Original subtitles

RuPaul: Tonight...

in a four-part...

special event,

celebrities are making a total Drag Race transformation,

and competing for the title

of America's Next Celebrity Drag Race Superstar.

Welcome to RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race.

with this week's Queen Supremes.

These are your drag mentors.

Well, you know I'm a competitor,

so whoever I help, I want them to win.

I hope it doesn't end up in a tie.

Oh, bitch, don't even try that.

[laughs]

Girl, somebody's on the monitor.

Who is it? Who is it?

-Missy Elliott. -Monique.

Sally Jessy Raphael.

[distorted voice] I'm a comedienne, author,

and talk show host.

-Madea? -Madea?

I have no experience in drag at all.

Uh, Jocelyn Wildenstein.

[laughs]

-Contestant number two. -Here we go.

-Oh! -Paula Abdul. Lil' Kim.

I think there's some problems with Lil' Kim.

[distorted voice] I'm here at RuPaul's Drag Race,

and, baby, I'm gagged.

It looks like it might be Flavor Flav.

And I'm also scared as shit.

[laughs]

I'm going with Omarosa. [tongue pop]

-Last but not least... -Who is it?

-Maybe Lil Wayne? -Okay.

Kylie Jenner.

[distorted voice] I burst onto the scene

when I was 20 years old.

Nick Jonas?

I have worked in television, film, Broadway.

Pee-wee Herman.

[all laugh]

RuPaul: These stars will create complete drag personas

and compete in iconic Drag Race challenges...

It took my breath away.

Work the runway...

-Oh! -Oh!

And go head to head

in an epic lip sync extravaganza.

It was inspiring.

Tonight we crown a winner, baby.

That was like living your best life on stage.

Who will be

America's next Celebrity Drag Race superstar?

-Aah! -Aah!

♪ RuPaul's Drag Race ♪

♪ May the best woman ♪

♪ Best woman win ♪

Let's reveal tonight's celebrity guests.

These bitches not ready for me.

Mm-mm.

My name is Loni Love.

I'm a comedienne, author, and Emmy-winning talk show host.

Oh, my. This is a dream come true.

Oh, that look like I could fit it.

Plus size, yes.

Drag Race represents confidence.

It doesn't matter sizes, it doesn't matter about skin tone.

Everybody can be a drag queen.

Oh, feathers. Wigs.

I want to go outside of my boundaries,

because as a talk show host, I'm me.

But I just want to be somebody different for a minute.

Amazing.

I want to be a fantasy.

I came to play, slay, and drag all day.

Yeah.

Yep, I'm here to give these bitches a reality check.

My name is Tami Roman.

You might know me from a show called Basketball Wives.

I try not to do things that take me out of my element.

[laughs] This is the first time

that I'm really stepping out of the box

and trying something new.

Aah! Oh, my God.

-Oh, my goodness. -Are you kidding me?

I know Tami because we go to premieres,

we meet each other, we go to different events.

So we've developed a great friendship.

-Look at all of this. -I know.

Oh, I'm not ready for that one.

I'm the matriarch of my family,

and I'm always the strong person.

But sometimes on the inside, I'm breaking down.

I've shed 100.000 tears, but I can't show anybody.

So drag, for me, is really gonna give me that strength

to be able to hold on to the image

that people view me as.

Girl.

-Are you ready for this? -No!

I'm excited, but I'm scared.

[laughs]

I'm scared, Loni.

I'm ready to do it all.

I'm ready to slay. I'm ready to get in drag.

I'm like finding stuff hopefully I can take home.

They're not gonna let you take this stuff, Loni.

-You think they won't? -I know they're not.

[laughs]

I don't mean to boast,

but they've saved the best for last.

I am here to snatch another crown, bitches.

Uh-oh.

Because it always look good on me, anyway.

Oh, my God.

I'm Vanessa Williams.

I burst onto the scene when I was 20 years old

as the first black Miss America.

I wanted to be part of RuPaul's Drag Race

because I had judged twice.

But to do drag for real,

it's out of my comfort zone.

Well, hello.

And I love a challenge.

-Is that-- -How are you?

The Lord has blessed me.

-Stop. Look at you. -He done blessed me.

I was lucky enough to be exposed to the LGBT community

at a very young age,

and I'm very proud of the community

and the world of inclusion.

This is exciting.

I'm so excited to work with you guys.

Me, too.

We friends right now, but be ready.

I might be that sleeper, though.

You never know.

Y'all think y'all got it, and then I just creep up.

I just creep up.

[alarm]

RuPaul: Ooh, girl.

She done already done had herses.

I know what that means.

Once there were three little girls

who went to RuPaul's Drag Race.

They were each assigned very hazardous booties.

But I took them away from all that,

and now they twerk for me.

So, ladies, y'all get ready,

'cause your new daily bump and grind starts now.

[laughs]

[all laugh]

Now I'm even more scared.

Hello, hello, hello.

-Hi. -Hi.

[all laugh]

Oh, my goodness.

Vanessa, Tami, and Loni Love.

-Oh! -Hello.

Welcome to Celebrity Drag Race.

Thank you. We're excited.

Honey, we are all born naked and the rest is drag.

You are already amazing trail-blazing women.

Now it's time for you to experience the miracle of drag.

-Whoo. -I'm so nervous, Lord.

Bring it.

Drag doesn't change who you are.

It actually reveals who you are.

-Okay. -Okay.

You'll be making

a total RuPaul's Drag Race transformation.

You'll be going from quick drag,

to mini challenge, to maxi challenge.

And then you'll work and twerk the main stage in full drag.

And in the end, you will lip sync for your charity.

The winner will be crowned

America's Next Celebrity Drag Superstar

and win $30.000 for the charity of her choice.

#CelebDragRace.

I'm ready.

[chuckles]

This show is all about entering the sisterhood of drag.

So allow me to introduce you to your Queen Supremes.

Ooh.

Yes.

Alyssa Edwards.

[cheers and applause] All right, ladies.

The world's pageant mother has just punched the clock.

[tongue pop]

[all laugh]

My name is Alyssa Edwards

from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5, All Stars 2.

What I do best is teaching, leading, and mentoring.

Hi, gorgeous gals.

It's game on.

Asia O'Hara.

[cheers and applause]

Now let's teach these butterflies

how to fly, shall we?

