- 7 weeks ago
From jaw-dropping reveals to emotional showdowns and pure high-energy chaos, these “RuPaul’s Drag Race” lip syncs are the kind of performances fans can’t stop replaying. Join us as we revisit the most unforgettable battles that had queens bringing charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent to the stage. Which iconic face-off do you always hit replay on?
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00:09Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most show-stopping
00:14RuPaul's Drag Race lip-syncs that were so electric that one viewing simply wasn't enough.
00:24Number 20. Juicy Love Dion vs. Mia Starr.
00:34The lip-syncing Divas of Florida served up not one, but two jaw-dropping battles throughout season 18.
00:46While their covergirl lip-sync in the Lollapurusa was impressive, nothing tops their pretty ugly performance.
00:52After impressing the judges in the talent show, the top two queens somehow managed to raise the bar even higher.
00:58They matched the song's slick, cocky energy with razor-sharp choreography and enough individual flair that your eyes genuinely didn't
01:04know where to look.
01:18While Juicy exploded through every beat with her incredible athleticism,
01:22Mia countered with that effortless control that can only come from years of experience.
01:26Together, they felt like two pop stars sharing a headline slot, so it was no surprise RuPaul gave them a
01:32double win.
01:45Number 19. Detox vs. Jinx Monsoon
01:55Anyone who still thinks comedy queens can't dominate a lip-sync should revisit the season 5 gem.
02:00Performing Ima Sumac's wonderfully bizarre Malambo No. 1, Jinx Monsoon leaned all the way into the song's chaotic energy.
02:07This is a perfect song for me to play up a shtick.
02:11Thank God I'm not wearing that hoop skirt.
02:14Knowing her spot in the competition was at stake, Jinx wobbled, shimmied, mugged, and threw herself into every absurd lyric
02:21and scat sound.
02:22Across the stage, Detox answered with her signature jaw-quivering trick, which frankly is ingenious every single time she deploys
02:29it.
02:29I'm throwing in like a little sausage twist here. I'm being very sexy in this and that bitch packin'.
02:35Neither queen tried to make the number glamorous. They embraced its eccentricity instead.
02:40This is the kind of lip-sync you re-watch to discover a new hilarious facial expression or perfectly timed
02:45bit of physical comedy.
02:46Jinx is kicking and dancing and she's bumping her hips.
02:50I hate to say it, but Detox might be getting out-danced by Jinx.
02:54Number 18. Akira C. Davenport vs. Kennedy Davenport.
02:58While this pick is relatively new compared to some of the other entries on this list,
03:03it's become abundantly clear that it is already a classic.
03:06But when I turn around, I think now has not been down.
03:14My heart had broken, but it hurt so bad.
03:17Akira and her drag auntie Kennedy Davenport lip-synced to Deborah Cox's gut-wrenching Nobody's Supposed to Be Here,
03:23and they delivered pure, unfiltered emotion.
03:26Yeah!
03:30No, nobody knows that nobody's supposed to be here.
03:36Every facial expression, every deliberate movement told the story of the song
03:40rather than the story of who could out-trick the other.
03:43There was an outpouring of emotion throughout the performance,
03:45but the queens also injected some humor,
03:48particularly with Kennedy's perfectly timed fake fate.
03:51Yeah!
03:53Yeah!
03:57Yeah!
03:58Yeah!
03:59Yeah!
03:59Yeah!
03:59Oh, yeah!
04:00This was old-school drag at its peak.
04:03Having to choose a winner must have been one of the hardest decisions RuPaul ever made.
04:18RuPaul might have a hard time picking a winner,
04:20but watching more Miz Mojo content has never been easier.
04:23Scan the QR code on screen to join our 24-7 livestream.
04:37Jujubee announced herself as a lip-sync legend
04:39right from the very first time she had to fight for her place in the competition.
04:49The song, Black Velvet by Alana Miles, demanded passion more than choreography,
04:55and Jujubee had it in abundance.
