Original subtitles

My God.

I'm trying to self-Truman Show myself.

All privacy, I think to you, in some way,

represents suppression of who you are.

It's exhibitionist.

But what's wrong with that?

Take the desire from my son

to be with a male, in Jesus' name, I pray.

Yes, I bring in cameras, and yes,

I'm afraid to have these conversations without them.

I might need one more layer, actually.

I'm revealing too much.

MTV

- Previously on "RuPaul's Drag Race"...

You need to transform these dancers

from RuPaul's Drag Race Live

into devastating drag queens.

Morphine.

- Where you lose me is the look.

- Sapphira.

- The outfits are different, so it is telling

a completely different story.

- Plane Jane.

- When y'all rounded the corner,

it was like the power just hit us in the face.

- Condragulations.

You are the winner of this week's challenge.

Sapphira, shantay you stay.

Morphine, sashay away.

- Ooh. - My goodness.

- I'm really sad that Morphine has been eliminated

just because I know how bad she wanted to make it to the end,

but I'm also excited because I made it to the top four.

- It's going to be so boring without Mo.

"I'm rooting for all of you.

Morphine Love Dion."

- We love you, Morphine. - My sister.

- How are you feeling, Sapphira?

- This was not a part of my fantasy.

- That lip sync was probably my favorite

of the entire season thus far.

- When she said, Sapphira, I was expecting her to say,

Morphine, shantay, you stay,

because Morphine's sickening.

It's going to be so different without her.

- It is. - There's a quiet.

I'm going to get a BBL.

And I'm going to Morphine's doctor.

Bye, girl.

I think the queens are living that I finally

have shown some vulnerability.

I've been the juggernaut, bitch.

They're like, yay, finally,

perfect Sapphira is not perfect.

But if these queens think

that because I was in the bottom once,

it's going to affect me at all,

they should know me better by now.

- First of all, congratulations.

- Thank you.

- My gosh, thank you so much. - Yes.

- Welcome to the Four Wins Club.

I almost didn't make it.

- For the first three people, they hate leotards.

But they got to you, and they loved it.

Ooh.

- It's not just about the costume.

It's about the makeover.

It's about the family resemblance.

It's about how we made our makeovers feel.

And your bitch was dressed like a Muppet, so...

- You're sickening... a concept. - A concept.

- You wouldn't know anything about it.

- Yeah. - Is that so?

Okay.

Q and I definitely have

sort of like a sibling rivalry at this point.

We like tormenting each other a little bit,

but, you know, there's always some truth to the jabs.

- Breast cups and leotards and shoulder pads, mama.

- Talk to the scoreboard, baby.

- Well, there's been plenty of people with high scoreboards

that haven't won this competition.

- Not a lot, though.

Speaking of the scoreboard, let's tally it up.

Let's start with the lowest.

- That's Nymphia with 1.25.

- Well, if I'm 1.25, technically,

they're only 3 1/2 wins,

so 2 wins and 2 wins.

- 4 and 4.

- I don't have as many wins as, like, Plane or Sapphira.

But I definitely think that maybe

some of the wins that they have should have been mine anyways,

so I'm just going to count those mentally.

- How's everyone feeling now that we're the top four?

I'm feeling sickening!

I'm feeling, like, so great.

- I'm just praying to the gods above that the next challenge

has nothing to do with any comedy writing

or writing of any sort.

- Do you watch the show, Tamar?

You made it to the end.

Does that not prove to yourself that you are sickening

and you are that bitch?

- At some point, you gots to start believing it.

- Deep down, I know what needs to be done,

but everyone's so good.

It will definitely be a battle and struggle.

- Whoo! - Top four.

- Top four!

Top four! Top four! Top four! Top four!

- Booty-licking good. - Yeah!

- As much as I love my sisters, it's game time.

It is all about me now.

These queens should be shaking in their boots

that I'm still here.

Shake in your boots while I walk in my biscuit heels.

It's about to go down.

Aah!

"RuPaul's Drag Race"

The winner of "RuPaul's Drag Race"

receives a one-year supply

of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics

and a gag-worthy grand prize of $200,000,

served by Cash App.

With extra-special guest judge Ronan Farrow.

"RuPaul's Drag Race," may the best drag queen win

Best drag queen win

- Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo!

Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo!

It's a new week in the Werk Room.

And we are the top one, two, three, four.

We're definitely not sure

if there's going to be elimination.

We're hoping it's going to be a top four,

but, you know, you never with "Drag Race."

- Where is everybody?

- I don't know. - My God!

- It's like I can breathe.

I feel free to just be me now.

- Who have you been the whole time?

- Bitch, who knows?

- No, what I mean is the happy version of me.

Happy version?

- Yeah, I feed off of other talented individuals.

And I feel like everyone here is very talented.

And we kind of got rid of the rabble and the scraps.

The rabble and the scraps.

She loves to just get her little licks in.

But if you try to lick her, she'd be like...

She stands up.

- Hello, hello, hello. - Yes!

- Hey!

- My top four queens. - Hello.

- Condragulations on making it to the semifinals.

Now, before we leave these hallowed halls,

I want to share some advice.

Stay kind. Stay humble.

And don't be afraid to play the fool.

Pit Crew.

Ooh.

- Hey. - Ooh.

- Hello, hello, hello. - I don't like this.

Safety first.

- Now, for today's Mini Challenge,

you'll be lip-synching for your life...

underwater.

- What?

- That's right... aqua boogie.

- I am gagged.

I am shook. I do not want to get in water.

It is too early for this shit.

- Now, you got ten minutes

to get into quick swimsuit drag.

And then I'll meet you at the pool.

Let's go.

I like yellow!

- Time for a swim.

Well, that doesn't fit.

- I don't like the view that I'm seeing right now.

- All right, my little mermaids,

it's time to play Kiddie Pool Karaoke.

Now, one at a time, you'll submerge your faces

and deliver a breathtaking lip sync.

Sapphira, assume the position.

Wow, look at those jugs. My goodness.

And they're waterproof, aren't they?

