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. We’ve got a new leader at the top of the pack, while a former challenge winner has been sent packing.
11. Aura Mayari (last week: 2)—ELIMINATED
Well, now we know why the show was utterly apathetic about her win last week. (That treatment continued this week, when we didn’t even see the customary congratulations scene for Aura in the cold open.) I feel like Aura was one of the queens done the least justice by the shortened episode edits: whatever Ru responded to about her last week was given short shrift, and other than a quick line about going from winning to being eliminated from her, there was no real context to her remarkably quick fall from grace. At least she went out looking stunning.
10. Jax (last week: 11)
This lip sync is a case where I believe a queen genuinely saved themselves with an undeniable performance. Jax smashed “Sweetest Pie,” moving with such ferocity and dexterity that it was impossible to keep your eyes off her (no matter how much Aura tried to block her). How much time this bought her is unclear, though. She’ll likely survive the LaLaPaRuZa next week—although it’s important to remember that Lip Sync Assassin Jasmine Kennedie went home in last season’s—but I don’t see Jax making it much further than that. Sadly, Ru’s just not interested in what she’s bringing to the table.
9. Spice (last week: 8)
I almost flipped Spice and Jax on the ranking this week, because I do think Spice is the most likely to go home in next week’s LaLaPaRuZa. But wouldn’t that be underwhelming if so? For all the hype the twins brought into the season, Sugar went home very early, and Spice is routinely underwhelming in the challenges. She could’ve easily been in the bottom two last week or this week—and I think Michelle Visage would’ve preferred that, what with calling out her little runway gallop. At the end of the day, I do think Ru likes a queen like Spice (knows her brand, is rough around the edges with potential) more than a queen like Jax (low-key, strong performer in a lip sync, but not much elsewhere), so if it comes down to those two, I think he’ll save Spice. But if Jax isn’t an option, I don’t see Ru sending anyone else home before Spice.
8. Salina EsTitties (last week: 7)
Salina did well this week! Among weaker competition, I could’ve seen her scoring in the top placers. But Salina’s problem this episode is the same as she’s facing all season long: she’s not among weak competition. She’s consistently good in a season where queens are routinely quite great. And she’s being held back by her runways, which are typically fun, but unpolished. This week, she paired a pretty flawless mug with a costumey, too-short puffer jacket filled with all sorts of snacks and doodads. A cute idea! But in execution, it just does not work on the mainstage.
7. Luxx Noir London (last week: 6)
A quiet week for Luxx, outside of her participation in the post-Untucked drama with Mistress Isabelle Brooks and Malaysia Babydoll Foxx. I thought, of all the roles in The Daytona Wind, that Luxx and Sasha Colby actually got stuck with the worst. They were supposed to be a callback to Maxine and Leona from the original Daytona Wind, but were instead called “Maxie” and “Leo,” and their jokes were basically nonexistent. Safe was the best Luxx could hope for with this role. On the runway, her “futuristic The Jetsons kind of twist” on Jackie Kennedy’s iconic pink Chanel suit … is a stretch! I admire her taking a swing, but this was a bit of a miss for me.
6. Loosey LaDuca (last week: 5)
My, Loosey was quite irritated to not be in the top this week, wasn’t she? That was a show in Untucked, to say the least. Can’t say I agree with her though. She was good in The Daytona Wind, but not a standout in the way the top queens were. And on the runway, her drag take on the Ghostbusters Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man was quite forced. She kinda looked like Sailor Moon wearing a puffer jacket. Not a shining week for Loosey, which makes it all the stranger that she was so convinced she should’ve been scored higher.
5. Sasha Colby (last week: 1)
I saw a passing comment on social media that the show is “nerfing” Sasha—a term used in video games to describe when a character is weakened for the purpose of balancing the game. So basically, Sasha is being graded on a slightly different curve to avoid the perception that she’s just dominating the competition. In terms of the runway, I agree: her looks are so far and away the best of the season that no one else can compete. (Only Luxx comes close.) But in the challenges, with the exception of last week’s non-win, I actually think she’s been judged exactly as she should all season long. She’s a clear standout, and has the best track record currently, but this group is strong enough to keep her on her toes.
4. Marcia Marcia Marcia (last week: 9)
Another week, another comment from a judge (this time Carson Kressley) about Marcia needing to drag up her outfits more. Once again, we’re really losing out in not getting deliberations, because we don’t know what the judges are saying when Marcia’s not there. Maybe every week Ru is praising her performance skills, but saying her runways are keeping her from the win! Maybe Ru just doesn’t get Marcia on the whole! We literally cannot know right now, and it’s frustrating. I thought Marcia’s top placement this week was generous, but understandable. She and Anetra really were two peas in a pod, and while I think Anetra was overall funnier, they wouldn’t have worked if they weren’t both on the ball. So Marcia racks up another high score, but until she really surprises the judges on the runway, I doubt she’ll be snagging a win.
3. Anetra (last week: 10)
She’s back on top! It won’t surprise any of you when I say that Anetra is my favourite this season, and I’m thrilled to see her strong comedic timing and acting skills rewarded this week. There was no way she was going to win over Mistress or Malaysia, but she was a very strong third for me. On the runway, her looks remain a bit standard—I’ve seen lots of jokes about her drag coming from Amazon—but I don’t really care! She always looks good, thanks to her striking paint and some great styling choices. Now we just need to get that Anetra Confessional Count up into higher than low single digits.
2. Malaysia Babydoll Foxx (last week: 4)
Good for Malaysia and Mistress for putting their beef to the side and knocking their performances out of the park. I would’ve felt great about either of them getting the win this week. The fact that it didn’t ultimately go to Malaysia does make me somewhat concerned for her longevity in this competition: it feels like the show is more invested in Mistress than Malaysia. But if this storyline continues, I could see them both making it to the very end. I’m interested to see how Malaysia lip syncs—we haven’t had the chance yet. If she kills it in the LaLaPaRuZa, I feel great about her chances in the long run.
1. Mistress Isabelle Brooks (last week: 3)
Congratulations to Mistress on her hard-earned, long-deserved win! She pulled off an impressive gambit to secure the Fancy role this week, and she milked it for everything it was worth. She was genuinely very funny in the sketch, and she played well with Malaysia despite their drama. On the runway, Mistress looked hot—I loved seeing her in such a different silhouette and hair than we’ve come to expect from her. Mistress really is the whole package as a drag queen; I’ll be interested to see if she can mount a real challenge to Sasha’s so-far unchecked frontrunner status. If anyone can, I think it’ll be her.
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