a legend, and I'm so glad she was on this first season... even if she isn't. She admitted that she was relieved to go home so early in the season, and I don't blame her. The crazy interchange she had with Ru at the end of the reunion got clouded by weird metaphors and tangents, but I think she was basically saying: Why does there have to be judging, why do we have to compete?

You get a bunch of talented queens together, they get to know each other, and then you pit them against each other for a moderate amount of money and fame. It can be brutal, which wasn't for Tammie. And I've sometimes felt the same way--particularly during the toxic drama of Season 5. I'd much prefer to see the queens hanging out and getting along.

But that doesn't make for compelling TV. There's just something so tantalizing about the classic reality show competition format. Despite how arbitrary, maddening, and convoluted the structure of the show, it hooks you.

Ru's rant in response was also a little hard to follow. I think the gist of it was something to the effect of: You've gotta be tough and strong, bitches, 'cause the world's a rough place for all of us. And something about Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz.

In any case, it was fabulous to visit with each of the season's queens. All of them looked good, too. Ongina's headpiece was pretty terrifying (was that alligator head real??) but her attitude was sunny as ever.

Ongina

Nina's sleek hair and spooky eyes accented one of her more distinctive looks, and they inspired my favorite portrait of her!

Nina

Throughout the season, Bebe has inspired some of the most detailed, elaborate, and realistic Drag Race portraits I've ever done, but for my final piece, I tried to scale it back a bit, sticking with a simpler style. And I'm glad I did! When people talk about my "Drag Race style," they're usually thinking about the more minimal, "flat" look that they see more often in my earlier work. ...But it's nice to trot it back out every once in a while!

Bebe

Thanks so much for checking out my weekly updates for Season 1! I plan to collect the work into another art book, so keep an eye out for updates!

I'm relieved that Season 6 of the Drag Race won't start up until February--I need a break! But until then, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or gossip with me in the RuPaul's Drag Race Reddit! 

T Shirts!

I've recently learned how to make silkscreen prints, and I've had a ton of fun! I've posted a lot of my prints in my Etsy store, though I'll be posting the occasional screenprinted T shirts here. Printing by hand on shirts is hard, and I'm not terribly good at it. I think these shirts look really great, and I'm proud to sell them, but please be forgiving of some minor printing mistakes and quirks if you purchase any of them!

I had the best luck with this crazy design, based on a Japanese demon, or Oni. I have a few shirts available in small, medium, and large sizes. I think it's a really fun, striking design, though some of the printing came out a little crooked.

The design was printed on pretty basic Gildan cotton shirts. They were all washed after printing to test for fading, and they came out well!

Shipping is $5 for all these shirts, and I will only be shipping them within the US.

[add_to_cart item="500" quantity="user:1" ]

I really love the design of this Pretty Purple Lady, but it was one of my attempts at printing on shirts, so I only had a few good ones turn out!

In any case, these are also printed on Gildan cotton shirts and have been pre-washed to test for fading.

[add_to_cart item="501" quantity="user:1" ]

RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 1, Episode 8

Okay, some quick thoughts on the "finale" episode of this first season: Cazwell was hilarious. His reactions to the queens' rapping were flawless. His utter disdain for Rebecca? Jaw-dropping.

Wait, rapping queens? Sure, okay.

Lunch with Ru: Bebe and Nina both had lovely Tic Tac lunches with Ru, opening up about all sorts of emotional stuff. Ru was clearly grateful to both of them for giving her crazy new TV show a try. Throughout her stagnant, limp lunch with Rebecca, Ru's internal monologue went something like, "HOLY GOD SERIOUSLY WHAT WAS I THINKING" and "Can we edit Shannel back into this show?"

Crowning a winner in reality TV is always tricky. For RPDR Seasons 1-3, they featured the winner being crowned, collapsing in a fit of joy and bewilderment, but then there's not much else. Roll credits! You want some sort of pay-off, some grander celebration. Like, maybe Ru and the winner run off and become best friends. And maybe they rob some banks, I dunno.

For Seasons 4 and 5, the show went to extreme lengths to prevent spoilers, filming sequences in which all three final queens are crowned. And then they only really find out who won during a live event in NYC that coincides with the airing of the show. So unless you're there in New York, you can't see the queen's actual reaction to her win. So, for everyone at home, it feels like you didn't see the "real" finale to the show.