And they're far apart.

- Where did you get those? - We got our ways.

You're not going to tell?

- You got a breastplate connection, girl?

- I got a breastplate connection.

All right, come on, Pacoima.

Hey!

Let's do it.

Let's fire up that track.

It's hypnotic.

Ho-ho-ho!

Is that what you call a breaststroke?

Hey, kitty girl

It's your world

When you walk the street, steppin' to the beat

Hey, kitty girl

Get your twirl

In the disco heat

you're the boogie-body-rockin' queen

- RuPaul is trying to waterboard us.

I truly hope to never have to do this again.

Like the world is your run... run... runway

People say that when the dog is away

Kitty cats are going to come out and play

Hey, kitty girl

It's your world

When you walk the street, steppin' to the beat

Hey, kitty girl

Get your twirl

In the disco heat

You're the boogie-body-rockin' queen

Boogie-body-rockin' queen, boogie-body-rockin' queen

You're watching Adult Swim.

Boogie-body-rockin' queen, boogie-body-rockin' queen

Boogie-body-rockin', boogie-body-rockin'

Boogie-body-rockin' queen,

Well, I guess not everybody knows the lyrics to my song.

Well, well, well, just when you thought

it was safe to go back in the water...

The winner of your final Mini Challenge is...

Sapphira. - Yes!

- You've won a trip for two

to the Almar Resort and Mantamar Beach Club

in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

- That's fun. - Ooh, fun.

- Airfare included.

- PV?

My God.

It makes drowning myself worth it.

- Now, ladykins, earlier this season,

we had fun doing a book cover Mini Challenge.

But now, as the top four queens,

I want you to dig deeper.

Inspired by my memoirs

"The House of Hidden Meanings,"

for your final Maxi Challenge, I want you to put pen to paper

and write stories about your life.

- Okay. - Okay.

- We have to, ta-da, write our own book.

I did say I hope this week's challenge

has nothing to do with writing, and, um...

- Then you need to come up

with a catchy title for your book.

Next, you'll pose the Random House down

for a cover shoot

with celebrity photographer Albert Sanchez.

- Ooh. - Ooh, fabulous.

- Last but not least, each of you will be interviewed

by the award-winning podcaster,

the co-host of "Las Culturistas,"

Matt Rogers.

- What? - Matt Rogers?

- Now, this will be the first of many interviews

in your "Drag Race" career.

So keep it fun, keep it interesting,

and don't forget to plug your book.

Now, will your charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent

thrust you to the top of the bestseller list

or leave you at the bottom of the dollar bin?

And who will make it through to the grand finale

of "RuPaul's Drag Race"?

This is turning into a real page-turner.

Racers, start your engines,

and may the best drag queen win.

- We're going to write.

- How the fuck did this happen?

- Because you literally said,

I don't want a writing challenge.

- Last time I wrote something was, like, in college probably,

so it's been a couple years.

First thing I have to do is write some stories

about my life for this memoir.

This challenge is about letting your audience in,

and I'm going to be vulnerable.

- What are you thinking about?

- I was thinking about writing

about how my situation was growing up

and how it led me to, like, where I am now...

More, like, a serious tone, I guess, to it...

- Yeah. Yeah. - Or truthful.

- I kind of do prefer to keep everything lighthearted

and "ha ha" when it comes to drag.

- Very Plane Jane-esque? - Yeah.

Great writers also have to read books,

and I read social-media posts.

So I want to write stories that contextualize

the fun, whorish bitch that Plane Jane is.

Now's not the time for the dead-grandma story.

I don't know.

- You got this. - All right.

- You're funny... - Yeah.

- Looking.

- Are you comfortable with writing?

- I don't like to do it, but I am good at it.

I'm going to, like, write a little bit about my family,

like, my spirituality as well.

My God.

Now I have to dig deep into the depths of my memories.

- What kind of book do you want to write?

- Something that doesn't land me in the bottom.

I've had a hard time writing lyrics and jokes,

but this is writing.

I don't necessarily have to be funny.

I just need a good story.

- Are you going to write why you like bananas so much?

- "The Banana."

- "The Banan"?

- "Ba-Man," "The Banana Man."

- "The Banana Man"?

Not even "The Banana Woman"?

- Is that seriously the name of your book?

No!

- I was thinking maybe like,

The Art of Letting Go."

Everything's all about farting.

Can I do a better fart?

No, I'm not giving up.

- Nymphia, you in danger, girl.

The last one, that was a good one.

There you go.

Got it. - Nymphia, come on over.

- It's now time for our memoir book-cover photoshoot.

Even though I do feel very nervous writing,

I do love photoshoots.

And I'm another person in front of a camera,

so I feel very confident for once.

- Say hello to celebrity photographer Albert Sanchez.

- Hi, Albert Sanchez. - Hello.

- So, Nymphia, what's the name of your book?

The Art of Letting Go."

- This outfit exemplifies that title, doesn't it?

Yes.

- So why don't we start

with some really graphic full-body shots?

- Okay. - Okay?

Can you lift the arms a little,

so we can get some air in between?

- Okay. - Yes, there, perfect.

Yes.

- I'm serving ferocious Catwoman.

- Can you show teeth?

A pleasant mouth that is open and inviting.

- I thought an inviting mouth looks like this.

- Let's try the "Cosmo" cover on her.

This is what it looks like. It's like this.

See this arm? Disappears. It's back here.

That's it right there.

Love, love, love.

- Surprisingly, there's no bananas in my book.

I felt like it would be interesting to show

a different side to Nymphia.

I am serving strength and also letting go.

- You want to do this kind of thing, where you get...

The silhouette is very delineated.

- Okay. - You know? I'll take that.

- Thank you.

- Take this foot and put it a little forward,

so it doesn't have to bend, like...

Yes. Ooh, nice.

Maybe you can lift one leg.

- That's great. - Nice, nice, nice.

I know it seems very effortless,

but, girl, these shoes are so heavy.

I'm like...

Boy, that's great silhouette.

