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Get ready for a masterclass in strutting! Join us as we count down our picks for the most distinctive and unforgettable runway walks from the fierce queens of RuPaul's Drag Race. From modelesque precision to quirky theatrics, these performers know how to own the main stage and leave a lasting impression with every single step. Get ready to gag!
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00:00Look at that walk.
00:02Well, it is a walk.
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:08And today, we're counting down our picks for the most distinctive and unforgettable runway walks from Drag Race Queens.
00:14I can always tell when a New Yorker walks the runway because we have that kind of ball walk, that Pepper LaBeija kind of.
00:20Oh, hey.
00:20Yes, honey.
00:22I don't know.
00:23Number 10, Dita Ritz.
00:25Her runway looks may be hit or miss, but there is no denying that this Chicago legend has an unmistakable stomp.
00:31I'm doing my runway.
00:32It's sickening.
00:33I am definitely channeling Naomi.
00:35I am channeling Giselle.
00:37I'm feeling it.
00:38With long legs that go all the way up to her you-know-what, Dita walks with a natural bounce, relaxed shoulders, and an unapologetic confidence.
00:46Sometimes, she keeps it classic, charging down the runway in a straight line.
00:50Other times, she leans into a bit of whimsy, swaying from one corner of the stage to another as she makes her way down.
00:56I love the little S walk.
00:57Yes, it's a strategic walk so the sniper can't get her.
01:01There's just something refreshingly honest about how she moves, as if she's comfortable whether the look she's wearing lands or not.
01:07I feel confident.
01:08I feel so beautiful.
01:09I love my hair, and I love the color that I went with.
01:12I feel like it is just right.
01:14Number 9, Anitra.
01:16I am stomping this runway in a custom Anitra original.
01:19Everything is hand-sewn by your girl.
01:22On the runway, this Vegas queen indeed lives up to her signature catchphrase.
01:26She walks that mother-tucking duck.
01:28Anitra's background in taekwondo and other martial arts transformed her runway presentations into mini-action sequences.
01:34The precision in her movements, sharp poses punctuated by hip slides, shoulder shimmies, and sudden spins, create a visual rhythm unlike anything seen before on the show.
01:44It looks dangerous.
01:45It looks like it might hurt you.
01:46Her gaze and attitude ooze confidence, which stays at the same level whether she's wearing something ultra-glamorous or a little more questionable.
01:59Combining athletic prowess with model poise, Anitra proves that a runway walk can be both elegant and explosive at the same time.
02:07She's glamorous, she's artistic.
02:09At the end of this competition, I just feel so elevated.
02:13Number 8, Kim Chi.
02:15A queen can become iconic on the runway for how fiercely she stomps, but sometimes it can be for the exact opposite reason.
02:22Season 8 finalist Kim Chi certainly falls under the latter category.
02:26Throughout the season, the judges often critiqued her for appearing stiff on the runway.
02:30But Kim Chi leaned into that restraint and made it her signature.
02:34I do get concerned about your walk.
02:36I'm not sure anymore that it's a choice.
02:39It's very stiff, darling.
02:41Give yourself over to it.
02:42Allow yourself to have fun on this runway.
02:44Her steps are careful and controlled, giving the judges and audience time to fully absorb her intricate makeup and sculptural outfits.
02:51My idea is a sad-looking French clown in a thin-city setting.
02:57There's a doll-like quality to how she moves, keeping her posture upright and her gestures minimal, which supports the fantasy without overwhelming it.
03:04When Kim Chi hits the runway, the look itself is the main event.
03:08Her mother had to release her seat in the wind for Kim to be the botanical sensation she always wanted to become.
03:14Number 7, Utica Queen.
03:16Fluid, alien, and completely unpredictable, Utica's runway walk defies categorization in the best possible way.
03:24I am serving elastic fantastic with this Edwardian feel and this burgundy dream as I creep down the runway.
03:33The Minnesota Queen brought performance art to the main stage with her otherworldly movements that seemed to originate from another dimension entirely.
03:41Her limbs would undulate like she was underwater, creating strange shapes that complemented her quirky avant-garde aesthetic.