Look who it is.

Asia O'Hara from Season 10.

I've been doing drag 16 years,

and I pride myself in finding those little things

that each individual person needs from drag.

So I'm going to be a great mentor.

Trinity the Tuck.

[cheers and applause]

Did someone order an All Star winner?

[laughter and applause]

-Yes, please. -Yes.

Yes.

You already know me, bitch.

I'm Trinity the Tuck, I'm from Season 9,

and obviously the crowned queen from All Stars 4.

What gives me a leg up as a mentor

is that I'm a winner, baby.

And bitch, I'm here

to help somebody else win some money, honey.

Ladies, these are your drag mentors,

here to help you unleash

the bedazzled superhero that lies beneath.

But not yet.

We want to see what you can do on your own.

Oh, Lord, RuPaul.

We can't do nothin'.

That's why we're here.

[all laugh]

♪ Oh, Pit Crew ♪

Oh, yes, Pit Crew.

-Oh. -Oh.

I like this show.

[all laugh]

Ladies, you'll have 20 minutes

to get into quick macho man drag

using these items we found in an abandoned truck stop locker.

-Eew. -[laughs]

Who you wearing? Port Authority.

[all laugh]

Quick drag lays a foundation, and a lot of times it's comedic.

Being able to make Ru laugh

is very powerful in this competition,

so you have to just

pour yourself into some type of character.

-Y'all ready? -Yes.

Get set.

Go.

You better start grabbing stuff.

Come on, get it.

Don't be trying to do a wardrobe.

Just grab something.

These ladies have never done drag before.

Grab extra clothes. Grab the whole hanger.

Quick drag shows me what I'm working with.

[cheers and applause] You can do it.

[all laugh]

Miss America down there taking her tracks out.

She can afford that.

My tracks staying in my head.

[screams and cheers] Yes!

Any woman that takes off her full lace wig to play the game,

she in it to win it.

I'm not playing with these heifers.

Ladies, think macho. Wipe them brows off.

Now make them bushier, bushier.

If you see some mascara, that's perfect.

Just draw it on.

You look like a truck driver already, and I'm living.

-Butch it up. -Bitch.

Would he be wearing lashes?

Uh-huh. Yes. Okay.

These ladies are for real today.

These girl-lina's are out for blood.

-Yes. -There he is.

Ladies, y'all have five minutes

to complete your macho man look.

Five minutes?

Are you fucking kidding me?

Isn't this nerve-wracking?

When I see Loni, when I see Tami,

I'm realizing they know how to brand,

so I have to be perfect.

The pressure is on.

Welcome to Drag Race.end act

How do you feel, studs?

-Vanessa? -Feeling good.

-Yeah? -Feeling really good. Yeah.

So you're kind of preppy there, aren't you?

Yeah, yeah, you know, I went to prep school.

But love my football. Love that football.

[all laugh]

Tami, how you doing?

Mm, I'm totally stoned right now.

-Oh, you are? -Yeah.

-Can I get you some? -No, I'm fine for right now.

-Maybe later. -Yeah.

Yo, Loni.

What--What's up?

[laughs]

So you haven't shaved in a while, have you, Loni?

Well, I don't need to. [all laugh]

In the parts of the woods where I'm from,

whiskers is real men.

[all laugh]

I didn't know they were going to be that competitive.

It's rather interesting

that they've all developed a drag character that fast.

Bravo.

Bravo, ladies. Job well done.

Now, for today's mini challenge, I'm looking for you dudes

to pitch a new product called Schwing.

It's a little blue pill for men who suffer from ED.

Electoral dysfunction.

You need to appeal to once-hardcore voters

whose drive to vote has gone limp.

In the end,

the drag king who really rocks the vote wins.

In the mini challenge,

you have to really do the character justice.

First up, Loni Love.

This is what drag is.

I can't wait to see how this turns out.

Howdy, y'all.

The ladies refer to me as a real Yankee Doodle Dandy.

And you know, sometimes my Yankee ain't so dandy.

So my macho ain't nacho.

I need a little help.

It's called Schwing.

[all laugh]

The ladies always refer to me as a real Yankee Doodle Dandy.

[laughs] Come on, now, huh?

There's no ballot box I haven't stuffed.

Did I say that? Oh-ho-ho.

[all laugh]

There's no ballot box I haven't stuffed.

Ha-ha. I caught that.

[all laugh]

Schwing works for the bipartisan voters, too.

So get ready, pull that lever with some Schwing.

Got it? Ha-ha.

I used to vote all the time.

Primaries, midterms, hell, even school superintendent.

When I was young, I used to vote prematurely.

Hell, I couldn't even make it to the ballot box.

Now thanks to Schwing,

I'm hitting the polls in all the right places.

[applause] Loni is killing it.

Schwing.

[all laugh]

I'm seeing the enter-tainter that I was hoping to see.

Yes.

So are you a little soft... on the issues?

[all laugh]

Take a Schwing,

and you'll nail this election just like I do.

[all laugh]

Thanks to Schwing, I'm gonna vote

for one of them 3.000 Democrats that's running right now.

One of them gonna get in.

[all laugh]

Thanks to Schwing,

I'm always in a Schwing state.

[all laugh]

Register to vote at vote.gov.

Stop playing.

[all laugh]

You were all very strong and virile men,

but one of you really had me standing at attention.

Loni Love, con-drag-ulations.

You are the winner of today's mini challenge.

Thank you. [all laugh]

I won?

I'm honored.

I mean, I was just having fun.

Decades before the Time's Up movement,

there was a movie called 9 to 5

that really stuck it to the man.

For this week's maxi challenge,

you need to pour yourself a cup of ambition,

as you pay tribute to hardworking women everywhere

in the unauthorized Rusical Twerking 5 to 9.

[all laugh]

Loni, you'll play Lily, a smart and funny lady

who's no shrinking violet.

Tami, you'll play Jane,

the actress, activist, ageless beauty.

And Vanessa, you'll play Dolly, the beloved singer

whose Smoky Mountains are world famous.

[chuckles]

Loni, you won the mini challenge,

so you get to pair each contestant

with their Queen Supreme.

-Oh, my God. -Okay.

So, Loni, who do you choose for yourself?

Let me go with the winner.

[cheers]

Yes. I'm so excited. You picked the right choice.

