RuPaul's Drag Race (season 13)
The thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 1, 2021. The cast was announced via Twitter on December 9, 2020.[1] The competition is broadcast on VH1 in the United States and showcases 13 new queens competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar". VH1 renewed both RuPaul's Drag Race and its spin-off RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars for a thirteenth and sixth season respectively on August 20, 2020. Casting calls for season 13 were opened in December 2019.[2] In addition to airing on VH1, the premiere episode was also simulcast across 5 other channels: Logo, MTV, MTV2, Pop, and The CW,[3] becoming the most-watched episode in the franchise's history.[4]
| RuPaul's Drag Race | |
|---|---|
| Season 13 | |
 Promotional poster for season thirteen | |
| Hosted by | RuPaul |
| Judges | |
| No. of contestants | 13 |
| Companion show | RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked! |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Release | |
| Original network | VH1 |
| Original release | January 1, 2021 – present |
| Season chronology | |
After the season's first teaser trailer was accidentally leaked a day prior, the cast was officially revealed by season 12 winner Jaida Essence Hall on December 9, 2020. The teaser also revealed that the season's premiere would consist of six "Lip-Sync for Your Life" battles in a Lip-Sync Extravaganza, along with a new socially distanced stage and werkroom design. The season also welcomed Gottmik, the show's first ever openly transgender male and AFAB contestant since the show first aired back in 2009.
The season was filmed in August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and was filmed under the appropriate protocols, including immediate testing of the thirteen contestants. Furthermore, all the contestants, judges, and crew were isolated and quarantined during filming.
Contestants
Ages, names, and cities stated are at time of filming.
| Contestant[5] | Age | Hometown | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denali[lower-alpha 1] | 28 | Chicago, Illinois | TBA |
| Elliott with 2 Ts[lower-alpha 2] | 26 | Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Gottmik | 23 | Los Angeles, California | |
| Kandy Muse | 25 | New York City, New York | |
| LaLa Ri | 30 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Olivia Lux | 26 | New York City, New York | |
| Rosé | 31 | New York City, New York | |
| Symone | 25 | Los Angeles, California | |
| Tina Burner | 39 | New York City, New York | |
| Utica Queen | 25 | Utica, Minnesota | |
| Tamisha Iman | 49 | Atlanta, Georgia | 11th Place |
| Joey Jay | 30 | Phoenix, Arizona | 12th Place |
| Kahmora Hall | 28 | Chicago, Illinois | 13th Place |
- Denali Foxx is simply referred to as Denali on the show.
- Elliott Puckett is referred to as Elliott with 2 Ts on the show.
Contestant progress
| Contestant | 1[6] | 2[7] | 3[8] | 4[9] | 5[10] | 6[11] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denali | LOSS | WIN | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | |
| Elliott with 2 Ts | LOSS | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | HIGH | |
| Gottmik | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | |
| Kandy Muse | WIN | SAFE | HIGH | SAFE | BTM2 | |
| LaLa Ri | WIN | SAFE | LOW | BTM2 | SAFE | |
| Olivia Lux | WIN | TOP2 | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | |
| Rosé | LOSS | TOP2 | HIGH | HIGH | SAFE | |
| Symone | WIN | WIN | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | |
| Tina Burner | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | HIGH | |
| Utica Queen | LOSS | SAFE | SAFE | HIGH | LOW | |
| Tamisha Iman | LOSS | SAFE | SAFE | LOW | ELIM | |
| Joey Jay | LOSS | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | ||
| Kahmora Hall | LOSS | SAFE | ELIM | |||
- The contestant won the challenge.
- The contestant was one of the top 2 in the challenge and won the lip sync for the win.
- The contestant was one of the top 2 in the challenge but lost the lip sync for the win.
- The contestant won their lip sync in the first episode's lip sync tournament.
- The contestant lost their lip sync in the first episode's lip sync tournament.
- The contestant lost their lip sync in the first episode's lip sync tournament, was eliminated by her fellow eliminated queens, but returned to the competition in a twist.
- The contestant received positive critiques and was ultimately declared safe.
- The contestant received critiques but was ultimately declared safe.
- The contestant received negative critiques but was ultimately declared safe.
- The contestant was in the bottom.
- The contestant was eliminated.
- The contestant returned as a guest for that episode.