- I think we got it. - We think we got it.

Well done.

I know I killed that photoshoot.

One last push of self-confidence,

and we're there.

- I love photoshoots, but I'm definitely, like,

a little bit nervous to have this one-on-one time with Ru.

- So, Q, what is the title of your book?

Savor Every Bite."

- That's a long title. Do you bite soup?

- You know, you take a bite out of life.

Whether it's good or bad, you have to, like, live in it

and enjoy it.

- So, for the cover of your book, what are you thinking...

Head and shoulders, full body?

- Maybe a head and shoulders or...

Yeah, the full body. Let's do a full body.

Okay, I'd like to do, like, a...

- Nice. - Or, like, a...

Let's work on this one.

Hold on. You'll go one, two, three...

- This Maxi Challenge is also kind of a branding challenge.

And, you know, my drag brand

is fun and joy and, you know, fashion and camp.

- Connect with the camera. Like me, like my book.

- So I just really want to sell that

through, like, my book cover.

- Chin down but long neck. I know it sounds weird.

You want to get your lips over your teeth.

Say with your mouth, "Do you like pussy?"

As in pussycat.

- Do you like pussy?

- Twist that body.

Chin down. Say it again.

- Do you like pussy? - That's it.

- You can't handle all this pussy.

- You can't handle it, honey.

Ru and I are connecting.

She's giving me a lot of poses to do.

- Put this here. Yeah.

You're sexy. "Cosmo" cover.

- I'm feeling great about how this is turning out.

- This is my Cookie Lyon look.

I am the queen of the empire, serving a 15-foot-long ponytail

and snakeskin all over.

- So what's the title of your book?

- "Slue Foot."

Consider your book sold.

- I'm going to buy that book.

Do you have any ideas

for how you want the book cover to look?

- I had a couple of ideas, mainly this around me.

Here, let me help that.

You want this sort of wrapped around you.

Lassoed around.

To do a photoshoot with the legendary Mother?

Come on, now... dream.

- You know your shape, don't you?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Come on, "Source" magazine.

Come on, LaToya.

Where your head is at, 3/4 is always your friend.

Ooh, she wrapped up all up in this hair.

Yeah.

Come on, Sequoia.

- Me and Mama Ru get along like old friends.

I'm so happy to have this experience.

This is something I'll never forget.

- Come on, where Lil' Kim and them at?

Yes, "Slue Foot: The Series,"

coming this fall on BET.

- The OWN Network, honey. - Yes, honey.

We are good. Very well done.

- Thank you so much. - All right.

Well, we'll call your agency

and send the check right over.

Thank you so much.

- I am walking on sunshine.

I nailed this photoshoot.

- Hi.

- So, Plane Jane, you're missing a shoe.

- I am.

So my book title is "Plane Crash!"...

- Yes.

How I Walked Away from Disaster."

- I know the premise.

But later, do we have the option to put the shoe on?

- Absolutely.

- You could look beautiful after a plane crash.

- Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. - Right.

I feel a little intimidated.

Ru knows exactly what she wants.

She is an art director in this moment, honey.

- I just survived a crash, and I'm going to Disney World.

Relax into this pose.

Make it feel natural and "cover girl."

And this hair, can you take it

and make it go all the way on that side

without it falling off?

Yeah. Yes, yes.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

- I'm a top model, and Ru is Tyra in this moment.

Mother is getting me together over here.

- Ready? And one, two, three...

Yeah.

Work the fan.

Connect with the camera.

- I'm really feeling my, like, natural-woman fantasy,

with my human hair blowing in the wind.

- You just survived a crash, and you look gorgeous.

- I'm scared to even venture into that dream

of a fifth win.

- We are done. - Awesome.

Thank you. - Thank you.

- But, hey, I mean, anything is possible,

so we'll see.

- Hello, authorist Plane Jane.

- It's time to promote my memoir with Matt Rogers.

I feel great about the stories that I've written.

They're funny.

They represent who I am as a drag queen.

I'm ready to tell all and really sell my book.

- I am simply thrilled to be here with top 4 contestant

on season 16 of "RuPaul's Drag Race"

and the author

of "Plane Crash! How I Walked Away from Disaster."

Plane Jane, how the hell are you?

- Well, I walked away unscathed from disaster.

- There is not a scathe on you. - Thank you.

- Yeah. - That's so sweet of you.

Well, you haven't seen, you know, my down south region.

You know?

- We're here to talk about your book.

Okay, fantastic.

So, in your book, you speak in a chapter

called "Being a Bitch Can Be an Act of Kindness"...

- Yes.

- About how one of your good Judys

was a bitch to you, and it served you well.

- Before I was this glamorous woman that you see today,

I was just a baby drag queen... A booger, if you will.

And six months into sort of practicing makeup,

I thought that I was ready for the spotlight.

- Yes.

- And my friend said,

girl, you look like a clown... A clown.

- "Girl, you look like a clown."

- And the image that I was envisioning

faded away and was replaced with reality...

- Yeah. Yeah. - That I looked insane.

But that same friend, who really woke me from my trance,

ended up being the same person who encouraged me to continue.

I followed my friend's advice.

And, you know, lo and behold, I became gorgeous

and, you know, completely texture-less.

And I won't hear otherwise.

So do you find

that "being a bitch can be an act of kindness"

has been something you've applied in this competition?

- You know, throughout this competition,

throughout this process,

I've realized that there's sort of a tact

to being bitchy.

You've had to realize that?

- I have been bluntly honest with some girls

in this competition. - Yeah.

- And some of them haven't liked it.

But at the end of the day, guess where they are sitting...

At home, and I'm right here.

So maybe they should have listened

instead of calling me a bitch.

- Yeah. - Like, my good friend Amanda,

who I know is watching this,

you know, I still love you, girl.

And I'm rooting for you.

- For the other members of the top four,

if you had to be brutally honest in a gift-giving way...

- Okay. - What would you say to them?

Aah!

- Okay, you know, for Q, it would be her makeup.

For Nymphia, it would be her charisma.