I'm gonna go straight with the winner, baby.

My secret weapon, Trinity.

Loni, who do you choose for Tami?

I want Asia for Vanessa and you for Tami.

-Come on. Come on. -All right.

Come on. Come on.

She was really helping me

because when Alyssa walked in, that's who I wanted.

[tongue pop] As Alyssa would do.

[laughs]

To help you with your drag transformation,

we've got makeup provided by a self-made lady boss,

Anastasia Beverly Hills.

-Ooh. -Uh-huh.

[applause]

Celebrities, start your engines,

and may the best drag queen...

Win.

Oh, I'm so happy I got you.

Like, I'm so happy I got you.

I'm so ready for this.

Have you ever been to a drag show?

My mom would go to the drag shows all the time.

-Your mother would go? -My mother would go.

-[laughs] -She loved them.

And so she took me once, and it was so much fun.

Did you ever think you would walk in the werkroom

of RuPaul's Drag Race?

I did not.

Well, God bless America and the world,

and, Tami, you're here.

Listen, I'm here and I'm blessed to be here.

And I just been sitting, thinking,

what am I gonna call myself?

'Cause y'all be having such amazing names.

And I've just been thinking

and I was like, what the hell you gonna be?

Come on, hit me with it. Hit me with it.

Miss Shenita Cocktail.

-Miss. -Miss--Miss Shenita Cocktail.

I like that. Do it again.

-Miss Shenita Cocktail. -Miss Shenita Cocktail.

[both laugh]

When I think about Miss Shenita Cocktail,

I see very poised, but can get a little like...

uh-uh-uh-uh-uh.

You know, like that.

This will be a complete departure from who I really am.

But I want to be able to give that little girlie, like, uh.

I am a huge fan of your show.

-Thank you. -It's all real.

You tell it like it is.

I've always been a fan of this show.

This is something that I always wanted to do.

Most standups, you know, when we're off the stage, we're shy.

And I just wanted to do something different

and to push myself to be somebody different

and not be afraid, and not be, you know, like shy about it.

One thing I really love about drag

is that it really has helped me be myself.

For somebody that's very self-conscious,

which I am as a person outside of drag,

the personality that I exude as Trinity

is who I really am on the inside.

Right.

And that's what drag is.

You don't have to fit into a mold.

What I want you to do is be yourself.

Okay.

I know what drag can do

for someone's self esteem.

I know what it did for me.

And so I'm really excited to share that with Loni.

Have you picked a drag name?

I really like R&B singers.

-Yeah. -I'm from the projects.

Diana Ross is from the same projects as me.

Mary J., I think she's strong.

She shows the embodiment of female empowerment.

So I'm just gonna put them together.

I'm gonna be Mary J. Ross.

I agree with you, and that's a great name.

Oh, my God, I'm so excited.

Do you think you have like a advantage over the others?

Well, I do feel comfortable on stage,

and I do perform all the time.

So the stage is comfortable.

But still, this is like out of my comfort zone.

When I signed up for doing this, I was like, okay,

I always like to challenge myself

because that's how you continue to learn, continue to grow.

-Yeah. -Especially as I'm aging.

That's what keeps you young.

That's what keeps the fire going.

It's that uncertainty that makes it special.

Oh, my God, that's so good.

I'm super excited. I have Vanessa Williams.

To know someone that has had her career for 30 years

and is still seeking out new opportunities

and finding new ways to fall in love with life,

that's very inspiring.

So have you chosen a drag name?

-I have chosen a drag name. -Okay.

And I wanted to do something that started with a "V".

-Of course. -And I was thinking what slays?

What obliterates the competition?

So I went with Vanquisha.

[laughs]

And then for my last name--

Vanquisha. Girl, come on.

Vanquisha and of course this is "da house,"

so it's Vanquisha Da House.

Vanquisha Da House. Oh, my God, how perfect.

That is such a drag queen name.

So strategy as far as winning this.

-You're Vanessa Williams. -Mm-hmm.

Like, I think a lot of people

expect you to still kind of be, you know, Vanessa Williams.

Yes. Uh-huh.

And I think as campy

and as like invested in the character as you can be,

like, people will really be, like, okay.

Wait, Vanessa didn't come to play, Dolly.

Vanessa Williams playing Dolly is going to be interesting.

You have to surrender a little bit,

not only to me, but to yourself.

So major goof factor.

Major--yeah, goof and comedy, and just over-the-top.

More is more.

This is your chance to let loose and have fun

and show the world something that they have not seen before.

-We're just gonna bring Dolly. -Yeah, we're gonna bring Dolly.

Bring Dolly to life.

I think we should do a twerk-off

to see what everybody's working with.

They ain't working with nothin'.

Tami ain't ready. [laughs]

Oh, they trying to come like that's the ball?

We bring it every time.

Mary J. Ross is ready.

Uh, Vanquisha Da House, go.

See? Uh-uh. Don't give it away. Don't give it away.

Just like Wizard of Oz, the house is gonna land on you.

-Oh, Miss Trinity. -On you.

Ladies, gentlemen, and judges, Miss Shenita Cocktail.

[all laugh]

We about to twerk the house down.

[chanting] Twerk and twerk and twerk.

Vanessa can twerk

and twerk and twerk.

Vanessa. Hey!

Hey. Hey. Hey.

Did you ever think you would see Vanessa Williams twerk?

[cheering]

She's like showing that she's ready to let loose.

Go, Loni, go, Loni.

Go, Loni, go, Loni.

Go, Loni, go, Loni.

Yep, yep. [cheering]

Loni is giving it all she's got. You go, girl.

-Miss Tami, Miss Tami. -Let's go.

Miss Tami, Miss Tami. Miss Tami, Miss Tami.

Miss Tami, Duh-da-da-da-da Tami.

Duh-da-da-da-da Tami.

Baby.

Go, Tami, go, Tami.

Alyssa: Miss Tami twerked it down.

Don't sleep on Miss Tami.

She's like me, honey.

The breakout star.

Okay, so how are y'all ladies feeling

about being in the werkroom for your first time?

This is scary.

It's hard, too.

And you haven't even got in drag yet.

I know.

Ooh, child, don't remind me.

I've always admired you ladies,

and this is just a dream come true.

It's, you know...

Girl, it just means so much to us

that y'all are standing there telling us

that our house is a dream come true for y'all.