Lip syncs
| Episode | Contestants | Song | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joey Jay | vs. | Kandy Muse | "Call Me Maybe" (Carly Rae Jepsen) |
Kandy Muse |
| Denali | vs. | LaLa Ri | "When I Grow Up" (The Pussycat Dolls) |
LaLa Ri | |
| Symone | vs. | Tamisha Iman | "The Pleasure Principle" (Janet Jackson) |
Symone | |
| Gottmik | vs. | Utica Queen | "Rumors" (Lindsay Lohan) |
Gottmik | |
| Olivia Lux | vs. | Rosé | "Ex's & Oh's" (Elle King) |
Olivia Lux | |
| Elliott with 2 Ts vs. Kahmora Hall vs. Tina Burner | "Lady Marmalade" (Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, P!nk) |
Tina Burner | |||
| 2 | Olivia Lux | vs. | Symone | "Break My Heart" (Dua Lipa) |
Symone |
| 3 | Denali | vs. | Rosé | "If U Seek Amy" (Britney Spears) |
Denali |
| Episode | Contestants | Song | Eliminated | ||
| 4 | Denali | vs. | Kahmora Hall | "100% Pure Love" (Crystal Waters) |
Kahmora Hall |
| 5 | Joey Jay | vs. | LaLa Ri | "Fancy" (Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX) |
Joey Jay |
| 6 | Kandy Muse | vs. | Tamisha Iman | "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)" (Blu Cantrell) |
Tamisha Iman |
- The contestant won the lip sync for your life.
- The contestant won the lip sync for the win.
- The contestant was eliminated after their first time in the bottom two.
Voting history
| Contestant | First Vote | Second Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Denali | Joey Jay | Elliott |
| Elliott | Utica | |
| Joey Jay | Elliott | Elliott |
| Kahmora | Utica | Elliott |
| Rosé | Elliott | Elliott |
| Tamisha | Utica | Elliott |
| Utica | Elliott | |
| Vote result | Elliott | Elliott |
| Utica | ||
- The contestant tied and was subject to a second vote by the safe contestants.
- The contestant was voted off.
Guest judges
- Jamal Sims, choreographer
- Nicole Byer, stand-up comedian
- Loni Love, comedian and television host
- Cynthia Erivo, English actress, singer and songwriter
- Ts Madison, LGBT activist
Special guests
Guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.
- Anne Hathaway, American actress
- Scarlett Johansson, American actress and singer
- Valentina, contestant and Miss Congeniality on season nine
- Nina West, contestant and Miss Congeniality on season eleven
- Heidi N Closet, contestant and Miss Congeniality on season twelve
Episode 4
- Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Canadian actor and Canada's Drag Race judge
Episode 5
- Stuart Vevers, British fashion designer and Coach's executive creative director
Episode 6
- Miguel Zarate, choreographer
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160 | 1 | "The Pork Chop" | January 1, 2021 | |
|
After the thirteen new queens enter the workroom in groups of two, and one group of three, they face off in Lip Sync For Your Life battles. The winners get to stay, and the losers get "the Pork Chop". The seven losing queens all get together in the "Porkchop Loading Dock", when RuPaul tells them that they get an opportunity to get back in the competition. To do so, they have to give one fellow queen "The Chop".
| ||||
| 161 | 2 | "Condragulations" | January 8, 2021 | |
|
The seven queens in the Porkchop Loading Dock have to pick a contestant to vote off. After all seven votes were in, there was a tie between Elliott with 2 Ts and Utica Queen. After the contestants voted in a second round, Elliott with 2 Ts was voted off. The contestants winning the lip syncs in the first episode get to meet Elliott with 2 Ts, who returned to the competition in a twist. For the mini challenge, the contestants had to show off two runway ready looks in the categories Day Time Drama Mama and Night Time is the Right Time. For the main challenge the contestants had to write original lyrics to and perform them to RuPaul's "Condragulations". Olivia Lux and Symone were the top two contestants of the week and had to lip sync for the win. Symone took the win after a lip sync to "Break My Heart" by Dua Lipa. The other contestants were all safe.
| ||||
| 162 | 3 | "Phenomenon" | January 15, 2021 | |
|
The contestants losing the lip syncs in the first episode enter the work room. For the mini challenge, the contestants had to show off two runway ready looks in the categories Lady and Vamp. For the main challenge the contestants had to write original lyrics to and perform them to RuPaul's "Phenomenon". Denali and Rosé were the top two contestants of the week and had to lip sync for the win. Denali took the win after a lip sync to "If U Seek Amy" by Britney Spears. The other contestants were all safe.
| ||||
| 163 | 4 | "RuPaulmark Channel" | January 22, 2021 | |
|
Episode 1's losing queens enter the workroom, where they all meet the other contestants. For this week's main challenge, the queens have to act in cheezy holiday movies. Denali, Elliott with 2 Ts, Kahmora Hall and Olivia Lux play in a movie called Misery Love's Company. LaLa Ri, Rosé, Symone and Utica Queen act in God Loves Flags. The last team, consisting of Gottmik, Joey Jay, Kandy Muse, Tamisha Iman and Tina Burner, act in a movie called April Fool's Rush In. After learning their scripts, the contestants filmed their movies, with Ross Matthews as director. On the runway, Elliott with 2 Ts, Gottmik, Joey Jay, Olivia Lux, Tamisha Iman, Tina Burner and Utica Queen were declared safe. Kandy Muse, Rosé and Symone were praised this week, with Symone winning the challenge. The two bottom queens were Denali and Kahmora Hall, with LaLa Ri ultimately declared safe after some negative critiques. Denali and Kahmora Hall lip-synced to "100% Pure Love" by Crystal Waters, with Kahmora Hall sashaying away from the competition.
