Attention, staff! It's time to go back to his last episode RuPaul's Drag Racewhere the contestants brought all the corporate synergy they could to the main stage.
On Friday's (March 15) episode, the seven remaining season 16 queens were tasked with a series of employee training seminars to help world staff learn how to handle attraction in the workplace. Whether they were giving a much-needed history lesson on the art of drag or teaching their corporate underlings what to do (or more importantly, not do) in the presence of a queen, the girls put on an informative session for all loyal viewers.
With a hilarious performance focused on teaching employees whether they are drag queens or not, Sapphira Cristál took home her third challenge win of the season, making her the winningest contestant of the season so far. Meanwhile, after a pair of less-than-ideal performances, Morphine Love Dion and Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige were put under performance review by the judging panel.
Lip-synching to Donna Summers' 1979 hit “Dim All the Lights,” Dion and Le'Paige pulled out all the stops (and in some cases, parts of their costumes) to win the adoration of their employers. In the end, Dion kept her place in the company while Le'Paige was given a cardboard box and asked to pick up her stuff from EOD.
Below, the Queen of Flips breaks down the art of lip synching, what it means to be season 16's undisputed lip sync killer, and how it felt to be labeled the season's “quiet” queen.
You made it to the top seven this season! How do you feel about your run on the show?
I feel good about everything. I know I made my family and friends proud, and Florida proud. I feel like I could do better, but you know, it is what it is!
Well, you made history by joining a very elite group Drag Race queens who won three or more lip syncs, including queens like Jujubee, Alexis Mateo, and Coco Montrese, among others. What does it mean to you to be in this esteemed company?
I am so honored, first and foremost. Yeah, I hadn't even thought about that, if I'm completely honest! But the names you just said, I'm honored to be a part of this girl group. It's great being a lip sync assassin, I'll be honest. [Laughs.]
Yeah, I felt like the girls were really scared to be on the bottom with you, and rightly so.
Yes it was! They even told me, on the show, that they never he wanted to go against the bottom. Like, for example, with Dawn… I told her if she was on the bottom because of me this week, and we had to lip sync, I said I'd beat her. But if the judges were to say, “Nah, you're going to stay,” I'd say no and ask them to let Dawn stay. I felt she deserved more and it was my fault we were at the bottom.
I'm always fascinated by the art of lip synching and what makes them so fun. So, as someone who nails almost every lip sync you do, what do you think is the key to delivering a top lip sync performance, on or off the air?
For me, when I lip-synced, it was about selling the song to the judges. Whatever song I was lip syncing to, there were a few things I had to make sure I did. I wanted to make sure I was on beat, I wanted to make eye contact with the judges, and I wanted to take over the whole stage. That, to me, is what it's all about, is dominating the stage and pretending no one is there but you and the judges.
Which brings us to the particular lip sync where you were by all means Conscious of the other queen on stage, to the point where you threw your cut off train into Morphine mid-song. Between that, and her throwing her chops at you, it was like she climaxed Drag Race shenanigans. How aware were you at the time of the iconic moments you were both serving?
Oh let me tell you, none of this was planned for this lip sync. I knew the train was detachable, so I knew it was coming out at some point. But when I saw her down on the floor, I was like, “Oh, okay, here's my chance to throw her off her game.” So I turned around and threw this train! A bit of a catfight ensued. [Laughs.]
We definitely need to talk about the Cher-meets-Kermit the Frog impression you attempted while on stage. After filming that moment, did you expect fans to run with that moment as much as they have since?
I mean, I literally made merchandise out of it, and everywhere I go, I get asked to do this Cher impersonation. Everywhere I go, people ask me to do Cher on the mic, and people just freak out when I do it. Well, I'm glad to see it!
Throughout the season, I've noticed that you've received more than a few criticisms, whether from the judges, the other girls, or even fans online, about being a “quiet” queen. Was it ever hard to hear, either on set or online?
Yeah, it was definitely hard to hear the judges say it as much as they did. But, I will say, there were times when I tried to come out of my shell and prove to the judges that I'm not as quiet or shy as some people think I am.
I mean, Snatch Game seems like a pretty great example of that!
Yes I was So proud of myself after the Snatch Game. Honestly, before we started filming, I was completely s-ting bricks. I was so nervous and had no idea what to do. But as soon as they said action, something hit me and I really felt like I became that other person. It was so much fun.
Before we let you go, I'd love to know — what music have you been listening to lately?
Ah, the album I've been listening to every day for the past few weeks is by Doja Cat Red. I love it so much. The song, though, is probably “Ouchies” – I'm obsessed with that whole song.
