If you’ve been watching RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4, then you know that season 3 and All Stars 1 competitor Manila Luzon has been killing it. But apparently, Luzon had a runway look that was too risqué for the show.
In the most recent episode, the queens had to wear a dress that fit the theme “Curves & Swerves.” Luzon strutted out onto the runway wearing a cute pink, plush, devil doll outfit (below) that judge Michele Visage called, “Cruella de Vil meets Reese Witherspoon.” (That’s 101 Dalmatians meets Legally Blonde, for those of you who missed the doggy reference.)
But Luzon originally had another look prepared, and she says it got banned for “bad taste.” Let’s take a look:
Here’s the outfit Luzon wore on the runway …
… and here’s what she originally wanted to wear.
That’s right, folks — she wanted to dress like a bloody “feminine pad.”
Related: 12 questions for Drag Race All Star and World AIDS Day Ambassador Manila Luzon
In the caption, Luzon posted alongside the image of her bloody pad, she explained that Ru considered the look to be in “bad taste,” and production asked her to choose another outfit.
“I was really looking forward to wearing this gown that I think celebrates a perfectly normal human experience!” Luzon wrote. “Many of my fans are young women who may feel pressured by society to be embarrassed by periods. It’s empowering to teach young women about their bodies, encourage them to celebrate them and to question people who tell them not to!”
She says her goal was to “normalize menstruation by looking sick’ning.”
Luzon doesn’t seem angered by the decision: “It is not my show, it’s Ru’s,” she wrote, before thanking the host for giving her a larger platform to share her work.
Luzon is right about young girls feeling shame around menstruation. A 2006 study showed that most young women view their “time of the month” with shame, embarrassment and a desire to hide it. They also said that popular media representations of periods are often negative.
Luzon’s message also acknowledges the show’s young fan base. In a November 2018 Vox.com article, season 8 winner Bob the Drag Queen noted that when he “first started performing in drag, the audience consisted mainly of other gay men. These days, Bob’s touring audiences consist largely of preteen girls.”
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misterjack
OMG! That is too funny! Should’ve been allowed to wear that –WAY better than the back-up.
Whose house were those photographed in? Tres joli!
queerty02
Ru always makes herself out to be this edgy, irreverent, boundary pusher. This dress represents everything drag is about. If Devine can eat a dog turd off the sidewalk, Manilla can wear a period dress.
DarkZephyr
But the whole “Divine” thing was when the show was still on Logo. Its on VH1 now. Ru has to take that into consideration. This was one of the reasons I had misgivings when I first heard that it was moving from Logo to VH1. I knew certain aspects of it would have to be toned down. The Pit Crew has been greatly reduced since the move. Its almost like they barely get a glance anymore. And have we had any of those sexy Extended Pit Crew challenges since they moved? I don’t think we have.
man5996853
Devine and RuPaul were not cut from the same cloth.
misterjack
@DarkZephyr “The whole Divine thing” happened WAY before RuPaul on Logo. Divine was a protege of director John Waters, who featured Divine in his movies made in the 60’s-80’s. Divine died way before Drag Race premiered.
sukastyle
I am TOTALLY on board with all of you and think that Manila is being the most provocative pro feminist vagina proud shock of beauty doing her job on the show and making her statement. It is sooo perfectly outrageous and clever and timely it makes me crazy and want to run through the woods barefoot in a tattered, sheer dress, ravaging my hair and smearing my lipstick across my face with glee! Manila, just SO stepping up and rising to the occasion, dahling! For one night…. just ONE NIGHT Dammit!… she wanted to be a Rag Queen! HA! What a shame she didn’t get to wear it on the show. Love Her!