A new group of queens enter the werk room and begin their journey to become the new Queen of the North. Singer Lu Kala is a guest judge…
It’s hard to believe that ten months ago Vancouver queen Venus was crowned as the season four winner of Canada’s Drag Race. She’s taken the world by storm during her reign as the first Indigenous queen to win the title and she’s still got a few months left of her reign. Canada’s Drag Race is back, back, back again with a new group of queens ready to take on weeks of challenges that push them to the limits of showing how incredible and diverse Canada’s drag scene is. This week we’ll meet the queens and see what they’ve got in the first challenge of the season. Let’s get into it!
This week’s episode begins in the werk room. The first queen to make their entrance is Minhi Wang from Toronto (who was actually one of the original Pit Crew members from the first CDR season). The second queen in is Tara Nova from Saint Johns. She’s a looks and makeup queen and she’s ready to take the mainland by storm. The third queen in the werk room is Sanjina Dabish Queen, the Bollywood queen from Toronto. Sanjina has an infectious energy and claims drama loves her. Next up is Perla from Toronto, by way of Calgary. She’s sweet, petite, and so, so sparkly. Helena Poison the scene queen is next in the werk room and she’s another Toronto queen who has designed runway looks for past queens. Jaylene Tyme is in next and she’s a 52-year-old indigenous two-spirit queen from Vancouver who has been doing drag for over 30 years. Members of her drag family include past CDR queens like Kendall Gender, Chelazon Leroux, and last season’s winner Venus. The Virgo Queen from Toronto is here and she’s giving Y2K Bratz doll realness. Uma Gahd from Montreal brings her campiest look to the werk room and immediately makes an impression. Tiffany Ann Co from Vancouver enters the competition all wrapped up in a pretty blue bow, but what else did you expect? Xana is up next and she wows in a super sexy look made of belts. The final queen in the room is Makayla Couture from Toronto, but you’ll know her from the season two makeover show, when she was given a prom-worthy makeover from season two winner Icesis Couture. She says the show helped her realize her trans identity and is ready to show the world even more of herself.
All of the queens re-enter the werk room together and each of them are so excited to be in the competition. The energy is chaotic, mothers greet daughters, friends greet their besties and they quickly pair up to unpack in their alcoves. In their little groups and assess the vibes and go over first impressions. In a video message, Ru officially welcomes the girls to the competition before Brooke makes her grand entrance in a sheer white lace suit. Brad and Traci are close behind to welcome all of the queens. Brooke tells the queens that the first challenge is already in full bloom. There are three rosebuds up for grabs and if they secure one, they’ll be in the top for the week. But this year they also have three thorns, which will be given to the queens who will then directly be sent to the bottom of the pack. The first rosebud and thorn have already been picked, but we won’t find out who receives them until later. They’ll still have two chances to make an impression and for their next shot they’ll be serving music video star where they’ll have to stun in a music video for their new hit single Go Off Queen.
The queens immediately get to work switching up their drag for their music video. Around the makeup mirrors they talk about the fact that nobody knows whether they’ve made a good or bad impression so far. Most of the queens are feeling really excited about performing for a rose. It immediately jumps to the finished music video and all of the queens put their best heels forward in their verses with all of them doing a great job. After the music video the queens can finally get out of drag for the first time. All of them take turns talking about their journeys in the Canadian drag scene. Some of the queens are feeling scared about how their verse will compare to the others.
It’s elimination day and the queens head back into the werk room. They talk about how strong the group is collectively. Xana has no problem announcing that Sanjina’s entrance look may have gotten her a thorn in front of the whole group, but Sanjina stands behind it and defends her outfit. Tara Nova announces she makes $37.50 per performance out east which has the other queens absolutely gagged, while Sanjina opens up about her body dysmorphia as a trans queen. The other trans queens gather around her and validate her feelings while also lifting her up. Out on the runway all of the main judges make their grand entrance and Brooke welcomes this week’s extra special guest, singer Lu Kala, who is eternally in her Pretty Girl Era. This week, the category on the runway is “You Oughta Know…Me” and all of the queens shock and stun in their very best drag.
Following the runway, it’s time to hand out the rosebuds and thorns. Jaylene earns the first rosebud, while Tara gets the first thorn. Makayla gets the second rosebud for her music video performance while Perla gets a thorn for hers. Tiffany earns a thorn for her runway and The Virgo Queen gets the last rosebud. This means the rest of the queens are safe, and head backstage. Critiques start with Jaylene. Brooke tells her how wonderful it is to see her here and give her top toots for her entrance look, which Brad echoes. Next up, the judges tell Tara that although her entrance look was a little messy her makeup is stunning. Traci saw popstar potential in her but she just wanted to see her dig a little deeper. The judges welcome Makayla back and compliment her performance in the music video. It’s 10s across the board for all three of Makayla’s looks and performances this week. All of the judges love The Virgo Queen’s looks and presentation. Brad tells Perla that her performance in the music video fell flat and all of the judges agree, but they all love her runway look and personality on the runway. Finally, Brooke tells Tiffany that her entrance look was cute and Traci liked her music video energy but her Y2K pop princess look on the runway was better suited for the music video and not the main stage.
Backstage the queens reunite and the thorny queens are feeling bad.Everyone congratulates the top queens of the week. Tara Nova takes her crafty “hodge podge” critiques to heart and gets a bit sad but the other queens lift her up before heading back to the main stage. Back on the runway Brooke announces Tiffany and Jaylene are both safe before telling the rest of the queens everything’s coming up roses this week because nobody is going home. Perla and Tara are also safe, which means The Virgo Queen and Makayla Couture are the top queens of the week. Both of them will lip sync to Pretty Girl Era by Lu Kala for the first win of the season. Both queens are strong performers, so it’s no surprise they’re giving this lp sync their absolute all. After a super fun and high energy lip sync, Brooke announces that the first top queen of the season is The Virgo Queen, who has also walked away with a $5000 tip. Fierce! All of the queens are safe to slay another day and ready to take on a new week in the competition.
Next week on Canada’s Drag Race: It’s queens versus aliens when the queens take on their first acting challenge of the season.
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