04:57She delivered every lyric with aching sincerity,
05:00drawing viewers in sometimes with nothing more than her expressive eyes.
05:03Black Velvet and that little boy smile
05:09Black Velvet and that slow-summer sound
05:13Word on the street is that Jujubee may have been a little buzzed before hitting the stage,
05:17but maybe that allowed her to lose her inhibitions and completely go for it.
05:22Sahara Davenport showcased the dazzling dance ability that made her such a respected performer,
05:26but Jujubee understood that sometimes,
05:28stillness speaks louder than movement.
05:31Black Velvet
05:35If you please
05:38Number 16
05:39Aja vs. Ben de la Creme
05:41Once the music started,
05:43many assumed this lip-sync would be a walk in the park for Aja.
05:46Boy's twight named Troy
05:48Used to live in Detroit
05:49Big, big, big, big money
05:52He was getting some coins
05:53After all, the bouncy hip-hop track
05:56is more suited to her performance style
05:58than that of Ben de la Creme.
05:59Aja brought all of her formidable dance skills to the battlefield
06:02Kicking, stunting, landing in splits
06:05Everything you would expect from Aja
06:07De la, meanwhile, took a completely different route
06:09Milking every comedic lyric for maximum effect
06:12with exaggerated expressions and ridiculous physical comedy
06:25But their completely different interpretations still worked in perfect harmony
06:29This lip-sync made it crystal clear that Ben de la Creme had arrived
06:32not just as a competitor, but one who had her sights set on the crown
06:43Oh well, we all know how that turned out
06:45Number 15
06:46Ginger Minj vs. Mayhem Miller
06:55Lizzo's Phone is a song tailor-made for physical comedy
06:59And these two queens understood the assignment on a molecular level
07:03Ginger Minj and Mayhem Miller
07:04Seemed to have choreographed an entire comedy sketch around the number
07:07And every moment of it was hilarious
07:18Whether it was Ginger's over-committed attempts at sexiness
07:22Or Mayhem's voguing
07:23Which Ginger then proceeded to mimic like she is wont to do
07:26Both queens came to entertain
07:28And entertain they did
07:38The escalating chaos of their shared search for the missing phone
07:41Built beautifully throughout
07:43With Ginger literally chasing Mayhem across the stage during the final chorus
07:47Which ended in a brilliant payoff
07:49Where the hell my phone? Where the hell my phone? Where the hell my phone? Where the hell my, where
07:53the hell my phone? Huh? How am I supposed to get hot?
07:55But you're holding it
07:56Oh
07:57It's pure comedic gold and endlessly rewatchable
08:00Number 14
08:02Adore Delano vs. Trinity K. Bonet
08:04I'm freaking out because I've seen Trinity send a lot of bitches home with her lip-syncs and she turns
08:10it the f*** out
08:11I feel like I'm gonna faint
08:12By the time this lip-sync happened
08:14Trinity K. Bonet had already established herself as season 6's undisputed lip-sync assassin
08:19So, when Adore Delano found herself across the stage from her performing Paula Abdul's Vibeology
08:24With the music icon sitting right there at the judges' table
08:27The stakes could not have been higher
08:37Adore came in with what can only be described as a 15 out of 10 energy
08:42Clearly aware of exactly who she was up against
08:45Trinity matched her every step
08:47The two even shared a genuinely sultry moment together on the floor
09:01Adore ultimately survived
09:02Sending home one of the season's fiercest performers
09:05But the real winners were viewers who still replay the showdown years later
09:19Number 13
09:21Chi Chi Devane vs. Thorgy Thor
09:23Some lip-syncs are fierce battles
09:25But this one was a heartbreaking plea
09:27Piercing through the heart of everyone watching
09:39Chi Chi Devane took Jennifer Holliday's
09:41And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going
09:42And delivered what remains one of the most emotionally devastating performances in the show's history
09:47Chi Chi poured every ounce of herself into the song
