Four Season Queens

Sorry for the delay on this post, folks. We've already had a new Drag Superstar for weeks and I've been slacking! I know you're thinking "Get your prioRUties in order Poptagonist!" And you are right to do so. So let's take a look at the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4!

From left: The Princess, Willam, Kenya Michaels, Milan, Chad Michaels, Dida Ritz, Jiggly Caliente, Lashawn Beyond, Phi Phi O'Hara, Latrice Royale, Sharon Needles, Alisa Summers, Madame LaQueer

Alisa Summers

As much as it is always hard for me to say goodbye to any drag queen, I must say that Alisa was the contestant that really didn't do anything for me. She was pretty, and seemed well put together, but there wasn't anything to really make me want to see more from her. One could argue that Jiggly Caliente should have been the one to sashay away after their Lip Synch for Your Life, but at least Jiggly was a hot mess, which every comptetition needs more than a fishy dead weight with a breast plate, which is what Alisa seemed like.

Lashawn Beyond

Aside from having a great name that gayly bounces off the tongue, Lashawn seemed to have a fashion sense that was very eccentric, playful and fun. Unfortunately, her personality did not match her fashion sense, she was quiet and a little boring (the ultimate no-no for a drag queen). While she seemed timid she did give the notoriously awesome line "I'm not here to make best friends, bitch! This isn't RuPaul's Best Friends Race!"... But she said it to Jiggly... Who is kind of a bitch... And she is right, it's not RuPaul's Best Friends Race. Lashawn was all high-highs and low-lows, her looks were over the top and fun, but she was either far too demure and passive.... or screaming at Jiggly in "Untucked"... She also said she didn't know what "Postapocalitic" (her pronunciation of post apocalyptic) means... Not the most bubbly gumball in the machine.

The Princess

The Princess was another queen whose personality didn't quite match her look. She kept saying that she was "punk" but also a "very Zen person", which I guess means boring TV personality with fun looks. She seemed more down to earth and genuinely sweet and kind than many of the contestants. But, sadly her understated personality (and difficulty memorizing lines) inevitably kept her from going too far. I would like to have seen more of her punk/genderfuck style. But her personality was such a deadweight anytime she had to speak on screen, that it was only a matter of time before she was sent home.

Madame LaQueer

I can't really think of much to say about Madame LaQueer except that in the wrestling challenge, she looked like Henrietta Bazooms from "Showgirls". LaQueer was sweet and fun to watch, but didn't shine in any particular way... Except in neon green...

Kenya Michaels

Already looking like a teenage girl when she was out of drag, Lil' Kenya Michaels appeared to be "the one to beat". She had a fierce runway strut and enough energy to light up WeHo. Though, as a suggestion from this Poptagonist, if your English is so bad, maybe think twice about going into American television. Nohting against people whose first language isn't English, but if you are going to be on TV and compete to be "America's next drag superstar", it puts you at quite a disadvantage if you are struggling with language. She was sent home in the "Snatch Game" challenge, where her Beyonce "impersonation" was beyond confounding. Still, I liked Kenya's energy and stage presence, and was sad to see her go. I could not believe she was out lip synched by Milan, and would have rather seen more of Kenya than Milan, at that point. Luckily my girl Michelle Visage must have agreed with me becuase when RuPaul let the judges bring an eliminated contestant back, Kenya was back in the game.... But not for long. By the time she was eliminated a second time, I was ready to see this fishy queen go out to sea.

Milan

Actor, dancer, director, chroeographer, producer, is there anything this queen doesn't claim to do? I really was ready to love Milan, she seemed weird and different, but still kind and poised. But she was pretty controlling in any group challenges and never showed any depth. It always seemed like she was "on", like she was hiding some terrible secret. Everything she said felt calculated in some weird way. Similar to when you see politicians speak, and everything they say just oozes with bullshit. By the time she lip synched for the third time in a row, and tore off her wig a second time, I was long ready to see her go. Though, she is the only contestant to, as Willam put it "Swiffer the mainstage with her taint".

Jiggly Caliente

I'm pretty sure Jiggly Caliente was one of the contestants they mostly kept around for drama. She was always crying on "Untucked" and usually looked like a girl who couldn't quite get her shit together in time for homecoming, so wore her big sister's outdated dress. Her lip synch was okay, but just about everything else felt too desperate and sad to really enjoy.