03:48I am flowing down this runway in this watercolor eleganza.
03:54I am giving you this Stevie Nicks nod.
03:58Rather than sticking to a steady rhythm, Utica would suddenly accelerate or decelerate, making it impossible to predict what was coming next.
04:05She was not afraid to lean into the whimsy of her eccentric looks, playing like a dog, slithering across the runway, and even lying down in her now legendary bag look.
04:14I see the judges' eyes light up and they are loving this garment.
04:20The judges may not have always loved her walk, but we absolutely did.
04:24Number 6, Naomi Smalls.
04:26Those legs truly are everything.
04:28Even in heaven, I'm a sexy mother f***er, giving you diamonds and pearls.
04:35This is what it looks like when doves cry.
04:38This Season 8 queen got half of her name from supermodel Naomi Campbell, and she really lives up to that inspiration.
04:44Standing at a towering 6'3'' without heels, Naomi transforms the runway into her personal catwalk with a strut that wouldn't look out of place at Paris Fashion Week.
04:53Campbell's influence is evident in every perfectly timed step and hip swivel.
04:57The hair touches her ass, she's wearing her Bratz doll signature makeup, like, this is the epitome of Naomi Smalls.
05:06The mathematical precision of Naomi's walk, the exact same distance between steps, the perfect 45-degree angle of her foot placement, makes it hypnotic to watch.
05:16The confidence in her step feels earned rather than forced, which is why her runway presence remains one of the most instantly recognizable in the franchise.
05:24This is Naomi Smalls at her highest form.
05:27I am shining from head to toe, I am looking rich, b***h, I am looking opulent.
05:35Number 5. Simone.
05:37Don't let the smooth taste fool you, baby.
05:39The ebony enchantress from Arkansas redefined black excellence on the runway with a walk that blends urban swagger with high fashion precision.
05:46A do-rag is a part of black culture, and I want to celebrate that on the stage.
05:52Ain't nothing wrong with wearing no do-rag.
05:54It is unapologetic.
05:57That is very Simone.
05:58Simone's aura on the runway is all about attitude.
06:02The unmistakable tilt of her head and that signature bounce on her step that makes her seem like she's walking to music only she can hear.
06:08During season 13, the walk became so iconic that other queens regularly imitated it.
06:14Impersonation of Simone every time she's on the runway.
06:18She does do that.
06:21Beyond the jokes, though, Simone often incorporated subtle nods to black culture into her walk, whether through a deliberate pose or gesture.
06:28No matter the variation, the moment she hit the runway, you could undeniably tell it was Simone.
06:34I am feeling just so strong and ready to kick your ass if I need to.
06:39Quintessential Simone happening right now.
06:41Number 4.
06:42Discord Adams.
06:43When it comes to truly distinctive runway walks on Drag Race, very few can compete with that of season 18's Discord Adams.
06:51From her very first appearance, Discord made an instant impression on the judges with her unusual, almost confrontational stomp down the runway.
06:59And I serve intense fashion model on the runway.
07:03Look at that walk.
07:05The St. Petersburg, Florida queen says she serves intense fashion model, leaning all the way back and attacking the stage shins first.
07:12To Discord, this is the ultimate runway walk.
07:16Especially since she seems to constantly look back at the judges, as if daring them to acknowledge just how hard she's killing it.
07:22I want Michelle to look at me and think that we are related.
07:29Call her delusional if you want, but what is a drag queen without at least a little delusion?
07:37Number 3.
07:37Vivacious.
07:39Mother has arrived.
07:40Though her time on season 6 was brief, Vivacious delivered one of the most memorable walks in Drag Race herstory.
07:47Drawing directly from the New York scene where she reigned supreme, Vivacious brought authentic club kid energy with her staccato robotic movements.
07:54I am walking down that runway and I am serving it down, Miss Thing.
07:58I am giving you old school style New York walk, walk, walk, pose.
08:01The dramatic pauses and mechanical pivots made her presentations feel like performance art rather than traditional modeling.
08:07Vivacious marched to the beat of her own drum, and while not traditionally polished, her movements exuded an unshakable confidence that made her runway presence truly iconic.
