Drag Race UK vs The World episode five power rankings: ‘An all-star finale’

Words: Jamie Tabberer; pictures: BBC

Spoilers for episode five of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World follow.

That zipped by, didn’t it? After just five often shocking eliminations, the first international edition of the Drag Race franchise drew to a close last night, making an outsized impact in a short space of time.

The countless other versions of the show – overlong and arduous as they often are – could probably learn a thing or two from this edition: Drag Race UK vs The World was short, sharp and impactful. If flawed.

That tired, talent-undermining lipstick format has to go for starters, and who’s to blame for this year’s bizarre lip-sync song choices, which reached a nadir last night? We discuss all this in more in our final (highly subjective) ranking of the competitors below…

1) Blu Hydrangea 

What a strong, steady ascent. We wouldn’t have called it at the beginning, but looking back, it’s been clear for a while that Blu would likely take the crown. Even Drag Race 13’s Symone had her moments, but Blu, as we pointed out last week, never so much as wobbled – and rather than being safe, she’s finished each episode in a strong position.

She’s always excelled with her gloriously made-up face and looks of course, and last night was no exception. Her runway – an exquisite baby blue number that looked like it took weeks to make – was an event. It was fit for pop culture royalty, whether Frozen‘s Elsa on her wedding day, or Girls Aloud in the ‘Can’t Speak French’ video. She once again channelled perfect pop star vibes for her final lip-sync: a glimmering warrior mini-dress that was both Chromatica-era Gaga (a common reference point for Blu, we suspect) and Ariana Grande in ‘Break Free’. That she performed to a newer, lesser-known Kylie song – the Future Nostalgia-ready ‘Supernova’ – worked to her advantage: it was if it was her song.

She’s still a little green, perhaps – she called eliminating Pangina the “worst thing I’ve ever done”, rather than owning it, which was a touch ridiculous – but she’s still only 26. It’s exciting to think what’s next. 

2) Mo Heart

Blu said she initially feared she’d be a “filler queen”, but Mo was a frontrunner from the off – not least when chewing the scenery in her confessionals. And while at first, on paper, the more storied US queen Jujubee had the edge on her, Mo thrived where Juju floundered, emerging as the high-gloss epitome of what US drag is all about. Her finest moment? The Butch queen leather daddy moment, perhaps…

That said, she may have peaked early with her looks. The all-yellow look was sleek and streamlined, if basic (Steps’ ‘Love’s Got a Hold On My Heart’, anyone?); she may have glowed in neon brights for first and third looks, but they looked rudimentary in light of Blu’s superior craftsmanship.

She played to win with her passionate lip-syncs though, wisely choosing Baga to take out with her first, and deploying those same razor sharp dance moves as week one to come tantalisingly close to the crown for the second. Plus, she and Baga get full marks for performing to a song as unbearable as Jessie J’s ‘Domino’ with such gusto.

3) Jujubee

She was read to filth for her looks for much of the series, so it must have killed Juju keeping this resplendent, collecting-Best-Actress-at-the-Oscars gown in the bank. It paid off: it was probably this writer’s favourite of the night, and one of the best of the season. She looked perfect, powerful and Jessica Rabbit-adjacent; it was a long way from the inflatable snakes of ep three.

Her lip-sync look was boring by comparison, but at least she could move about in it, and the trashily 80s vibe suited the bizarre soundtrack: Duran Duran’s 1984 hit ‘The Reflex’, a song that predates both she and Blu’s dates of birth. (The latter by 12 years!) Blu better tuned into its randomness, though, and ultimately appeared to want the win more.

Juju’s underperformance on Vs the World needn’t remain one of the great mysteries of the franchise; as she explained on stage, family issues cropped up shortly before episode one, and understandably impacted her focus. And while she’s much to classy to admit, we suspect Juju knows deep down she has nothing to prove: she’s a fan favourite through and through and always will be.

4) Baga Chipz

Had the show closed with an acting challenge, she might’ve taken it. (We’re still not over her epic Snatch Game, which was probably the highlight of the series.) But the odds were not in Baga’s favour. By her admission not the greatest dancer or lip-syncer – US queens are almost always better-trained in such disciplines, so was this challenge really fair? – she looked defeated from the off.

She was pleased as punch on the runway though, checking her ‘wink wink nudge nudge’ humour at the door for an all-guns-blazing glamazon moment. The headdress will be perplexing to anyone without a detailed knowledge of Elizabeth Taylor’s history in fashion – but it did frame a very beautiful face. 

In Drag Race UK season one, Baga, like The Vivienne, was confident to the point of steeliness. She’s had a different journey this time around, and during judges’ critiques, once again proved she’s unafraid to let her emotions show – and it was so movingly relatable. In a sense, this makes her the true winner of the season.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.

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