And for Sapphira, it would be her taste.

Sometimes when an interviewer asks you to get a little shady,

you don't have to do that.

- So, you know, work those out, girls.

Love you so much.

Well, good luck in the top four.

I think that you're amazing. You're so funny.

And the book is

"Plane Crash! How I Walked Away from Disaster."

And there's clearly many life lessons in there.

- That's right. I'm hoping for that number-one spot

on "The New York Times" bestseller list.

You know, fingers crossed. - Look out, RuPaul.

- Not to compete with Mama, though.

Maybe number 2. Maybe number 2.

- Hello, dear. - Hi.

- How you doing? - I'm doing great.

So I'm reading in your book,

Embracing All of Me,"

which can you just explain, what is slue-foot?

- So I have hip dysplasia,

and my foot slues out to the left...

- We got a little slue-age. - Whenever I walk.

And so I kind of walk like a pigeon...

I mean, like a... - Like a penguin.

- Like a penguin. - Like a pigeon penguin.

A pigeon penguin.

- So there is an amazing chapter of your book called

"Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen"...

- That is all about your grandmother Nona.

- My Nona, yeah. - Your Nona.

So, if you could describe Nona in one word, what would it be?

Loving.

- Why do you think it is that little gay boys gravitate

towards their grandmothers?

Because I have that, too.

I always have a soft spot for my grandmother,

and I do feel like she got me.

- Oddly enough, my Nona had a very big problem

- with my homosexuality. - Really?

- And so she kind of was like, I don't want you to go to hell.

And my mom was like, you know, that's not...

what sends you to hell, right? - Right.

- And, also, I have a thing

that if you have a problem with me,

I will give you some space.

And then when I come back,

if you still have the same problem,

I'll give you more space, but typically...

- They missed you. - They miss me.

- Yeah. - They always miss.

- I mean, come on, I'm going to miss you when you leave.

I'm already having separation anxiety.

Right?

- Just going back to the title of your book,

how are you, Sapphira, embracing all of you now?

- I used to get made fun of

for the fact that I walked like that.

And RuPaul calls me "Slue Foot" all the time.

And at first, I was a little embarrassed by it.

Really?

- But I realized it endeared her toward me.

And it made me just embrace not only my slue foot

but a lot of things about myself.

I embrace the fact that I was homeless once.

- Yeah. - I accept me when I'm happy.

I accept me when I'm sad.

I accept me when I'm being a bitch,

but I always accept me.

- It's so easy to talk to Sapphira.

I mean, she's such a star.

When she walked over to me,

I actually felt a little bit intimidated.

But when I'm speaking to her,

she's looking me dead in the eyes.

And I'm immediately on her level.

Now I guess everyone reading your book

can accept the slue things about themselves.

We're all a little slue.

- Don't forget.

Buy my book,

Embracing All Of Me."

- "RuPaul's Drag Race" top 4 contestant,

has that sunk in yet? - It is absolutely wild.

- So were you one of those girls that walked in

and was like, I'm going to the end?

- I'm top 4. - Absolutely. Absolutely.

- You were feeling it from the beginning?

- Yes, you have to.

So here we are,

Savor Every Bite."

I'm guessing that has to do with the Q of it all.

- Yes, the Q... Just soaks that all in,

just taste that for a moment.

So, from Kansas City, Missouri, to here,

what's the drag journey been like for you?

- My mom introduced me to theater.

And I did theater all throughout high school.

And then I started doing drag, like, my final year of college.

It felt like I finally belonged somewhere.

- Right, you know, a lot of queens

that I talk to say that their mother

actually is in their drag in some way.

Do you feel like your mother is represented in your drag?

- Yeah, I definitely feel like our humor

is, like, very much the same.

- And, you know, we did all this artistic stuff together.

And she always was my biggest supporter in that,

when other people weren't,

so, you know, a lot of her is in my art form.

So, speaking of family, you talk

about what it was like to grow up in a low-income household.

- Yeah.

- I want to know, was there a moment when you realized

that your family maybe had a little bit less

than everyone else, was in a different situation?

- Usually, like, around Christmastime, because my mom...

I could always tell my mom

got, like, in a little bit of, like, a sadder mood.

And that's when I kind of started to realize

there were a lot of times where our utilities were shut off

or, you know, like, we had to go eat at our grandma's.

- Your mom was a single mom.

She raised four children. - Yes.

- So it's probably those little things

that everyone takes for granted

that she had to work extra hard.

- Yeah.

So, if she's listening to this podcast,

what would you tell Mom listening?

- I would just want to tell you that I love you.

And thank you for everything that you've done for me.

And I love you so much.

- Just sharing about how she came

from very humble beginnings, that is the kind of thing

that really endears you to people.

That has to be so cool

to be able to look back... - Yeah.

- And know that there were such humble beginnings.

And now you look around at all this.

- Yeah.

- That has to be really surreal.

- Yeah, that's kind of what my book is about.

It's about, savor every bite, you know?

The bad things and the good things

and all the things that happen to you in your life,

you know, you learn something from it.

And it leads you to where you are.

You know, bad things can happen,

but your life can still move on in a very positive way.

Hopefully see me with a crown later on.

Thank you so much.

- Nymphia Wind, how are you? - I'm doing great.

I'm glad I got the memo of all black.

Well, I got to read a couple stories

from your book, "Breaking Wind: The Art of Letting Go."

- Did you like my book? - I think you're so funny.

One of your stories, you tell a date story.

And you talk of a harrowing experience

of being ghosted by a date.

- So we did go out in the park for our second date.

So I went on the slide on all fours,

because I didn't want my ass to get dirty.

- You're on a second date. You're getting on all fours.

I get it, yeah. - Yeah.

And then after I do that,

I feel, like, this gunky feeling here.

Gunky feeling?

- I was like, what is that? - So I reached down.

And I touched it, and I looked up, and I was like,

I think I stepped on shit.

I stepped on dog poo.

And then, like, it somehow traveled upwards onto my hand.

- And did he help you clean off or...

