- 10 hours ago
Season 18 of *RuPaul’s Drag Race* delivered some truly unforgettable drag moments, from high-energy lip sync battles to runway looks dripping in glamour, camp, and pure star power. We’re diving into the fiercest performances and most stunning fashion from queens like Juicy Love Dion, Jane Don’t, Nini Coco, Vita VonTesse Starr, Athena Dion, and more. Which moment slayed you hardest?
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00:00There are tassels, there are stones, there's more feathers, I have a face keeney, I mean literally more is more.
00:07Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:09And today we're counting down our picks for the fiercest moments from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18.
00:14Diving into the most jaw-dropping runway looks and the most gag-worthy lip syncs.
00:18Are we pretty enough? I'm having fun in the dark. Let's go!
00:23Let me see the world in Mandy.
00:28Number 10. Lip Sync.
00:30Didi Fuego vs. Mandy Mango.
00:32Say I'm too much, baby, go find less. If you can't keep up, stay below, I can't.
00:38Mandy is such a sweet spirit and I'm so Team Mandy, so I'm like, get the damn table up!
00:44Although this was the second episode of the season, it was the first lip sync for your life.
00:50Mandy Mango, who had just been spared from lip syncing the previous episode, found herself in the bottom two yet
00:55again.
00:56This time opposite New York City's Didi Fuego.
00:59As this was her second consecutive time in the bottom, many expected that Mandy would get the chop.
01:05Oh, it's so like you to put me down, down, down.
01:08It just seems too much, baby, go find less.
01:11If you can't keep up, stay below.
01:15However, the Philly Queen threw everything at the stage.
01:18Splits, tricks, dips, and everything in between.
01:22Didi Fuego, by comparison, felt restrained.
01:24Almost like she was waiting for a moment that never came.
01:27Mandy's performance wasn't polished, but it was undeniable.
01:31And that hunger made the difference.
01:40Number 9. Lip Sync.
01:41Athena Dion vs. Juicy Love Dion.
01:43From the moment these two walked into the workroom as drag, grant, sorry, drag, mother, and daughter, we could smell
01:50this lip sync coming.
01:51The Rusical episode finally delivered it.
01:55Call me when you break up.
01:57I wanna be the first one on your mind when you wake up.
02:01Lip syncing to Call Me When You Break Up, Athena and Juicy barely made eye contact throughout.
02:06You could see their discomfort practically radiating off the stage.
02:10Nonetheless, they gave it their all, each fighting for their spot in the competition.
02:14I'll make it worth it, I'll make it worth it, I'll make it worth it, I'll make it worth it,
02:22I'll make it worth it, I'll make it worth it.
02:24The truly heart-wrenching moment arrived at the song's conclusion when Athena, with maternal grace, knelt and gently pulled Juicy
02:31onto her lap and softly whispered, I love you.
02:34I'd like to be there when the day comes, you know I'm always here, so don't ever be a stranger.
02:42It was a deeply touching, tearful exit for the legendary drag mother, sent home by her own offspring.
02:48Number 8 lip sync.
02:50Juicy Love Dion vs. Kenya Pleaser.
02:52Turn around.
02:54Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming around.
03:00Turn around.
03:01At this point in the competition, Juicy had already built a reputation for flips, twists and backbends during lip syncs,
03:08so handing her a ballad felt almost like a test.
03:11Turns out she passed with flying colors.
03:13Facing Kenya Pleaser, both queens leaned into emotion, letting Bonnie Tyler's total eclipse of the heart breathe instead of overpowering
03:21it.
03:21And I need you all tonight, and I need you all that ever.
03:27Their flowing runway garments became part of the storytelling, as they caught the wind machine in ways that felt almost
03:34cinematic.
03:35Kenya held her own beautifully, matching the mood beat for beat, but Juicy just found a bit more nuance in
03:41the quieter moments.
03:42That subtle shift handed her the win, and proved that she had more layers than people expected.
03:48But now I'm only falling apart.
03:53Nothing I can do, but totally grips of the heart.
03:58Number 7 lip sync.
04:00Athena Dion vs. Jane Doent.