Willam

At first I really hated Willam. Lack of drag name aside, she is an actress, not a "drag performer" in clubs and bars. She always talked about how she had been on soooo many TV shows and how she was soooo pretty, it just got tired and reeked of Los Angeles-type ego. Instead of using drag makeup she used expensive, fancy makeup, which is made for ladies, not lady-boys. You can tell because Willam's BEARD was always showing! I'm convinced that the reason she has been so sucessful in TV and film is because her body is very feminine, but the face and jawline are very tranny. She is a safe choice to play a tranny for popular audiences because for a second she makes you think it's a woman, but then you see the obvious flaws, and you laugh at yourself for ever thinking it was a real woman. Initially, her cockiness was a real turn off for me, but eventually I got used to it and came to appreciate her sarcastic, dry humor. The real turning point for me was when she released a music video about Chick-Fil-A, a notoriously gay-hating fast food chain. Though it has nothing to do with Drag Race, the song is hilarious, and she gives a killer performance in it. By the time she was kicked off the show for breaking the rules (apparently she was on the recieving end of conjugal visits from her man), I was sad to see the show loose her arrogant, but mostly inoffensive humor. Definitely excited to see more of her on the upcoming season of RuPaul's Drag U!

Dida Ritz
In the first episode, Dida announces to the girls in the (You Betta') Work-Room, "I love you all, you are all my sisters, let's just get along." Continuing in an interview to say that she sees no reason to start throwing shade on the first day, and wants to start off on the right foot with all the girls. I appreciated this sentiment. I realize that I am in the vast minority when I say that I like seeing the queens get along, and develop bonds. This was something I really loved about the first season of Drag Race, that all but a few of the queens really came to respect each other. Since season 1, there's been a lot more tension and emotional rifts between the contestants... Until season 4! The season isn't without its drama queens, but the majority of them come to appreciate each other as performers and as people. Dida is never anything less than sweet and kind, which makes me really want to like her.... But her looks are rarely put together well. Her wigs are almost always ratty, as judge Billy B put it "It looks like it was sucked on by a litter of kittens before she put it on." And while she claims her inspiration for looks was Carrie Bradshaw, one judge makes the assesment "She was going for 'Sex in the City' but it was more like 'Sex in the Alley'." I wanted her to look good because she was so sweet, but she didn't have a good handle on proportions of a drag queens, too much shoulder, not enough hair, lots of leg, no hips. Sweet girl, but has to learn a thing or two about drag.

Latrice Royale
La-TRICE ROY-ale! During the run of the season, I went to see Latrice perform at a club in The Castro. The stage was risen, so it was pretty close to the ceiling, which was covered in helium-filled balloons. When Latrice took to the stage, she barely cleared the layer of balloons, and when she spun around during a number, the balloons swirled around her and into the audience like a colorful tornado that you desperately want to be caught in! This is the magic that I think of when I think of Latrice Royale. On Drag Race you can see that they make an effort to include people of different sizes and looks. And the drag community has always seen big girls as less of a stigma than the straight community sees big people. However, on the past seasons of Drag Race, the big queens they've had as contestants were largely a wreck. They don't know how to wear clothes and put together outfits that flatter their curves. La-TRICE ROY-ale, however, is leaps and bounds ahead of all other big girls on the show. She only had a few really stand out looks, but she consistently looked put-together and her body was well flattered. Her drag was more traditional than many other girls, there wasn't much avant-garde, but she more than made up for it with a magnetic personality that would make anybody want to be her friend. She is kind, intelligent, compassionate, honest, gentle and strong, kind of like if Baloo the Bear if he was a drag queen. She quickly became my pick for runner-up this season, and was a shoe-in for Miss Congeneality.

For the past 3 seasons, RuPaul has one final challenge for the top three contestants, then picks the top two and has them do one final lip synch before picking her Queen. This year, the race was so heated and had three such different performers that RuPaul decided to "break all the rules!" Instead of picking a top two, they had a 3-Way Lip Synch, unheard of in Drag Race Herstory! Also, a first for Drag Race Herstory was RuPaul's decision to not announce the winner until the Reunion Special. The Renion Special was filmed in front of a live audience (another first in D.R. Herstory), and even then, THREE different endings were filmed. That means that the top 3 didn't even know who won until it was announced on TV! So, let's take a look at these highly contested queens!