- No. - You know what I always say?

If you can't accept me at my covered in dog poo,

you do not deserve me at my top four

on "RuPaul's Drag Race." - Very much that.

- You were very honest and candid in this story.

And then you do get a little bit more revealing.

You talk about what it was like growing up in Taiwan...

- And being inundated with images

and media from the West. - Yeah.

Growing up, seeing a white man, high features, a tall nose

and the brow bones and the thick brows and the beard...

- Yeah. - The beauty standard

of the world was that. - Right.

- It was, like, looking into the mirror,

I was like, I look nothing like that at all.

It just really created this self-doubting,

like, I don't feel attractive because I don't look like that.

Do I have the ability to attract anyone

that would like me for just my natural features?

I just never knew if I could ever escape that, you know?

So I always played with makeup and cross-dressing.

I felt like I could really change up how I look,

and I can escape my face in a sense.

- It's like drag helps you bring out a fantasy...

- Yeah.

- But also helped hide things in a way.

- Yeah, I really hated looking in the mirror

in general growing up. - Really?

- Yeah.

Even till now, I don't have the habit

of staring myself into the mirror

unless I have to do makeup.

- And that is still something that I am...

building upon... my confidence.

So I feel like drag, even though may not be able to solve

the problem... - Right.

- It really did help me

to, you know, build my own self-confidence

and, even without the makeup, still looking in the mirror

and feel like, you know what?

There is something beautiful there.

- Nymphia, I can tell, is really opening up to me

the more I talk to her, and I'm excited about that

because she's got a very unique story to tell.

Just because someone appears like they are taking on

the world and are extremely confident,

there is still that insecurity and vulnerability at the core,

which every single person can identify with.

- Hopefully it can help someone out there

who's still struggling and finding themselves

and finding what's beautiful about them.

- So, Nymphia Wind,

the book is "Breaking Wind: The Art of Letting Go."

Break wind and break legs in the competition.

- In the interview, it just felt really good

because all I had to do was just be myself.

- Now walk that stunning ass off this runway.

You want to see my ass again?

- I really do, actually. - Bye.

- There it goes. - Wow.

Amazing.

I said, "These queens can underestimate me,

but the one who's winning is me."

- Whoo-hoo!

It's a new day in the Werk Room.

And it's judgment day.

And I am in my self-confident era.

And I'm believing in myself that I am absolutely not going

to land in the bottom two.

- This has been such a wild ride.

- And we made it. - And we made it.

And we made it.

- How do you all feel about the challenge?

- I feel really good.

My look was sickening.

My interview went really sickening.

I'm sickening.

Those are some bold claims.

I think I have a great chance of winning this challenge.

I think my stories are insightful

as to, like, who I am.

- I feel good about the challenge

because this challenge

was all about literally being ourselves.

Yeah, literally.

- And that's what I kind of excel at.

- How do you feel, Nymphia?

I felt really good doing it.

I felt comfortable.

And finally for once, after a challenge,

I feel confident with what I did.

- Good.

- Everybody is feeling great about how they did,

so that kind of, you know, worries me a little bit

because somebody has to be in the top,

somebody has to be in the bottom.

What do you think

was your strongest point in the competition?

And what do you think was, like, your weakest?

- I think my strongest part of the competition

- was the competition. - Just the whole thing?

- I just think I was strong the whole time.

The weakest part of my competition

was the makeover challenge.

But I felt like I was able to let go in that lip sync

and really have fun.

I want to be in the finale so badly.

So get out of my way.

It's time for me to go get my crown.

Thank you, girls. It's been nice seeing y'all.

I'll see y'all after.

I'm going to take y'all on vacation.

- I think one of my highest moments was,

the outfit I made for the goth challenge

was just, like, beyond anything I thought I could do, like,

in that amount of time. - That was sickening.

- In a day? - In a day.

And the lowest... Actually, my lowest

is not even when I was in the bottom two.

I feel like my lowest was, like,

how hard I was being on myself

for, like, the bathroom challenge.

- Yeah.

- I think my journey here at "Drag Race"

has been a really, really exciting one.

I won two challenges.

I've lip-synched for the win. I've lip-synched to stay here.

That says something about America's next drag superstar,

that they are this multidimensional person

that has their up days and low days.

- I will say, that bathroom challenge got to me as well,

just because it happened at the point

that it happened at.

- Girl, it got to me, too, because of you.

It got to me through you.

- Through me, yeah.

- But then you turned it the fuck out.

- Exactly, we did.

Yes, I had a moment of self-doubt

where, you know, I did sort of let the pressure

crack me a bit,

but I pieced myself together.

And, yeah, I just went full steam ahead.

- How about you, Nymphia? - What was your lowest?

- I think it's similar to Q,

where in the middle of the competition,

I was really insecure about myself

and just really not sure.

- I could really never tell with you

whether you were actually unsure or, like...

Playing a game?

- I'm just really struggling.

- Nobody believes you, Nymphia.

- I'm so stressed out.

- Girl, don't play this time.

- What kind of game can I play or, like, gain from

if I act like I'm just nervous?

- Because you would be saying

that you're, like, you know, not confident.

And then you would come out in, like, a sickening runway look,

and you would kill the challenge.

- No, because that for me is when I feel very insecure

is when I'm turned off.

Like, I just feel... like, those are genuine feelings

where I feel very nervous and really in doubt and insecure.

But, like, on the stage, I, like, instantly have to turn on

because you don't have any other choice.

You don't. No.

- I can understand how these other queens

can see this as a strategy.

But, honestly, this is just how my brain works.

And, like, there's no strategy behind it.

All my struggles and all my self-doubt are all real.

And it's just a process for me.

- What was everybody's, like, first impression of each other

when we, like, first met?

- Sapphira and Q, I first met when y'all

walked into the Werk Room.

And Sapphira walked in

with those really bright contact lenses.

They were very striking.

And her breasts, they've truly experienced a growth

throughout the season.

- She said, first, Fisher-Price.

Now, the world.

