start your engines

three years ago, the reason reality tv was invented finally became clear. if you add up the cattiness of america's next top models to the showbiz drama meltdowns of american idols, with a dash of the deadline crunch of project runway and then shook it all up in a big jar of sequins, you would have the brainchild that is rupaul's drag race. or as i call it, the most wonderful thing in the world of television EVER.

season 3 debuted this week with a dozen new queens (and one former reject from season 2) and was as catty and sparkly as expected. no one is yet screaming for that special place in my heart where i cradle their ambition and really want them to win, but there are still a couple of standouts among the pack.


filling the spot previously held by nina flowers (season 1) and raven (season 2), who both went on to be runners-up, is raja, an avant garde beauty and quite the star of the celebrity make up world.


delta work - this picture doesn't do her justice. she has this soft, matronly, yet sexy thing going on, reminiscent of a young kathy bates or delta burke (who is presumably her namesake).


yara sofia is one of the puerto rican girls, and while she's a bit too catty for my taste, she is a bombshell and a half. meow.


even meowier is carmen carrera, who is already creating a mild shitstorm by walking around naked backstage. her body is freaking STUNNING, though. i would walk around naked everywhere too if i looked remotely that good, but even so, she smells a bit like a one trick pony.


i don't think phoenix got enough credit for her badass sewing skills in the first episode, though in the picture she kinda looks like a $5 hooker on the vegas strip. she has a frankness about her personality that should create some interesting situations, i.e. catfights.


though rockin the cyndi lauper look, this crazy violent lip-synching psycho, venus de lite, was the first eliminated.


there's always got to be a trainwreck plus size girl, and stacy lynne matthews is this season's. though she does look remarkably female outside of drag and can't help if she's from backswamp, north carolina. srsly. backswamp. considering that, she looks pretty good.


mimi imfurst had a total meltdown over her xmas outfit, which turned out to be a judge's favorite. she is a sweetheart, but needs to pull it together and turn on the confidence!


i found mariah rather uninteresting, except for the way she rushed to the aide of mimi when she had her freakout. she really tried to lend a hard, which is pretty unusual on this show. it's more snarky attitude or pretend invisibility than help out your fellow ladyboy.


the rest of the bunch, were just kinda meh. but the competition has only just begun.

manila luzon

india ferrah

alexis mateo

the new crop of queens is beautiful, no doubt. but the truth is that none of them even hold a candle to rupaul, who is possibly the most beautiful human on the planet. other than jensen ackles.