From left: Chad Michaels, Sharon Needles, Phi Phi O'Hara

Phi Phi O'Hara
Throughout the season, I inexplicably kept wanting to like Phi Phi O'Hara. And throughout the season, she gave me no reasons to like her. At best she had a couple cool looks (her Tina Turner-esque postapocalyptic look was cool), but she was mostly a very typical queen who always made herself look older, and tacky on top of it. There are several instances in which she backhandedly tries to sabotage other queens, even queens who she had made close friends with. But even that wasn't as bad as her attitude. She never seems to have any fun! I tried to think of a time when she smiles on the show, and I can't even picture what she looks like smiling (maybe it's like Wednesday Addams in "Addams Family Values"). She kind of has a frenemy relationship with Sharon Needles, and even though Sharon keeps trying to make amends and get along, Phi Phi just can't lose her permanent stink-face. And that was before she refers to the black contestants as "The help"... It was part of a schtick she was doing, but it wasn't funny or done tastefully, and just felt offensive. Bottom line, too much ego, too much hair, too much makeup, too many sequins, too much desperation, not enough personality.

Chad Michaels
Chad Michaels is a seasoned professional of the drag community. She has made her living as a celebrity impersonator, and is so believable that I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it turned out that Cher was actually Chad in drag all along. Upon first seeing her, I thought she had too much of a Cher look. Which is fine as a performer, but I want to see America's Next Drag Superstar be more versatile. Challenge after challenge, Chad consistently proved that I had underestimated her! Her looks were hugely varied, and she could ease in and out of various looks with impressive skill. The one thing the judges knocked her on was that she was too flawless, there was no vulnerability. Which may be true from the perspective of the judges, only seeing her on the mainstage where her professionalism shines. But the audience definitely came to see Chad as a deeply sympathetic and genuine person. She is always kind and honest, someone who, even though the TV screen, you feel you could sit down with and talk about anything. I would have been happy if Chad had won because she is classy, sharp, alway on point and edgy enough to not be pigeonholed as a showgirl. But I think that ultimately her profession of being an impersonator held her back because, as Sharon once said, Chad's true personality is too genuine and kind to really shine on TV. Even though she didn't win, she has definitely made her mark!

Sharon Needles

Before the season airs, you can watch short intros for each of the the contestants. When I first saw those 3 minutes of Sharon, totally goth'd out and she said "Season four will most definitely be cancelled!" I knew she was my Queen! I saw humor, a dark side, and a strong sense of character in her performance. The first episode was a post-apocalyptic challenge and Sharon sucked her competators dry with a Nosferatu-inspired Zombie/Vampire look, complete with fake blood gushing out of her mouth (see below).

At that moment, with my jaw on the floor and my white-knuckled hands gripping my chair, there was no turning back. Sharon had won over my black heart. In past seasons, queens with more of a genre/schtick haven't made it too far (Tammie Brown, Mimi Imfurst), but Sharon showed the judges that she was anything but a one trick pony. Girly fishiness, executive realness, avant-garde high fashion, Sharon could do it all! And on top of it, her personality was kind, intelligent and funny. I was elated to see how well the judges responded to her versatility and eccentric personality and looks. During the season, she won four challenges, more than any contestant in the history of the show. By the time the top three were picked, the choice seemed obvious, and I had decided that Sharon was my favorite contestant to ever crawl down RuPaul's runway! Sharon had the spunk, humor and look to carry on the legacy of RuPaul, but her edginess was the one thing that could have held her back. In the past Ru has usually chosen the pretty one over the edgy one, Bebe over Nina, Tyra over Raven. Before announcing the winner, RuPaul asked the fans to put their two cents in and tell her who they were rooting for via Facebook and Twitter. The response was overwhelmingly obvious, and while Chad was a close second (and Phi Phi a distant third), it was clear that America had made its choice! Sharon is everything an audience could want in a pop culture icon, she is recognizable, edgy, artistic, yet still humble and intelligent.

I can't even put into words how happy I am that she won. If you've seen it, I needn't explain myself because it is obvious she is beyond incredible. If you haven't seen it, get an after-life and check out this Mistress of the Drag!