- But, yeah, Sapphira definitely had a presence

when she first walked into that room.

Q, on the other hand, was stumbling

over her two left feet, honey.

- I don't know why you say that.

I walked in just fine.

- She was wobbling... wobbling on those kitten heels.

- Whatever.

I think Plane and I are very similar

to, like, my sisters back home.

We always read each other to absolute filth.

And, you know, that's part of what makes us so close.

It's kind of like when everybody says

I'm the only one that couldn't dance,

but then Plane would get up there and rattle her bones

around on the stage.

- Excuse me, rattle my bones? - Not rattle her bones.

I'm not saying that you did.

- Get her ass. Get her ass.

Get her ass.

- My rattling bones look far more graceful, delicate,

and coordinated than anything

that you could ever pull out, Miss Q.

You know, I may be rattling my bones out of drag,

but there's a lot of padding in drag, and it looks really good.

- It did look good.

I have the body for it, unlike my sweet sisters,

you know, sitting up here with me today.

- You have the oatmeal brows for it.

- Shit.

- Sister...

- God damn.

- Shank her.

The love language of a drag queen

is definitely throwing shade.

So I feel like as a group, season 16

has really bonded in a way that we're so comfortable

with each other.

- I need to work on my blending,

so Nymphia doesn't read me, so y'all have fun.

I mean, you're a lost cause in a sense.

I've try for many episodes.

And I don't see that blending getting any better.

- She said, well, I mean, if I were you, I would just stop.

- Sister, just like you've been trying for a win

for many episodes, but it's not going to happen.

- Well, we'll see. We have one last challenge.

- And it's your favorite... A writing challenge.

- Yeah. - And a speaking challenge.

It should go really well.

- Damn.

- They be shading us, but, you know...

- Shading me? They were shading you, mama.

Don't bring me into that.

Mama, don't bring me into that. They were getting your ass.

Bitch!

- They be shading us. Shading you, bitch, not me.

- I'm hoping there's a top four.

I really don't want any of these girls to go home.

I kind of want us to just, like, go into the finale

hand in hand... we made it.

All we know is that this is the semifinals,

which I don't remember her ever using this term before, so..

But I think there's going to be an elimination tonight.

And that's kind of scary.

Ooh.

Cover girl, put the bass in your walk

Head to toe, let your whole body talk

- Wow. - Whoo!

- Whoo!

- Welcome to the semifinals of "RuPaul's Drag Race."

It's the president of the "Drag Race" Book Club,

Michelle Visage.

- And that's because I could judge a book and its cover.

And the gorgeous Ts Madison.

Now, Madie, are you well read?

- I like big books, and I cannot lie.

- And welcome back to the show

author and journalist Ronan Farrow.

- Ru, it is the semifinals.

I haven't been this nervous since I took a paternity test.

Ooh.

- This week, we challenged our top four queens

to launch their new books.

And tonight on the runway, category is fandango.

Racers, start your engines,

and may the best drag queen win.

Up first, Q.

Fangirling out already.

- That is tutu good.

- I'm just reveling in this moment.

I'm wearing this really structured orange fan tutu.

And then it goes into a tight little corset

that is beautifully encrusted.

And I have a huge fan backpiece

that is just, like, framing this ornate hair.

It's giving a little bit ballerina.

It's all screaming fans

in, like, a really cute, intricate way.

- You can find her on OnlyFans.

Sapphira.

- Big fan of this look.

- This is my final runway.

And I choose to walk it like an African queen.

I'm giving you African fabrics.

And then, boom, I've given you these pleated fans

that fall down.

Look up "Roberto Capucci, The Fan."

Honey, these titties are nice and spaced.

I am a winner.

- You know what you call that hairstyle?

- What? - "Wagon Wheel Watusi."

- Yeah.

- Nymphia Wind. - It's Marie Fantoinette.

- Let them eat cake.

- This is an Asian version of Marie Antoinette.

So I'm wearing a period dress with all the clouds

and the dragons and the waves.

And I'm fanning myself and suddenly realize I'm so hot.

And I flip out my fan skirt and realize

it's because my pussy is on fire.

- That's what I call a fire crotch.

- Plane Jane.

Mighty Aphrodite could never.

I'm eloquently floating down this runway

as if I'm descending from Mt. Olympus.

My titties are glistening.

And they're being framed beautifully

by this encrusted armor piece.

I truly feel like a G-O-D-D-D...

Wait, there's not three D's in goddess,

but there will be in me tonight.

- Talk about champagne problems.

Bitch, please.

My top four queens, welcome.

I got to say, I had a great time with y'all yesterday

during the photo session... Mother-daughter time.

And it's been an amazing season.

I know how hard you have all worked,

how we've pushed you to the limit.

You are some strong queens...

Creative, loving, funny, wonderful.

So keep that in mind, not just tonight but forever.

And now it's time for the judges' critiques.

Up first, Q.

- Q, this has been so fun to watch you in this competition.

You have been fighting.

You've grown throughout this competition.

You've been very vulnerable.

And in the podcast, I learned so much more about you.

- I was really getting emotional

because I have a very strong connection with my mother.

And I'm so glad that I learned that about you,

because it made me understand why you fight so hard

to be, you know, who you are and where you are.

- But I felt in some of the looks on the book cover,

out here tonight,

I'm not seeing what is clearly a life story

that has given you a lot to say.

- I really wish that you would have worn

this outfit right here for the cover of your book.

Your book is called, Q,

Savor Every Bite.

It's cute. It doesn't really tell me what it is.

- I would have probably chosen something else.

Q is such a great name.

You could go James Bond.

Yes, you can go James Bond.

- "Q Don't Know Me." - Ooh, I like that, Michelle.

Is there anything else you want to add?

- I just want to say thank you so much for letting me

be here on this stage.

It's been a dream of mine for a long time.

And I'm really happy to show what I've shown here.

- Well, you've earned your position on this stage.

And I'm so proud of you.

- Thank you.

- All right, up next, Sapphira.

- Sapphira, you got a new fan in me.