Like, that, to me, is...

Ohh.

That's the truth, though,

and that's honestly what drag has done for a lot of us.

Introduced us to a world and introduced the world to us

that now has embraced us.

At one time, you know, we were the outcasts.

-Yeah. -The little boys that walked

with the, you know, sugar in the tank and a swish.

-Now we get to celebrate this. -Mm-hmm.

To see this happening for you guys

is just--it makes-- it inspires me.

You are special, and you have meaning.

And so thank you guys so much.

That's a group hug right there.

That's a group hug. That is a group hug.

This is something I never thought I would do.

It's something so different,

and it takes something more than makeup and hair.

It's something inside of you.

I don't know if I have it, but I'm gonna try.end act

You're first, like, first out the gate.

I'm first up. I know, right?

This is your time to set the bar.

Right, right, right.

Chugga-chugga-chugga. Chugga-chugga-chugga.

Oh, look, oh, look.

We are about to do Twerking 5 to 9, the Rusical.

-Twerk, oh. -Twerk.

Oh, I love your eyes.

I need all of that.

And then we have to change into the ultimate runway look.

I am a little nervous.

We only have a couple of days

to take someone who's never done drag before

and make them a drag queen.

Your boyfriend is gonna be lucky tonight.

[laughs]

Hey, celebrity squirrel friends.

-Hey. -Hey.

I see you're all hard at twerk.

-[laughs] -Yes.

-Hello, ladies. -Hi.

-Hello. -Well, look who's here.

Peanut butter and jelly right here.

Okay. I love peanut butter and jelly.

Now, this one will give you an education.

-That's what it's been. -Yeah.

A complete honor.

I feel like I'm gonna leave with a doctorate in this.

Right on, Dr. Tami.

-Yes. -I love it.

I was feeling so insecure

because I'm in my own head about the whole process,

you know, and so I just gotta battle myself.

Well, think about that little girl who lives inside of you.

Right, right, right.

You just have to create a space for her to feel safe.

-Okay. -I know you can do it.

All right. What's your drag name?

Miss Shenita Cocktail.

[laughs] That's the name?

-Miss Shenita Cocktail. Yes. -Miss Shenita Cocktail.

Okay. All right.

What charity are your doing this for?

I'm playing for St. Jude Children's Hospital.

-Aw, yes. -Yes. Yes.

I picked them because my mom passed away of cancer in 2013.

Seeing her fight through that

was like one of the worst experiences of my life,

you know, and so for me to be able to help kids,

and stop it so that they can be happy, healthy adults

is very important to me, because my mom was 59 years old,

and she couldn't handle it.

So I can only imagine what those kids are going through.

-Mm-hmm. -You know what I mean?

Oh, it's a great charity,

and they've been doing great things for many years.

-I love it. -Yeah.

Every day I wake up, I'm thinking about my mother,

you know.

I'm trying to make St. Jude proud.

I want to be a part of their mission.

I can't wait to see what you do.

-Thank you. -All right, see you out there.

All right.subtitle

-Hello. -Hi.

Vanessa Williams and Asia O'Hara.

Now, you've done everything in show business.

I mean, you've done everything.

Have you ever done anything close

to what we are having you do here?

No. I assume that, like, eyebrows will get blocked out.

I will get the nice ponytail lift

so this all goes up and nice.

[all laugh] I can't wait.

Are you afraid at all of anything in this process?

Well, I'm doing Dolly.

I've never done an impersonation of Dolly at all.

And that's why I'm here. I love challenges, as you know.

I've known you for years.

When you are faced with a challenge,

it makes you feel alive again.

Absolutely. The Rusical is about empowerment.

Women taking back their power.

What have you learned about the act of regaining your power?

The act of regaining your power

comes slowly and with pivotal moments.

-Mm-hmm. -And it's those little episodes

that make you say I'm gonna fight for what I feel is right.

Yeah.

What charity are you competing for?

-Trevor Project. -Oh, great.

Yeah. The Trevor Project is help for young LGBTQ people

that feel like they're gonna commit suicide.

-Yes. -And need some place to call.

It's a fantastic organization.

-It absolutely is. -Yeah.

Now, have you picked out a drag name?

Vanquisha Da House.

So I'm gonna vanquish the house.

[all laugh]

-I love that. -Thank you.

-That's a great name. -That's right.

I can't wait to see what's next.

I'll see y'all out there.

-Okay. -All right.

Everybody say Loni Love.

-Yes. -[laughs]

What an interesting pairing.

I think there's a buddy cop movie here somehow.

-I'd be totally into it. -Yeah.

So what's your drag name?

Mary J. Ross.

[laughs]

I love that. I love that.

So what's your charity?

It's called Dress for Success.

It helps to get women back on their feet economically

by providing a proper attire for them

for job interviews and for work.

And also, it prepares them by giving them classes

on how to be in the workplace and things like that.

I love that. I think that's fantastic.

What have you learned so far?

The thing that I'm learning most is to be confident.

No matter what, whether I make mistakes or not,

just to be confident in what I'm doing.

I think I forgot about that for a minute.

Know thyself. And you do know yourself.

And you can apply what you know about yourself

to everything that you do.

You know, it's just, um...

What about all this has made you emotional?

I've been different all my life.

I've been the big girl. I've been the dark-skinned girl.

[sobs] And when I saw your show,

I saw people who were different like me,

and they've been accepted.

When you're an outcast and when people look over you,

you want to show people what you can do,

and that's what this show has done.

And this is a challenge for me, but I feel at home.

You are home. You are home.

And we are not afraid of emotions here.

You let those emotions out.

What Mama Ru always says, everybody say love.

-It starts with you. -Mm-hmm.

You gotta love yourself.

This is a place where it can be done.

When you are all done up in drag,

like Miss Trinity the Tuck, you are a superhero.

-All right. -All right, I can't wait.

-Okay. Thank you. -All right, see you.

Ru gives me some reassuring words,

and that's going to help me be the drag queen

that I know I can be.

All right, ladies, gather round.

Gather round, ladies.

Now, tomorrow on the main stage,

you'll be debuting the Rusical Twerking 5 to 9

in front of a live audience.

-Oh. -Oh, my goodness.

-Wow. -All right.

Pressure.

Now, ladies, in this competition,

you're going to be working overtime.