08:17This is one of Vivacious' iconic pieces.
08:20I am serving Vivacious down.
08:23Despite being an early out, that distinctive walk has influenced countless queens.
08:28If only we could have seen more of it on our screens.
08:31I can always tell when a New Yorker walks the runway because we have that kind of ball walk, that pepper la beija kind of.
08:37Okay.
08:37Yes, honey.
08:39Number 2.
08:40Shea Coulee.
08:41Poetry in motion barely begins to describe the runway excellence that is Shea Coulee.
08:45I'm serving up some Nubian goddess realness.
08:49Mama just stepped out of the Nile River, drip, drip, dripping in Swarovski stones.
08:55A theater kid herself, Shea brings technical precision to the runway that makes every step feel deliberate yet effortless.
09:01The controlled energy in her walk creates a hypnotic quality that draws all eyes to her.
09:06Unlike many queens who maintain a single signature style, Shea adapts her walk to complement each look, shifting from sharp and editorial to regal and opulent as needed.
09:16I have my crown made of braids. I have these ear prosthetics with beautiful jade green gauges. I mean, it's what a queen deserves.
09:27Like Naomi Smalls, Shea Coulee's walk is also heavily influenced by Naomi Campbell, and she got the privilege to present it before the supermodel during the All-Star 7 premiere.
09:36How many people can say they've gotten a stamp of approval from the runway icon?
09:40You know what you're doing. You have it controlled. You know how to slow it down to bring it up to... It was perfection for me.
09:47Wow.
09:48Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
09:52Jinx Monsoon. Her campy shuffle proves you don't need model precision to leave a lasting impression.
09:57Now, pleather is typically used in fetish gear.
10:01This is Mary Poppins if she were a dominatrix.
10:05And that is the Jinx Monsoon fashion aesthetic.
10:08Is the bustle still running?
10:11La Grande Dame. Sharp posture and elongated strides that scream European high fashion.
10:16I'm showcasing French excellence.
10:18Darling, I'm bringing Jean-Paul Gaultier.
10:21Of course, La Mariniere.
10:23It doesn't get more French than that.
10:25Raja O'Hara. A confident stomp that effortlessly oozes swagger.
10:29She's serving you that old nasty MJB, Mary J. Bly's tea. And you gotta add a little bling. Let the kids know you are a star and you got some shine to you. What's up?
10:40Tace. A hypnotic supermodel saunter that makes time itself seem to slow down.
10:45Vicious. Editorial. High fashion.
10:48Ooh, I've got a nasty taste in my mouth.
10:51I bet you do.
10:52Graham. Michelle. Rue. Jordan. You like it? You better. Cause I made it.
10:58Evie Oddly. Unpredictable elastic motion that mirrors her offbeat drag aesthetic.
11:02Just gliding down the runway, spreading peace. It's got this train that sweeps the runway behind me.
11:09Crochet!
11:09Yay!
11:13What?
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11:31Number 1. Raja.
11:32When it comes to runway walks, Raja remains the undisputed Queen Supreme.
11:37Once I get out there, I feel awesome. That's my thing. I am a runway girl. I am a photography girl. I'm a model.
11:43I just can't take my eyes off of her.
11:45The makeup artist-turned-drag superstar revolutionized how queens present on the runway with a walk that perfectly balances high fashion with theatrical performance.
11:53Raja's years of professional modeling experience are evident in the languid confidence of her stride.
11:58Elongated steps and gestural flourishes that showcase every detail of her garments.
12:03It is gold on gold on gold on gold, golden goddess. She obviously is Miss Universe representing Myanmar.
12:10She often pauses to deliver a smoldering gaze or a confident precise hand gesture, embodying her supermodel persona with an effortless sophistication.
12:19Even after numerous seasons and hundreds of queens, no one has matched Raja's ability to transform a simple walk down a runway into a transcendent fashion moment.
12:28My main thing about coming here, other than winning the prizes, was to remind people of what Raja is.
12:35And maybe they didn't even invent a word for this. Legendary is an understatement.
12:41Which Drag Race Queen's runway walk would you recognize anywhere? Sound off in the comments.
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