Pic-centric (4)

These are pics of my good friend and incredibly talented artist, Lauren Day Benson doing a portrait of Lady Gaga with sidewalk chalk!

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 runner up, Raven, gave her mother a glam makeover on RuPaul's Drag U. The twist? Her mother is Mormon and had never seen her son in drag! It was just surprising to learn this model of smoldering drag fierceness was raised as a Mormon!

Look out world, Mitsy Poochista has arrived!

OK, also, for real, super serial, gonna tell it like it is and keep it real...

RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE SEASON 4 STARTS NEXT WEEK!

I mostly try to not think about it because when I do, it's like a child anticipating Christmas. Above we have Season 4 contestant Sharon Needles, great name, great face and seems to have a great commitment to the character! Plus, she's super goth, so she's won my heart.

Remember the preacher from Poltergeist II that I said would haunt your nightmares. I wasn't kidding!

The two images above are from "Avatar: The Last Airbender". I recently watched the series, and I thought it was really well made and was surprisingly mature and interesting for a kid's show. It seems to be more popular among people who aren't particularly big fans of anime, so if you are an anime aficionado, it might not be for you. But I really could go on and on about the various reasons I think it's great, and I'm sure one day I will. For today, I will just show a couple of images that are examples of one of my favorite aspects of the show. As I said, I am not a huge fan of anime. Not to say I don't like ANY anime, there are definitely some anime films I love. But, especially in television, the animation can be very intense, and in "Avatar" I really liked that the animation will change slightly to fit the mood of the scene. People are mostly drawn in an anime style, but then, when they meet an Indian monk, he is subtly drawn differently to look more Indian. The show also departs from anime altogether when telling a story of the past. These two images are from different stories, which are shown in Japanese zen style, or with a more simplistic, almost paper-cut-out like style. It shows that the show is willing to depart from its comfort zone and show the viewer something new altogether.

Plus, prettttttty!

Hahaha, a Firefly still. Juuuust suckin' on some strawberry.

 

Oh Netflix, you know me so well!

 

After finishing the 90's X-Men cartoon, I decided to watch a bunch of the different X-Men shows. "X-Men: Evolution" was okay, not great. I like that they have some more obscure New Mutants on the show. But I hate that they make up a random character (Spike) to put on the team. He is boring and has the same powers as an already existing character. I just never understand when they make up a character instead of using the ZOUNDS of already established characters. Plus, both Spike and Nightcrawler (shown above) have these "streetwear" looks in which they are sagging their pants, and have their shirts tucked into their underwear.

Was that EVER a look?!?

 

"Wolverine and the X-Men" came after "Evolution" and despite my initial distaste for making Wolverine the leader just for the sake of popularity, the show is really good! It's the only series that features Emma Frost (above) as a member of the X-Men The series is about Wolverine trying to get the disbanded X-Men back together after the disappearance of Xavier and Jean leaves the mansion in ruins. Maybe the best X-Men cartoon yet, interesting storyline that actually comes to a great climax. It's the only X-Men cartoon that doesn't have an opening credits intro for each teammate. This is fun because you never know who is going to come back to the team and who doesn't.

SPOILERS:

Emma sacrifices herself in order to have the most fabulous death of all time! Exploding into millions of tiny diamonds that rain down on the other characters! Below is Cyclops, looking at the shards of his could-have-been lover!

The reign of Tyra Sanchez is over! Long live the Queen!

This week we have been given a new pop icon! A new queen to follow in the footsteps of RuPaul and is given the title of America's Next Drag Superstar! If you have never seen RuPaul's Drag Race first, get with the times already! Then go to http://www.rupaulsdragrace.com/ where you can watch every episode of every season and GAG ON THE ELEZANGA!!!!

Season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race was very impressive. The cast was all around much stronger than Season 2. RuPaul herself continues to not only shine in the multiple roles of host, mentor and judge, but she manages to rip through the very fabric of reality television! In this season she brought back a queen sent home before her time in Season 2, one week, she made the executive decision to not make any contestant "Sashay Away" and even allowed herself to be overruled by the other judges and bring back an eliminated queen! Before I go on, I must say that in 3 seasons of this show, and in the 33 queens who have graced the catwalk, I have yet to see one who matches the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent of RuPaul herself. She is regal, glamorous, intelligent, poised, funny and even a little trashy, bottom line she has it all. That being said, let's look at the fierceness that is RuPauls Drag Race Season 3!