| ||||
| 164 | 5 | "The Bag Ball" | January 29, 2021 | |
|
For the mini challenge, the queens get into quick drag dressed up as babies. LaLa Ri is declared the winner and RuPaul announces that this week's main challenge is the Bag Ball, where the queens need to participate in three categories: Mixed Bag, Money Bags and make a look out of bags for Bag Ball Eleganza. On the main stage, the girls present all of their outfits and Denali, Elliott with 2 Ts, Symone, Olivia Lux, Tina Burner and Kandy Muse are declared safe. Gottmik, Rosé and Utica Queen receive positive feedback from the judges on all their outfits. Meanwhile, Lala Ri, Tamisha Iman, and Joey Jay are negatively critiqued by the judges. After the judges deliberate, Gottmik is announced as the winner of the challenge, while Lala Ri and Joey Jay face off in a lip sync to "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea and Charli XCX. Lala Ri is the winner of the lip sync and Joey Jay is eliminated from the competition.
| ||||
| 165 | 6 | "Disco-mentary" | February 5, 2021 | |
|
In this episode's mini challenge, the queens pair up in teams to create a dress made out of wallpaper. RuPaul declares Elliott with 2 Ts and Tamisha Iman as the winners of the mini challenge. The teams remain the same for this week's main challenge. The teams have to perform in a choreographed disco-themed dance documentary in five different chapters. The teams consist of Gottmik, Kandy Muse and Tina Burner (The Birth of Disco), Elliott with 2 Ts and Tamisha Iman (Disco and Sex), Olivia Lux and Utica Queen (Studio 54), Denali and Rosé (Disco Fashion) and LaLa Ri and Symone (Disco Sucks). After serving looks in a Little Black Dress runway theme, on the main stage, Denali, Gottmik, LaLa Ri, Rosé and Symone are declared safe. After the judges deliberation, Elliott with 2 Ts, Olivia Lux and Tina Burner were praised for their work, with Olivia Lux winning this week's challenge. Kandy Muse, Tamisha Iman and Utica Queen received negative critiques, which landed Kandy Muse and Tamisha Iman in the bottom two. They lip-synced to the song "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)" by Blu Cantrell, with Tamisha Iman having to leave the competition.
| ||||
| 166 | 7 | "Bossy Rossy: The RuBoot" | February 12, 2021 | |
Ratings
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Pork Chop" | January 1, 2021 | 0.74[12] | 1.315[12] |
| 2 | "Condragulations" | January 8, 2021 | 0.26[13] | 0.634[13] |
| 3 | "Phenomenon" | January 15, 2021 | 0.25[14] | 0.611[14] |
| 4 | "RuPaulmark Channel" | January 22, 2021 | 0.23[15] | 0.594[15] |
| 5 | "The Bag Ball" | January 29, 2021 | 0.22[16] | 0.609[16] |
| 6 | "Disco-mentary" | February 5, 2021 | TBA | TBD |
References
- "Skating into the Werk Room, it's Denali! @denalifox #DragRace #DragRaceRuveal". Twitter. RuPaul's Drag Race. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- St. James, James (December 2, 2019). "Calling All Drag Queens: Casting for RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13 Has Begun!". World of Wonder. World of Wonder. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- Rudolph, Christopher (December 18, 2020). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" Sashays Over to the CW For Broadcast Network Debut". NewNowNext. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 4, 2021). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 13 Premiere Slays As Most-Watched Episode In Franchise's History". Deadline. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- Vary, Adam B. (December 9, 2020). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Announces Season 13 Cast, Including First Trans Man Contestant". Variety. Variety. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- McCallion, Paul (January 1, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Pair of Queens". Vulture. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- McCallion, Paul (January 8, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: The Spy Who Dragged Me". Vulture. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- McCallion, Paul (January 15, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Tamisha Said I Had Potential". Vulture. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- McCallion, Paul (January 22, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Happy RuPaulidays!". Vulture. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- McCallion, Paul (January 29, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Bag Ladies". Vulture. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- McCallion, Paul (February 5, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Herstory Lessons". Vulture. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- Metcalf, Mitch (January 5, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals and Network Finals: 1.1.2021". ShowBuzzDaily. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Metcalf, Mitch (January 12, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals and Network Finals: 1.8.2021". ShowBuzzDaily. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- Metcalf, Mitch (January 19, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals and Network Finals: 1.15.2021". ShowBuzzDaily. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- Metcalf, Mitch (January 26, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals and Network Finals: 1.22.2021". ShowBuzzDaily. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- Metcalf, Mitch (February 1, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals and Network Finals: 1.29.2021". ShowBuzzDaily. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