And it'll drive you crazy if you let it.

So here's a little extra encouragement

direct from Dollywood.

Well, hey, RuPaul, and all you gals in there.

Wish I could be in that dressing room.

Lord, I can only imagine

the makeup and the wigs flying around.

Anyway, you know I love you.

You know if I hadn't been a girl,

I'd have been a drag queen.

I'm not so sure I'm not a drag queen.

Anyway, whatever you're doing, keep it up,

and don't muck it up.

The pressure.

[all laugh]

All right, see you out there.

[chuckling] Hey.

Ladies.

It's time to rehearse.

Twerking 5 to 9 choreography

with legendary choreographer, move-maker Jamal Sims.

So a-five, six, seven, eight,

get in line, head up, arms out, hit it.

How about our Queen Supremes?

You guys can have a seat and we'll--

Ain't gotta tell me twice.

You're gonna do good, you're gonna do good.

One thing I know about Ru, he does not play

when it comes to these kind of performances.

So this is the time to really let all your insecurities go.

It doesn't matter if you flubbed a step.

That's okay, as long as you recover

and the confidence is there and they don't know.

All right, so...

This is my Mary J. Blige step, okay?

All right, so one, two, three, four.

Oh, wow. They serious.

They got a real choreographer, not, you know, somebody cousin.

He got the steps already. I'm like, oof, okay.

Now we're gonna twerk, all right?

Let's go from the top.

We go one, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight.

Yeah? Now...

[laughs]

-Loni, how you doing? -I'm all right.

You can tell Loni is very self-conscious about this.

She is beating herself up.

I don't even know what I'm gonna do.

Loni, you got this.

Loni, what's that face about?

-I'm fine. -You all right? You sure?

-Mm-hmm. -All right, all right, cool.

-Vanessa, how you feeling? -I'm good.

-You okay? -Mm-hmm.

Okay.

She is really studying the choreography.

Look at her.

Vanessa is serious to the bone.

She is not to be toyed with nor played with.

Vanessa is so serious.

Do you think she's too serious for the drag?

I hope she just like, loosens up and has fun with it.

Yeah. I think she will.

Yeah.

Let's start from--

Shall we start from the top?

-Okay. -Is that all right?

So let's go from the top. Five, six--

-Y'all okay? -Okay.

[both laugh]

Tami, how you feel with those shoes?

Yikes. It's a yikes.

-It's a yikes. -It's a yikes.

-It's a yikes. -[laughs]

From here, we're gonna go into

an old school electric slide moment, right?

Be careful, Miss Tami, come on.

Yikes. Yikes.

I am nervous to play Jane,

so I'm trying to just say, Tami, do it for the charity.

I don't know how I'm going to win, but I'm gonna try.end act

It is day two in the werkroom, and we have zero time to play.

We got to do makeup.

We got to do hair for the Rusical.

And then really transform these wonderful women for the runway.

Now let's get down to business.

Did you get any rest, girl?

I didn't.

I'm so sore.

This morning, I am hurting

in places that I didn't even know even existed.

But I'm committed to the process.

Like, I've studied Jane Fonda.

I watched 9 to 5 last night,

and I'm gonna do it for my charity.

So I can't give up on that.

I'm gonna spin you around.

-All right. -Here we go.

Here we go. Here we go.

-Oh! -Welcome to the stage.

Oh.

Welcome to the stage.

Girl, don't you fall back.

Miss Shenita, yes!

Miss Shenita is in the house tonight.

Miss Shenita Cocktail has really come to life.

Rocking that pink lip.

Tami would never,

but Miss Shenita Cocktail absolutely would.

Let me see your face.

Come on, start giving me some faces.

Your drag face. The eyes.

Let your eyes tell a story.

Are they telling anything?

You got this.

-You got this, girl. -Yes.

In the Rusical, Jane is gonna help me just be the boss.

And then on the runway,

Miss Shenita Cocktail just has this air of confidence.

So they're different, but I love them both just the same.

[tongue pop]

We still have some more to do.

I just want to get you in the mood and let you see the idea.

I'm hyper focused

because I have to become Lily Tomlin and Mary J. Ross.

I need to be different than Loni,

so I gotta pull it out of me, and I know I can do it.

-Are you ready? -Yeah.

I trust you, Trinity. Let's see.

Okay, so turn around. Let's look.

Oh, my. [laughs]

-Yes, look at you. -Why, hello.

You were playing for the back, back, back.

Oh, my goodness.

This makeup for the Lion King? I thought it was drag.

Explain to me, 'cause we're not done, right?

I'm not walking out like this?

No, of course you're not.

This is what they call cooking or baking.

Oh.

And you put setting powder

and highlight powder in certain areas

so when you're fully blended, it looks highlighted.

-Oh. -Uh-huh.

So all of this will get blended in.

Blended down, and you will look

just like a spotlight is hitting your face

in all the right spots.

Wow. Mary J. Ross

is a whole different persona for me.

It's just something new and different.

I like it.

I really, really, really, really like it.

So how should I do my lips?

'Cause I like the way you do yours. Like the...

I mean, you have some nice lips, but...

Uh-huh, just...

Make them heavy.

Oh, yes, right there.

The diva's coming out.

Mary J. Ross.

Are you feeling the fantasy?

Uh-huh.

This is the attitude that I have been waiting to see.

This is a drag queen.

Mm, mm, mm.

I hope she takes the confidence that she's learned

and continues to believe in herself.

Lovely. She's yanked and pulled.

I'm feeling good about the Rusical.

I've got a really good sense of what I'm going to bring.

So I'm ready to embrace Dolly,

and I think a lot of people are going to be surprised.

Are you ready for your drag debut?

-I'm ready. -Let's do it.

Wow.

Look at that.

My brows are like almost to the top of my head.

Like they're in a different place.

That changes everything.

Looking at myself

makes me feel like I disappeared

and I'm becoming another person, Vanquisha Da House.

I definitely feel like it's another character.

Yeah, Vanquisha.

-Vanquisha Da House. -Da House Parton.

Now I just gotta-- gotta bring it.

-Yeah. -Me playing Dolly as Vanquisha

is going to be perky and bubbly

with a little bounce in her step.

But then when I walk out on that runway,

my inner Vanquisha will be even bigger and bolder.

As a drag queen and you're doing Dolly,

you gotta push your ladies up.