09:50Building to the climactic moment where the beads from her gown
09:53Cascaded to the stage floor during the emotional climax
09:56And I am telling you
10:08Thorgy Thor to her credit kept the mood light with a hilariously misplaced cartwheel
10:12Before grabbing Chi Chi's hand and raising it above her head
10:15As if conceding the match herself
10:17It was the right call
10:18This battle belonged to Chi Chi from the first note
10:32Number 12
10:33Dusty Ray Bottoms vs. Monet X Change
10:41Today, Monet X Change is celebrated as one of the most mesmerizing performers Drag Race has ever seen
10:51That reputation was born from this lip-sync
10:53Monet gave a masterclass in how to merge a high-energy performance featuring tricks and stunts
10:58With hilarious comedic moments that would have your sides hurting
11:11Dusty Ray Bottoms did her big one
11:12But Monet was simply operating on another level
11:15The fake-out split is all anyone can talk about
11:18But the fact that she went on to actually deliver the split
11:20Is proof that she understands how to tell a good story with her performances
11:30Number 11
11:31Widow Von Du vs. Gigi Goode
11:33The only thing better than a mesmerizing lip-sync
11:36Is one done right in front of the song's artist
11:38Nicki Minaj is waiting to see me lip-sync to her song
11:43That's the case in the season 12 premiere
11:45When the two top queens, Widow Von Du and Gigi Goode
11:48Face off to Nicki Minaj's starships
11:58Both queens know they have to bring it
12:00And boy do they deliver an unforgettable performance
12:03Gigi proves to be much more than just a look queen
12:06Drawing upon a host of quirky antics that leave the judges in stitches
12:10My favorite thing to do when I lip-sync
12:13Is just be so seamlessly gorgeous in fashion
12:18And then flip it around
12:20And turn it into comedy
12:22But it's Widow who truly embodies the number
12:31Her relentless splits and uncomfortable acrobatics
12:35Elevate this from an ordinary drag race lip-sync
12:37To Cirque du Soleil
12:41All-Stars 1 gets a lot of flack for its structure and challenges
12:45But we have the unfortunate season to thank
12:48For one of the most heart-wrenching lip-syncs in Drag Race herstory
12:51I do not want to have to lip-sync against Juju
12:54But I'm going to fight for my spot to stay in this competition
12:57In the penultimate episode
12:59Jujube and Raven lip-sync for their lives
13:02To Dancing on My Own by Robin
13:09The stakes are high as the winner will move on to the grand finale
13:13After forming a close emotional bond
13:16The two queens put their friendship on display
13:19Delivering a restrained yet incredibly emotional rendition of Robin's sad banger
13:36By the end of the performance
13:37The judges are left speechless
13:39Proving that sometimes
13:41The best lip-syncs don't require splits and dips
13:58To retain their spot in the competition
14:01Roxy Andrews and Alyssa Edwards have to battle
14:03To the tune of Willow Smith's Whip My Hair
14:06There are many things that make this lip-sync instantly memorable
14:09For one, Roxy pulls off a feat that was groundbreaking at the time
14:14A wig reveal
14:15Which gave the judges life
14:17Despite this, Alyssa holds her ground
14:26Flipping her entire body around the stage
14:29And destroying her shoe in the process
14:36When the iconic lip-sync is over
14:38Roxy breaks down and shares her story
14:41Which leads RuPaul to deliver a moving speech about chosen families
14:45You know, we as gay people
14:48We get to choose our family
14:49You know, we get to choose the people that we're around
14:51The entire performance is a journey that never loses its impact
14:55No matter how many times you re-watch it
15:08In season 4
15:09Dita Ritz unofficially cemented herself as a lip-sync assassin
15:13With this phenomenal performance against the princess
15:16Both queens were given the Herculean task of breathing life
15:20Into Natalie Cole's This Will Be an Everlasting Love
15:23In front of the late singer