04:02If Drag Race producers needed a reason to give fans more punk rock lip syncs, then Athena Dion and Jane
04:08Doent delivered it.
04:09You are ugly all day, I am hot always, you are just a critic, and you want to hit it,
04:16you are the hardest, I am taking the hardest.
04:19Mama Athena astonished absolutely everyone with a raw, grunge-to-the-walls performance.
04:24She attacked the song with a gritty, rebellious energy, fully committing to the chaos the genre demands.
04:30Every part of her outfit became a prop, including those rope details she turned into a makeshift guitar.
04:36At one point, she dropped to the floor, strumming and dragging herself across the stage like she was born in
04:42a dive bar.
04:44Athena gets into a little dip, Granny can get down!
04:52Jane Doent went for something sultrier, which wasn't wrong, just a little mismatched.
04:57Athena understood the assignment down to her bones, and it showed.
05:01But it is really cool to see Athena be raw and edgy and a little bit punk.
05:06She's killing it.
05:07Number 6. Lip Sync
05:08Juicy Love Dion vs. Vita Von T-Star
05:11Up until this point, Juicy Love Dion was the frontrunner with two wins under her belt.
05:16When she landed in the bottom for the first time, it was opposite Vita Von T-Star, having to lip
05:21sync to Houdini by Dua Lipa.
05:23I come and I go
05:25Prove you got the right to please me
05:27Everybody knows
05:29Catch me or I go
05:31Houdini
05:31Juicy unleashed a relentless barrage of flawless moves and high-flying stunts, leaving Vita virtually no chance to compete.
05:39She devoured every single beat and lyric, delivering an endless series of backflips and absolutely owning the dance break with
05:46the iconic Britney Spears choreography.
05:56It was a pure, unadulterated bloodbath. Vita was practically eliminated the moment the music began, but Juicy just kept going
06:03and going.
06:04If there were any doubts about her performance skills, they did not survive this lip sync.
06:16Number 5. Lip Sync
06:18Kenya Pleaser vs. Mia Starr
06:27Ever since she was eliminated by Kenya Pleaser, Mia Starr had apparently been longing for a rematch.
06:33It finally came during the lip sync Rupala Perusa Smackdown.
06:36Set to Peanut Butter, this showdown turned into a full body workout for both queens.
06:42Kenya went all in, putting every single body part to work and twerking up a storm across the stage.
06:48Raise your head, gonna get your sister on the corner, sister on the corner, selling.
06:52Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner,
06:58Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner.
06:58Not to be outdone, Mia channeled her sharp choreography skills, delivering powerful kicks and expressive hand movements alongside her own
07:05energetic quirks.
07:07It was a true battle of the derrieres.
07:10They even synced up for a hilarious moment that lit up the whole room.
07:14It could have gone either way, honestly,
07:15but Mia slightly edged Kenya out
07:17and secured her redemption.
07:26Number 4, Lip Sync
07:28Mikey Meeks vs. Nini Coco
07:30The final lip sync is supposed to feel huge
07:41and this one absolutely did.
07:44Mikey Meeks and Nini Coco came in ready to leave nothing behind.
07:48Nini skillfully utilized a bag prop,
07:50creating a clever puppetry illusion
07:52where the bag did the singing for her.
08:03While a similar trick worked for Megami in season 16,
08:06its impact here felt slightly less momentous.
08:09Mikey, on the other hand,
08:11locked into the emotion of the song
08:13and never let go.
08:21They were neck and neck,
08:23even hitting simultaneous moments.
08:26Nini with a jump split
08:27and Mikey with an iconic triple spin
08:29that landed in, according to Bob the Drag Queen,
08:31a Spider-Man pose.
08:32The Meeks ultimately triumphed
08:34and inherited the crown.
08:36Live fiercely, love boldly,
08:38and write it in the books, baby!
08:41The Meeks shall inherit the crown!
08:45Number 3, Lip Sync
08:47Jane Don't vs. Juicy Love Dion
08:49The lip sync Rupala Perusa
08:51delivered many memorable moments,
08:53but this battle between Jane Don't
08:55and Juicy Love Dion
08:55was undeniably the standout.
09:06Juicy, performing in her first lip sync of the night,
09:09faced Jane,
09:09who was coming off a hilarious showdown
09:11against Discord Adams.
