A loyal reader expressed dissapointment that Miss Ginger had not opined about last Monday's RuPaul's Drag Race, and, never wanting to be one to fail a ready, Miss G happily obliges!
The challenge for the girls this week was to take a bunch of female (aka lesbian) kickboxers and make them over into their own drag image. Miss Ginger actually has some experience in this art, because here in H-town our own ShyAnne sponsors a similar contest called "Dykie Diva" every spring where we do exactly that! Miss Ginger's dyke won 2 years ago!
Anyway, the contest worked it's way down to Bebe and Ongina, who had to "lipsync for their life!" Many were surprised Ongina lost. RuPaul actually had to take a dramatic break to compose herself before she could come back and tell Ongina to "sashay away." It was a pretty close call. Here's Miss G's take on the 2.
Bebe Zahara Benet comes across as a true drag "diva" with a capital "D". She is from Cameroon, and speaks with an elegant accent, and often dresses in costuming that is authentically African or African inspired. I think she takes the art of illusion very seriously, and works hard at creating a look that is dramatic, glamorous, and mysterious. She succeeds at those goals, but my take is that the judges feel like she does not really connect with the audience. You gotta connect, gurl, or those queens will just rip ya to shreds!
Ongina is the "cute as a button" high-energy Asian girl whose look Miss Ginger almost considers "genderfuck" instead of true drag. Her makeup is typically all woman, but she generally doesn't wear a wig on her shaved head, instead opting for funky hats or silly headpieces. She doesn't tuck, although for her I'm not sure that's an issue (unlike Rebecca Hugecock!) She bared her soul a couple of episodes ago when she revealed on national TV that she is HIV positive, something she had not previously shared with anyone, including her family. It was a touching moment, and it endeared her to the audience and judges, who already liked her because she is a performer who truly connects.Anyway, for the lipsync that had to this obscure song that Miss G has never heard, and I gott tell ya, Bebe really brought it! It was the kind of song one would expect from Ongina, and we got from Ongina what we expected, but Bebe threw herself into the challenge and really saved herself.
I think that Ongins is adorable, and funny, and will have a great career as a drag performer and cabaret artist. But of the two, and think Bebe more perfectly embodies the goal: "our next Drag Superstar!"
So we're down to Rebecca, Bebe, Shanell, and Nina. Check out the full episodes that got them there at Logoonline.com. And check back next week for Miss G's expert opinions!
