As episode 6 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 17 commences, one thing is evident to both RuPaul, the queens and the fans at home: there are still 12 contestants left in the competition.
With two queens only departing at this point, RuPaul enters the Werk Room and kicks off the day with a clever mini challenge, weaving in the always stunning Norvina from Anastasia Beverly Hills. The queens hop into glory hole quick drag and find out that they will be transferring the Anastasia Beverly Hills lipstick via the holes, (with their mouths of course).
With the mini challenge over, Ru announces that the challenge for the week is the always much-anticipated ball challenge. The “Let’s Get Sea Sickening Ball” challenges the dolls to “scavenge materials directly from the straight Pacific” although the stack of materials looks to be giving more industrial and less aquatic at times. The girls start to craft their three looks, with each performer offering their sketches and ideas to Ru during the Werk Room walk through. Hormona Lisa was challenged to step out of the silhouette she has been showcasing frequently, while Ru discloses to Lana Ja’Rae that she was actually perilously close to being in the bottom two during the previous challenge, clearly shaking Ja’Rae and Ru leaving Ja’Rae with the clear note to “step your pussy up” and to “not leave any frayed edges.” We also find out that Philadelphia Sixers’ alumni Charles Barkley had a special relationship with one of our Season 17 queens; he is the godfather of Sam Starr.
The queens are constructing their triad of looks and Lexi Love suddenly emerges in the Werk Room doorway in a panic, asking, “Who ruined my outfit?” The queens are clearly perplexed, and Love is clearly shook. “Spray Paint Gate” is quickly solved, with Onya Nurve (and Arrietty by association) inadvertently and significantly damaging Love’s garment in their spray-painting process. A battle for the ages ensues between Love and Nurve, with Nurve owning her mistake, but Love being agitated that the ownership came a bit late. The next day, the entire issue is alleviated in the light of day, with apologies all around between Love, Nurve and Arrietty; thus, all is right in the Werk Room.
The first of the three runway presentations kicks off with Bathing Beauties and some queens simply stand out in their poolside creations. Crystal Envy kicks off the ball with a classic Barbie look that merges into a vintage Barbie look seamlessly, Lydia B. Kollins presents a multi-penis collection, and Suzie Toot presents a “Lucille Ball in drag look” which brilliantly merges vintage swimsuit with a quintessential and now signature Toot aesthetic.
The Sea Creature Couture category showcased Envy’s Alexander McQueen inspired and detail oriented puffer fish, while Jewels Sparkles merges a sea slug with a Spanish dancer motif. Sam Starr’s viper fish is perfectly prickly, while Nurve’s African Sea Star finds the ability to brings an interesting angular fish to the main stage. Arrietty is a standout in a head to toe airbrushed look (complete with matching facial makeup) while Toot’s coconut shell octopus arrives with a full beehive and tentacles as bangs.
The Sea Sickening Eleganza portion brings Envy out in a raspberry lemonade confection, what Law Roach coins as a “juicy fruit.” Starr’s creation is a fully formed ball gown crafted from garbage bags, while Nurve gives glamorous beauty emerging from the sea. Arrietty gives a fully formed jellyfish concept, while Toot brings “Amelia Earhart after crash landing in the ocean” to the runway, down to the last detail. Kori King is vibrant in tangerine and turquoise, while Love’s garment, when presented on the runway, didn’t show a hint of the spray paint the caused so much angst in the Werk Room earlier. Lisa’s look is a familiar aesthetic, but with a clever take, while Ja’Rae shows off her mile high legs and dynamic ability to stomp a runway in her garment.
After deliberations. Jewels, Lydia, Kori, Nurve, Love and Toot found themselves safe, leaving Starr, Arrietty, and Envy rising to the top (and Acacia, Lisa, and Lana at the bottom). Arrietty snagged a well-deserved win (bouncing back after almost being eliminated last week) and Lisa and Ja’Rae went on to battle it out to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Get Him Back.” The lip sync was tight, but Lisa was ultimately eliminated, sending the “Bubblegum Babe of Chattanooga, Tennessee” home this week.
Follow RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 on Instagram @rupaulsdragrace.