Oh, I'm adding a whole 'nother world.

-Okay. All right. -Oh, yeah.

-They're about out to here. -We want to see Dolly.

-And some hips. -Okay. Good.

-Uh-huh. -Whoo!

Vanessa is showing that she's ready to go to the next level

when it comes to drag.

Like, she's not coming here trying to sell us Vanessa.

Like, she's trying to sell us Vanquisha.

So what's more important?

Is it the performance or is it knowing the words?

It's how you make the people feel, in my opinion.

When you think about the best shows you've been to,

you remember how you felt.

You might not remember exactly what order the songs were in

or the choreography,

but you remember how the performance made you feel.

But let me also tell you, this is a competition.

For a charity. There's a big stake involved.

Yeah, you gotta know your words,

and you gotta do the performance right.

Because we all three know any fumble in this competition...

-Will be your last. -Uh-huh.

-Okay. -Sashay away-a-a-ay.

-We will be judged. -[groans]

Doing this challenge is really out of my comfort zone.

I want it to be fierce, I want it to slay,

so I gotta step up for this.

I'm gonna have to step up.end act

[RuPaul laughs]

♪ Cover girl, put the bass in your walk ♪

♪ Cover girl, put the bass in your walk ♪

♪ Head to toe, let your whole body talk ♪

♪ Cover girl ♪

RuPaul: And what?

[applause]

Welcome to the main stage of RuPaul's Celebrity Drag Race.

Employee of the Month Michelle Visage.

Oh, do I get a parking space?

You should put it in the suggestion box.

[all laugh]

Style superstar Carson Kressley.

How do you like my look?

I love it. It's perfect for casual Fridays.

-It's Tuesday. -Oh.

The hilarious Ross Mathews.

Do you have a head for business?

Oh, yes, head for business, and a bod for sin-ching.

[all laugh]

Director and choreographer Jamal Sims.

Now, what do you look for in a dancer?

I guess it would be a good twerk ethic?

[all laugh] Ooh.

This week we challenged our celebrity drag queens

to twerk it in a Rusical salute to working women everywhere.

Celebrities, start your engines,

and may the best drag queen win.

It's the Drag Race debut of Twerking 5 to 9,

starring Vanquisha Da House,

Miss Shenita Cocktail,

and Mary J. Ross.

[cheers and applause]

Ru Co Enterprises. How can I help you?

Well, you should have received that fax yesterday.

I'm sorry, but Mr. Charles is at lunch right now.

♪ We used to work just 9 to 5 ♪

♪ But the world got crazy, so to survive ♪

♪ We burn the midnight oil everyday ♪

♪ We've come a long way, baby ♪

♪ But there's miles to go ♪

♪ So don't go calling us ♪

♪ A nasty so-and-so ♪

♪ A nasty so-and-so ♪

♪ Twerking 5 to 9 ♪

♪ Always trying hard to do good ♪

♪ Ru, I'm as poor as dirt ♪

♪ Now I'm running Dollywood ♪

♪ I love all God's children ♪

♪ Except that red-headed hussy Jolene ♪

♪ I taught Miley how to twerk ♪

♪ Now all the gays love me ♪

♪ All the gays love me ♪

♪ Twerking 5 to 9 ♪

It's a good thing I was born a girl.

Otherwise, I'd be a drag queen.

[cheers and applause]

The boss man used to shatter our dreams,

but now the only thing shattering around here

is glass ceilings.

Atta girl, Jane.

And one and two and three and four.

Feel the burn.

And five, six, seven, eight.

It's our turn.

♪ Well, I served Barbarella ♪

♪ And I married a few fellas ♪

A-five, six, seven, eight.

But I still had plenty of time to invent aerobics.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Feel the burn.

♪ For good causes, I stuck up ♪

♪ Stop the war ♪

♪ Apologized when I ... up ♪ My bad.

♪ I showed the world ♪

♪ That 80 years can look this fine ♪

♪ A-one, two, three, four, feel the burn ♪

♪ Twerk high 'cause you're worth it ♪

♪ You're worth it, baby ♪

♪ Twerk high, don't reverse it ♪

♪ Don't reverse it, baby ♪

♪ Twerk hard, sisters ♪

♪ 'Cause together we're outta sight ♪

A-five, six, seven, eight. It's our turn.

♪ Twerk hard ♪

♪ For my Oscars ♪

♪ You're worth it, baby ♪

♪ And I loved all my costars ♪

I got a lot of action.

♪ There's only one Frankie to my Grace ♪

♪ A-one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight ♪

♪ Feel the burn ♪

[cheers and applause] Hey, ladies.

♪ All day and night, I'm on the search ♪

♪ For signs of intelligent life in the universe ♪

♪ One ringy-dingy ♪

♪ Two ringy-dingy ♪

♪ I'm always flirting with disaster ♪

♪ I keep you laughing 'cause I'm a master ♪

♪ If life gets you down, the answer is edible ♪

♪ Ain't no shrinking woman ♪

♪ Ain't that incredible? ♪

♪ One ringy-dingy ♪

♪ Two ringy-dingy ♪

♪ The love of my life, I call her Jane ♪

♪ She puts words in my mouth, but I can't complain ♪

♪ Give her all of me, love her more each day ♪

♪ We've been running the world like Beyoncé and Jay ♪

♪ One ringy-dingy ♪

♪ Two ringy-dingy ♪

♪ One ringy-dingy ♪

♪ Two ringy-dingy ♪

We're big business, bitch.

Today, for every dollar a man makes,

a woman makes just 80 cents.

And that ain't right.

♪ The work we started goes on and on and on ♪

♪ So when you're done singing and dancing to this song ♪

♪ Remember to keep Twerking 5 to 9 ♪

♪ One ringy-dingy ♪

♪ Keep on twerking, girls ♪

♪ Two ringy-dingy ♪

♪ Keep a-twerking ♪

♪ One ringy-dingy ♪

♪ Twerk, twerk, twerk ♪

A-five, six, seven, eight. Feel the burn.

♪ One ringy-dingy ♪

♪ Keep on twerking, girls ♪

♪ Two ringy-dingy ♪

♪ Keep a-twerking ♪

And that's the truth.

Plblblblblbl!

[cheers and applause]

The Rusical is so incredible.