09:13The odds were stacked against Jane
09:15and she knew it,
09:16as Juicy was a perfect match for the song.
09:29From the first beat,
09:30Juicy was electrifying,
09:32cha-cha-ching,
09:33and salsa-ing with infectious energy.
09:35Then, in a jaw-dropping move,
09:37she executed one of Drag Race's
09:39smoothest reveals,
09:40unveiling a new dress
09:41with a back handstand.
09:51Jane, knowing her fate,
09:53simply used her sharp wit
09:54to hilariously mock the situation,
09:56making her defeat equally entertaining.
10:08Number 2, Lip Sync
10:09Jane Don't vs. Nene Coco
10:11Jane Don't had been cruising toward the crown,
10:14so seeing her in the bottom
10:15felt like the competition hitting reset.
10:18Nene Coco, however,
10:19wasn't about to waste the opportunity.
10:28Jane fought hard,
10:30delivering a performance
10:31that easily could have saved her
10:32against someone else.
10:33But against the mechanical engineering,
10:35designing, dancing, triple threat Nene,
10:38that wasn't going to be so easy.
10:39Take it to the garden of Eden,
10:41and I made it more,
10:43so that won't take your fight.
10:46Let's go!
10:47I'll get to sink you
10:48to the garden of Eden.
10:50Nene was unstoppable.
10:52She met every move
10:52and raised it,
10:53layering precision,
10:55emotion,
10:55and control
10:56into something that felt complete.
10:58While the outcome
10:59was the devastating elimination
11:00of a beloved queen,
11:02the sheer entertainment value
11:03of this high-stakes lip sync
11:04is undeniable.
11:06I'll get to sink you
11:07to the garden of Eden.
11:10Hey!
11:11Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
11:13Hey!
11:15Number one lip sync,
11:17Juicy Love Dionne
11:18versus Mia Starr.
11:19This was the ultimate
11:20Floridian dance-off.
11:21Juicy Love Dionne
11:22and Mia Starr,
11:23who are both from Florida
11:25and connected to the Dionne family,
11:27faced off in the talent show's
11:28first top two lip sync.
11:29Have you ever seen
11:30a pretty fair
11:32if you're ugly like this?
11:34Like this like this?
11:36Performing to Zara Larson's
11:38pop anthem Pretty Ugly,
11:39these two divas
11:40unleashed their best moves,
11:42showcasing impressive
11:43generational styles.
11:45Mia brought a refined,
11:46powerful millennial choreography,
11:48while Juicy exploded
11:49with Gen Z flair,
11:50delivering a multitude
11:51of incredible stunts
11:53and gravity-defying flips.
11:54Have you ever seen
11:55a pretty fair
11:56if you're ugly like this?
11:57Yeah!
11:57Yeah!
11:59Yeah!
12:02There was even a moment
12:03where they moved in sync,
12:04like they'd rehearsed it
12:05for weeks.
12:06It just clicked.
12:08Picking a winner
12:09felt almost unfair,
12:10so the double win
12:11made perfect sense.
12:13Sometimes,
12:13the best outcome
12:14is simply letting
12:15both queens
12:16have their moment.
12:25And now,
12:26for our intermission,
12:27please enjoy
12:28the relaxing screams
12:29from some of
12:30season 18's finest.
12:31Ah!
12:34Ah!
12:36Ah!
12:38Ah!
12:41Ah!
12:41Ah!
12:42Okay, back to the program.
12:44Number 10.
12:45Runway.
12:46Darlene Mitchell's
12:47beige against-the-machine
12:48look.
12:49Oversized,
12:50done right,
12:50is harder than it looks,
12:52but Darlene Mitchell
12:53made it feel effortless.
12:54I don't know about you,
12:55but I think this look
12:56could use some shoulder pads.
12:58Everything about this look
12:59leaned into exaggeration.
13:01The sleeves,
13:02the silhouette,
13:03even the wig,
13:04and yet it never
13:04swallowed her whole.
13:06Instead,
13:07it created this bold,
13:08cohesive statement
13:09that felt intentional
13:10from head to toe.
