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As the 14th episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race unfolds, host RuPaul Charles made a pivotal decision in the previous episode by granting a “double shantay” to the two contestants who landed in the bottom, Onya Nurve and Jewels Sparkles. This ensured that no one was sent home, leaving five queens to continue competing for the crown: Lexi Love, Sam Star, and Suzie Toot also remain in the mix.
This week, the finalists have the exciting opportunity to perform in RuPaul’s Drag Race Live at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, which has just celebrated a milestone of 1,000 performances. The panel of judges includes Ru’s close friend Michelle Visage, recurring judge Ross Mathews, and special guest Tracee Ellis Ross. The episode, titled “How’s Your Headliner?” aired on April 4 on MTV.
SEE ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ winners list: Every season, plus ‘All Stars’
“I’m so excited, I could pee!” — Sam Star
Reflecting on the previous week’s results, Onya confidently states that Ru had no choice but to save both her and Jewels due to their impressive lip sync performance. However, Sam expresses her frustration at the situation, noting that without an elimination, the competition for the top spots becomes even fiercer. Jewels remains optimistic, believing she can reach the final stages of the competition, while Onya is ready to fight for her chance to wear the crown.
This week’s main challenge consists of auditioning for a role in RuPaul’s Drag Race Live. Contestants must excel in attention-grabbing publicity photos, create a promotional video, perform to the track “Gift Shop,” and undergo an interview with former contestant Latrice Royale. Ru warns that at least one queen will be eliminated by the episode’s end.
Excitement bubbles over as Sam expresses her exhilaration about the challenge, joking with Lexi about her own enthusiasm. Sam decides she will embrace a persona that embodies a “shady, country, fabulous diva,” while Onya plans a “one-woman show” inspired by greats like Whoopi Goldberg and Viola Davis. Suzie aims for a whimsical tap-dancing theme involving sailors.
“Can we get those nuts away from my face? ‘Cause I’m hungry.” — Latrice Royale
The photoshoot, overseen by Ru and photographer Albert Sanchez, showcases the top five contestants. Humor ensues as Ru makes light of the situations, and Onya engages playfully with the male models. Amid the laughter, the contestants experience varying degrees of comfort in the photoshoot, with Sam making a memorable remark as Ru handles her dress. Suzie appears slightly out of her element, and Lexi struggles with some direction during the shoot.
Latrice conducts interviews with the queens to gauge their potential to headline. Sam steals the spotlight with a spontaneous performance, while Latrice expresses some concern regarding Onya’s mental state. Suzie connects with Latrice over their shared Fort Lauderdale roots, and the contestants reveal personal vulnerabilities during the session, showcasing the mix of humor and heartfelt sharing typical of the show.
As the interviews conclude, Latrice humorously quips about her hunger, referencing a memorable moment from earlier seasons, reminding fans of the show’s rich history.
“It wasn’t Vegas. It wasn’t even Reno.” — Ross Mathews
The finalists take to the stage to lip sync to “Gift Shop,” a playful celebration of the merchandise available at the live show. On the runway, the category is “Opulent Outerwear,” with each contestant showcasing their unique style. Jewels presents a stunning all-white feather ensemble, while Lexi dons a striking purple puffer coat adorned with heart mirrors. Onya’s display of a patterned coat, Sam’s dazzling rhinestone gown, and Suzie’s vintage red cocoon coat further elevate the extravagance of the runway.
The judges critique each performance, noting where improvements could be made. Despite initial critiques, Jewels gains points for candidly admitting her uncertainty about her future, revealing an unexpected side of her persona. Positive comments abound for Lexi, but Ross and Tracee share feedback on Onya’s performance, suggesting she came off as guarded. The judges agree that while Sam’s outfit is visually appealing, it may not have the desired effect, with Ross humorously commenting on Suzie’s performance by saying, “It wasn’t Vegas. It wasn’t even Reno.”
As deliberations conclude, Jewels is declared the winner of this week’s challenge, earning a cash reward of $5,000 and an invitation to perform in RuPaul’s Drag Race Live. Unfortunately, this means that Sam and Suzie find themselves in the bottom two. They battle it out in a lip sync to “Love Child” by Diana Ross & the Supremes, leading to a poignant moment as they share an emotional embrace amid the touching lyrics.
In the end, RuPaul chooses to save Sam Star, making the tough decision to send Suzie Toot home in fifth place. Another episode comes to a close, with the competition intensifying as the remaining queens edge closer to the finale.
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