Top Row (left to right): Mimi Imfurst, Carmen Carerra, Stacy Layne Matthews, India Ferrah, Alexis Mateo, Delta Work, Mariah, Manila Luzon, Yara Sofia, Venus D-Lite
Bottom Row (Right to left): Raja, Phoenix
Not pictured: Shangela Laquifa Wadley


WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW!


Venus D-Lite: The first queen eliminated is often a tough one to say goodbye to because it relies solely on their ability to make their own clothes. A contestant could have charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent coming out of their ears but if they can't sew, they won't last long. I would have liked to have seen more of Venus, she talked about how she has committed her life to performing, and I believe if she had gotten past the first lap she would have been more of a contender. However, she is mostly known as a Madonna impersonator (and a good one, she looks just like her), and in the search for America's Next Drag Superstar, I would be looking for someone with a whole new personality all their own.

Phoenix: Phoenix was eliminated in the Sci-Fi challenge in which the Queens portrayed various characters in a trailer from a Sci-Fi movie. From the two episodes she was on, it was clear that Phoenix has a fashion sense that stands out, eccentric and fun. However, anytime she opened her mouth to talk, she sounded like some cracked out dude being arrested on cops (and looked like one when she was out of makeup). The most consistent problem I find with contestants on the show is that as Drag Queens, their method of artistic expression and performing is only lip syncing. When it comes to actually speaking and being poised on camera, it is unfamiliar to them and instead of confidence and glamor shining through, we only see awkwardness. Phoenix's performance in the Sci-Fi trailer was so bad it felt like a lost clip from an Ed Wood film. This was Phoenix's downfall, and she did not rise from the ashes.

Mimi Imfurst: Mimi came into the competition carrying the torch of camp. Though today it seems to be phasing out of the culture, camp has a strong place in drag history. And considering this, it's surprising they haven't had more like Mimi. The closest were the 2nd season's Pandora Boxx or season 1's Tammie Brown. But Mimi brought an element of chaos, storming through the show like a hurricane. Despite consistent breakdowns during the episodes, she was in the top in both the first and second episode. Then in episode three, for the workout video challenge, the winds of Hurricane Mimi reached a point where you didn't want to take the boards off the windows for fear of getting glass in your eye, but you couldn't help but peek through the cracks and watch Mimi ripping through the neighborhood. I'm glad Mimi was on the show, she had a glaringly strong personality (even if it did include fits of crying EVERY EPISODE), I'm glad they got the one complete train wreck of a sketch in the workout video challenge, but it was definitely her time. This was wholly evident during the Lip Synch for Your Life against India Ferrah when she literally hoisted the competition on her shoulders. As Manila said "You can't go lifting up Drag Queens!" Personally, I would have made her pick out a switch, but RuPaul, ever the diplomatic classy broad that she is simply told her "Drag is NOT a contact sport" before making her "Sashay Away".

India Ferrah: Oh India... She and Phoenix suffered from the same syndrome of having very eccentric looks, but not delivering enough in the personality department. Awkward and bumbling, and always wearing her triple D latex breast plate (a somewhat new trend in drag, which to me just look tacky and fake), I was not sad to see India go. I'm sure she's fun to see lip sync, but in the race for America's Next Drag Superstar, she was just cannon fodder.

Mariah: Looks, style, poise and a "fish-like" (drag speak for "looks like a real woman") face that could go up against any supermodel, Mariah seemed like the Glamazon to beat. She always kept her cool, even when being "read" by the other queens, her confidence (which was well deserved) shined through and she stayed collected and calm as though she had just walked out of the best massage of her life. However, her laps around the track came to a screeching halt when the contestants had to play the "Snatch Game" in which they showcase their best celebrity impersonations. Mariah's interpretation of Joan Crawford (a classic drag favorite) must have made drag queens from coast to coast cringe. I liked Mariah, but I've seen better Joan Crawfords on Halloween. I mean, who goes into a comedy sketch as Joan Crawford and doesn't once come close to having a screaming fit of rage?! Unfortunately her cool and collected persona played against her. I was sad to see her go, but she skipped a beat and paid dearly for it.

