DRAG STRIP

Prediction: What the ‘Drag Race’ lip sync really means for elimination

Last week, Eureka and Kameron duked it out in a Drag Race rarity: a lip sync with no elimination.

In time for this week’s episode of season 10, we’re going to take a quick look at the other times when neither of the bottom two went home, what it meant for the competitors, and whether we can use that knowledge to predict anything about Season 10’s outcome.

Season 3: Carmen Carrera vs. Yara Sofia

Just like this year, we were already at the Top 6 when Ru decided, for the first time in the show’s herstory, to save both queens on the chopping block. Unfortunately, the gesture did little to help either of them. Carmen was eliminated the following week, brought back a week later, and immediately eliminated again. Yara went home directly afterward. In this case, the second chance didn’t actually help anyone get to the finale.

Season 4: Sharon Needles vs. Phi Phi O’Hara

After these two enemies duked it out, RuPaul announced Willam’s surprise disqualification, meaning that both lip syncers got to stick around. Luckily for these two, that outcome proved much more helpful: they both made it all the way to the finale, with Sharon ultimately taking the crown.

Season 5: Alyssa Edwards vs. Roxxxy Andrews

Though she whipped her hair well enough to linger for a couple more episodes, Alyssa ultimately couldn’t translate her performing prowess into a trip to the final episode. Roxxxy, on the other hand, lasted until the top three but did not secure herself the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar.

Season 6: Darienne Lake vs. BenDeLaCreme

Sometimes, a double save only delays the inevitable. These two had to lip sync against each other again later in the season, with Dela sashaying. Even then, Darienne went home in the next episode, so they were both denied a shot at the $100,000 prize.

Season 9: Farrah Moan vs. Cynthia Lee Fontaine

Beyond being another case of someone who wasn’t in the bottom getting eliminated, this instance is special because it’s the week Eureka went home last year and the reason she’s now competing on Season 10. Her injury saved Farrah and Cynthia, though not for long; neither queen made it even close to the finish line.

So… is there a benefit to being saved? Honestly, it doesn’t seem like it. Of the ten queens who survived this way, only three made it to the end of their season. That doesn’t mean that our most recent bottom two is doomed: Eureka seems like a clear frontrunner at this point, and Kameron has been growing each week. But getting spared doesn’t impart any sort of advantage, and it’s still anyone’s game.

Do you have predictions for this season’s outcome? Comment below, please…

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