After monitoring Barbie Fever swept the nation last summer, RuPaul wanted to help his queens RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16 live their own life in plastic with the series' latest challenge.
On Friday's (February 9) episode, the judges tasked the remaining queens with creating their own limited-edition dolls, making a miniature outfit for their made-up mannequins as well as a life-size version that they could model on the runway. . Testing the contestants' business knowledge, Ru asked the girls to make a brand and present the dolls via voice.
Creating two identical high-fashion looks for both herself and her “Fantasy Edition” figurine, Q finally got the A she'd been waiting for all season, scoring her first challenge win. Meanwhile, self-proclaimed Queen of Flips Mhi'ya Iman LePaige failed to impress with her clashing bodices, while La Diva Más Latina Geneva Karr failed to live up to the judges' expectations with what guest judge Law Roach called “the queen of horror . ” Look.
Lip-synching to Janet Jackson's 1986 hit 'Control', Mhi'ya earned her royal swagger. with a series of death-defying handsprings, walkovers and jump splits, the Queen of Flips easily won the battle, sending Geneva Karr driving back to Texas.
Advertising sign spoke to Geneva about her time on the show, her struggle with the challenges of sewing, herself Unstuck reading session with Law Roach and what it was like to lip sync each episode.
You had a lot of running Drag Race — what was it like watching yourself on the show these past few weeks?
Listen, actually being there filming it and everything was like a dream. And then I relive it and watch myself every week for the last six weeks on TV, and I'm like, “Oh my God, I really did it. I'm up Drag Race!” It's just good feelings and happy thoughts. I feel complete — I feel like I graduated from drag school!
Do you ever feel weird watching yourself on TV?
Oh yes. It's definitely weird and made me realize that I make certain facial expressions that I just wasn't aware of. Now, my family is like, “Yeah, you literally do that all the time.” [laughs]
Girl, you give us the best reactions all season.
Honestly, when you see my face like this, it's 100% natural. This is me in a way I can't control.
I have to commend you on your stamina, because you were in sync every episode you appeared on — whether it was for a win, for your life, or for a challenge. How the hell were you still standing until you finished those five episodes?
Yes, there was a lot of lip syncing. I like to think that Mama Roo and the judges were just looking out for my health — they wanted me to hit my stride! We'll run with that.
Of course no one wants to be lip synced, but that's what I do at home. If you come to a show, I'll lip sync. Let's face it, I'm not going to break out a sewing machine and sew and count to eight [laughs]. I'll play, I'll dance, I'll give it to you! So it's kind of natural for me — if I had the chance not lip synching every episode I was in, then I would obviously choose not to.
You definitely showed how good a lip sync artist you are on the show. To you, what makes a great lip sync performance?
I grew up in the traditional old school style. So to me, what makes a great lip sync is learning to connect with the song and express all your feelings and emotions through the words. No tricks, acrobatics, splits, kicks needed. It is one lip sync. You have to be able to transport people and tell the story of the song through your face. This is what makes a great lip sync.
You had a heartbreaking moment halfway through the sewing challenge where you decided to start over and make a completely different outfit when you ran out of fabric. What was going through your mind when you made that choice?
Yes, I felt like I had to make an executive decision to either change the outfit I was working in and settle for something I didn't want, or start over. For some reason, at that moment, with the pressure to look around and see everyone doing the most, it occurred to me. I thought, “Maybe I should do most and try to find another fabric to find something bigger.” I didn't really understand that a branding challenge doesn't necessarily mean going big and over the top, as long as you actually make a brand. But with nerves and lack of sleep, I just wasn't thinking straight.
I hear that, but I also appreciated the queens coming in Unstuck talk about how cute you are under pressure. You are truly a pro at accepting circumstances as they are and not allowing yourself to crumble under the pressure!
Thanks! As a former pageant queen, I learned from my early years in drag that sometimes you just have to keep that composed mindset. Even when you see everything around you falling apart, you always have to remind yourself that you are wild and you might just be having a bad week. You just have to keep pushing forward and fighting.
Talking about Unstuck, I must say I was beside myself when you clapped back at Law Roach's reviews to his face! You are a brave queen, for the law will do gather the girls if necessary.
[laughs] I hear! Ms. Law Roach had her moment already on the judging panel! I took the criticism and thought, “I already got it there, and now you're in my territory, where I'm supposed to be calm — let's stop this fast before you get too comfortable, Miss Thing!”
Let me be clear, me love Law Roach. I really enjoyed reading from him. It said everything that needed to be said, and I was honored to receive that feedback, really. I really appreciate the honesty. That's just what I was having fun with and seeing how he would react. Not going to lie, he was a little heartbroken!
As you leave the show, we'd like to know — what music have you been listening to lately?
As everyone saw at the premiere, I am a large Fan of Becky G. I was listening to her new songs with Ángela Aguilar (“Por El Contrario”) and Peso Pluma (“Chanel”), and of course “Guapa”. I mean, and also “Shower”, it was my first lip sync after all! I'm just really drawn to her music and understand the fact that she gave me so much advice when she was and I had to embrace her! Yeah, I'm definitely in the Becky G era.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/drag-race-geneva-karr-lip-sync-law-roach-1235606292/