13:11We've got a bunch
13:11of different textures
13:12who commit to being huge
13:14and taking up
13:15as much space
13:16as possible.
13:17The mix of textures
13:18and patterns
13:19kept the eye moving,
13:20giving the neutral palette
13:21a surprising amount
13:22of depth.
13:23It's one of those outfits
13:24where the more you look,
13:25the more you notice.
13:27Beige isn't usually
13:28the loudest color
13:29in the room,
13:29but Darlene made sure
13:30you could not ignore it.
13:32You know,
13:32thin may be in,
13:34but flat is where it's at.
13:36Number 9.
13:37Runway.
13:37Briar Blush's
13:39grand finale
13:39eleganza extravaganza look.
13:41Briar Blush spent the season
13:43serving soft,
13:44feminine glamour,
13:45so this finale pivot
13:46hit even harder.
13:48Suddenly,
13:48she's strutting out
13:49like the glamorous ringleader
13:50of a high-fashion circus,
13:51and it works.
13:53The green gown
13:53with a sharply tailored
13:54black bodice and sleeves
13:56gave structure,
13:57while the top hat and mask
13:58added just enough drama.
13:59The bodice,
14:00sleeves,
14:01and top hat
14:01were fully stoned,
14:03catching the light
14:03from every angle
14:04as she sauntered
14:05down the runway.
14:06It felt theatrical
14:07without tipping into costume,
14:09which is a tricky balance.
14:10The surprise factor
14:12alone made it memorable,
14:13but the execution
14:14sealed the deal.
14:15We can't wait to see
14:16what Briar would serve
14:17on a potential
14:18All-Stars season.
14:19Number 8.
14:20Runway.
14:21Sierra Mist's
14:22Your Favorite Body Part look.
14:23Sierra Mist said
14:25All Eyes on Me,
14:26and she meant it literally.
14:27The eyes are the nipples
14:28of the face.
14:29They're also the gateways
14:30to the soul.
14:31This look was all about vision.
14:33Two oversized eyes
14:34on the chest,
14:35a headpiece echoing
14:36the same motif,
14:37and a dreamy blue palette
14:38tying it all together.
14:40The tulle added softness,
14:42especially in that mermaid skirt
14:43and around the sleeves,
14:44giving the whole thing
14:45a floating,
14:46almost surreal quality.
14:48It could have easily
14:49gone campy,
14:50but Sierra kept it
14:51just polished enough
14:51to stay fashion-forward.
14:53There's something captivating
14:54about fully committing
14:55to a concept,
14:56and she did exactly that here.
14:58This wasn't a look
14:59that you just saw.
15:00It was a look
15:01that you also felt watched by.
15:04I am making sure
15:04they get every inch
15:06of my eyes,
15:07all four sets of them.
15:08Number 7, Runway.
15:09Mikey Meeks'
15:10Not Today Satin Look.
15:12Going beyond the obvious
15:13paid off big time
15:14for Mikey Meeks
15:15in this runway category.
15:16Mikey Meeks stars
15:17in The Lady Wore Satin.
15:20I am wrapped
15:21with this icy blue
15:22satin ribbon.
15:23Instead of drowning
15:24her look in satin,
15:26Mikey balanced textures,
15:27letting the fabric enhance
15:29rather than dominate.
15:30The black and sky blue gown
15:31flowed beautifully,
15:33hugging her body
15:33in all the right places
15:35while still giving movement.
15:36This is one of my favorite outfits.
15:38I'm selling it
15:39like it is the ultimate showstopper.
15:42Mikey's signature wired structure
15:44also resurfaced here.
15:45While it has overall
15:47been hit or miss for her,
15:48here it worked in absolute harmony
15:50with the design.
15:51It framed the outfit
15:52without overwhelming it
15:53and added just enough edge.
15:55In a week that featured
15:56a rather lackluster set of looks,
15:58Mikey stood out
15:59by simply being
16:00the most put together.
16:01And you,
16:02the way that's wrapped
16:03around her,
16:04very smart
16:05because that could have been
16:06a mess.
16:07But it is gorgeous.
16:09She put a bow
16:10where a bow ought to be.
16:12Number six runway,
16:14Nene Coco's
16:15shake, shake, shake look.