Stacy Layne Matthews: From the beginning I didn't quite understand why they fished her out of Back Swamp, North Carolina. She was sweet, but like most sweet things, they didn't deliver the nutrients needed to really fuel my Drag fix. None of her looks were up to the caliber of the other queens. She did turn out a fun personality from time to time, she was good as the Maya Angelou inspired Sci-Fi Drag Queen, and was really uncanny as Monique's chain smoking character from the film "Precious" in the Snatch Game. But she wasn't consistent enough to take her into the final laps. Again, she may be great to see lip sync, but in the end she was just cannon fodder.

Delta Work: At first Delta seemed like a real competitor. But as the episodes went on, she began to bug in all the wrong ways. She's a heavy girl, which has a very prominent place in drag history with figures like Divine. But if you're going to be a big queen, you gotta own it like royalty. And Delta simply did not own it. Because she was friends with another contestant Raja, and was always willing to put down another queen (which just exposed her already glaring self-confidence issues), she managed to eek her way into the cool kids club of contestants who dubbed themselves the "Heathers" after the 80's high school cult film. Nevertheless, her self-esteem issues were exposed through her ill fitting clothes that always seemed to highlight her enormous belly that hung down below her groin. NOT CUTE... Ever. And whenever she had to perform a speaking role she consistently came across as unsure of herself and stumbling. By the time she Sashayed Away, she had worn out her welcome with me.

Shangela Laquifa Wadley: Shangela came into the competition wrapped in controversy, complete with a bow on top. She had been in Season 2  and was eliminated in the first episode due to a seriously unfortunate dress made out of curtains. RuPaul decided to give her another chance which received mixed reactions from the other new girls. Shangela is newer to drag than any of the contestants, and was often criticized for needing help with her makeup, hair, just about everything. But the one thing she needed absolutely no help in was the one thing many of the other Queens lacked, she had enough confidence, humor and poise on camera to match any television personality. In the newscaster episode she shined as the Celebrity Gossip Girl. While she did often look somewhat "busted" (which kept her in the "booger" status to the "Heathers") she was stronger on camera and more secure in a speaking performance than any of them. You could hand her a show and she would flourish, which to me is the goal of Drag Race. However in the world of Drag, if you don't look good enough, you never will be. I know many people were annoyed by her constant "Halleloo"'s and ridiculous boasts of being "The Nancy Drew of Drag" but I enjoyed watching her. She has a real vibrancy and energy that will carry her far. I'm glad she made it as far as she did, but also glad she didn't make it farther. I also have to thank her for "She said 'Laquifa!' I say 'Whaaaat?!'"

Carmen Carerra: I could just write "Body, butt and body" and it would sum up what I thought of Carmen. In the very first episode she came out wearing a bikini. The judges told her "Don't rely on your body". So what does she do? She continues to prance around mostly naked for all but one, maybe two episodes. It got tired very quick. Yes, she looked like a real woman, but her personality went from non-existent at its worst to "that bland, self-satisfied hot chick who might as well be a take-out meal for the boys of the Jersey Shore" at best. She was eliminated before Shangela, then after Shangela Sashayed away, the judges overruled RuPaul and brought Carmen back... Only to eliminate her again in the same episode. I was glad they brought her back only because it meant we got one extra episode of Drag fabulousness, but that was the only reason why. During her final lip sync she decided that despite the fact that we have seen her in a bikini almost every episode, we had not yet seen enough. So she took off her panties... All I have to say is the last thing I ever want to see is a drag queen's cooter. I've never said this before, but thank God for fuzzy boxes... NO, not that kind, the censoring kind! Get your mind out of the gutter!

Yara Sofia: I will forever love Yara. She came into the competition as the dark horse, she's Puerto Rican and her English isn't great. She flew under the radar for the first couple of episodes, and then suddenly with her first "Echa Palante" in the work out video challenge, she exploded like a volcano, scorching the competition and bringing a level of excitement every episode. Her fashion is very avant-garde, which I love, though I could do without the dead-looking blue contacts. Her personality is sweet, fun, exciting and engaging. She has the energy of a litter of Chihuahua puppies on speed, and if she could just learn to focus it a little better, she would be flawless... Well, that and she'd have to get rid of the blond, crunchy looking Shakira wig. From the exercise video to her Spanish variety show inspired stand up routine as a midget trying to find a man in America, every time Yara was given an opportunity to show her personality she excited the audience and made us laugh til we cry. Up until her final lap in the race, I had Yara pegged as one of the top three. And she would have made it had she not had a breakdown during the fatal second to last Lip Sync for your Life of the season. She's been criticized for throwing it all away, stripping and falling to her knees during the lip sync. But I understand, under the pressure to validate yourself during her artistic expression, Yara simply was tired of proving her worth to the judges.

