Three writers fight their case for which of this year’s finalists – Ella Vaday, Kitty Scott-Claus, or Krystal Versace – has the Biggest Drag Energy
This season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK has been a rollercoaster ride – not because of salacious gossip and wig-snatching drama, but because of the (sometimes infuriating) twists and turns. There’s been double eliminations, double saves, top two lip-syncs, and the franchise’s first ever cis woman contestant. In truth, it hasn’t been the best season of Drag Race UK – TBF it had a hard season to follow – but through high-speed runway looks, heart-pumping, wallet-burning fitness classes, and a Star Wars-themed acting challenge, our series three finalists have each proven that they have B.D.E (Big Drag Energy). Ella Vaday’s show-stopping turn as Nigella Lawson in Snatch Game got the approval of the sexy cook herself, Kitty Scott-Claus’ homage to Ugly Betty saw her crowned Miss Fugly 2021, and, week after week, Miss Krystal Versace has, without fail, served high fashion sex on legs on the runway. Here, three writers go head-to-head on which of our season three finalists should become the UK’s next drag superstar.
IT’S AN ELLA VADAY
Who doesn’t love an underdog? Everyone – including you, admit it! – was sleeping on Ella Vaday until she meecrowavéd her way into our hearts as Nigella Lawson in episode six’s Snatch Game. Now she’s the frontrunner, leading with four RuPeter badges – the same amount held in last year’s finale by season two darling Bimini Bon-Boulash – and countless show-stealing moments behind her. After showing off her acting skills in episode eight’s Bra Wars: The Fempire Claps Back, Ella managed to give Russell Tovey a hard on dress as… a sexy Oompa Loompa. She was also the undeniable winner of episode nine’s comedy roast, elegantly and effortlessly insulting her co-contestants, the eliminated queens (“If I ever need a brain transplant, I’m picking yours because it hasn’t been used yet,” she told Krystal – ouch!), and the judges. Ella has never been in the bottom two, has shared some #emosh life stories in the workroom, and has shown the biggest growth out of all the girls. Ella Vaday has had an Ella Vaseason. (BD)
CAT-EGORY IS: KITTY SCOTT-CLAUS
Much like season two winner Lawrence Chaney, you know you’re always in safe hands (or should I say, claws) with Kitty Scott-Claus. A comedy queen through and through, Kitty breezed through episode’s eight’s Bra Wars: The Fempire Claps Back acting challenge, stealing the show with her hun mum performance as Barbarella – even if she couldn’t grasp the words “space nut milk” – as well as episode nine’s comedy roast, when she delivered the scorching-hot burn, “Kathy Burke… the poor man’s Dawn French”. Kitty’s pop culture references are unrivaled (maybe in any season of Drag Race ever), and make for hilarious, uniquely British viewing – where else would you find one liners from Gavin and Stacey, Blind Date, and, err, a BBC interview with Brenda from Bristol? When Kitty’s not talking (a rare occurrence), she’s slaying on the runway, serving bitchcoin eleganza, slutty Titanic, and snatching the sash for Miss Fugly 2021. And if you don’t believe me, the proof is in the hot pink candy swimsuit – Miss Kitty has never lip-synced for her life (only for the top, baby!). So, in the immortal words of Kitty as Gemma Collins in Snatch Game, “You’re all obsessed with me, and I love it!” (MW)
THE RUNWAY ASSASSINATION OF KRYSTAL VERSACE
Self-proclaimed ‘sex on legs’ Krystal Versace wowed judges from the get-go, securing two consecutive wins in the first two weeks of the season. The Kent queen is the youngest ever to compete on Drag Race – and, if episode nine’s comedy roast challenge was anything to go by, she won’t let you forget it. Youthful exuberance aside, Krystal has proven herself to be a fierce queen, consistently delivering high fashion looks upon looks on the runway. But that’s not all: from donning on a huge pair of knockers in the acting challenge to speaking openly about being a virgin in the roast, Krystal has proven that’s she more than just a sex bot. In the words of RuPaul, “Krystal Versace, you were born to be a drag queen”. (SM)
The final episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race season three will premiere on BBC iPlayer at 7PM GMT tonight (November 25). You can watch it here.