15:24Natalie Cole is sitting right in front of me
15:27I have to do it for her
15:28I don't want her to leave saying
15:30That drag queen did a horrible job of my song
15:32From the jump
15:33Dita defines what an electrifying performance should be
15:37While the princess gives her best
15:39Dita fully becomes the song
15:41Shuffling around the stage
15:42And taking everyone to church in the process
15:45The largely one-sided battle
15:52Is now regarded as one of the best lip-syncs in drag race herstory
15:56And we could not agree more
15:58In the wise words of Latrice Royale
16:00That is high drag at its finest
16:03Number 7
16:05Laganja Estranja vs. Trinity K. Bonet
16:07When Trinity nabbed her first ever maxi challenge win
16:11It was clear that we'd be getting an entertaining lip-sync for your legacy
16:14As if that wasn't already exciting enough
16:17It was against the extraordinary Laganja Estranja
16:32From the moment Laganja drops onto the stage
16:35She seemingly has Trinity shaking in her boots
16:38Which says a lot considering the latter's phenomenal skills
16:41Set to Dua Lipa's physical
16:43Laganja pulls out all the tricks in her arsenal
16:46Splits, kicks, flips, backbends
16:49And some moves that defy categorization
17:01Trinity also fights hard
17:04Giving an incredibly choreographed routine
17:06And putting on a show
17:13In the end
17:14Laganja wins this lip-sync
17:16But the only loser is anyone
17:18Who hasn't watched it 50 times already
17:20Number 6
17:22Anitra vs. Marsha Marsha Marsha
17:24Ain't tryna be cool like you
17:25Wabbling around in your high-heeled shoes
17:27I'm clumsy
17:28Made friends with the floor
17:29Two for one
17:30You know a bitch by four
17:31And two left feet
17:32You know I always drop
17:33Nobody really saw this one coming
17:35And that is exactly what made it so thrilling
17:37Marsha Marsha Marsha wasn't expected
17:39To hold her own against Anitra
17:40One of season 15's most physically gifted performers
17:43But once the song started playing
17:46Marsha showed up and showed out
17:59The two were genuinely neck-and-neck
18:02Kicking, twirling, feeding off each other's energy throughout
18:05Then came the moment that broke the internet
18:08Marsha dropped into a backbend on a lyrical cue
18:11And Anitra literally flew over her body
18:24They followed it with a synchronized split
18:26That had the entire studio screaming
18:28Anitra edged the win
18:30But Marsha earned her flowers
18:32No wonder it remains the most-watched lip-sync
18:35On the official Drag Race YouTube channel
18:49Number 5
18:51Coco Montrese vs. Alyssa Edwards
18:53From the first day I walked into the workroom
18:55And I saw her face
18:57I wanted to step on that stage across from her
19:00And get vindication
19:02The feud between these two queens comes to a head
19:05When they land in the bottom
19:06And duke it out to Paula Abdul's cold-hearted
19:08After all the drama
19:10With our last pageant experience
19:12We both want this crown
19:14This will be the tiebreaker
19:15Alyssa proves her worth as the dancing queen
19:18Mesmerizing the judges with her hand choreography
19:21And a jump split that probably hurt everyone watching
19:24That spinning jump into the split
19:27I mean, come on
19:28She's only slightly edged out by Coco
19:30The latter contestant uses every fiber of her being
19:34Drawing attention to her pristine lip-syncing
19:36And twirling her sleeves like a wind turbine
19:39I'm making sure the judges see every word
19:41That's coming out of my mouth
19:42As if I was Paula Abdul herself
19:46It could easily be a double shanté
19:48But this is the third stint in the bottom
19:51For each of these queens
19:52So it feels like someone has to go
20:05When Tatiana and Alyssa Edwards went head-to-head
20:08On this all-star season
20:09The stakes were sky-high
20:11For a chance to return to the competition
20:13The two queens had to lip-sync to Rihanna's classic
20:16Shut Up and Drive
20:24Donning bodysuits, knee-high boots, and similar blonde wigs