That reveal was the single most dramatic moment

we got on the runway.

You know, so much of a powerful drag

is about being oneself defiantly.

I think you achieved that.

You're telling stories about your Nona

that made me feel I know you.

- You have the ability to put people at ease

and be very forthright.

- When I read pieces of your book

and watched you on the podcast, I understood you more.

You're stomping out all those people who doubted you.

And you counting them up, like, one, you, two, you,

I'm stomping you with this slue foot.

- And when you're talking about you used to be self-conscious

about it, it's so funny how we see that so differently

from this side of the table.

I love that you grabbed the bull by the horns

and called your book "Slue Foot."

- You reclaimed it and made it something

that you could take to tell your story.

That's brilliant.

- You're there in that Missy Elliott squad.

You are full of defiance.

- That's Lil' Kim.

- Marketing 101, show the slue foot.

And that's what you did.

Nymphia Wind.

- Your book-cover photo is,

as a single piece of photography, my favorite.

It sells exactly who you are.

- This look tonight, adorable.

I think my favorite thing, obviously, the fan nails.

To be completely honest,

if I never see another Marie Antoinette look

on this runway, nobody will be happier than me.

- My favorite part of your look is definitely

your hot pussy, girl.

It just is definitely on fire.

- Every T is crossed. Every I is dotted with you.

I don't worry about that.

What I worry about is the self-love

that I want to give to you, because you deserve it.

It tore me apart hearing the disdain

that you experience when you look in the mirror.

But the fact that you shared it with us was priceless.

- Thank you.

- Watching your podcast interview,

the part of your story that was about Taiwan

and your self-esteem, I was riveted.

- During that podcast,

we fell in love with you.

You revealed so much

of the pain that you've been through.

And by shining a light of awareness on it,

that is the cure right there.

Through the course of this competition,

you know, you've been a little squirrely

with trying to get a straight answer out of you.

- I think a lot of times, it's trying to think of what to say.

But, like, with that challenge, it was like, you know what?

Just, like, take in a deep breath and relax

and really just... because the only thing you have to do

is just be yourself, and you're telling your own story.

- Please remember that. That is the answer.

That's the right answer right there... that's it.

Up next, Plane Jane.

- Tonight you look amazing.

This Aphrodite goddess look, I love all of it.

- This looks like a Bob Mackie.

This looks like something that was on "The Cher Show"

or "The Carol Burnett Show."

- But your book cover, it didn't do this.

- That hair was very small.

- It was a human unit,

so they tend to be less, you know, voluminous.

- You didn't want to tease her?

- She had a little face tease.

- We tried to pump up that flat hair.

- Ooh. - We put a fan on it.

I had you flipping that hair trying to get

some volume up in there.

- In the podcast interview, I struggled to see

how the pieces come together.

You know, there was the slightly shadier part

of the discussion,

but then the other stories didn't connect to that,

nor did they really connect with the theme of walking away

from disaster or trauma.

- I needed to hear you.

And I didn't get that.

What I got from this was, you a shady bitch.

This book is about you.

And I didn't know who you were.

- Every time I go and talk to you in the Werk Room,

I could see you go into your head

to be very deliberate about what you're saying.

Why do you think

you don't reveal more of the underbelly?

- I feel very, very powerful and very secure in myself

when I'm in drag.

And I don't necessarily feel like that very much

when I'm out of drag,

so I've kind of built up this persona.

And that's what I kind of lead with as Plane Jane.

- Yeah. No, listen, I understand completely.

Just in terms of marketing,

in terms of show business, in terms of life,

it's revealing the soft underbelly

that allows people to love you.

- Thank you so much.

- Thank you, queens. I think we've heard enough.

While you untuck backstage,

the judges and I will deliberate.

All right, just between us squirrel-friends,

I want to know what you think.

Let's start with Q.

- Listen, Q has kind of killed it throughout the competition,

save from a few times.

Right out the box, we fell in love

with her in the talent show.

And then she did that gorgeous welcome to the dollhouse.

She won that one.

See you next Wednesday...

That huge coat, it was absolutely gorgeous.

And then she did the DragCon 1980.

It had the red-ribbon collar,

where she then came out to us as positive.

And that was very honest and vulnerable.

- You know, I can see that this is an incredibly strong queen

who's capable of really inventive, interesting looks.

I just didn't see that on display in this episode enough.

- The look for the book cover, I wanted more.

- She chose this Belle A-line design,

but it was all frilly and stuff.

So, yes, it's beautiful as is everything that she makes,

but she couldn't do much with it as far as the shape goes.

And that's what we got...

Her standing in a bowl of alphabet soup.

And I'm not sure that really tells me

what the book is about.

- I didn't sense who Q is.

In the podcast, once Q starts opening up about her mom,

there's something real there.

But that was quite late in the game.

- You know, she wants to win all the time.

And you can kind of see her striving for it.

So, when she doesn't do as well,

you could also see the disappointment.

And I worry that she's a little too hard on herself

when she doesn't do as well.

- All right, let's talk about Sapphira.

- The podcast just made me say, I love you because I am you.

And I love a person who operates in forgiveness.

- Now, in this competition, she started out a winner,

with Ruveal Yourself and then her James Brown.

And, of course, one of our favorite looks

in this whole season, her DragCon 1980 look.

Such a fantastic queen.

- I could see Sapphira doing a book tour for real.

And I would buy that book.

- I would buy that book, too.

- I'm going to buy anything called "Slue Foot."

That too.

- I'm want some barbecue slue foot.

- How would you call someone slue foot?

- This look that she had tonight was...

sickening, honey.

- I mean, I fell completely in love with the way she painted.

I liked the way the blue was on her.

- She fixed the breastplate.

She's listening to everything.

And she's putting it into motion.

- Nymphia.

- Now, Nymphia has really nailed it every single time

she's come out on this runway.

She won the ball, y'all.

She had so many incredible looks...

Her Faster, Pussycat! Wig Wig!

The Butoh, the dancing that she did

was absolutely glorious.

