We’re back, bitches (Picture: VH1)

It’s only been two weeks since RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4 ended with a draw and some questionable editing, but the main stage is back, henny.

Season 11 has kicked off with a bang and a Vanjie, and while the issue of Drag Race fatigue is real, there’s no denying that the standard is getting higher every series. Forget showing up in your trusty bodysuit with a case load of highlighter – the teeniest things can get you the chop in season 11.

So, after the season premiere, we have ranked the queens in order of meh to slay, based on their entrances and first runways – and we’re gonna be as cutthroat as Michelle Visage, because this is not RuPaul’s Best Friend Race. ** Spoilers ahead, obvs. **



15. Kahanna Montrese

Kahanna Montrese (Picture: VH1)

Miss Kahanna is the drag daughter of Coco Montrese, but as Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, from the house of Mateo, proved last season, that isn’t enough to get you past the first episode.


The first thing I thought when Kahanna strutted into the workroom in a rhinestone bra and stoned tights was – oh, they’re bringing back Chi Chi Devayne this season? Kahanna seems to have a great personality, don’t get me wrong, but underwear and a bustle just doesn’t cut it anymore, unless you’re serving Naomi Smalls levels of underwear ad.

I could have brushed this off, but then came that main stage look. Katya has a wealth of material to choose from in her suitcase, so I refuse to believe that a bra, an asymmetrical leotard and half-stoned tights was the best Kahanna could rustle up. Also, without padding, the way the bra was sliding up was so off-putting. Drag can definitely be done without boobs – see Violet Chachki, Naomi Smalls – but it has to be more polished. Soz, Kahanna.

But she did live to last another day, so what do I know.

14. Mercedes Iman Diamond

Mercedes Iman Diamond (Picture: VH1)

I can barely remember anything about Mercedes in the season premiere, aside from that earsplitting bird call. More of that, less of the seventies themed bodysuit we’ve seen a hundred times before. I’m placing the forgettable-ness of Mercedes on the editing and the amount of queens in the workroom rather than her personality – but if she walks the runway in another leotard next week, I will not be so kind.

13. Shuga Cain

Shuga Cain (Picture: VH1)

Controversially, wasn’t a big fan of Shuga Cain’s runway – out of a box of Sharon Needles’ clothes, I expected more than an 80s ra-ra skirt silhouette – and her entrance look didn’t surprise me much either.

A point for the 24/40 age mix-up, but Shuga will need to step it up to stand out.

12. Ra’jah D O’Hara

Ra’Jah D O’Hara (Picture: VH1)

There are Davenports coming out the wazoo this series, with the D in Ra’jah’s name standing for Davenport. I really liked the look of Miss Ra’jah as she entered the workroom, but then those earrings fell off every time she moved an inch or touched a queen. As Shuga Cain said, you’re on national television, you better staple them to your ears.

However, she did come out on the runway looking like a Pride parade threw up on her, and I am incredibly here for that amount of rainbow glitter.

11. Soju

Soju (Picture: VH1)

I may be biased, as a) I absolutely love soju, it is delicious and b) I am totally into the Korean aesthetic, but I didn’t think Soju did all that bad this week. Sure her Hanbok was a bit of a tulle explosion, but that is the actual shape of the dress she was going for, and at least it was a concept. Unfortunately, it really hindered her in the lip sync to The Best Of Both Worlds, which you really need to be wearing a rhinestoned catsuit for.



But any queen who refers to herself as a K-pop drag princess, only to talk to RuPaul about her weeping cyst on the main stage surely deserves better.

Farewell, Soju, we barely knew ye.

10. Scarlet Envy

Scarlet Envy (Picture: VH1)

Full disclosure – I really fancy Scarlet out of drag. She basically looks like a member of Tame Impala and is definitely a man who I would pursue in any bar, only to realise he’s a terrible person.

Scarlet’s entrance look was arty and sexy, although the tights were a bit of a wash-out, and her runway look was perfectly well executed – but was a bit too Violet Chachki to really show us who Scarlet is. I remain hopeful.

9. A’Keria Davenport

A’Keria C Davenport (Picture: VH1)

A’Keria is obviously a threat with her pageant background, but I was left slightly underwhelmed by her entrance look – although spelling out her surname to end on ‘and you know I’m the motherfucking tea’ was a win.

But then, she came out on the main stage looking like Mad Max set in a wig factory and indeed snatched all the wigs. And formed them into a mohawk. Respect.

8. Nina West

Nina West (Picture: VH1)

OK, let’s call a spade a spade – Nina’s runway look was a bit of a train wreck. It baffles me every season that there’s still girls who come in not really being able to sew – get that skill in the bag before casting!