16:16If movement was the assignment,
16:18Nene Coco understood it
16:19on a molecular level.
16:21This look is avant-garde
16:22and dare I say conceptual.
16:24I am having a great time
16:25on the runway,
16:26jumping around, spinning.
16:27Every spin reveals
16:28a new color.
16:29Her shake, shake, shake look
16:30was built to swirl,
16:31ripple, and practically
16:32dance on its own.
16:33The blend of yellow,
16:35orange, and pink
16:35created a fiery gradient
16:37that came alive
16:38with every step.
16:39Layers upon layers
16:40of fabric moved independently,
16:42making the entire outfit
16:43feel kinetic.
16:44This look is in your face,
16:46it's bold,
16:47it's bright,
16:47it is a work of art.
16:48It was playful,
16:50a little camp,
16:51but still undeniably beautiful.
16:53You couldn't look away,
16:54not because it was loud,
16:55but because it was
16:56constantly evolving.
16:58It's one thing
16:58to wear a garment,
16:59it's another
17:00to make it perform with you.
17:02Nene did both effortlessly.
17:05This was not easy to make.
17:06This was a lengthy sew.
17:09Like, it takes a while
17:10to make something like this,
17:11to get each pleat
17:13and each layer on there.
17:14I think it's really interesting.
17:15It's giving me
17:16Cirque du Soleil, honey.
17:18Number five runway,
17:19Athena Dion's
17:20Animal Attraction Look.
17:22Look over there.
17:23It's a bird.
17:23It's a plane.
17:24It's Athena Dion.
17:26Baby, she don't give a hoot.
17:27For the Animal Attraction runway,
17:29Athena stepped out
17:30as a majestic white barn owl.
17:32The white feathered cape,
17:34the expansive wings,
17:35the headpiece
17:35that framed her face,
17:36it all came together
17:37in a way that felt
17:38both ethereal and powerful.
17:40Then, at the end of the runway,
17:42she dropped the golden mask,
17:44revealing her facekini
17:45and adding an unexpected
17:46layer of opulence.
17:48In Greek mythology,
17:49the goddess Athena
17:50is represented in nature
17:51by the owl.
17:52There are tassels,
17:53there are stones,
17:54there's more feathers,
17:55I have a facekini.
17:57I mean, literally,
17:59more is more.
17:59It's easily the most elevated look
18:01of the season.
18:02There's a quiet confidence
18:03in choosing something
18:04this dramatic
18:05and letting it speak for itself.
18:07That night,
18:08Athena certainly soared
18:09across the runway.
18:11The feather cape,
18:12shawl thing, wings.
18:14Oh my God,
18:15it's exquisite.
18:15It's Baroque.
18:17The way that's sitting
18:18on her face,
18:18because, you know,
18:19we've seen this before
18:20where it's kind of,
18:21you know,
18:22like,
18:23per-fection.
18:25Number four runway,
18:26Nene Coco's
18:27your favorite body part look.
18:28Trust Nene Coco
18:30to turn something
18:30as abstract as brain
18:32into a fully realized
18:33fashion moment.
18:34My brain is always
18:35on my mind,
18:36so I'm serving up
18:37rhinestone brain
18:38on a pink platter, baby.
18:40The headpiece alone
18:41was a standout,
18:42mimicking the folds
18:43of a brain
18:43in a way that felt
18:44both clever and stylish.
18:46Then,
18:46you notice the garment itself,
18:48a textured, shimmery material
18:49filled with intricate folds
18:51that echo
18:51the same idea throughout.
18:53It's cohesive,
18:54conceptual,
18:55and incredibly well-executed,
18:57especially knowing
18:58Nene designed it herself.
19:00I made the look
19:00head to toe
19:01from the 3D-printed cap
19:02all the way
19:03to the beautiful
19:04structured gloves.
19:05It's always so satisfying
19:06to see a look
19:07that rewards
19:08closer inspection
19:09come down the runway,
19:10and this definitely does.
19:12It's more than just fashion.
19:13It is storytelling
19:15through structure,
19:16and Nene made sure
19:17every detail contributed
19:18to the narrative.
19:19I love this.