But the thing that I've struggled with Nymphia is,

she's so uncomfortable in her own skin.

And then we got the podcast.

And when she stopped doing that runaround thing

that she does all the time, because that's her defense,

that was the death of old Nymphia and the rebirth.

We watched it happen.

- I felt like I was seeing

a queen discovering herself in real time.

- You know, you're absolutely right.

Tonight she really came into her own power.

- That book cover, Ru, Grace Jones, yes?

It was everything.

- It was perfection.

- I think tonight was a massive breakthrough for Nymphia.

- Plane Jane.

- Plane Jane had us at "Burger Finger."

- She has been such a powerhouse from the beginning.

"Made You Look," the Octomom she chose

for the powerful mother, you know?

- Snatch Game.

- Snatch Game, and it was amazing to watch.

- What really turned it for me was the way

she turned out Lazy Susan.

It was so amazing.

- But the podcast interview really suggested to me

someone who doesn't know what her story is

or how to sell it yet.

- She had the opportunity to make me feel a warm sensation

deep in a place like the rest of the girls did,

but she didn't.

She took the time to read her competitors

that have already gone home.

- It just wasn't as charming as Plane Jane actually really is.

- She comes from a place of kind of hiding out.

She came out of the closet very late for her.

And, you know, I think she's used to sort of hiding.

So I think we got a bit of that.

But at this point in the competition,

you have to be vulnerable.

- Now, this book cover is not what I'm used to seeing of her.

- The pose was very "Cosmo."

It was very Scavullo, that pose.

But the hair was too small to balance out the outfit

that she wore.

I was surprised, because she understands proportion

better than almost anybody in this competition.

- All right. - Silence.

I've made my decision.

Bring back my girls.

Welcome back, queens.

I've made some decisions.

Nymphia Wind,

this week you practiced the art of letting go.

And it paid off.

Condragulations.

You are the winner of this week's challenge.

Thank you.

I won.

I actually made it happen.

- You've won a cash prize of $5,000,

presented by got2b Color Remix.

And you'll be moving forward to the grand finale.

- You know, coming to America,

a lot of people believed in me.

So it means a lot to be able to make it to the top.

I just wanted to make everyone proud.

And hopefully I did that.

- Sapphira, this week, you didn't come to slay.

You came to slue.

You are safe,

and you'll be moving forward to the grand finale.

- Thank you.

- You may slue to the back of the stage.

Will do.

It's been 11 years of me auditioning

for this competition.

And getting to the finale is exactly

what I saw happening and exactly...

I'm so excited.

- Q, Plane Jane, I'm sorry, my dears,

but you are both up for elimination.

- For the first time in "Drag Race" herstory,

Plane Jane has landed in the bottom two.

Q has become a great friend of mine

throughout this competition... A true sister.

But if this has to be my last push into the final three,

I am going to tear that fucking stage up when I lip-synch.

- Two fabulous queens stand before me.

Ladies, this is your last chance to impress me

and save yourself from elimination.

The time has come...

For you to lip-synch

for your life.

- I'm going to turn this shit out.

Like, I deserve to be in the finale.

- Good luck,

and don't fuck it up.

Prisoner of your love

Entangled in your web

Captured

Yes, I'm touched by this show of emotion

Should I be fractured by your lack of devotion?

Should I?

You better be good to me

You better be good to me

Come on, come on

Be good to me

I think it's all so right

That we don't need to fight

We stand face-to-face

You present your case

Yes, I know you keep telling me that you love me

And I really do want to believe

But did you think I'd just accept you in blind faith?

Sure, babe, anything to please you

But you better be good to me

Be good to me

- All right, girl, you better shake them titties.

Be good to me

Because I don't have no use

For what you loosely call the truth

I don't have the time...

- Q is really fighting for her life.

I'm just hoping none of them go home.

- Be good to me - Why can't you be?

Because I don't have no use

For what you loosely call the truth

And I don't have the time for your overloaded lies

You better be good to me Be good to me

- Good to me - Good to me

- Be good - Why can't you be?

Be good to me

Ladies, I've made my decision.

Plane Jane, shantay you stay.

You will be moving forward to the grand finale.

- Thank you, Mama. Thank you so much.

You may join the other girls.

- Q...

Thank you for sharing your beauty,

brilliance, and bravery with the world.

Now, sashay away.

I just want to say thank you.

I've worked really hard to get to this stage, and...

it's meant so, so much to me, and I love you guys so much.

- Thank you.

- Love you, Q - I love you so much.

- Getting so close to the top three,

it just feels like I put everything,

all of myself into this competition.

And it just sucks feeling like it wasn't enough in the end.

But I'm going to move forward like I always do.

I'm not going anywhere.

To top three bitches,

fuck you.

But I love you guys so, so much.

And I know you guys are going to kill it in the finale.

- Condragulations, my final three queens.

We are two weeks away from the grand finale

of "RuPaul's Drag Race,"

where we will crown ourselves a winner, baby.

Now, I want to hear from you, our fans.

Are you Team Nymphia?

Are you Team Plane Jane?

Or are you Team Sapphira?

Let your voice be heard using #DragRace,

and tune in next week when all of the eliminated queens return

to compete in a LipSync Lalaparuza.

Now, remember, if you can't love yourself,

how in the hell you going to love somebody else?

Can I get an "amen" up in here?

- Amen! - All right.

Now let the music play.

A little bit of love goes a long, long way

Lifting you up to a brighter day

Can you feel the love?

- Next time on "RuPaul's Drag Race"...

This week all eyes are on

our 11 returning queens.

Let the LipSync Lalaparuza Smackdown begin!

- I'm ready to go into war.

I'm here to get a little revenge.

- Ooh!

- One winner will walk away with a cash prize...

of $50,000.

A little bit of love

Goes a long, long way

Lifting you up to a brighter day

A little bit of love

Goes a long, long way

Turn it around when you up and say

Everybody say love

Love, love, love, love, love

Love, love, love, love

Love, can you feel the love?

>>>>oakislandtk www.opensubtitles.org