The Toronto queen has been lighting up our television screens since the first season of Canada’s Drag Race back in 2020…
By Bianca Guzzo
Ever since she first graced our screens during the inaugural season of Canada’s Drag Race, Lemon knows how to make an impression. From her zesty branding to her sour and sweet personality paired with monochromatic looks in the citrus hue that matches her name, she’s come a long way from finishing in fifth place in that fated first season of Canada’s Drag Race. She took her second crack at the competition in 2022 with the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs the World but was the first queen to leave in the show. In August 2024 Lemon was crowned as the winner of the second season of Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs the World, finally bringing the crown back to the true north strong and fierce after USA’s Ra’Jah O’Hara won the last season. In celebration of Lemon’s win, here are some of our favourite Lemon moments that led to her being crowned Queen of the Mother Pucking World.
Canada’s Drag Race Season One’s Sweet and Sour Queen
As soon as she entered the Canadian werk room Lemon gave us witty quips and comebacks that made her a fan-favourite among truly sickening queens in the first season of Canada’s Drag Race. The Toronto queen proclaimed she had a “sour as hell” attitude that was always front and centre when she was on screen. Her confessional commentary of that first season was nothing short of legendary, constantly delivering clippable sound bites while she talked about herself and other queens. Not only did she read her sisters to filth on a weekly basis, but she had the goods to back up her claims of her own drag, constantly impressing the judges with mini and maxi challenges and with her themed runways each week. Is there anything we love more than a shady queen? After all, she won the reading challenge that same season.
Our Favourite Pageant Queen
One of Lemon’s most memorable moments in her first season was playing Miss Fits, the bratty pageant princess during the pageant-themed maxi challenge. She was a standout during the challenge, often pulling focus from the other contestants with her physical comedy chops and making the judges laugh at everything she brought to the pageant stage. Her ability to fully embody her character paired with her Toddlers in Tiaras-inspired runway look won her the top spot that week.
Jojo Siwa Snatch Game
Snatch Game is a make it or break it challenge in any Drag Race season. The first season of Canada’s Drag Race had one of the best Snatch Games in the franchise’s recent herstory thanks to performances like Jimbo’s iconic Joan Rivers, Scarlett Bobo’s Liza, and Rita Baga’s Edith Piaf. Lemon held her own as a pre-Hey Mamas Jojo Siwa. Her signature high pony and bow stole the show as she stayed in character throughout the whole challenge. Between answering questions with Siwa’s signature raspy voice and challenging other contestants to dance battles, her impersonation of the Dance Moms star was top tier. Even though Jimbo took the top spot that week, she’s regarded as one of the best Snatch Game performances of the season.
Her Short and Sweet UK vs the World Appearance
After Lemon was eliminated two episodes shy of the season one finale, she was eager to get back to the competition. We saw her less than two years later trying for the crown again on UK soil during the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World. She entered the competition looking polished in her signature bright yellow, representing Canada along with her CDR season one sister Jimbo. Unfortunately Lemon was eliminated in that first episode by Thailand’s Pangina Heals after the talent show main challenge. In what truly could have become her villain origin story, Lemon remained gracious like a true pageant queen and turned her loss into lemonade, using it to give her the fire she needed for her next go at the competition.
Her Enduring Friendship with Priyanka
Lemon actually has a bunch of connections with other Ru girls, and at one time was even Jan’s roommate in New York City, but it’s her rock steady friendship with fellow season one queen (and winner) Priyanka that has stood the test of time. Fans of the show consider them one of the top power-duos in the entire franchise. Aside from getting to compete alongside each other during that first season they’ve also done live shows together, and Lemon even featured on a couple of Priyanka’s songs. Their duet on Come Through was even the first song by Drag Race queens to be used in a lip sync battle in a future season.
Third Time’s The Charm
By the time Lemon returned to the werk room for a third time on Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs the World, she had something to prove. She desperately wanted to show the judges she had more to give, and prove that she did. The season started with a girl group challenge which she won. She continued to place in the top three every week until she won again during the Snatch Game challenge. Nomatter what the challenge was, Lemon rose to the occasion. Whether it was giving her best popstar on the main stage, or becoming a hilarious character on a fake reality show, Lemon made sure she always had the spotlight directly on her. After a full season full of high points that ushered a steady climb to the top, it made total sense that a queen who bookended the season with challenge wins, finally got to take home the crown.
A Queen Finally Gets Her Crown
During the sixth and final episode of Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs the World the four remaining queens competed in a lip sync battle royale for the crown. After landing in the top all season, Lemon never had to prove her place in the competition with a lip sync. She defeated the fierce and talented Kennedy Davenport during the first round before moving onto beating the legendary Alexis Mateo to a Celine Dion song for the crown. Once the song was finished, Lemon was finally awarded her crown. After losing two competitions, Lemon has proven that it’s never too late to rise to the occasion and make your own moment. The rise to her eventual win has been inspiring to watch, and she’s brought the Canada vs the World crown back to its rightful place in Canada for the first time. Proving that even being a little sour can still taste sweet.
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