Asia O’Hara

Strengths: More than anyone, Asia approached this season like a true professional. She showed us a wide range of skills, from seamstressing to comedy to fashion savvy (that Tweety Bird look? Hello!). This queen can do it all. Asia’s win would also be a much-needed injection of diversity in a season that brought race issues to the fore, and where yet another white queen’s win seems inevitable. Asia also stands as proof positive that “old school” drag is alive and well, and perfectly compatible with the mission of elevating drag. Long may she reign!

Weaknesses: Asia’s recent comment about Miz Cracker not being a star wasn’t cute, and she even clarified that she still didn’t think the lovable queen was one in a confessional. Asia trails behind Cracker and Aquaria in social media hype (she hasn’t accrued as many followers on Instagram or Twitter), and she needs that hype to build momentum rolling into a finale where Aquaria, with three wins and no lip syncs, has better stats. Without that, her win could be seen as less exciting.

Eureka O’Hara

Strengths: Eureka’s win would finally score one for the big girls on the show. Ginger Minj came close in Season 7, but it’s about time someone finally sealed the deal. Eureka is a worthy candidate to do so, touting two challenge wins and a great track record. She also represents a comeback story, having left Season 9 prematurely due to a leg injury. Out of all the queens, it also seems Eureka did the best job of representing exactly who she is in the challenges and on the main stage. Love her or hate her, her cards are on the table, and that’s worthy of admiration.

Weaknesses: Eureka’s reception online has been polarizing at best. Her clashes with The Vixen still leave a sour taste in my mouth, and her attempt to sabotage Aquaria by using Kingsley, a Black YouTuber, to throw her makeup skills off balance is another example of how the Elephant Queen has at least tiptoed right up to the edge of racism. Her win would prove controversial among fans, and her personality, which she herself has admitted rubs many the wrong way, may not let her pull off the “underdog” narrative she needs to make a compelling conclusion to the season.

Kameron Michaels

Strengths: Kameron Michaels winning Drag Race is the glitch in the simulation we deserve in our modern hellscape, and I’m not even saying that ironically. It would be a delicious turn of events, and it would prove to the Drag Race fandom at large that, yes, you can lip sync your way all the way to the crown. It would add emphasis to the queens’ lip syncing skills in seasons to come, which would add to the sport of the show. Kameron is also a super sweet queen who, though not especially talkative, has worked hard to earn her keep and hasn’t thrown anyone under the bus to get there. Legend!

Weaknesses: It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for Kameron to walk away with the title given her record on the season, and fans would probably throw a huge fit, which won’t be fun for anyone. Her winning would throw stats almost entirely out of the equation and set a new precedent for Drag Race: as long as you can lip sync well, you can bomb the challenges and still take the crown in the tournament. Kameron, though undeniably talented, also might not be vocal enough to be a spokesperson for the brand. The best course for her and the show would be for her to serve up some fierce lip syncs at the finale but ultimately bow out.