Why not broadcast the NYC crowning live? It would be messy, loud, and chaotic, but that would give a much better sense of what a real drag show is like. Queens might have to deal with wardrobe malfunctions, broken heels, or snatched wigs, but all the better! It would be utterly riveting. And don't you think those queens would really work their asses off performing in front of those live cameras? It would separate the girls from the queens.

Anyway, I know it will never happen. I'm sure broadcasting live television is a total nightmare. For Season 6, I'm just praying for a more satisfying conclusion than the limp "reunion" episodes we've gotten the past two years.

Oh, right! Back to the beginning: Season 1.

Nina and Bebe are both great, agreed.

Nina stole our hearts in the workroom with her infectious energy and optimism...

Nina

...but Bebe really ruled the runway. She's arguably the most elegant and regal queen this show has ever seen.

Bebe

So... LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!

RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 1, Episode 7

The clip show! Traditionally, on the week of each season's clip show, I like to go back and draw any queens or outfits I missed the first time through. The one queen I regretted not drawing earlier is Jade! I really enjoyed Jade's contribution to the show, and she's gorgeous as hell! So I tried to capture her most elegant runway outfit:

Jade

I also wanted to go back and draw the gorgeous gown and headdress Bebe wore for the MAC challenge--especially because I've been thinking of using the illustration for the cover of this season's book collection! What do you think?

Bebe

I don't know whether the book collection should be called The Lost Season or The Lost Queens. Would the latter sound too... grim?

RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 1, Episode 6

For the sixth season of the Drag Race next year, can they just repeat all the first season's challenges? Like, everything? I want to see another vogue-off, please, please. Do another Oprah challenge--maybe this time you can get the Queen of All Media herself to show up. Hose off some of the queens on the hood of a fancy car. Seriously, this season has had a lot of magnificent, funny, crazy challenges. More voguing. What is a drag show without voguing? (And yes, that's how you spell it. Wikipedia says so.) Even this Absolut challenge was pretty good. I always love this point in the season--The "Ball" episodes serve up a ton of gorgeous runway looks. The Absolut theme gave each queen a distinct color palette, which was surely a huge challenge for some of them, but I was impressed with the vivid looks they came up with. (Which made it hard choosing which ones to draw!)

Also, I want to see more random celebrity appearances in the workroom. Did they even explain why Charo showed up? She was magnificent. It was fun. More of that!

I took this episode as an opportunity to finally draw Rebecca, because she was pretty stunning. Maybe some of the detailing of the dress was overdone and a little corn-y, but I can conveniently leave those elements out of my illustration! Art is magic.

Rebecca

There's been a lot of orange this season. When I think Lost Season, I think orange. But Shannel pulled off the color smashingly--I especially loved her Executive Realness and Swimwear looks. They had a youthfulness and lightness that sometimes gets lost in Shannel's more theatrical, overwrought outfits. The long, dark hair and whimsical headdress/hat/hair poof she sported for the swimwear ensemble were just too striking to ignore, so I had to draw 'em.

Shannel

I'll reiterate that Shannel is the greatest character of Season 1--everything you'd want in a reality TV star. Ego, looks, talent, and a flair for the theatrical.

In re-watching this episode, I was blindsided by Shannel's choice to kick herself off--a twist I had totally forgotten from my first viewing years ago. She seemed to have a change of heart and gave a good lip sync, but I can't help but dwell on the fact that two of the nine contestants this season, Tammie and Shannel, burned out and expressed interest in leaving the competition.

Maybe it's nothing, but I'd speculate that they just didn't really know what they were getting themselves into. It was the first season of this crazy show, so it was an unknown quantity. Each queen has their own scene, their own clubs, their own audience. Most of them had been doing their own thing for years prior to the show, and so they were most likely shocked at how unfamiliar the Drag Race set was, how different it was from their past experiences. I can only imagine that the shooting process of this show was grueling and surreal, with an unclear pay-off. Who knew if anyone would ever watch or care about this show?

Obviously, after running for so many seasons, I like to think that queens know what they're getting themselves into when applying for the show. But... I'm not so sure.

In any case, I should get around to my final piece for this episode: Bebe!

Bebe

I was just struck speechless by Bebe's raspberry-themed looks. The sleek, simple dress with that severe, Japanese-inspired hair. She had, by far, the most imposing challenge with those fickle little raspberries, but her use of them was smart and elegant.

This queen is good.

Just... gagging.