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In the latest installment of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Episode 12 titled “Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve & Talent Monologues,” the competition intensified as the top six queens engaged in challenges designed to reflect their personal identities through storytelling. This episode, which aired on March 21 on MTV, also welcomed judges Michelle Visage, Ts Madison, and guest Jerrod Carmichael to the Main Stage.
At the end of Episode 11, RuPaul prompted the queens to assess their competition, with several naming Suzie Toot as the biggest threat. Meanwhile, Onya Nurve solidified her frontrunner status by winning her third challenge, while Lana Ja’Rae and Lydia B Kollins engaged in a dramatic lip sync face-off that ultimately led to Lydia’s exit from the competition.
The remaining contestants hoping to secure the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” this week included: Jewels Sparkles, Lana Ja’Rae, Lexi Love, Onya Nurve, Sam Star, and Suzie Toot.
“I’m feeling very inspired to tap into my authorness… authorness? Author vibes” — Sam Star
Setting the tone for the challenges, Ru encouraged the queens to team up with their closest allies. In a surprising twist, Sam picked Lana, as Lexi paired up with Onya. The trio of Suzie and Jewels formed the last pair. Their mini-challenge involved a creative spin on Mad Libs, where they crafted humorous narratives about their partners. Jewels’ comedic tale about “Suzanne Boots” was ultimately selected as the standout entry.
For the maxi challenge, each duo was tasked with creating a personal monologue while their partner interpreted the story through dance. The prompts covered a range of themes, such as loss, the supernatural, and motivations behind actions. This setup not only showcased their storytelling abilities but also allowed for a visual representation of their narratives.
“Suzie Toot wants to be Jamal Sims all of a sudden and I’m like b–ch relax” — Jewels Sparkles
As brainstorming unfolded, ideas flowed with varying levels of clarity and creativity. Suzie contemplated a spelling bee defeat while Jewels focused on an ethereal ghost story. Lana sought to convey the experience of being a middle child within her religious upbringing, and Onya proposed a tale from her time in a “spiritual vegan” cult. Jewels, as the mini-challenge victor, determined the order of performances, ensuring each contestant’s preferences were taken into account.
During rehearsals, tensions arose as Onya struggled with Lexi’s story, while Jewels faced Suzie’s stringent direction in interpreting her monologue through movement. Sam felt challenged by Lana’s unique approach and a lantern prop, as their visions for the narrative diverged.
“It’s making me think of every ugly c— I’ve seen in my life” — Jerrod Carmichael
After the heartfelt performances, the judges provided feedback. Ts expressed how moved they were by Suzie’s story but suggested her expressions needed to resonate more. RuPaul and Michelle noted that while Jewels’ storytelling needed more drag elements, her dancing displayed her true flair. The confusing mix of poignancy and humor continued to be a theme, as judges highlighted memorable lines from Lexi’s performance. Ultimately, Onya and Lexi emerged as joint winners for their captivating acts, encapsulating the episode’s themes beautifully.
As elimination loomed, Suzie and Jewels were deemed safe, leaving Sam and Lana to face off in a high-stakes lip sync battle to Dua Lipa’s “Illusion.” Both queens displayed impressive performances full of costume changes and bold moves. However, Lana’s moment fell short this week, resulting in her departure from the show.
Next time on Drag Race…
In the upcoming episode, the queens will welcome loved ones for a special “drag family” makeover challenge.
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