The Big Reveal! Alaska, Roxxxy Andrews and Jinkx Monsoon are the three queens competing for the title ‘America’s Next Drag Superstar’ in Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 5.

When the show started, I was rooting for Detox and Ivy Winters. I liked Detox because of her previous collaborations with Willam Belli. I’ve seen some of her performances via YouTube and it is obvious that she is quite a well-rounded performer. Maybe that is the reason why I expected much from her. I got curious about Ivy Winters because Manila Luzon kept on promoting her – she even revealed that Ivy is responsible for her outfits in the Best XXXcessory video. Dress me up, please?

My Favorite Episodes

Can I Get an Amen? – The queens give back by recording the song ‘Can I Get an Amen’ for charity. This episode was a revelation since it showcased Jinkx Monsoon and Ivy Winters’ vocal prowess. Damn, the sweet and talented queens! I want them to record a duet! I also loved Alaska’s voice. How I wish she is on the same team with Jinkx and Ivy. In this season, these three queens deserve to release a single asap!

Lip Synch Extravaganza Eleganza – Lineysha Sparks really looked like Tyra Sanchez on that episode! Ivy Winters as Morgan McMichaels looked polished and Jinkx Monsoon’s Mimi Imfurst is the cutest weird impersonation I’ve seen. Wanted to give her a hug!

Alyssa Edwards as Shangela just proved that she is the real drag mother. Alaska and Detox making fun of the Phi-Phi O’Hara – Sharon Needles confrontation was priceless. I wanted it to end that way!

Black Swan: Why It Gotta Be Black? – The life story of Rupaul presented onstage with a simple ballet presentation. It was heartfelt and I just love how Ivy Winters and Jinkx Monsoon portrayed the teenage years of Lady Bunny and RuPaul. Alyssa Edwards’ performance as the Black RuPaul gave me goosebumps because she was dressed well and her performance was superb. Although I love my Asian queen Vivienne Pinay, it was obvious that she is just new in drag. She wasn’t as confident as the rest. In the end, she had to lipsync against Honey Mahogany. Who went home? The both of them. For the first time in drag race history, two queens sasheyed away.

My Least Favorite Episode

Snatch Game – It is supposedly the most exciting part of Rupaul’s Drag Race. Drag Queens are known for impersonating dominant female acts and this is the moment for them to shine. It is one of the worst Snatch Game episodes ever. Coco Montrese’ look as Janet Jackson reminded me of Velvet Rope, but her performance was not as good as I expected it to be. The only ones that are worth remembering in this episode are Roxxxy Andrews as Tamar Braxton, Alaska as Lady Bunny and Jinkx Monsoon as Little Edie.

Random Observations

It didn’t exceed my expectations. As a reality show progresses with more season, it is expected to present a better batch of queens. I personally think still that Season 3 is the best. There’s a number of stand-outs, but not as remarkable as other queens from the past.

I’m not sure if it is just me, or do the tasks get easier every episode? I remember one episode in Season 3 wherein the remaining queens really had a hard time making their own couture dress out of Hair. This time, the outfits were made of Candies.

Lipsync For Your Life Song Choices. I love Britney Spears, but I believe that Ooops… I did it again is not a good song choice for drag queens to perform. Or maybe it is, but the bottom two queens didn’t give us a good number. I love the fact that they performed one of Michelle Visage’s song with Seduction. It Takes Two!

Blooming Romance. From the start, I can sense a great chemistry between Jinkx Monsoon and Ivy Winters. They’re cute together in and out of drag. They also perform well in their tasks. The supposed ‘love angle’ between Jerick and Justin could’ve been the sweetest part of the whole season, but they focused on that angle a little too late much to the dismay of the shippers.

The Comedy Queens. I love the friendship of Alaska and Jinkx Monsoon. They both know that they’re each other’s biggest competition, but they remained professional about it. Yes, they do have strategies, but it didn’t reach the point wherein they had to hurt each other’s feelings. I love that they acknowledge how they feel towards each other. Both are genuine and sweet.

Pressure. Obviously, all eyes were on Alaska. Her partner Sharon Needles won the 4th season and like Detox, Alaska auditioned in every season. Some were saying that she only made it on the show because of Sharon, but her sweet personality, talents and skills proved the haters wrong.

Detox is already a star in her own right. She appeared in a number of music videos and recorded a lot of chart-topping singles with Willam Belli and Vicky Vox. The viewers were expecting her to be super bitchy (well, she’s not bitchy to be honest) and crack the funniest jokes. On the other hand, Ivy Winters is already known by fans as the creative person behind some of Manila Luzon and Lady Bunny’s outfits. I wonder why they didn’t let her showcase her juggling and circus acts.

The episode last Monday made me laugh at the first part. I love how the girls played with the puppets except for Roxxxy, which I find rude. It’s such a shame to see Detox go. My Ideal Top 3 could’ve been Alaska, Jinkx and Detox, but we have to give it to Roxxxy. She is a polished queen after all.

Although I didn’t like how Roxxxy acted in the main episode and in Untucked, I still feel that she doesn’t deserve all the destructive criticisms she’s getting.

For the episode next Monday, the Top 3 queens will have to shoot a music video for RuPaul’s ‘This is the Beginning’ and will have a chance to have a lunch date with her.

To my co-Rupaul’s Drag Race fans, who do you think will win this year? Alaska, Jinkx or Roxxxy? Share your thoughts below!