Welcome to RuPaul’s Drag Race Power Rankings! Every Tuesday, we’re debriefing the week’s new episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 to determine which queens are riding high, and which need she-mergency care. This rushed episode means some queens barely even appeared this week, so what becomes of them on the power ranking?
15. Princess Poppy (last week: 10)—ELIMINATED
As mentioned in my recap, Poppy’s sin this week was being unmemorable in a cast of 14 other queens. You just have to stand out to make an impression, even if it’s a negative one. Alas, this was not meant to be Poppy’s season. I feel for her, too: while she may have avoided being the first out, Irene Dubois got a lot more screen time and development than Poppy did. I’ll remember Poppy most for her funny moments off the show, rather than on it.
14. Amethyst (last week: 15)
As Mistress Isabelle Brooks ominously warns in the preview for next week’s episode, Amethyst is facing down a scary “three strikes and you’re out” situation heading into next week. The only other queen on the American series to survive the first two Lip Syncs for Your Life of the season—Akashia in Season 1—went home on her third in the third episode. Will Amethyst be able to avoid the same fate next week? If I were a betting man, I’d guess so: while she may not be able to win it, I do think she’s accomplished enough comedically to avoid the bottom on Snatch Game.
13. Jax (last week: 2)
Meanwhile, I am very concerned about Jax on Snatch Game, owing to her quite serious approach to Drag Race so far. Yes, her jumping rope with her own wig was a fun gag—and quite impressive to boot—but even something like that requires dedication and focus. Ru likes queens who are willing to chill out and have fun (it’s partially why he loved Gottmik so much in Season 13), and Jax’s intensity, plus a mediocre performance this week, seem to be chafing at the host. If she’s similarly serious during Snatch Game, I expect a return trip to the bottom three.
12. Aura Mayari (last week: 13)
Aura was all but invisible in the episode this week, and in Untucked, she faced down the other girls when she tried to claim her group was better than Team Leftovers. (For the record, I agree with her, but I don’t think she found the right audience for that.) What I’ll give Aura is that, on the runway this week, she looked truly spectacular. It was very Elizabeth-Banks-as-Rita-Repulsa, and stood out among a lot of very generic gold-and-silver looks. A bright spot in an otherwise unremarkable outing for Aura.
11. Robin Fierce (last week: 11)
Robin seems like a delight on the show and off, but it’s failed to translate into much attention from Mama Ru (besides the “The Robin Fierce” title she bestowed last week). This week, Robin did what was asked of her in the challenge, and came out in a nice, if expected, warrior look on the runway. Not bad all around! It’s just not quite enough in a group this big. I’ve heard a rumour online about who her Snatch Game character is, however, and if it is indeed correct, I can’t wait to see how she does.
10. Malaysia Babydoll Foxx (last week: 12)
Like Robin, Malaysia is not a focal point of the competition so far, but unlike Robin, she’s getting lots of screen time and confessionals. That makes me think she’ll be a major player later in this season. If she can bring the same consistency to the challenges that she is to her looks—which have been across-the-board quite good so far—I think it’s only a matter of time before she snatches our attention. For now, though, she’s in a bit of a holding pattern.
9. Spice (last week: 7)
A quieter week for Spice than her sister, but both wound up in the safe group regardless. I’m putting Spice down here, though, for wearing basically the exact same wig in a different colour once again. Variety is the spice of life, so I’d like to see Spice embrace some variety. I just get the real sense, based on their edits so far, that Spice is ultimately going to win out in the battle, and so far, she’s lacking the polish her sister is presenting. So if that’s the case, I need to see Spice step it up soon for me to really get on board. Because right now, I’m personally riding the Sugar rush much more.
8. Marcia Marcia Marcia (last week: 3)
Marcia was part of the clearly strongest team this week, although she spiralled a bit in Untucked over Michelle Visage’s joke about her only applying the critiques of her makeup to her nose. I’ll admit, it was a bit spicier than we usually get in the runway banter portion, but I also think it’s a reminder to Marcia how crucial it is that she actually take the note. The judges are clearly invested in her, and they’re not going to notice the work she does in other areas until she addresses this criticism. (Side note: is that her doing Tim Gunn in Snatch Game next week?)
7. Mistress Isabelle Brooks (last week: 5)
Isabelle is too major a character in the edit not to be going very far this season, but it is somewhat remarkable how solidly safe her performances have been thus far. She’s reminding me a bit of A’keria C. Davenport in Season 11: a perpetual talking head, a figure of the pageant world, and a clear threat, but someone who doesn’t really come into her own as a competitor until later down the line. For now, though, she’s doing genius work building herself a mother-daughters storyline with Sugar and Spice. When one inevitably goes home, she’ll be there to support the survivor—just watch.
6. Anetra (last week: 1)
Again, it is hilarious that Anetra won the last episode in spectacular fashion, only to completely disappear this week. Her performance is one of the most viral in Drag Race herstory! She gained literally tens of thousands of new fans in a week! And those fans tuned in to see her … pick her team and then pose for dollars in her sketch. (Which, to be fair, was incredible.) I wonder if this could be what happens with Anetra: when she does well, she’s at the forefront of the edit, but when she’s middle of the pack, she’s just a bit too subdued to stand out. To be determined, I’d say.
5. Sugar (last week: 9)
Were Sugar just shown as being talked over by her group, I’d be lower on her after this week. But the fact that she was not only the standout in her skit (not a high bar to clear, to be fair), she also got the edit that she was right to raise concerns about their premise from the start. The bit in Untucked with Isabelle also makes me think Sugar could have a big comeback before inevitably having to face off against her sister. Will that be in Snatch Game, though? I’m dubious. But who knows? I’m liking Sugar so far, so we’ll see if she can surprise.
4. Salina EsTitties (last week: 8)
I personally would’ve placed Salina in the top above Luxx Noir London, but I totally get why the judging went the way it did. Salina was great in her skit, but she didn’t have the laugh lines the way Luxx did. And on the runway, while I personally enjoyed Salina’s street-sign eleganza, it was an acquired taste, to say the least. Salina is probably going to have to give the judges pure glamour to get noticed, which I believe she can do—it might just rely on her getting the right runway category at the right time.
3. Luxx Noir London (last week: 6)
The more I look at Luxx’s runway look, the more I enjoy it. The fabric really does look like liquid gold, which differentiated it from more rigid runway looks. In her skit, Luxx nailed two of the most important punchlines, which helped her stand out. I don’t think she was in serious contention for the win this week, but she’s quietly building up an impressive resumé for the start of this competition. Look for her to break out sooner rather than later.
2. Loosey LaDuca (last week: 14)
Upon first watch of the episode, I was ready to give Loosey the win this week. Her Dolly Parton was such a breath of fresh air in her group’s otherwise underwhelming skit that it seemed like an even more staggering achievement. But with greater appreciation for the first group’s performance as a whole, anchored by Sasha Colby, I think Loosey was a solid, but certain, runner-up. If anything, this makes for quite the comeback arc for Loosey. Snatch Game’s right around the corner, too: can she pull out an impersonation as great as this Dolly to ascend to even greater heights?
1. Sasha Colby (last week: 4)
Congratulations to Mother Sasha on her first maxi-challenge win! It truly was only a matter of time, but the fact that it came on an acting-esque task bodes well for Sasha’s chances in the competition as a whole. The neck-snapping bit was the exact kind of “stupid,” as Ru put it, that becomes meme-worthy on Drag Race. And that kind of thing does matter! Being a legend does not always translate to being great on the show, and Sasha is proving that she’s both. Her Metallic runway look was just another example of that. We can safely cast out all doubts: Sasha is here to stay, and to slay.
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