19:20I love ruching.
19:21I love draping.
19:21I love the color choice,
19:23that sort of rose gold,
19:24pinkish.
19:25I don't know what that is.
19:26Number three runway,
19:28Juicy Love Dion's
19:2980s ladies look.
19:30I wanted to do something
19:31traditionally Cuban
19:32with a bit of an 80s
19:33flair to it.
19:34For the 80s ladies runway,
19:36Juicy Love Dion
19:37delivered a vibrant
19:38and powerful homage
19:39to the iconic Celia Cruz.
19:41She masterfully recreated
19:42Cruz's legendary
19:43blue and white frilly gown,
19:45which looked absolutely
19:46gorgeous on Juicy.
19:47Talk about being in Cruz,
19:49control.
19:50While it honored
19:51the original design,
19:53Juicy cleverly dragged it up
19:54with her signature flair,
19:56dramatically enlarging
19:57the sleeves and expanding
19:58the mermaid skirt
19:59for added camp
20:00and theatricality.
20:01The result was utterly
20:02stunning on Juicy,
20:03a perfect blend
20:04of high fashion
20:05and playful exaggeration.
20:07This look served
20:08not only as a captivating
20:09runway moment,
20:10but also a beautiful,
20:11proper tribute
20:12to her rich Cuban
20:13cultural heritage.
20:14First of all,
20:15Celia is amazing.
20:17I love the salsa.
20:18All of it was just
20:19so well executed.
20:21You dragified it.
20:23Number two runway,
20:24Jane Don't's
20:24Beige Against the Machine.
20:26Describing Jane Don't's
20:27Beige Against the Machine runway
20:29simply as expensive
20:30feels like an understatement.
20:32This look screamed
20:33pure opulence.
20:45The stunning beige gown
20:47featured a dramatic
20:48plunging neckline
20:49that gracefully transitioned
20:50into a massive luxury
20:52furry backdrop
20:52behind her head.
20:53This instantly bestowed
20:55on Jane a regal,
20:56almost queenly aura.
20:57The elegant fur detailing
20:59also cascaded down
21:00the garment's hem.
21:01Foxy lady.
21:03Faux foxy lady.
21:05Oh, fo she better dig.
21:07Adorned with large,
21:08undeniably over-the-top jewelry
21:10that exuded a high-end feel,
21:12Jane commanded attention.
21:14She truly looked like
21:15a luminous star that night.
21:16Specifically,
21:17one plucked right from
21:18the golden age
21:19of old Hollywood.
21:20Tonight, yes.
21:22Like, you look so hot.
21:23This collar that goes on forever
21:25and frames you perfectly.
21:27The jewels.
21:28It was amazing.
21:29Number one runway.
21:31Vita Von T. Starr's
21:32grand finale
21:33eleganza extravaganza look.
21:35Vita Von T. Starr
21:36is an old-school drag queen,
21:37and her looks throughout
21:38the season clearly showed that.
21:40Although she was eliminated
21:41relatively early,
21:43the Montgomery, Alabama queen
21:44saved her best look,
21:45and also that of the entire season,
21:47for last.
21:48Vita's magnificent black gown
21:50was meticulously jeweled
21:51with an abundance
21:52of large, gorgeous stones
21:53that glistened so intensely
21:55they could have blinded
21:56the entire room.
21:57She then paired this
21:58with a truly massive headpiece,
22:00adorned with towering feathers.
22:02This was all complemented
22:03by a dramatic,
22:04flowing white garment
22:05trailing behind her.
22:06The entire ensemble
22:08exuded regality
22:09and immense power.
22:10Vita looked like
22:11she was worth 10 million bucks.
22:13This was, unequivocally,
22:14drag artistry
22:15at its absolute finest.
22:17This is the best look
22:18on the show.
22:19Can't beat it,
22:20can't beat it.
22:21So good.
22:21I have to say,
22:22I loved all the stones
22:22with the black velvet.
22:23It's the best look of the night.
22:24I live, I live, I live.
22:26Did we miss any
22:26iconic lip syncs
22:27or legendary looks
22:28from RuPaul's Drag Race
22:29season 18?
22:30Let us know in the comments.
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