20:27They serve up a performance that feels more like a choreographed number
20:31Than a competitive lip-sync
20:38With stunning haerography, sultry moves, and perfectly timed hits to the floor
20:43Executed on the same beat
20:45They lay the blueprint for what a double shanté-worthy performance is
20:49Neither Alyssa nor Tatiana was inducted into the Drag Race Hall of Fame that year
20:53But this iconic lip-sync has a permanent spot in our hearts
21:00Conjagulations, you are both back in the competition
21:03Number 3
21:05Denali vs. Kimora Hall
21:07After giving sub-par performances in the RuPaul Mark challenge
21:15Denali and Kimora Hall have to impress the judges by lip-syncing to Crystal Waters' 100% pure love
21:28From the moment the song starts
21:30Denali proves she is the season's lip-sync assassin
21:34With her impressive voguing, duck walk, and pantomime of the song's lyrics
21:38Although she's restricted by her gorgeous gown
21:46Kimora remains poised throughout the performance
21:49And is graceful even in her loss
21:51The astounding display took the fandom by storm
21:54And quickly became one of the most watched season 13 lip-syncs on YouTube
22:05We're willing to bet that you clicked replay faster than RuPaul, said Shantay You Stay
22:17Drag Race fans hit the lip-sync jackpot when two of the front-runners on season 11 bombed the snatch
22:23game
22:23Landing in the bottom two
22:31The battle, which begins as a sensual performance from Brooklyn versus a more comedic showing from Evie
22:37Quickly escalates into a full-on gymnastics routine
22:41As Demi Lovato's Sorry Not Sorry fills the air
22:44The queens break out into splits, headstands, backbends, and dips among other things
22:55It's just enough to make you dizzy, yet keep you thoroughly entertained
23:00Brooklyn's ballerina background and Evie's hyper-flexibility burst to the forefront
23:05Giving us a show-stopping lip-sync
23:07It's so good
23:08It convinces RuPaul that it isn't time for either of them to leave the competition
23:19Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions
23:23Aja versus Irene the Alien
23:25Aja did her little dance and took the internet by storm
23:29I've got 400 bands
23:30I've got 400 bands
23:31Just to do my little dance
23:32This I'm a brand
23:33This I'm a buddy
23:34I get what I want
23:35All in Malachi I look like a bum
23:36I got the chatty
23:38He just wanna hump
23:38Dawn versus Morphine Love Dion
23:41Fans return to this to relive the murder on the dance floor
23:44I could build a house without a brick I got
23:46Bitches spend a lifetime trying to get this hot
23:49And if her head's too big
23:50I could make that pop
23:51I'm not the one to play with
23:53Like a touch meet night
23:54Katya versus Kennedy Davenport
23:56These dancing queens put on an incredible show worthy of a finale smackdown
24:00I'm gon' be on the tire
24:05Dancing through the fire
24:07Cause I am the champion
24:10Plastique Tiara versus Roxy Andrews
24:12Roxy's old school performance style will simply never get, well, old
24:17Back off
24:27Silky Nutmeg Ganache
24:29Silky playing both parts of Barbie Girl by herself was camp genius at its finest
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25:20Going into the season 9 finale, many felt Shea Coulee was the clear frontrunner
25:24In the second lip sync for The Crown, she went up against Sasha Velour
25:28And what happened next changed everything
25:38Both queens start off evenly matched, with Shea giving a neatly choreographed routine and Sasha digging deep into her emotions
25:46But as Whitney Houston belts out the final chorus, the latter queen lets a cascade of rose petals fall from
25:52under her wig
26:00Needless to say, it sends everyone's jaws to the floor, essentially sealing her win that round
26:06It's arguably the most referenced Drag Race moment
26:09And the performance is sure to send chills down your spine every time you re-watch it
26:22Which of these lip syncs do you already have queued up for a re-watch?
26:25Let us know in the comments