Oh, the SHADE of it all! If you’re watching Season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race (and really, you should be), then you’re probably still gagging on the scandalous elimination from Episode 2 that aired on Monday. As Mama Ru likes to say herself, “¡Escándalo!”
So let’s get straight to the tea: in an unexpected twist, Ru told not just one, but two queens to sashay away — Dax ExclamationPoint AND Laila McQueen — after turning in unimpressive lip syncs in the “Lip Sync for Your Life” finale that takes place between the bottom two queens at the end of each episode. And, as if that weren’t shocking enough, after the eliminated queens made their tearful exits, Ru picked up her phone, and made a very shady call in front of the remaining queens: “I just had to eliminate two queens. How soon can you get here?”
Alright, squirrel friends, we all know what’s happening. Ru is inviting a queen back into the competition to compete with the remaining Season 8 queens, but who? After a little kiki with my colleagues, here are our top 5 guesses as to who Ru might be bringing back:
5. Naysha Lopez
Too predictable? Naysha had the unfortunate distinction of being the first queen eliminated this season — one label no queen from RPDR wants to wear. Judge Michelle Visage praised Naysha for serving some fierce face in Episode 1, and fellow Season 8 cast queen (and real-life friend) Cynthia Lee Fontaine lamented that it was WAY too soon to send her talented sister packing. Will beautiful Naysha be given a second chance to werk the runway?
4. Pork Chop
Like Nayhsa, Victoria “Pork Chop” Parker was the first queen eliminated in RPDR Season 1, and we all know Ru still loves her. In fact, Pork Chop has attended every live season finale since Season 1 and always gets a personal shoutout from Mama Ru herself! Is it possible Ru will bring a queen from way back in Drag Race herstory to be part of the current season? Is her charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent big enough to compete with the mega-watt star power in Season 8? Come through, Pork Chop!
3. Shangela
OK, let’s just get this out of the way: Shangela. We KNOW you all thought Ru was calling her, too! Shangela has come back to RPDR to surprise the queens before. After being eliminated in Season 2, she rejoined the competition in Season 3, and made it into the top 5 before being eliminated again — only to come back once more for a cameo in Season 4! Her work post-Drag Race has increased her public profile, including notable TV appearances, as well as a starring role in Lady Gaga’s lyric video for “Applause.” Has Shangela outgrown Drag Race with her own fame? Or will we hear her famous cries of HALLELOO once more in the Drag Race work room?
2. Trixie Mattel
I know, I know, it’s a long shot, with Trixie having been eliminated not just once, but TWICE in the course of the last season. My theory? Now is the time for Trixie’s ultimate revenge! Surely she wouldn’t be eliminated a third time, would she? Trixie was a Season 7 fan favorite and has gone on to become one of the biggest stars to emerge from the Drag Race franchise, due to her absolutely sickening style and razor sharp wit.
1. Willam
Oh yeah. Everyone’s favorite bad girl (and the first and only queen to ever be disqualified) Willam could be making a comeback in Season 8. Although she claims the disqualification came from unauthorized, uh, conjugal visits with her husband while the queens were sequestered during filming, no one knows the real reason for the DQ. What we do know is that Willam is certainly one of the biggest personalities in the Drag Race universe, and would have absolutely no problem holding her own in this season’s very personality-driven cast. Can you imagine the cat fights between Acid Betty and Willam?!? Would Ru demand a “rupaulogy” before bringing her back? We can’t wait until Monday’s next episode to find out!
No tea, no shade, no pink lemonade! Who do you want to see come back to the Drag Race? Tweet your predictions to us @GetFandom and let us know who YOU think RuPaul was calling!
