Drag

Here’s how fans reacted to the sickening double premiere of Drag Race season 15

By Jordan Robledo

7th January 2023

MTV
MTV

Spoilers ahead for the double premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15.  

After eight long months, everyone’s favourite drag show returned with 16 new queens – the franchise’s largest batch of contestants – competing for the crown and title of America’s Next Drag Superstar. 

Like seasons six, 12 and 14, the premiere episode split the queens into two groups.

After Irene Dubois, Lux Noir London, Aura Mayari, Marcia Marcia Marcia, Anetra, Malaysia Babydoll Foxx, Princess Poppy, and Sasha Colby sashayed into the werkroom, a mysterious contestant channelling season six icon Vivacious/Ornacia strutted into the room. 

Following a brief moment of suspense, pop icon Ariana Grande revealed herself as the mysterious individual, resulting in shocked and excited reactions from the queens. 

“This is like the biggest moment of my life to this point. I literally can’t believe it,” Marcia said in a confessional. 

The Into You singer echoed similar sentiments during a brief speech praising the queens for their drag talent. 

“Oh my god. It’s such an honour to meet you guys. This is so exciting. I think drag is the most infectious and joyous art form that there is,” Grande exclaimed. 

“Thank you guys for bringing so much joy to the lives of the Drag Race fans and to everyone.” 

In response, Lux Noir added, “And thank you for giving us Break Free”, resulting in a chorus of laughs from the other queens. 

After Grande urged the queens to “take care of themselves” and “be present in the moment,” Mama Ru made her grand entrance with a sickening green ensemble. 

“Ariana, darling, back, back, back again,” Ru teased as Grande walked up to stand beside him. 

For their first mini-challenge, the queens paid tribute to the show’s legendary season one photo shoot, which featured the ladies being photographed while washing a mustang vehicle. 

After their slippery mini-challenge – which Irene won – and a tense discussion about the second batch of queens, Ru returned to the werkroom to assign the girls with their first maxi-challenge.

“Now is your chance to put the T in charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent,” Ru explained to the ladies. “For your first maxi-challenge, you’ll be headling a once-in-a-lifetime talent extravaganza we’re calling One Night Only.” 

Alongside their solo unique talents, the contestants were also asked to collaborate on the show’s big opening number. 

While the first batch of queens participated in a tense dance rehearsal, the season’s second group of competitors entered the werkroom – which featured Salina EsTitties, Amethyst, Jax, Loosey LaDuca, Mistress Isabelle Brooks, Robin Fierce, and twins Sugar and Spice. 

Like the first group, a mysterious figure in a Vivacious/Ornacia ensemble surprised the queens. However, this time around, it actually was the season six icon. 

Ru then made her grand entrance before tasking the girls with another photoshoot down memory lane, but this time the queens channelled season two’s cannon inspired shoot.   

After another hilarious round photog moments and Loosey winning the mini challenge, Ru spilt the tea on the upcoming One Night Only talent extravaganza maxi challenge. 

However, in true Drag Race fashion, Ru surprised the first batch of queens by interrupting their rehearsal with the second group of contestants. 

With all 16 queens in one room, the group directed their focus to the coveted opening number, which of course, was full of chaos and miscommunication. 

Following a long night of choreography, the queens entered the workroom the next day to prep for the talent extravaganza. 

After beating their faces and stepping into their outfits, the ladies finally headed to the mainstage to show off their individual talents to Ru and the judges’ panel consisting of Michele Visage, Ross Matthews and Grande. 

At the start of the One Night Only talent extravaganza, the ladies tapped into their inner beauty queens with a pageant-esque opening performance full of hilarious quips and sickening choreography. 

The queens then dived into their individual talents, which featured gag-worthy original lip-sync performances, live singing, interpretive dances, an ice water tutorial, and a shocking jump rope routine. 

With their talent officially showcased, the queens strutted down the runway in their very best “Who Is She” ensembles before meeting the judges for critiques. 

After sending the safe queens backstage, Ru announced that Irene, Marcia, Anetra, Jax, Amethyst, and Loosey were the top and bottoms of the week. 

In the end, Anetra and her ducking walking talent ended up as the winner of the season’s first maxi-challenge, resulting in Amethyst and Irene in the bottom two. 

 

Following an electric lip sync performance of Grande’s hit single 7 rings, Amethyst ended up on top, and Irene sashayed away.

Drag Race’s double episode premiere certainly left fans gagged, with many praising Anetra and Jax’s One Night Only performances. 

One fan wrote: “Jax jump roping using her HAIR is so iconic.”

Another viewer wrote: “This bitch DUCK WALKED, DEATH DROPPED , CHOPPED WOOD & KARATE KICKED in the span of 30 seconds.” 

Check out more fan reactions below. 

RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15 will be available exclusively in the UK via the streamer of all things drag, WOW Presents Plus, from 2 AM GMT on Saturdays. Subscribe now via https://uk.wowpresentsplus.com/