Finally, the top three:
First I will say that in my opinion this was the strongest top three ever. That is to say, Season 1's top two Nina Flowers and Bebe Zahara Benet will always and forever be my top two. They both were so unique and had such valuable messages. But their third, Rebecca Glasscock was miles behind the two of them. I found Season 2 to be a disappointment all around. The winner Tyra Sanchez is not somebody I would ever rally around as a pop icon. She looks great, but her personality comes across as dull and as much as I hate to say it, unintelligent. Also, I cannot bring myself to respect someone who won't even tell his son what he does. If you tell your four year old son that you dad dresses up as a girl he won't think "Other dads don't do that, you're weird" he will think "Well that's what my dad does, it's weird that yours doesn't". My point is, if you lay it all out on the table for your kid then there's no secret that has to be disclosed, as the Great Sammi of Jersey Shore says, "It just is what it is". I am in no position to tell someone how to be a parent, and I fully understand that doing what they do, things get complicated with family but if I'm going to look up to a gay icon, it cannot be somebody who hides something they value so highly in themselves. Lying about what he does makes him seem ashamed and propagates the notion that drag is something that needs to be hidden. Isn't the whole point of this show to celebrate something that has never before been seen as a valid art form? The two runner ups, Jujubee and Raven were both fierce queens, but none of the three had it all. This season, by the time Carmen got re-eliminated, any of the top four could have won and I wouldn't be upset.  I would have found it undeserved if Alexis won, but even she has a strong fun personality that I appreciate.

Alexis Mateo: The second runner up, and the weakest link of the top three, Alexis is a pageant queen. Which is shorthand for over the top and gaudy fashion sense. However, what kept her in the competition is her infectious energy and personality. She comes across as sweet and fun, someone you want to be around. But uuuugh.... most of her looks define tacky.

Manila Luzon: Never before in Drag Race history could you watch the very first episode and know which two queens will be lip syncing for the title of America's Next Drag Superstar. But from the very beginning Manila stood out as having it all, she is glamorous, quite "fish-like", funny and is very engaging on camera. To me Manila was the one who you could hand a talk show to and she would really flourish, which would have made her my first choice (not that I don't LOVE Raja, and everything she brings to the title). She is confident and funny and always fun to watch perform, even when she was playing a speech-less monkey. Her fashion sense is humorous in nature (my favorite was a 1920's inspired flapper dress made out of dollar bills!), but she never once sacrificed her beauty for the sake of humor, rather she consistently blended the two into a delightful cocktail of classic and new Drag!

Raja: Our new Drag Superstar, Raja brings something very new and fresh to the popular consciousness. Every previous season came down to one queen who was more goth, artsy and weird, and one who was more glamorous and traditional. And in the past RuPaul has always picked the glamorous over the goth. Which I understand, it certainly shows that they're looking for something specific. But this year broke new ground giving it to a performer who showcases anything from an aboriginal tribal look to a new take on classic French royalty. Unlike previous winner Tyra Sanchez, Raja is smart and wants to push boundaries. From the first episode, you knew it would come down to Manila and Raja, but there was a certain point in the competition (I think it was around the Snatch Game in which Raja's over the top impersonation of an uptight Tyra Banks was accentuated with tears of blood) when it was obvious to me that Raja was going to win. Raja is one FIERCE queen who not only owns the runway, but owns property extending into the damn parking lot! She is intelligent and avant-garde showing a very new style of drag that is more appropriately called "Genderfuck".  She is less about traditional female illusion and more about the art of performing in an androgynous persona. She has such integrity with what she does, and when you match that with her cutting edge style of drag she elevates herself into the realm of post-modern performance art.

And that rounds out our girls from Season 3! It's been quite a race, they are all fabulous, fierce and WHAT? Sickening! The only bad thing about having a new Drag Superstar is having to wait a whole year before the next season!!!