But this is just the first step, so let's enjoy this,

but let's also remember what's to come on the horizon.

[cheers and applause]end act

Now it's time for the runway debut

of our celebrity glamazons.

Category is Eleganza Extravaganza.

This is Vanessa Williams before.

And now this is Vanquisha Da House.

Ooh.

RuPaul: Gorgeous.

Michelle: Stop, drop, and drool, bitches.

Vanessa: To surrender to the drag process is fabulous.

That's when the magic happens.

I do feel like a superhero,

and I know that Vanquisha Da House has arrived.

♪ Sexy drag queen ♪

Here is Tami Roman before.

And please help me welcome to the stage

Miss Shenita Cocktail.

Oh, gorgeous.

RuPaul: Are you happy to see me

or is that a stem in your flower?

[all laugh]

Tami: Miss Shenita Cocktail

is just fabulous from head to toe.

I am thankful to have this opportunity

to step outside out of safety zone,

because I feel more confident than I've ever felt, period.

This is Loni Love before.

Introducing Mary J. Ross.

♪ Sexy drag queen ♪

-Ooh. -Wow.

Michelle: Now this is the real.

[all laugh]

Loni: This is my first time in drag,

and it's awesome.

Mary J. Ross is a woman

who's very confident and she's fierce.

This is my moment to shine, and it's just beautiful.

♪ Sexy, sexy drag queen ♪

RuPaul: Welcome, ladies.

You have outdone yourselves.

Now it's time for the judges' critiques,

starting with the artist

formerly known as Vanessa Williams,

Vanquisha Da House.

When it came to the challenge,

the bar was set very high for you in my mind,

knowing you're a Broadway diva.

But when you turned around, it was so fun to watch you,

because you made every single minute count.

And you were just selling Dolly 100%.

This look is so drag,

'cause it's beautiful and it has a sense of humor.

It has a personality.

This is, you know, more, more, more.

Drag is more, and I love the colors you chose.

I love the accessories.

Those burnt orange kind of stones.

It looks like beautiful high drag.

And I am taped and laced and glued and pinned

and it's a lot of work.

Welcome to my world.

[all laugh]

-But drag is more. -Yes.

And I love the transformation.

Going beyond what people expect is always a challenge,

but my whole career has been

"I didn't know she could do that."

Vanessa Williams, drag?

Oh, I didn't know she could do that.

36 years later, still here.

[imitates old woman] Still here.

[all laugh]

And looking fabulous.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

I think Vanessa has it in the bag.

She came in super regal and super confident.

I was afraid of her losing the fun aspect of this,

but she hasn't.

Seeing this new side of her emerge is incredible.

All right, up next, Tami Roman, AKA Miss Shenita Cocktail.

Let me tell you, on our first rehearsal,

I was like, I might need a cocktail

because I remember how nervous you were.

But today I saw you lean into this character,

and all of a sudden, all the thinking

that I saw in rehearsal in your head was gone.

Oh, yay.

And so, you nailed the choreography,

and I couldn't be more proud.

-Thank you. -In the Rusical, you were Jane.

-Yes. -And that is a huge undertaking.

And you were so good with it. So funny.

Jane Fonda is so amazing

and so fierce and so cool, and you got it.

You even did like she has like

a lockjaw kind of delivery in her voice,

and you kind of lockjaw lip synced for that moment.

And I was like, oh, my God, that's like a minute detail.

-Yep. -Go, girl.

This look is one of like beauty, but almost like a Mother Nature,

like a "don't eff with me" beauty

on that serene kind of confidence.

I'm shocked to hear that you were nervous.

I can't picture you being nervous for anything.

I'm nervous for everything that is out of my comfort zone.

Even though people associate me to be a strong personality,

really inside, I'm not that girl.

And I want to be able to exude that,

to be able to just step into a room

and own whatever your moment is.

And so she helped me find that.

So I'm thankful for that.

Tami allowed herself to really face her insecurities

and to look it right in the face and say, you know what?

I am a strong woman.

I am here for a reason.

And I'm gonna trust you.

It's people like this that we hope to encounter.

I see Tami fighting for her mom.

I see Tami fighting for her charity.

And I see that fear that she thought was there,

not just fighting, but beating.

And that's the win.

-Thank you so much. -Thank you.

Stop in the name of Loni Love.

It's Mary J. Ross.

Hi.

Tonight when you performed, you didn't miss a beat.

And not only did you do that, but you swagged it out.

I actually wrote "swaggalicious."

[all laugh] You know what I mean?

That was like living your best life on stage.

It was fun and it was joyful, so congratulations.

It was a killer performance.

Thank you very much.

When you walked out here looking like this,

it took my breath away.

You're tapping into some other place

that maybe we don't let ourselves go

-when you're the funny person. -Yes.

Maybe you don't get to be the sexy person.

Yes.

Bitch, you are sexy A-F.

Thank you very much.

Seeing you come out like that,

and be so proud of everything you were working with

was inspiring.

It was body positivity.

It was owning yourself in every way, shape, or form,

and that's what this whole experience is about.

I represent so many women out there.

I want to make them proud of me.

I want them to know that they can do it.

And that's what I felt like I did,

and that's why I'm so happy for this opportunity.

I'm so grateful.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Do you have a favorite part of your outfit?

These hips.

[all laugh] Yeah.

I said go bigger and cinch this waist.

Ooh, that's why I'm crying, too, 'cause this waist...

[all laugh]

I don't know how y'all do it.

I love it.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

She has pulled something from within,

and truly believes that she is beautiful and worthy

and not alone.

That's powerful.

Like, that is the power of drag.

All right, ladies, I have one final question.

Who should go home tonight and why?

Just kidding.

[all laugh]

Ladies, to prepare for your final lip sync,

you may return to the werkroom.end act

A drink. I'm realizing Vanquisha Da House

can be bolder than I would ever want to be.

I will be tapping into Vanquisha Da House whenever I need to,

which may be a lot.

Y'all were absolutely fabulous and so inspiring on the runway.

-Congratulations. -Thank you.

-Cheers. -Cheers.

What do you want to take away from this, Tami?

To just not feel intimidated

by new situations and new scenarios

and new people and relationships.

You know, to be able to just be free.

Whatever happens, happens,

and you have a good time either way.

What I have learned about myself throughout this process

is when I put my mind to it, I really can do anything.