But the thing is, we need queens like Nina in the competition. We need the comedy queens that host your local gay night, the ones that have worn the exact same wig, silhouette and make-up for a decade because it works for them, the ones who are born entertainers, even if their image wasn’t curated for Instagram.


I’m hoping that these queens aren’t entirely pushed out in Drag Race UK, and I hope that Nina gets her time to shine on Drag Race – especially considering how many times she’s auditioned.

7. Ariel Versace

Ariel Versace (Picture: VH1)

I’m always a bit wary of the self-proclaimed Instagram queens – see Aja’s first go at Drag Race glory. But was ‘this is what dreams are made of’ a Lizzie McGuire reference from Miss Ariel, as she walked in a huge wintery dress, reminiscent of the igloo gown Lizzie/Isabella Parigi tried on while Ru’s Supermodel played in the background? I stan.

Ariel could be one to watch – her make-up will always be on point, but her Poison Ivy cosplay take on Laganja Estranga’s marijuana-themed wardrobe showed real skill.

6. Yvie Oddly

Yvie Oddly (Picture: VH1)

I bloody love a weirdo on Drag Race. Alaska. Katya. Milk, until she returned on All Stars and shot herself in the foot. So Yvie is instantly high on the rankings for me.

Anybody who attaches a Hot Wheel car to her dress, carries in a remote control and proclaims she’s here to ‘shock and suck cock’ is surely worth supporting. Also, while her runway look wasn’t as polished as the rest, at least it had a concept. And with making a coat out of saran wrap, Yvie will most definitely slay when it comes to whatever challenge Ru gives the queens that involves dumpster diving or making entire gowns out of sweet wrappers.

5. Plastique Tiara

Plastique Tiara (Picture: VH1)

Fine, we didn’t hear that much from Plastique in episode one. But have you ever seen a prettier queen? Crown her Miss Universe, book her for a Chanel ad, at least give her a bouquet and a sceptre to rule over us lesser beings.


Also out of drag, she looks like a Vietnamese pop star whose poster I would most definitely have on my wall. Come through, 21-year-old skin.

4. Honey Davenport

Honey Davenport (Picture: VH1)

Honey Davenport strutted into the workroom looking like she’d escaped from Trinity, Monet and Monique’s Beehive Club and straight into my heart. This New York queen is definitely one to watch – she is an actress, a musician and an artist, and managed to make Ben De La Creme’s decidedly different aesthetic her own on the runway.

This girl is coming for the crown, and from past seasons, we know that nobody should sleep on a New York queen.

3. Brooke Lynn Hytes

Brooke Lynn Hytes (Picture: VH1)

I got serious Katya vibes when Brooke Lynn came into the workroom looking like a mountie off to Pride, and that’s no bad thing. But on the main stage, that perfectly form fitting metallic leotard with superhero meets disco dancer vibes elevated her to new Hytes (sorry).

She thoroughly deserved the win and I can’t wait to see her pirouetting around these bitches.

2. Vanessa Vanjie Mateo

Vanessa Vanjie Mateo (Picture: VH1)

Vanjie… Vaaaanjie… Miss… Vaaaaaanjie. She’s back in the house, heels click clacking around, and god I missed her. That one episode of Vanessa we got last season was gold, and her soundbites this time around are just as good. My favourite? ‘I was humililated… humililated… I was embarrassed.’

But it’s not just her personality that could win Ru over this season. That cinched waist, señorita who’s taken a bath in body glitter realness she served on the runway shows that Vanjie has come a long way.

1. Silky Nutmeg Ganache

Silky Nutmeg Ganache (Picture: VH1)

Yes, Silky is annoying as all hell. The queens will grow to hate her. But reader, I am not a queen in the workroom, therefore I do not care.

Ever since she came into the workroom looking like Lizzo and removed a cookie from her bra, I fell in love. Silky knows she’s the biggest personality in the room, and is using that to her advantage. She is confident enough to believe she owns the moment rather than Miley Cyrus, picking up a Grammy-nominated singer and hauling her around the room. And she doesn’t need to concentrate on her look, because she knows she can drape herself in sequins, throw a few peppermints at the judges and sail through.

It’s refreshing for a queen to say exactly why they’re there – Silky wants her own spin-off show, maybe a cooking show as well, and isn’t going to let anybody get in the way of that. We all know that’s why the other queens are there too – they want their headline tour, they want their spin-off, they want their single available on iTunes. Silky is the only one who DGAF enough to say it. These queens are going to have to fight for their airtime while Silky is around, and I am here for it.

RuPaul’s Drag Race continues at 9pm ET/PT on Thursdays on VH1, and drops on Netflix the following morning.

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