We talk about surrendering and also people perceiving us.

When I was Miss America at 20 years old,

my life completely changed,

but also gave me the biggest kick in the ass of my life

with life lessons.

You know, having hate mail, having death threats,

people--you're not black enough, you're too black.

And so that was like the grueling part of my life.

But it doesn't change your talent,

your essence, your integrity.

That just continues to grow and blossom.

Vanessa Williams is one of those people

that just when you think you know who she is

and what she has to contribute,

she flips the script on you.

This is just another life lesson for everyone

that you never know the capacity of what someone has to offer.

Who is this?

Hey, Loni. How you doing?

Wow.

Everybody, this is my boyfriend James.

-Hi. -Hi, everyone.

You look amazing.

[all laugh] I mean, really incredible.

I was surprised James came to visit.

He's a great supporter.

He knows what I'm going through.

And it's just a great feeling. It's a very emotional feeling.

-Hi. -Hello.

Trinity has been my mentor.

We've been working together.

It's been a great process working with her.

-She's a beautiful person. -You are lucky, sir.

She is hardworking.

I know she's taking this very seriously.

She is. She is.

The only thing I hope for you that you get out of this

is that you are 100% confident in you,

because there's a couple of times

that I thought you were doubting yourself.

Mm-hmm. But you told me, you said,

just throw it all away and just have fun.

And so that's what I did.

So she's been in drag, so now it's your turn.

Let's go, let's go.

I always thought drag was about men dressing as women,

and it was a bunch of makeup and wigs.

It's much deeper than that.

It's also about having confidence,

about knowing that you're different,

and it's okay to be different.

They're real people behind the drag.

-It looks good on you, though. -Really? Okay.

I trust your judgment.

Miss Tami.

[laughs]

Hi, honey.

Do you see me?

Tami, stand up.subtitle

Show your look. Come on, girl.

Give it all, give it all.

Turn around. Ooh!

Oh, okay.

My mama would be so proud of me.

And I want to be a better me because of her legacy, you know.

So... she would be really happy.

She would be happy.

-Hello. -Hi.

-Look who it is. -Hi.subtitle

I think it's a shock for Jillian to see me in drag.

Let me see if I can give you a good look.

-Here, here. -Yeah.

But I don't think she ever thought I'd go this far.

And I know I'm making Jillian proud.

I got my cocktail in hand. Here we go.

Look.subtitle

Here's to yet another new challenge.

Vanessa is doing great.

She's letting loose.

She's being herself, but she's being Vanquisha.

And she's giving us so many different layers.

She's being a drag queen. Let's go.

We're waiting for the final lip sync battle.

Oh, get it, James.

Y'all ready? You gotta learn your words.

-I love you. -I love you, too, babe.

-Okay. -Go do your thing.

-All right. -Don't be scared.

I know. I'm gonna try not to.

Love you.

-Bye, James. -See you later, babe.

No matter how tight the race is, it's not over.

Because my favorite part is just around the corner.

Not lip sync for your life, nor your legacy,

but your charity.

I need to have focus,

I need to have confidence,

and I need to know the words.

This is my one time to just give it my all.

I definitely have doubted myself

throughout the competition.

But you've gotta leave it all here,

because it's bigger than you.

I feel like a superhero

as Vanquisha Da House in full drag.

I got my lyrics down. I'm ready to go.end act

Ladies, welcome back.

This is your last chance to impress me,

earn $30.000 for the cause of your choice,

and the title of America's Next Celebrity Drag Superstar.

The time has come... [thunder]

for you to lip sync...

[echoing] for your charity!

Good luck, and don't fuck it up.

[music plays]

♪ You mean I've been dancing on the floor, darling ♪

♪ And I feel like I need some more ♪

♪ And I feel your body close to mine ♪

♪ And I move on love, it's about that time ♪

♪ Make me feel mighty real ♪

♪ Make me feel mighty real ♪

♪ You make me feel ♪

♪ Mighty real ♪

♪ You make me feel ♪

♪ Mighty real ♪

♪ When we get home, darling ♪

♪ And it's nice and dark and the music's in Vienna ♪

♪ Still you're hot and you kiss me back ♪

♪ And it feels real good ♪

♪ And I know you love me like you should ♪

♪ You make me feel ♪

♪ Mighty real ♪

♪ You make me feel ♪

♪ Mighty real ♪

♪ I feel real when you touch me ♪

♪ I feel real when you kiss me ♪

♪ I feel real when you touch me ♪

♪ I feel real when you want me ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

[cheers and applause]

Ladies, I've made my decision.

Vanessa Williams.

You're a winner, baby.

[gasps]

[cheers and applause]

Con-drag-ulations.

You've earned $30.000 for the Trevor Project.

[cheers and applause]

I am so happy that I got a chance

to be in drag for everybody tonight.

But for me, it was an opportunity to surrender.

I'm so happy that I can give more opportunity

to the Trevor Project.

Thank you.

Tami Roman and Loni Love, you've each won $10.000

for St. Jude Children's Hospital and Dress for Success.

Yes! Yes!

[cheers and applause]

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Thank you all for being part of the drag revolution.

And remember, if you can't love yourself,

how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?

Can I get an amen up in here?

-Amen! -All right.

Now let the music play.

♪ I am American, American, American... ♪

Vanessa: I'm so happy that I surrendered to the process,

I surrendered to letting other people transform me,

because it's more than me.

It's more than what I imagined.

And it's a symbol of victory.

I've stepped outside of everything I've ever done,

and then I actually got $10.000

to be able to give to my charity.

I'm so proud of myself.

I know what these drag queens have gone through,

and they've been through ups and downs.

But they're so confident,

and that has taught me to keep my confidence.

It was great for me.

[cheers and applause]

Ta-da.

Vanquisha Da House done vanquished the house.

♪ Am-Am-Am-Am-Am-American, American ♪

♪ Just like you, too ♪

[tongue pop]

♪ I am American, American, American ♪

♪ I am American, American ♪

♪ The red, white, and blue ♪

♪ I am American, American, American ♪

♪ I am American, American ♪

♪ Just like you, too ♪

♪ Am-Am-Am-Am-Am-American, American, American ♪

♪ I am American, American ♪

♪ The red, white, and blue ♪

♪ I am American, American, American ♪

♪ I am American ♪